BEASTS OF BURDEN LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS OF THE BASIC RUCKSACKႀ TODAY BACKPACKS ARE A. SPECIAL IZED LOT WITH ENOUGH SECRET LITTLE LOOPS AND SIDE POCKETS TO CONTAIN THOSE CRU CIAL ELEMENTS FOR YOUR ACTIVITY-BE THEY CRAMPONS OR MODEMS.
YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO THE OFFICE OR BACKCOUNTRY BOARDING THE CHUGACH.-LG
For off-piste bi-riders (shall I ski or board today?). Carries skis diagonally so they '---J.. won't bang into your head or legs. Made from Dana's new tough but light D2 fab ric. Volume: 1,400 cu in. Dana Design 888-357-3262. $139.
Backcountry pack for snowboarders. This sea son Da Kine made the contours more exagger ated for better load distribution. Volume: 2.285 cu in. Da Kine 541 -386-3166. www.dakine.com. $90.
For thirsty, intrepid daytrippers. Acronym stands for Holds a lot of Water and Gear. Cargo volume: 720 cu in. Reservoir volume: 100 oz. Camelback 800-767- 8725, $94.95.
• A Jekyll-and-Hyde pack that can take you to base camp (5,000
cu in) then turn into a lightweight daypack (1,800 cu in) for the summit. A vertical zipper compresses the whole thing. Wild Things makes streamlined stuff for serious mountaineers-part of their code is: "If you can't climb. gadgets won't help." Wild Things 603-356-6907, $250.
When you've got to take your laptop into the field or the urban jungle, this will protect it with a padded computer compartment and a solid rubber bottom. Lots of room for power sources and other stuff. Also worth checking out: the new Street Tech line and the Grinder for skateboarders. Volume: 1,850 cu in. Jansport 800-558-3600, $64.99 .
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