The High Sierra Sentinel 65 is a large volume pack loaded with features that represents a bargain at its typical sales price. This pack, overloaded at 50 lbs, performed with relatively minor problems during the vertical mile down and then back up the steep trails of the Grand Canyon. The additional features such as a built in rain cover, and the highly adjustable suspension compete with packs twice the price. The pack was beat up during the trip, and only shows minimal wear and tear.
The biggest problem with the High Sierra Sentinel 65 is that it is cavernous. The seemingly endless supply of room inside the pack makes it easy to overpack, and it takes some restraint not to add the kitchen sink. Overloading the pack is easy to do, and exposes the only real flaw we found on the pack. With excessive weight (50 lb range) and steep punishing terrain (Grand Canyon) the adjusting straps on the suspension had a tendency to slip, and loosen up. George, our tester was able to readjust the straps, but after a while it became distracting, and a little bit of duct tape temporarily fixed the problem. Here is what he had to say about the pack:
“The pack held all of my gear for the 4 day / 3 night trek into the Grand Canyon. The pack grossed out at about 50 lbs with food and water. We went down the South Kaibab trail which is a 6.4 mile hike to the Bright Angel Campground with a 4800 foot elevation loss. Large portions of the trail consist of Mule sized steps cut in the trail. This is where I wished that High Sierra had used better straps and/or buckles on the pack. They kept slipping forcing me to keep tightening the shoulder straps, the load adjusters and even the hip belt. The shoulder straps started to roll or fold and I finally stopped and used some duct tape to secure them. This prevented me from loosening them to take off my pack at rest breaks. The only other problem was more of an irritation than a problem. The “ERGO-FIT” harness squeaked as I walked.
I left the duct tape in place for the rest of the hike but I did have to keep tightening the other straps during the 25 or 30 trail miles that we covered. The squeak either quit or quit bothering me. We did have some rain and even a little snow during the trip and I used the pack cover and hung the pack on the critter poles with the use of a rope with the covered side up so it stayed high, dry and critter free.”
We were able to contact High Sierra after the trip and they were very interested in our experience. They indicated that they have heard of this problem during extreme conditions, and were working to improve the pack to rectify the problem. During a more moderate backpacking trip (lighter load, or less punishing terrain) this problem would have not presented itself, and I we would only have positive things to say about this pack.
Get your own Sentinel 65 pack at REI for only $109.93
Now for some Exciting News!
High Sierra Sports and Outside San Diego are so confident about how much you will like this pack, that we are giving one away to a lucky reader. Here is what you need to do.
- Reply to this post, and tell the world where the High Sierra Sentinel 65 pack will take you. Have fun with this and be creative. The Sentinel 65 has been around. Where are you going with it.
- Be sure to include an email when posting, so that I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.
- Keep reading Outside San Diego, and enjoy finding out where the Sentinel 65 is planning to go.
- I will select one lucky reader from the replies, and ship them off a High Sierra Sentinel 65 pack.
Here are the rules:
- I will be selecting the winner on Monday August 3, 2009. Any replies after 12pm on August 3, 2009 will not be eligable to win.
- Each person will allowed one entry. I will only count a person in the drawing once, despite how many replies they post.
- Many people will enter, only one person will win.
- I will contact the winner via email. If I do not hear from the winner 72 hours after initial notification, I will select another winner.
- I reserve the right to change the rules or cancel the contest at anytime. If you do not agree with my rules, please do not enter the contest.
Have fun and lets see some great entries.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Greg // Jul 15, 2009 at 3:57 pm
High Sierra Sentinel 65 Pack Journal:
October 1, 2008
Location: Los Angeles
I am being stuffed with tightly wrapped shirts and pants. My side pockets full of ancillary supplies trinkets. My excitement is growing as fast as the zippers are closing. Only a few hours until my journey begins!
October 2, 2008:
Location: Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean
I am lodged in between two inferior bags in the belly of at 767. It is cold, dark and lonely. Luckily, my internal hydration reservoir sleeve is full and ready to hydrate. It is going to be a long flight to my long-awaited destination.
October 3, 2008:
Location: Dublin
Ahh the luck of the Irish! I made it to the land of Lephercans. The hustle and bustle around town is great. While the view from the Gravity Bar is amazing, it is time to head out west and traverse the peat fields and plains of Killarney and Dingle.
October 8, 2008:
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Ahh, I am laying in the nice, white sand beaches of The Beiras. Like gems in a necklace, good, sandy beaches are as far as I can see…from Praia de Leirosa north to Praia de Espinho.
October 12-18, 2008:
Location: Spanish Coast (Seville/Valencia/Barcelona)
Slowly but surley we are making our way up the coast of Spain. The culture is rich and the food is fantastic.
October 19, 2009
Location: Madrid
What a trip. Back to the luggage department for my journey home. Adeu
2 Joe Taylor // Aug 2, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I’ve been hunting a 65 liter backpack for quite some time. The Wichita Wildlife Refuge with its Charon’s Garden is 75 minutes north (Wichita Falls, Texas). I hope to spend lots of time up there. Last summer my sons (aged 26 and 23 yrs.) and I drove all night to Blanca Peak in Colorado, camped at its base and walked to the top. Two nights later we walked out and drove the marathon home.It was a great experience for a gezer like me. Just need a good 65 liter pack for my budget. Thanks! (Neat website!first time visitor!)
3 Joe Taylor // Oct 2, 2009 at 7:51 am
Did Greg win the backpack? Is it somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean? His entry was more creative than mine, but if he ran off and left the Sentinel 65 behind, I’d be glad to take it off your hands!
Thanks,
Joe
4 Danielle // May 1, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Backpacking is a new sport for me and one I hope to do a lot more of. Last summer my husband and I made the treck up Half Dome. We were able to hike all the way up and back in a little over 12 hours-I feel strongly however, had we not had to wait for my brother in law (who decided the night before in a drunken state to tag along) we could have made it in 9! We were not new to the sport of hiking but this was definitly going to be our longest trip. We went out and bought bigger backpacks (from wal mart) (which could just have easily been purchased by any highschool student needing to lug his books) and proceeded to jam them full. My husband carried over 65 pounds of senseless weight. Although, the squirrels that ripped open his backpack when we were climbing the dome would beg to differ. They had a field day stealing an ungodly amount of granola bars and trail mix. We were given some expert advice from a good friend and feel confident our next adventure will be a lighter one.
I have since backpacked with a much lighter load with a loaner pack and feel I might become addicted!
I have already upgraded our next Half Dome trip from a day trip to a one night stay at the little Yosemite campground! Imagine climbing the cables and standing on top of the world at dawn!
With a new pack of my own- a non wal mart variety- my travels will be endless.
We will finally follow through with our plans to backpack through the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree and Zion are just a few on my list….
Please let me know who you have chosen ASAP so that I can start color coordinating the rest of my gear
btw August 4th is my b-day so your deadline is just in time!
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