Customer Reviews

CUSCUS Internal Frame Hiking Travel Backpack 88L 6200ci Camping Journey Red

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this backpack for a two day hike in the Superstition Mountains (Arizona). I was very pleased with the product but couldn't help but be annoyed with some of its features.

The Good:

It's HUGE! I was able to fit my share of the equipment and my sleeping bag INSIDE the backpack (and my sleeping bag is fairly large).

It's comfortable. Obviously lugging 50+ pounds up a mountain is hard, but this pack certainly helps out. A layer of padding is put in front of the frame to make it more comfortable on your back. The waist strap is also padded (make sure that strap is pulled tight!)

The Bad:

It has one large compartment, and four very small ones. Much of your gear will be thrown into one large space, making it difficult to retrieve a single item (unless it's on top).

The aforementioned main compartment does not have a zipper. It has a drawstring that will partially conceal the inside, and then the "flap" folds over the top. The flap has an elastic edge that stretches around the pack. The only problem is that unless the pack is stuffed full the elastic has nothing to stretch over, which leaves the inside unprotected. The top flap then buckles to the body of the pack.

The zippers are hard to open.

All in all, a good pack, especially for such a good price. I'm sure you could get a better product, but only if you're willing to fork over a lot more money.

I was a little skeptical becuase of how inexpensive it was (compared to other bags that seemed to be just like it), but I lugged it around Europe for 3 weeks and it worked great. Someone else mentioned the zippers were a little hard to zip, and they are, but I found that to be a very minor flaw. My traveling companion also got the same bag and liked his, too.

The pack sags, and is extremely difficult to balance. On short hikes I barely notice, but after 7 or so miles my right shoulder and lower back start to ache. Ive spent entirely too much time trying to adjust the pack. There are no straps on the lower sides for adjustment, so you're left with the shoulder straps as one of the only means to adjust the pack. The only other way it adjusts is that the shoulder straps are removable, and can be raised or lowered depending on your preference and/or torso size. But this seems to be entirely for show as moving the straps doesn't seem to help.

Worst of all is that after about 7 miles I noticed my hands were swollen, which is an indication that the straps are cutting off circulation to my arms and hands, which is very uncomfortable, scary, and dangerous.

Other then that the pack is huge so should easily fit your gear. My sleeping bag fit easily in the compartment. My hydration pack fit easily into its compartment. The outside pockets are also very large and are great for packing your food, navigation, first-aid, and other equipment you want in easy reach. As others have mentioned however, the zippers are very stiff, and the buckle on the main belt has a tendency to pop out (I carried a spare just in case).

Overall I would say that if you plan on using this pack for short overnighters then it would work fine. But if you think you can take this pack on extended back country backpacks then you are mistaken. I would advise spending more money to get a better pack. This pack is a good price for people on a tight budget like me, but trust me, you get what you pay for.

I researched over and over for a camping backpack for my new Scout. After reading all of the reviews and saw the price, I decided to get it for my son. WOW!!!! This thing is AMAZING!! The zippers are a "tad" stiff but he could open and close them fine. The space is so much more then I thought, upon first looking at it. After being packed for a 4 day campout, I just know I must have forgotten something because there is still room for more! Tent, sleeping bag, clothing, toiletries, food, shoes, books, lanterns, and even water... it all fit! I never thought I would find something SO good at such a fantastic price!!!

Ordered this for some recent backpacking on the Appalachian/Long Trail in Vermont. It poured buckets but this backpack was a champ. I used the straps on the bottom to secure both my sleeping pad and tent, then put my sleeping bag inside the bottom compartment. (It's really part of the main pouch, but you can cinch it with the drawstring to keep things separate.) Very well-thought out construction. There are two (count 'em) drawstrings at the top to cinch the main compartment snug from the elements -- and then the rain cover buckles down so there's really no shot of your your stuff getting drenched. Inside the main pouch along your back, there's an inner pouch with an elastic top; I guess a water bladder might go in there. When you're wearing the backpack, there's a small slit on the left where your shoulder is; I imagine the nozzle would go through there. Had no problems with the zippers. Lots of staps to secure the pack. I was none too gentle when putting it down a few times and it suffered no ill effects; sturdy construction. The outside pockets are nice and deep; I had a big can of Off! with other doo-dads in one pocket and it fit no problem. If I had to complain, I'd say the padding on the shoulders could use some work. But I'm about 6-foot-6 and was carrying 40-50 pounds and had some bruising after hiking for about 7 hours the first day. Not a huge deal. You can't go wrong considering how relatively little this backpack costs.

I wanted a extreme "go" bag in case of an natural disaster or evacuation. I live on a barrier island, so this is a must in my case. I planned and packed my equipment and provisions with the idea of being at least seven days without food, shelter or outside assistance. I used an old US Army duffel bag before this one (roughly about the same dimensions). However this pack beats the Army one hands down. The load is easier to carry and SOOO much more comfortable. The pockets make often used items more accessible, although the zippers are a little stiff it's not a problem. The outside straps make bulkier items such as bedroll or tent easier to carry.
So far, it's just as durable as the Army duffle and I can carry more load further.
The built in rain hood is a plus and the mole' lets me add a hydration pack, that I couldn't before. Although, its a little strange to have the hydration pack on top of the bag, it hasn't been proven to be a serious issue.
All in all a great bag for the price. I've "tried out" other bags, but none met my expectations like this one. If there is a negative, I wish there was some way to "lock" it to keep would be sneak thieves out in say a public hostle or evacuation shelter.
Worth every penny.

This pack was purchased as a beginner pack. I chose this one due to the features and low price. I was some what skeptical about what to expect. Once it arrived I was surprised as to the quality of the pack, very sturdy and plenty of storage. This pack does have a sleeve for a water bladder, but did not come with a rain cover. Hey for this price what do you expect? It closed up very tightly and is made of water resistant material, so I do believe that, unless you are caught in a down poor, your gear will remain dry.
My only complaint is that during my first outing with this pack the buckle for the waist belt broke. Just to be honest I was pretty rough with it, and after contacting the manufacturer they sent me a replacement right away. I would recommend this pack to anyone from the beginner such as myself or to a more experienced hiker looking for a good cheap pack.

I bought this backpack for use on a 4 month trip through South America. I was a little nervous given its price, but it held up just fine. The correlation between price and quality is not always what some would have you believe. I know plenty of people with $150+ backpacks that have broken after less strain than I put on this one. It's not indestructible by any means, none of them are so why not save some money? All the zippers, clips, and other pieces seemed to be pretty thick and sturdy. It holds a ton, and the exterior pockets that don't eat up space on the inside are nice as well. Overall, I highly highly recommend this backpack. If you're on the fence like I was because it seems like it might be too cheaply made, fear not! This backpack is a steal!

After reading the reviews on this backpack I thought this is the pack for me. I was scepticle on the product because of the price but when I recieved it and used it, WOW! Don't pass this deal up! I love it, yes the zippers are somewhat difficult but I found the trick to them and its a minor detail compared to the quality and size of the pack. I use it in all my scout campouts, hiking trips, everything. Works awesome, great pack, absolutely recommend it.

In my search to bring a travel backpack for my 3 week trip to Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain; I was searching for a pack that would be versatile enough to carry all my belonging and not too rough on my back. This back pack was perfect. I brought enough clothes for 2 weeks and I still had room in my pack for things. The pack has plenty of room and 5 pockets that you can keep belongs you need to get to quickly, which makes it convenient. It does not have a zipper to close the main compartment, but the strip locks work just fine. I recommend this pack to anyone traveling throughout Europe because when the escalators don't work or there are only stairs, dragging and lifting a huge luggage bag is tiresome. I love this bag and will be taking it on many trips to come.