Chernobyl

The Chernobyl is a great alpine climbing pack that Cold, Cold World has thought out very thoroughly. I am average sized (5'10" with a normal back length) and the larger of the two sizes fits well. I've carried 45 lbs, which is beyond its design -- mid 20s is reasonable. Here are the significant pluses and minuses:



+ simple and reasonably light

+ small bivy pad & usable as waist high bivy sack

+ gear loops on hip belt, can holster tools

+ floating top lid (with main & "map" compartment)



- long straps can whip around in the wind (cut'em)



Perhaps the biggest plus is Cold, Cold World itself. At no charge they removed the tool tubes, added a crampon pocket and hydration pocket! Incredible value.

wow great pack. I love it. very light, well thought out, and made for mountaineering (not just a backpacking pack with gear loops like some others) I personally like the tool tubes (I normally use to ice tools, but it fits an standard ice axe fine unless you have one of those super long ones (mine is 70cm), but wish I would have had them put a crampon pocket and hydration pocket. the crampon straps are getting kinda fuzzy from use. get the sizing right (if you call them and give them your measurements you will be good to go. I used this on Rainier a few times and a few other cascade volcanos. I fit all I needed and then some. the built in bivy pad is nice and I use it all the time (I use a 3/4 pad and put my pack under my feet) Just the best pack I have ever owned. I was in the Marines and wished they used packs like this..well and wished they also made me carry less weight...lol