REI Vahalla Review

"The Vahalla Backpack is a great buget minded pack that performs well in just about every condition. I had it fully loaded for a three night exscursion in the Sierras in some bitter cold, as well as in the desert heat as a day pack. It's adjustable shoulder pad/straps and waist support make it fantastic for hauling heavy loads over long distances. The water bottle side pocket are a thoughtfull idea9and you can store munchies as well as a camera in there. An outstanding performance backpack at a reasonable price. Check out REI!!!"

"Great pack, I carried it for 9 days through Joyce-Kilmer, in the North Carolina part of the Applacian mountains. The pack has a great price i got it for ~120 dollars on sale. Very comfortable pack nothing real spiffy on it but mesh pockets are nice and big. The Head/Brain, whatever you call it, has a very nice number of pockets and can come off to become a day-pack thing nice for emergencies, and I did need it for that reason on that trip, a fellow hiker fell and dislocated his knee cap. This pack is good for any hiker newbee or not."

"This is a good budget backpack. Holds quite a bit of gear, has good outside lash straps, nice mesh pockets on the outside, and is pretty light for the size of the pack. I used it for 3 days in RMNP, and it worked great. It is a stable pack that hugged on my back well. Doesn't have the greatest ventilation in the back, but for the cost, it is a good pack. Would recommend....plus REI has great sales people to help out with their gear, and it seems pretty sturdy. If you are looking for a pack that is not going to break the bank, take a look at this one."

"This is a wonderfully versatile pack. It packs down small, and is light enough for a one nighter, or it can hold enough gear for some extended trips. The compression patch on the back is really great. Its a great place to stash a rain coat, though my personal favorite is a Crazy Creek camp chair. The Valhalla has evolved into the REI Mercury, which has a few more bells and whistles, and a slighty better suspension system. However, I am a minimalist (price and features) so I have found the Valhalla to fufill all of my needs. If you want a ultra light, ultra technical pack, go spend $300 and buy an Arc'Teryx or something. But if you want a cheap, sturdy, and convienent pack, I strongly recomend the Valhalla."