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Osprey Variant 37

Osprey's web site claims "The Variant 37 offers superb carry and a versatile volume for a variety of vertical endeavors." Over the past two years I have found this statement to be 100% accurate. I have used the Variant as a crag pack, summit pack, and even a three day overnight stuff-it-beyond-its-37-litter-capacity backpack and it's done it all without complaint. It has attachment points for skis, ice tools, racks of pro and more.


The materials are solid and I've had no rips tears or blow outs and I am not easy on my gear. The hip belt is wide, comfortable and supportive. And there are enough cinching down and opening up options on this pack to turn it into whatever type of pack you need it to be.


My complaints... All those adjustments leave lots of red nylon webbing waving in the breeze like prayer flags over a Tibetan monastery. The shoulder straps, hip belt, and back panel are made to not soak up water or hold snow (a good thing!), so they don't breath very well (a bad thing). There is no hip belt pocket. And lastly there are no water bottle pockets on this pack.

Now these gripes are minor and some of them are even reasons to love this pack. I'd hate to discourage you from getting a Variant because it was doing what it was made to do because, honestly, I love this backpack. The picture of me on Mt. Moran shows just how much stuff you can cram into it, even though it's really designed as a climbing pack. 30lbs.? No problemo!


10 out of 10 for being able to do so many things so well. 8 out of 10 for how well it does each of those individual things.

The Naturist Wears An Osprey

La Sportiva Gandas

I've been sporting the La Sportiva Gandas since back when it was still called the Gandalf, and I have to tell you that this damn shoe, is in my estimation, the best approach-and-then-keep-right-on-climbing shoe made. Even if I have no idea what a Ganda is... Approach shoes tend to be either more approach, or more climb - the Ganda definitely sits more on the climb side of the fence, but not so far over the line that 5 miles hikes are out of the question.

The front of the shoe is slip lasted (think ballerina slipper) while the rear is board lasted (think stiff as a...). The front end is precise, tight, and enables front pointing easily into 5.9 territory. The only reason this shoe can work double duty as a hiker is because of the extended lacing. Torque down your toes and send away. Loosen the laces, and walk off. I've climbed sport routes, trad Gunks routes, Grand Teton, Mt. Moran, and some other mountains in these shoes and they have never let me down - as long as I followed the simple rule that I never try to push too far past 5 miles of hiking in them. They are, after all La Sportiva tight in the toes, even with the laces backed off.

Do you get what you pay for? Absolutely. The leather is fine grained and supple. The rubber is still solid and shows no signs of de-lamination. The upper is soft and holds your foot like a (and I really hate to say this, but it's true!) like a glove. Get a pair in your true shoe size and I think you'll be happiest. The yellow is still bright and cheerful after all this time. The sticky Vibram dot rubber outsole (which works perfectly), however, is about ready for a re-sole. But keep in mind I climbed in these shoes a lot.

I am waiting for THE shoe you can hike 20 miles with a 30lbs. pack on in, and still have all your toes in the same positions and the same colors as when you started out. That shoe will get a 10. This shoe gets a 9.

Next time we'll talk about Osprey's Variant Backpack.