The Mountainsmith Ghost made its way into the Backpack Gear Guide! What an Honor!!

New for 2012! Resurrecting our award winning Mountainlight category, we’ve brought the Ghost 50L back to life! Sporting considerable updates over our previous classic, this multi-day 50L dual panel loader is built with durable, lightweight high tenacity nylon and loads of ergonomic features ensuring years of fast, light, and comfortable trail use. Our Breezeway trampoline suspension backpanel sports an adjustable 3 position yoke shoulder strap system, DWR coated airmesh foam for increased breathability, and innovative ICS Cup (Illiac Crest Shelf) hipbelt that transfers and locks the pack load onto the hips for increased stability. To round out the comfort and optimal load transfer, we’ve included a Lumbar Control Point pad on the lower backpanel to fully secure the pack load against the user’s major weight bearing point, the lumbar/sacrum region.

With Love From the Heartland: American-Made Valentine’s Day Gifts

by Kathryn Tuggle

If you’re looking to get your loved one something other than the traditional flowers and candy this Valentine’s Day, look no further than gifts made right here in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

“It is an important next step that we expand our brand’s on-line marketing reach and provide a forum for Mountainsmith outdoor adventure fans to interact with our internal team,” commented Jay. “We’re already very active on Facebook and Twitter and this is the next step. Our goal is to create an engaging dialog between Mountainsmith, the outdoor marketplace and our quickly expanding army of loyal customers. It gives us a place to have a little fun, highlighting the places we go and the gear we play with.”

The name Forged for Life comes from a combination of the company tag line, “Forged in the Rockies,” Mountainsmith’s ReForge™ recycled fabric and the fact that the company makes tough, Rocky Mountain-tested durable products that take users from trail to work to home, or wherever life takes them.

Forged in the Rockies, Mountainsmith’s commitment to innovation began in 1979 and continues to the present with a full line of active lifestyle products. The quality and comfort of all Mountainsmith products—technical backpacks, travel storage systems, luggage, camera bags, pet products and trekking poles as well as the lumbar pack icons—set the standard for the worldwide outdoor marketplace. Mountainsmith manufactures, markets, and distributes an expanding group of products designed to meet the demands of travel on and off the trail, through airports, and anywhere that carrying-comfort is essential. Mountainsmith products are sold worldwide.

I picked up one of your dog packs from REI a few nights ago.  I had previously tried to take the cheap route and bought a $25 off-brand pack from eBay.  On our first trip out our dog Perrin did his usual thing of running ahead about 50 yards to scout the trail and then doubled-back to check on us.  At that point he was dragging the cheap pack by one strap because the other 3 had already broken, less than a third of a mile into the hike!  At that point I knew I had to pony up and purchase a quality pack.

We field tested the Mountainsmith pack today  on the Trabuco Canyon Trail in Orange County, CA, and it passed with flying colors.  Perrin is an aggressive trail dog and doesn’t always stay on the path.  Your pack had a great snug fit and never waivered or showed signs of shifting throughout all his off trail adventures and flat out trail-sprinting.  Great pack!

Regards,
Jeff Nelson

Check out the rest of the USA Christmas List!

Trekking poles are something you just might not think to buy for yourself, but wouldn’t it be fun to find them peeking out of your stocking on Christmas morning?  These Mountainsmith RHYOLITE Trekking Poles are a really pretty cobalt blue combining great design with practical need.  They are adjustable, which makes them very versatile, and they come with removable baskets.

The grips are comfortable, the poles are lightweight aluminum and they are very good looking (the photo does not do them justice at all), and would make a great and unexpected gift.

Check out the rest of the list from GreenWala!

THE PITCH: Traveling with your dog and looking for an easy way to carry their food, bowls, toys treats in one easy bad with plenty of room left over, if so you need to invest in the Mountainsmith K-9 Cube for your next vacation. Mountainsmith designs high-level performance backpacks, lumbar packs, travel storage, camera bags. luggage and even incredible K-9 Cube.

THE TEST: Over the past two months I have moved across the country to setup a Mountain Weekly News branch in Washington outside of the Mt Baker Ski Area. Living out of my truck, random hotels and bouncing between new locations in Washington has been a challenge at times, everything was disaster aside from my dogs pack. Our new Mountainsmith K-9 cube could not have come at a better time.

The K-9 cube features zippered sides that fold down creating a nice eating area and drop down food tray with collapsible water and food bowls. I have used the bowls daily for the last 2 months without any issues. The other side comes with a soft Frisbee and room for paper work. Inside the cube is divided in two with a removable food pouch. I was able to fit about 2-3 days of food in the pouch, or 10 days in the entire K-9 Cube (about 40 cups).

THE JURY VERDICT: The K-9 Cube is the best gift you could ever buy a dog lover, would even work for cats to. Everything you could ever need for your furry friend is included in this smart bag from Mountainsmith. With a FREE TWO DAY SHIPPING from Backcountry.com we highly recommend one of these for the holiday season.

RATING: 5.0