Why It’s CoolOnce you roll and buckle the top of this vinyl pack, the Cilaos becomes a giant drybag. Impervious to any water intrusion save a prolonged dunking, it’s perfect for canyoneering. 禄 The harness is beefy beyond what you’d expect in a sub-4,000-cubic-inch bag—a framesheet and two aluminum stays, plus a puffy, reinforced hipbelt—and it’s adjustable for torso length. The Cilaos yawned at my 35-pound test load—it’s easily a 50-pound-load hauler. 禄 Back and lumbar panels are amply padded, and airy mesh wraps all foam for maximum breathability. 禄 Transparent side panels illuminate the process of packing better than any other bag tested.
Hmmm . . .The drybag design eliminates such niceties as front and side pockets. 禄 Oddly shaped hipbelts left gaps around my waist—no prob at 35 pounds, but a different story at 50.