ERGON PACKS
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Compared to the BD1, the Ergon BD2-M backpack is for the organizing pack rat. There are eight pockets on the inside and outside of the pack, which make shoving 15 liters worth of volume into a bag easier.
The Ergon BD2 backpack takes its 15-liter load off -- like Ergon's BD1, the key is the plastic exoskeleton which cradles and immobilizes the load, and the Flink joint which allows 90% of the pack to sit away from the back.
The pack itself is great for larger loads. There is a main cavity, accessible via a zipper that runs the length of the pack and oriented 90-degrees from how we're used to seeing zippers. On the inside back is a compartment that can handle up to a three-liter bladder, with an opening for the drinking hose to be routed through the top. In addition, there is one interior zipped pocket for a pump or cellphone. There are two long mesh side compartments on the outside, and in between the bag and the back, is a thin mesh compartment. On the bag side of this compartment is a small hidden pocket. On the compression swatch is a waterproof pocket as well. At the bottom is a pocket that has a matching rain cover that can be pulled out and stretched over the bag when the elements turn nasty.
The shoulder straps are designed like a harness, with pads that go both over the shoulder and around the side. The upper part of the BD2 is attached to the harness. From the side, it appears as if the shoulder straps have the hip belt attached to them -- they don't. The hip belt is completely separate from the upper part of the frame. It is attached to the lower part of the frame and helps cantilever the weight of the pack so that the hips are carrying much of the load, removing fatigue from your shoulders and back.
The key to making this all work is adjusting the pack properly. There are two sizes, small and large. And each size has three size setting adjustments for the Flink, small, medium, and large. Men should stick to the men's pack, and women, to women, because the hip belts are contoured to shapes most common to each sex. For men, the small is recommended for mean 5'3"-5'11" with a chest size of 31.5-40". The large is for men 5'9"-6'5" with a chest size of 37.5-47.5". For women, the small is for women 5'1" to 5'9" with chest sizes 23.5-31.5". The large is for women 5'7" to 6'3" with a chest 29.5-37.5".
Adjusting the Flink properly takes a 4mm Allen key to un/screw a long bolt which threads through the harness to the ball joint. Don't worry -- there will be instructions with the bag. It's not complicated; it just takes a little measuring, and it pays dividends to do it right.
The Ergon BD2 backpack comes in Team Edition Green. The cargo capacity is 15 liters (915 cubic inches) inside the pack with an additonal 5 liters (305 cubic inches) possible to carry outside the pack but compressed inside the straps. The material is 420-denier nylon. There is a hidden, zip-out rain cover. The pack doesn't come with a hydration bladder but Ergon (partnering with Hydrapak) does now offer two options ala carte - a two-liter and a three-liter. The pack is 22" tall by 9.5" wide by 5.5" deep. Weights for the different sizes of the BD2are the following: BD2-M (S) 1210g (2.66lbs.), BD2-M (L) 1275g (2.81lbs.)
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