Boreas Bootlegger Outdoor Backpacks

I fell in love with the idea of having a single comfy suspension frame to split between 3 specific and awesome packs.After using the suspension with the Hopper daypack for 10 days straight of winter hiking I'd consider this a great pack overall, it just doesn't have an adjustable suspension system. Pull the webbing to "adjust" the suspension and it's straight and flat, release the webbing, it's straight and flat, push on the frame and pull the webbing, it's straight and flat with the bonus that you popped the pack off of the suspension, so now you have to figure out how to get the metal tabs on the suspension re-inserted into the fabric pockets on the pack. I could never get it to do anything but squeak a bit and remain in its natural flat state.If you're planning on using the hip belt for longer than ~2 hours, you may want to investigate either adding padding to the existing unit, or finding a pack with something more comfortable. The thin webbing on this pack is ill suited for carrying weight on your hip/ pelvis as it quickly rubs uncomfortably against you. Layering for winter weather helped, but I ended up with discrete red lines rubbed raw into my skin every night after hiking.Although I was really excited for the idea and the design behind this pack, actually owning and using it was a let down. For the money, I'd rather have 2 packs that work vs 3 that use the same piece that's ineffective.

Really cool idea but the daypack slips off constantly. It's at the point where I'll just leave the bottom corner hanging off because it refuses to stay in its slot. Haven't used the other configurations as much but they seem to fit better

this is a great bag... innovative to have 3 bags in one system. Good quality, lightweight.

the only bag I would take should I be dying .... the best ever design that I was ever looking for ... but it could have some additional improvements or features. it's 95% perfect bag

Love it!

Update - February 2017After contacting Boreas I am sending this pack back.To be very clear while I loved this pack I can't keep using it. On the plus side the company themselves are really easy to work with.The pack itself overall was a great way for me to get back into backpacking. I grew up on it and lost my way so to speak. Seeing the kickstarter for this pack reminded me of what I was missing. I got back into camping, back into packing, etc etc. Overall the price point is actually less than I would think they need to charge for it.I think the pack slipping out of the metal hooks is a problem with my specific pack given the ratings from others. I did love walking with it for miles at a time. When the pack did slip it was held on by the straps and clips on the top so there is a safe guard if you run into the problems I did.Overall I really did love this pack. I'd recommend it to others along with the other packs from this company. It's a great company to buy from, they seem to really be into doing the right thing and taking care of their customers.Update - April 2016I am lowering my rating if this bag mostly because I continually comes apart while I am walking. Sucks as a bag goes.I have had this system for a while now. Overall the system is somewhat annoying at best. The frame continually pops out of the mid size bag if it has any amount of stuff in it. This is not fun when hiking or really anything else.The material on the outside is stretchy but hard to clean. I wish I had purchased the black bag for this, however I chose this color combo for visibility. It is attractive when you buy it.I cannot for the life of me figure out attaching a tent or sleeping bag or mat to this without it just being weird.The waist strap gets worse over time.The smaller bag and the waterproof one both hardly ever get used. Not a problem per se. Just how it is. The smaller bag does fit a 3 l water system fine but not much else.I would not buy this again, but I am glad to have supported a successful Kickstarter.--Original post below from years ago.I actually bought this through the kickstarter for it. The promo video was pretty promising, and overall it still does the job for what I needed it for (taking things to and from the office or as an overnight bag, etc.)The overall premise is pretty alright, but i find it more of a bother to switch the frame out than it's worth in a lot of cases. It's hard to insert the frame into place in some instances, so that's a problem so to speak. The real issue is that I'd like to be able to hook the smallest of the bags into the waterproof one and have it held securely, but there isn't a good way to do that.The top water proof pocket on the medium sized and small bag are both pretty snazzy and handy. The expandable pockets on the medium sized bag are great for easy access and do well at concealing. They expand to fit their contents, which works out great. That's where i will typically store things like trail mix and a water bottle. It would be nice if they had been a little bit roomier.I have yet to use the chain system, but that seems like it'll be fantastic when I do use it. There are ample areas to attach things on the medium sized bag, which frankly is the bag I use 95% of the time with the frame. If i had it to do all over again, I would probably just want a bag just like the medium sized one, without the detachable frame, and have been just as happy with a lower price tag.The hip belt sucks, frankly. i don't understand either, they have other packs with padding and pockets, why couldn't that have been done here? I don't know, just odd.The bottom looks like you could attach things to it with the cross hatch thing there, but that's just a logo.The bladder holder area could be padded better and double as a laptop holding area, which is what I use it for.Overall I can fit a voip phone and laptop and change of clothes for when I carry things to and from the office into the middle sized bag, and then if it's raining out I can pop it out of the frame, slide that bag into the larger water proof one, and pop that onto the frame. That's the theory at least. In practice there is no way to secure the bag inside the other bag, the clips inside are too small, so that leaves you with a lop sided weight.I fully intend on going kayaking/canoeing this fall with it, and I think it'll fair just fine out in the wilderness yet again. But for to and from the office it's good I just don't think I'd spend that money again if I had a chance to know about these limitations.