Wilderness Trips - Adventure Begins Here - Canoeing, Backpacking, Fishing, Hunting, Camping

Search	Category	Country	Province

Gear Review

Headstrong

Model: Portage Pack & Barrel Hanress

Price: $199 CDN

Weight:

Material: Cordura Body, Ballistic Nylon Bottom

Rating: 5/5

Manufacturers Description

Pack - The Headstrong100 features a compact, body hugging hiking-style cockpit, while maintaining a traditional wide compartment. The pack is built around the user's body, using a semi-rigid HDPE backsheet as the spine of the pack. The addition of dual-density shoulder pads and waist belt ensures optimum comfort during portages.

GeoGrip side compression straps pull the pack into your body for enhanced stability over rough terrain. GeoGrip technology also means that the primary loads are carried by high-strength, low stretch webbing instead of fabric. This results in greater stability and long-term durability.

Our Review

Headstrong 100 Litre Portage Pack

Pack – I had heard that Headstrong made top quality products so when I received my pack I had high expectations. The first thing I noticed was the quality of stitching. All grab loops and stress areas were rock solid. This pack swallows gear. I had no problem putting 2 weeks of gear, and had room to spare. Unlike many portage packs on the market, the cockpit on the headstrong is very supportive. The waist belt and chest support work well to transfer the load off your back. I found I could walk with a 70 lb load without my muscles screaming. Straps on the waist belt allow you to really “dial in” the load.

Two external side pockets allow for items such as axes and saws to be stored safely and out of the way. One of the features I loved about this pack was the silver compression straps. They light up like fireflies making finding your pack in the middle of the night super easy. They’re also functional enabling you to really lock down the load.

My only complaint with this pack was the side grab loops. They are positioned next to compression straps and can be hard to grab if you have items like an axe, saw or tent poles secured to the outside.

The bottom line for this pack; it’s rugged, functional and extremely well made. It comes in at $ 199 CDN, but if you’re looking for a pack to last a lifetime, this is it. You can check out the pack at http://www.headstrongpacks.com

Headstrong 60 Litre Barrel Harness

There’s not as many options for a harness on the market as there is with packs, so finding a well made supportive harness used to be tough. Let’s face it, barrels are round and can be awkward to carry on your back. Headstrong has thankfully engineered an amazing harness system that makes carrying a 50 pound load a joke. They’re innovative design puts the barrel vertical and away from your body, instead of resting on your upper back like the majority of harness designs. The cockpit features the same waist belt as their portage pack. Once you dial it in and tighten up the load there’s virtually no swaying of the barrel while walking. This is the only harness I’ve used that actually keeps the load stable. You’ll praise that at the end of a 1 KM port. Two grab loops are found at the top of the harness and another at the bottom allowing you to quickly grab the barrel as you unload.

As with other Headstrong products, the barrel harness will take everything you can throw at it and survive. In my opinion, the best buy on the market for a barrel harness. You can check out the harness at http://www.headstrongpacks.com

View more Gear Reviews