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MEC Spirit 40 Backpack
Vigilant packing extends this day bag into an overnight pack. 39L capacity (Standard).
Average Customer Rating:
4.1
out of 5
3 out of 3(100%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Spirit 40 Backpack
Review 1 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
By:Climberkid
Location: Ontario
Age: under 18
Gender: male
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER
A teaching aid.
Date: February 10, 2010
I would definitely recommend this pack to anyone who wishes to pack light. after a climbing trip with my cousin using a day pack I had at home I said thats it. We went in the next day and bought this. After buying this pack i have really learned to pack light, i try to make sure everything is inside before i leave for a day of climbing, and being only 42L it leaves me light on my feet.
Pros: Lightweight, Simple, Good Value, Reliable
Cons: needs outer pockets.
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Review 2 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
By:Anonymous
Location: Pinawa, MB
Age: 45-55
Gender: male
Gear Style: Minimalist
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER
First backpacks
Date: November 14, 2009
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
My wife and I got two of these (short & long) for a hiking trip along the Causeway Coastal Path in Northern Ireland. We are new to backpacking but the staff at MEC Winnipeg were great. These backpacks were perfect for hiking as well as for jumping on and off trains, buses, subways, and the occasional taxi. Some of the other reviewers said they would like more pockets and we agree. A couple small pockets for quick access to camera, GPS etc would be nice. We used the side access hydration pocket for maps and guidebooks. We haven't decided where our next trip will be but wherever it is these packs will be coming along.
Pros: Rugged, Good Value, Comfortable, Adjustable
Cons: Not Enough Pockets, side mesh pockets too small
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Review 3 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
Effectiveness:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
By:Crash
Location: Edmonton, AB
Age: 35-44
Gender: female
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
MEC MEMBER
Good step up from a smaller daypack.
Date: July 8, 2009
I purchased this pack to replace a Lowe Alpine pack, which I love, but is too small for a longer dayhike where you need to pack a few more things.
This pack is durable and fits me very well, with no shoulder or back pain (standard size). I could fit plenty of things inside and the side access was a blessing, instead of the typical top load where you have to dig through everything if what you want happens to be near the bottom of the pack. The top of the bag opening takes a bit of getting used to, but is quite functional.
The pack kept dry. There was some mild sqeaking, but that was really nothing and probably more to do with how I packed the bag. In reading the reviews, I see there is a complaint of not enough pockets. I agree there could be more, but the bag does exactly what I purchased it for. For the price, you just can't beat the value. If people want more pockets they can check out a Black Diamond cragging pack which has so many pockets, straps, and nets that their eyes will pop out.
This pack is working awesome for a backountry dayhiking pack and with its sturdy build, I'm sure I'll have it around for a long while.
Pros: Rugged, Lightweight, Simple, Good Value, Reliable, excellent fit - load distribution
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Review 4 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Intrepid Traveller
Location: Vancouver, BC
MEC MEMBER
Does the job well
Date: May 11, 2009
I'm a short, petite female and found this pack worked great during my 7 week backpacking trip to Europe and the Middle East. It surprisingly held a lot of stuff, including the souvenirs I ended up collecting during my travels. It took a lot of pounding but kept on ticking. Also, it distributed the weight evenly so I was able to carry my stuff for long periods of time in comfort. The size also helped when sitting on buses, subways, trains, and cabs (or running after them!)
I still use this bag today when I travel around Canada for weekends or week-long trips. I certainly have gotten a lot of mileage out of it.
I highly recommend this bag. It's simple, effective, and practical.
Pros: Lightweight, Comfortable, Highly Adjustable
Cons: Not Enough Pockets
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Review 5 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:CurlyFries
Location: Ontario
VERIFIED REVIEWER
great bag
Date: March 28, 2009
I have used this backpack on two canoe trips, and as a hiking/weekend pack many times.
This bag fits a 30L dry sack perfectly inside it, and along with all of the caribiner loops on the front, it works perfectly as a personal pack for overnight trips. This pack fit enough clothing, my personal gear, and a first aid kit to comforatably last a 16 day canoe trip. The top pocket on this bag, and the elastic mesh on the front of the bag are also really useful for getting to items such as a rain jacket or a camera.
The only things i do not like about this bag is that the mesh pockets on the side are not big enough to even hold a water bottle. Also, the straps on the bottom of the bag are too short to attach anything bigger than the width of your hand.
Overall this bag is sturdy, comfy and adjusts easily.
Pros: Easy To Load, Highly Adjustable, Large Capacity, Comfortable, Lightweight
Cons: Not Enough Pockets
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Review 6 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Kobayashi
Location: Toronto
MEC MEMBER
Nice Pack But Small
Date: January 10, 2009
Nice pack, but really a bit too small for back packing trips if you want to pack more than 1 outfit and some shoes. Would recommend going for a larger brio pack so that you can have the option of bringing souvenirs home with you.
Pros: Comfortable, Easy To Load
Cons: Too Small
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Review 7 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:That guy
Location: Jasper
MEC MEMBER
I love it, however...
Date: January 3, 2009
I use this bag for work in the backcountry of Jasper and love how much stuff it can carry for a busy day and the easy access to stuff in the bottom without having to dig through the contents on the top. The zipper that that allows this access, however, gave out on me after 4 years on the top corner of the bag where the zipper is stiched on a sharp angle. If you're careful here all should be fine.
Pros: Easy To Load, Large Capacity
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Review 8 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Malacoda
Location: Canada
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Excellent Pack!
Date: December 8, 2008
Used this as my only pack while traveling in Lao and Thailand for 7 weeks. Have the Long pack (42L) never needed to check it. Worked perfect, wouldn't use anything else. Another great thing is it's zippered so you can lock the pack if need be.
Pros: Easy To Load, Comfortable, Lightweight
Cons: Not Enough Pockets
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Review 9 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:TJ Travel
Location: Mississauga, ON
MEC MEMBER
Excellent pack! Absolutely loved it!
Date: August 26, 2008
I travelled to Australia for a month, and all I had was this pack and a small day pack. I loved the easy access to my gear and the fact that I could zip open most of the top flap. I got the "short" length, which was carry on sized - so no checked luggage! I packed a lot of stuff into this bag and put it through it's paces (no gentle treatment here). Overall an excellent and durable pack. I just wish it had a few more pockets.
Pros: Easy To Load, Lightweight, Highly Adjustable, Comfortable
Cons: Not Waterproof, Not Enough Pockets
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Review 10 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Hamsup
Location: Vancouver, BC
Perfect Size Pack for the City.
Date: April 16, 2008
I'd recently purchased a bicycle and decided to commute to and from work. The trip is about 12km each way and I needed a pack rugged enough to lug my laptop and work documents as well as a change of clothes and some biking essentials (lock, helmet, cable, tools)
I bought a waterproof pack cover for this as well.. incase it pours.
Pros: Highly Adjustable, Comfortable, Lightweight, Large Capacity
Cons: Not Enough Pockets, Awkward zipper
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Review 11 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Wags
Location: Wagga Wagga, NSW, Aus
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Great Bag!
Date: April 4, 2008
I use this to do my overseas travel. Becomes a problem in winter when trying to fit ski gear etc.
The straps on either side are great for attaching extras such as sleeping bags and your laundry bag.
Not quite as accessible as one would like, although am willing to sacrifice this convenience for its sturdy design and comfort.
The straps on either side are great for attaching extras such as sleeping bags and your laundry bag.
Not quite as accessible as one would like, although am willing to sacrifice this convenience for its sturdy design and comfort.
Pros: Comfortable, Highly Adjustable, Easy To Load, Lightweight
Cons: Not Enough Pockets
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Review 12 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Anonymous
Location: Tokyo, Japan
MEC MEMBER
Good for 17-inch notebook computer
Date: September 4, 2007
Big enough to fit a large notebook, sports stuff, lunch, and a couple of books.
Pros: Easy To Load, Comfortable, Lightweight, Large Capacity
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Review 13 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Lai-yee
Location: Toronto, Ontario
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Great for backpacking adventures
Date: September 3, 2007
This pack has served me well on several longer backpacking adventures (2 weeks, and 4 weeks). It forces you to pack lightly, and to only carry the bare essentials. I still haven't found a good use for the side mesh pockets, however. Nonetheless, the pack is comfortable, and easy to manage in crowded subways, trains and airports.
Pros: Lightweight, Comfortable, Easy To Load
Cons: Small mesh side pockets
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Review 14 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Traveller
Location: Toronto, ON
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Great Pack - Perfect Size
Date: August 21, 2007
I've taken this pack with me on 10+ trips ranging from weekend to a little over one week. Fits well on the overhead compartment of the plane and capacity is just right. Can fit a smaller travel pack within the bag with my laptop and purse, which I then proceed to store below the seat, so that they remain accessible on the flight.
Pros: Large Capacity, Comfortable, Highly Adjustable, Easy To Load, Lightweight
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Review 15 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Hiker/traveler/grocery shopper
Location: Vancouver, BC
MEC MEMBER
My favorite MEC item
Date: August 13, 2007
Got this pack for a four-month trip around India, and it was perfect. Now I use it for overnight hiking trips and big grocery shopping loads ... The best parts are the full zip on one side for easy access, and the size. It's also very comfy around the hips, and has a lot of pockets. The only problem is the lack of large side pockets for putting a thermorest/tent/tripod in. Other than that, this pack is tops.
Pros: Easy To Load, Highly Adjustable, Comfortable
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Review 16 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:travelling student
Location: Vancouver
great for school
Date: June 22, 2007
this pack provides great support for all those books i have to carry to and from school. this was also great for a weekend field trip. it's easy to load and allows you to attach whole bunch of stuff when needed.
Pros: Highly Adjustable, Easy To Load, Comfortable
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Review 17 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:mk
Location: delta, bc
MEC MEMBER
Perfect for short people
Date: May 29, 2007
Got this pack originally for urban-backpacking across Asia. It did a fine job getting off and on the plane as checked-in cargo. Able to handle some of the rough and often careless handling of 3rd world airports.
However, I now use this pack for wilderness backpacking. At first I wasn't used to the idea of only 40L but it ends up being a good fit. Forces you to rethink on what is the essentials due to the limited capacity. With the awesome suspension system I have been able to carry up to 40lb without problems and normally averaging a good 35lb for a 3 day-2 nights trip.
But, a short coming is the front side-access pocket. I have never quite found a use for it. And it has always be awkward in trying to open it.
Also, I have been head scratching quite a bit with mounting a tent or sleeping mat on the outside since it doesn't have bottom straps for tying a tent or sleeping mat to it.
A plus for this pack is that it is built perfectly for short people. As in people that are in the 5' ballpark. Being only a 5'2" male with a slim built, it was pretty hard to find a pack that would fit perfectly without feeling like having humpback. This pack fits to your back very nicely and it feels like it just becomes apart of you. Having climbed cliffs with a 35lb load, I would have to say that this pack does an excellent job of not throwing me off balance and down a cliff.
Pros: Good Padding, Highly Adjustable
Cons: Side access is awkward
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Review 18 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Anonymous
Location: Seattle, WA
MEC MEMBER
Great for travel too
Date: May 16, 2007
I use my Spirit 40 for travelling more than anything else. I'm a big guy (195cm/100kg) so I can 'only' fit three days' worth of clothes in it along with everything else I need for my trip. The separate pocket (along the back, loads from the side) works great for a laptop or a pile of maps. The side/top loading zipper takes a bit of getting used to, but once you figure it out, you can load your big stuff in the side, then zip it partway and jam smaller stuff in the top.
The suspension system (I've got the 42L 'large' version) is great. It would be nice to have a better way to tie back the hip belt, but all in all it's one of the best systems I've used in a pack this size--you can really load it up and it's still comfortable. Everything is adjustable, so you can move the straps around and balance the load between shoulders, chest and hips however you feel like doing. The 'lid' pocket is good for keys, wallet and phone, but not much else.
One thing it's NOT good for is being a third or half full--the pack is not set up to carry 2kg comfortably. It needs to have some stuff in it to balance correctly.
All in all, I'd rate it a 98/100. I never go too far from home without it. If you're a light packer, you can get away with nothing more than this bag on almost any trip, and you can walk practically forever with it unless it's full of lead bricks.
Incidentally, this bag fits fine in the overhead compartments on aircraft. It's a tight squeeze on commuter planes (Embraer RJ135, Saab 340, etc) if the pack is really full with a laptop in the back pocket, but it does fit. On 737s, A320s, etc. it slides right in with room to spare.
Pros: Good Padding, Large Capacity, Highly Adjustable
Cons: Side access is awkward
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Review 19 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:ski bunny
Location: Dunedin new zealand (lake louise canada)
VERIFIED REVIEWER
A nice bag
Date: April 5, 2007
i got this bag last winter for some weekend trips and for work. i love it. its small yes, but you can still fit enough for a few days. (i am an over packer thats why i went with something small)
Pros: Good Padding, Highly Adjustable
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Review 20 for Spirit 40 Backpack
Overall Rating:
out of
5
By:Mark
Location: Richland, WA
VERIFIED REVIEWER
Great medium volume daypack
Date: April 5, 2007
My wife and I both have this pack - it is the best daypack I had. The zipper access is very flexible, the hydration pocket is great, and the cinch straps can pull a small load in close. I have carried up to 40 lb in the pack comfortably. About the only negative is that if you put waterbottles in the side pockets, they may fall out if you don't have them attached (say with a mini-biner). It's a good size for a dayhike; when we need more capacity (XC ski day trips), we use our Brio 50's.
Pros: Good Padding, Large Capacity, Highly Adjustable
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