The Mountain Hardwear Harrier Backpack was made for the backpacker who wishes his pack wouldn't fight back when he tried to move with it. The first thing you'll notice about the Harrier is that the harness and waist belt do not hang loosely from the frame but instead stand out in a unified shape. The Harrier's unique support system includes a Fit Lock harness and pivoting waist belt which are constructed of layers of rigid and soft materials customized to fit the shape of the user. The pack Mini Frame is connected to the shoulder harness by a unique U-Bar and at the hips by Yunan Scandium tubes so the pack load is uniformly distributed. Finally, a pulley system on the Mini Frame of this Mountain Hardwear pack allows on-the-fly torso length adjustment so the wearer can be ready for quick terrain changes.
The Mountain Hardwear Harrier Backpack is built on the Exodus Motive frame. The Motive frame is ideal for situations when unrestricted mobility is an advantage, such as backcountry skiing or scrambling across scree fields. In order to retain as much torsional flexibility as possible for moving through uneven terrain, the hip belt of the Harrier is attached to the frame only at the sides allowing the length of the back to naturally extend and contract with movement. This also allows the belt to freely pivot with you, maintaining its load support and fit while constantly adjusting to your posture. Combined with the harness's ability to change torso length, the Harrier's pivoting waist belt allows you to comfortably do things like bend down to tie your boots or take a long, leaning, upward step.
The Mountain Hardwear Harrier Backpack has a top pocket is removable for when you want to go lighter. The fold top is designed to be used with this pocket removed. The Harrier also features a large stretch mesh front pocket and stretch mesh side pockets. For when you want to quench your thirst, you can put a hydration bladder into the hydration sleeve and feed the tube through the right or left side hose ports depending on your preference. There's even an Axe-S quick release ice axe/hiking pole toggle. External pad straps control lower pack volume.
For an ultra light, striped down cross country pack, you won't find much better than the Mountain Hardwear Harrier Backpack.
