Customer Reviews

Great little bag Review by Chuck Nut

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Received this bag and am impressed. Very versatile little bag: have been using as a smallish bag around town, and intend to take it with me on some wider travels. Expect it to do duty as a hanging food bag as well as some-time daypack and ultralight airplane carryon bag.

The lost star for quality does not really relate to quality - which is outstanding - but I did want to knock off one star (out of 15) for the bizarrely wide shoulder straps. Build quality is fantastic, as are many elements of the design ... but the shoulder straps are much wider than for any other pack (of any size) I own, and for an ultra-light vanishing pack, I cannot imagine why.

Still highly recommend, and would pick over S2S design which has no shoulder pad padding at all. (Posted on 2/23/13)

Love it! Review by idk7

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I purchased the riksak for a trip to Peru,
and now that I'm here and using it,
I absolutely love it. It's the rainy season,
so I keep my GoLite umbrella (love that, too!)
and a few other items in the riksak and I
hardly know I'm carrying anything! I'm 60
years old, and less is better. Thanks for a
great product that makes life easier! (Posted on 12/1/12)

Excellent 3 Season Ultralight Pack Review by LT Sinor

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I bought this pack to a fall overnight hike into the north Georgia mountains. I am new to ultra light camping, but managed to cram 7.5 pounds of equipment (including pack weight) into the RikSak. Pack was comfortable - no need for chest strap. Might be a little small for winter camping, but for 3-season, the RikSak is ideal if you like to go light. (Posted on 10/31/12)

Test review Review by Testing

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Test comment (Posted on 10/4/12)

Bulky straps detract from solid pack Review by BejiingHiker

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Except for the straps this pack is well-designed and thought out. The problem is that the straps are incredibly bulky which makes this pack not convinent to take with you unless you have a lot of extra space. Specifically, a pack like the sea to summit ultralight day pack ends up taking up only abuot 1/3 - 1/2 of the space of this bag due to the bulky foam shoulder pads in this pack. This pack is more comfortable for long hikes than the sea to summit, but since you likely won't be carrying much weight in this pack anyways, I think the straps are overkill. The cinch closer is much nicer though than on the sea to summit, but this pack is also missing a simple hang loop which would be a nice addition with essentially no weight penalty. (Posted on 8/19/12)

Very handy, could use some improvement Review by Kathy

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I've had this handy bag for over a year now and it's perfect as a stuff sack and day pack from a base camp. It's very lightweight but sturdy and comfortable. My beef is with the color--black. It absorbs too much sunlight, causing contents to heat up too quickly (especially chocolate bars). Lighter color options would be nice, especially for the desert Southhwest. Maybe tan or light green.
I'd also like to see a small internal pocket for keys, and perhaps a tiny strap near the top to hang a water bladder. But overall this bag is perfect for short day hikes from a base camp. The shoulder straps are especially comfy. (Posted on 7/28/12)

Perfect piece of Gear Review by Grizzle

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I use it as a stuff sack for my quilt, and as a summit/ day pack when on a side trip. Minimal weight and it holds everything I need for a short trip (food, extra layers, small medical kit, water). Very comfortable, and I love the strap slack that turns into a sternum strap. With mindful care it should last quite a while. Made in America! (Posted on 5/26/12)

Great purchase Review by Nathaniel

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Though I've been profusely shedding weight from my backpack recently, one thing I cannot give up is a packable day pack (I know, I can hear you hyper extra ultralight fellows laughing already). I use it in camp, around camp, or of course, on day hikes. I find it indispensable, but at about 10 ounces, my REI flash 18 was just too heavy. I absolutely love the pack, and still use it around town, biking, traveling, and day hikes, but for backpacking, the riksak was an extremely cheap and easy way to shed half a pound from my pack. The riksak is very well constructed, extremely comfortable, water resistant, and suprisingly spacious! The extra thin foam in the shoulder straps is a nice touch as well as the combined chest strap and should tightening straps, a testament to gossamer gear's attention to detail and intuitive design. Also, this pack is suprisingly sturdy for its weight and materials, albeit I haven't thrown it around.

An excellent, multifunction pack that I will enjoy for years.

Thanks!
(Posted on 5/3/12)

Excellent for super ultralight backpacking and travel Review by ManiacJWJ

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Because of recent back surgery, I carry most of my gear in a lumbar pack. All my bulky light items (<3 lbs) including my sleeping bag, GG Sleeping pad, my silk liners and my tent go in the RikSak.

I also used the RikSak to carry my iPad and other light items when I was traveling in Europe for 3 weeks on business.

It handled both with ease and comfort. See www.hikingfreedom.com (Posted on 5/2/12)

Excellent bag Review by Gadget

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I have owned the RikSak for approximately 3 months now, and have put it through several day hikes and overnight "death marches". The simple design works very well, and the wide shoulder straps add noticeable comfort versus competitors products; when looking at the value of this high quality piece of gear versus say a cuben fiber sack of the same volume, the RikSak offers virtually the same weight for a fraction of the price, and, with a little care, will last several years. (Posted on 3/31/12)