Granite Gear Lutsen Packs

Agree with you whole heartedly on the ease of adjustment of torso length. Would not hesitate to lend my pack to someone else and use my back up for a trip. Once you know your particular settings, the markings make it easy to return your pack to its original settings. Another adjustment which no one has mentioned so far is that the hip belt is built in two sections and can be adjusted as well. Its a nice feature as it allows you to position where the belt pockets sit on your torso and how useful they may or may not be. Again the markings make it easy to return an adjusted belt to its original position.

One thing I have found from years of backpacking and having experience with 6 different extended stay packs over the years is that no hydration sleeve is adequate in any pack unless you go out with a half empty pack. Most of us end up carrying our hydration bladders on the tops of our pack loads nestled as close to our backs as packing skill and gear selection permits. Cannot say that I have experience with a huge selection of bladders but most seem to leak under pressure and the only way to get them in the sleeves is to put them in first and then pack the rest of the gear which then generally does not fit well. However the sleeves work well to store folded emergency rain tarps, ground cloths, cooking cozies, maps and other flat stuff you will not need to access on an ongoing basis or unless your pack is already half emptied. Having your bladder at the top of your load also makes it easier to refill during the day if you need to and especially if you are loading up on water because you expect to make a dry camp or think a water source may have dried up where you plan to stop.