Ahead of the Pack
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The Autobot of the crag-pack world is surely the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR SPLITTER ($170, mountainhardwear.com). It carries like any other sturdy (630-Denier Ballistics nylon), comfy, 35L pack, but lay the Splitter down and it transforms into a gear-organizing friendo. The panel-zip design and pull-out tarp let you split the pack, place it flat, and sort gear atop the dust, thanks to internal pockets one made of mesh and another with a roll-top, clip-shut closure that guards against chalk-bag spills. An internal compression strap corrals your rope against the back panel, and racking loops organize draws, cams, and biners. Decepticons, fear this!
Kristin Bjornsen