"This is a swedish pack I just haven't found a match for it's 90 litres
in an external packing bag. It's not a softpack sorry I don't know
the english word for the swedish "ramsack". It goes for about
2000 swedish crowns about 275-300 USD. I've tried Berghaus,
Modan, Fjallraven, but I, as well as my hiking companions, still
stick to this old bag. It's a nylon bag on an aluminum frame, with
easily accessible adjustment straps. Not much more to say, try it!"
"My first big backpack was a softbag from a company called Manson. It fit my back alright, at least it did so when it was new. But after some hikes I realized that it wasn´t what I needed. At this time I was about to my first hike in the mountains of Norway. I asked my fellow hikers what they had, and 10 of 14 had the Alaska from Haglofs. So I tried one on, and it was the best backpack I´ve ever tried. I bought one, and I´ve used it without any problem ever since.
The backpack is not a softpack, so your back will get a chance to "breathe". It takes about 90 litres, but you can easily make it bigger, up to over 150 litres ( if anyone need that much )!!!
The material is very strong, and it´s almost 100 percent waterproof, so you´ll never need any raincover for your pack.
The only problem with an Alaska is that it isn´t so good when you only need a small pack, because it is hard to pack it well when it isn´t filled up...
The pack fits very well, you can have it in different sizes and you can adjust it to fit any person. And it is comfortable too...
The Alaska is a rather exspensive backpack; in Sweden it costs about 250 US Dollars. But although it may be much it is worth the price, because you can have it at least 10 ten years and the warranty is very good ( lifetime on some parts! )
So, if you need a big backpack which can carry many litres, then the Alaska is a very good choice."
"I have also used this backpack along with other, both softpacks and "framepacks". I have both pros and cons for it. I think that it is a very pricey backpack. You get alot for your money(atleast compared to other real backpacks, not the ones you buy at the supermarket). It is very sturdy, have a good design with many small pockets, possibility to divide the inside into two parts. My brother had his for years and he really likes it.
I have used his on a few trips and I could never get it to fit really good. Yes, you can adjust the size of it, but it is not that easy. You need to have tools to adjust the backlength. And for really heavy loads I do not find it that great either. With my Bergans 3800 Power Frame I could probably carry twice the load without being more tired in the back and shoulders than with the Alaska. But the Bergans on the other hand were twice the price...
But if you are not carrying to heavy, are the only one to use the pack it is a really good backpack.
I give it a rate 4, because I know alot of people who are really happy with their Alaska´s, and for the price."
