Sierra Designs Rohn 15 Backpack

A very well thought out day pack. Light-weight, easy to open and access everything. The small pocket is great for things that need quick access: snacks, wallet, cell phone, etc. The large pocket zips open wide to allow access to things at the bottom quickly. I love the side pockets to store water bottles.. The harness it solid and and will hold as much weight as you can load in the pack. It's my go to pack for any day hike or bike commute: quick to load and stays tight to the body. My only complaint is the plastic frame is curved: it's great for ergonomics but I was trying to hold both my snowshoes in the bag and I think they would have fit but the curve of the frame prevented them from both sliding to the bottom. Really only an issue with large, rigid items.

Love this pack. Minimal, but well-designed. Nice harness. I bought it as my ready pack for volunteer S&R in our rural, mountainous county. Would also serve as a great day pack for any purpose. Wide straps and hip band allow more weight for the volume and pack remains comfortable. Looks well constructed, but durability not yet tested.

The frame is bossy (does not conform to back, waist, or shoulders at all) and not removable. The pads on the frame are deep and stiff, causing hot spots and pressure points. The pads attached to the frame are deep, making the pack standoff my back awkwardly (for me). The length (pack size S/M and I am 5’ 7”) ride just above my lower back. It is uncomfortable for me. Without a load the frame squeaks. With a full hydration bladder, the pack does not hold much gear (e.g. food, first aid kit, jacket, or mess kit) well.

I wanted a small pack for day hikes. I liked the fact that this came in different sizes, I'm 6' and it just doesn't make sense to me that most daypacks are one size fits all. I also liked that instead of compression straps, they just kept the volume way down, 15L. The suspension is a sheet of molded plastic, it works well but may be an issue if you ever wanted to stuff it in a small spot, like under an airline seat. The waist straps are rather substantial for a 15L pack, but they are removable. The pockets are rather large, a 1L Smart Water bottle moved around a lot. I liked that the yellow color was somewhat subdued, it was more of a autumn yellow than a flashy yellow. I would have preferred a mesh outer pocket rather than the bungee, but that is minor. At first I thought that shoulder straps were way too long, but I realized that the long straps will make it usable over a winter coat, which is nice. I called the pack unique because I'm not sure there is anything else like it on the market (a 15L pack with a solid suspension and thick waist strap), but I'm very happy with it.

This pack is lightweight, classy, durable, and holds everything you need for a day trip--dawn to dusk, and even some beyond that. I've had this pack for a year and use it for bike commuting and hiking. Perfect for both. And so, so comfortable. The back pads are ingenious--supportive and comfortable even if you have hard edges inside. Great pockets too. Truly the best shaped, the best feeling pack I've ever owned.
The only improvement I would make, and I plan to mod my pack for this soon, is to add some grip material or surface to the bottom of the pack. The Rohn is so smooth and classy that it slides along floor or rock or dirt if not propped up with perfect balance.
If you're looking for an excellent pack, get this one--it's worth every cent.