While outfitting the family for the annual trek to the Freedom Festival balloon launch and parade on July 4, 2008 in Provo, Utah, I was scrambling to find the right backpack to fit all the food, drinks and gear. Some things needed to stay cold and others didn’t. So, some quick thinking turned me to the High Sierra Guide 3200 pack and things turned out perfectly.
With a myriad of pockets and extensive fit adjustments (for myself and my wife), the High Sierra Guide 3200 backpack is a great pack with a very flexible attitude. At 32 liters, this pack is a perfect in-betweener size. If you were going super-lightweight, it could work as an overnight pack, but it’s best suited for an all-day pack to carry lots of stuff in style.
I ended up turning the pack into a walking cooler. The back pocket has a mesh inner pocket, which held a Ziploc baggie full of ice cubes–perfect for keeping the contents of the pack cool. Because the pack materials are thick and durable and the food was sandwiched between the bag of ice cubes and the thick padding on the frame, the food stayed nice and cold.
In the end, the kids had a great time at the early-morning balloon launch and the parade was a success. We enjoyed breakfast, snacks and lunch with everything kept nice and cold inside the pack.
The Guide 3200 is comfortable and fits well. With an MSRP of $180, the price of entry is a bit steep, but the street price is typically half that price. Do a google search to find the best deal on the High Sierra Guide 3200 pack.
Features of the High Sierra Guide 3200 Backpack:
- 32 Liter size
- Hydration-compatible
- ERGO-FIT shoulder harness is super flexible and easy to adjust
- Pockets galore–even comes with a cell phone/radio holster
- Tuck-away rain cover for inclement weather
- A-frame ski carrying loops
- Ice axe loop and daisy chains for attaching gear
- Available in three colors: Black, Blue, Orange
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