Splitter Backpack

Well-Designed and Sturdy
This is a high-function pack, built for the rigors of climbing - beefy construction. The pack unzips and splits (bivalve design rather than top loading) to lay out all its contents, which is unique. I've used this feature to make first aid items more accessible in a pinch. Great pack.

Carries everything and very rugged
I am really glad I got this pack. I upgraded from a mere "rope bag" that I kept trying to pack shoes, food, chalk bag, etc in, but still ended up carrying a lot of it by hand. Not anymore. The splitter pack has enought room for all of that and more. I really like the dedicated pockets for climbing shoes and a chalk bag. That's what they are designed for. The internal gear loops are pretty cool. The pack is by far the most rugged material for a backpack. It opens and lies flat which is handy. The tarp also disconnects from the pack by a buckle which is handy. My complaint is that the rope tarp has no loops on it to tie the ends of the rope. Maybe it's more for a gear tarp. Also the pack itself is heavy, a function of its rugged material no doubt. Probably overkill for sport climbing at local crags which is what I do, but that's completely fine with me. It's easy to pack up when done too. Definitely recommended.

This is the most amazing packback I've ever seen in my life, and I have a fetish for bags. I couldn't believe the quality when it arrived. I bought it purely from the images on the web. Let me back it up here. I have a long torso. I wanted a hardcore suspension system in a backpack that wasn't HUGE, like for expeditions. I wanted more of a "daypack" and scoured the internet for long daypacks with suspension systems. Came up with slim pickings, I'll tell you what. There was a Mountainsmith Axis 30 that specified it was for a LONG TORSO, but it was whack. It had like one compartment. Then I came upon this beauty of a bag. Lo and behold it was a joyous day! I knew it was love at first site. (Ha, That was a pun!) I noticed the truck tarp material. Oooh, that drew my attention. I like the Chrome Bags, because they're so hardcore with that truck tarp used throughout their line. I don't know why they didn't use it more completely in this Mountain Hardwear Splitter (it could have been totally waterproof that way), but the way they chose to sparingly use it really looks pimp. Aesthetically, the truck tarp is used in such a way that makes me drool. Okay, I do wish it had an "organizer" pocket, for my pens and pencils and ipod, and headphones, and adapters. I know, it's a "crag" pack, and not for college use, but there were no "student" packs that even came close to what I want to haul my load around campus with. So, hear me out. If it had the padded laptop area, and the organizer area, with a secret hidden pocket somewhere, it would be the ultimate. It would be marketed as something else, and then it wouldn't be anywhere near as hardcore, and I wouldn't want it, so this is the next best thing to the ultimate best thing. I searched for details about this pack before I bought it and found nothing, so I am gonna go into some details for those who are in the same boat that I was in prior to ordering this. Like I said, it's a daypack for me. For college, for daily regimens. It's an everything pack, that I want to live out of. I want it to hold my lunch, clothes, shoes, electronics, books, everything. So, there is plenty of room for all of that. And more. I love the shoe pocket and the other big pocket. All YKK zippers throughout - that's super important! The way the foam bottom is two pieces, to facilitate the "splitting" feature is ingenius. When empty, it folds there, and the pack naturally lies very flat against your back, and seems very streemlined and awesome. Then as you fill 'er up, it just expands to an enormous capacity! All cordura and truck tarp. HDPE frame sheeet and Aluminum shaping bar. I am not sure if that means I can shape it to my contours, but I'm not gonna mess with it. I looked, and it's metal, and it's about 5mm thick and it's a frame, a real metal frame. The shoulder straps are super nice. Super quality padding and craftmanship. The hipbelt barely reaches my hip. Just barely acceptable, by loosening the shoulder straps enough to get it down low. I got the Large, by the way.