If I were shopping for pants online and came across the above picture, I’d just scroll on by. I don’t really understand the idea of using unflattering pictures for gear, especially for pants like this pair, which are really nice and look really good. That’s why I chase down these pieces for review; you never really know until you get your hands on them.

When I asked Mountain Hardwear if I could try them out, they almost didn’t want to send them because this pant is evidently a staple of their collection and, as their PR staff put it, the Winter Wander Pants “don’t need any help.” They usually like me to focus on new product. But I begged, because I really want to help you readers find better pants, since you’re always asking me about it. And I’m sure glad I did, because these are indeed a great pair of pants.

A few caveats, though. The Winter Wander pants are a pretty basic softshell. They are designed to “shed water and snow” but I don’t think I’d wear them in precipitation; the finish is just not durable enough. I also don’t use them for very cold weather; brisk fall days (Alaska-style brisk; into the low 30s/upper 20s, maybe, though I wore them last week in low 20s and they did OK for a short time) are the most they can handle unless you are really exerting yourself. That said, I do really like these pants and have been using them this winter, but usually with a long coat or down skirt to add a little extra warmth on my legs since the pants are just a little too thin. I might try wearing them as a midlayer while skiing, because they’re cut slim enough to fit under other pants.

The fit is why I like them so much. They fit like jeans; nice low rise, slim cut around the hips and legs, and a flare at the hem. I wear them with my big winter boots and pull the pants down over the boots, which keeps the snow out. Even my stylist (remember her?) said they looked really cute and she usually clucks at me for wearing outdoorsy stuff. They’re great for wearing around town on stormy days because they barely look like snow pants at all. The softshell fabric is pretty thin which is why they’re not particularly warm, but that’s also why they’re so flattering. I love the design and the fit, though, and I’d like to see this fit tried out with a tougher and warmer softshell material.

They fit pretty true to size in my experience and I believe they come in a short length if you’re not willowy and tall. I am pretty average height and the regular length is perfect for me. They’re not the warmest or the toughest, but they’re pretty good and I hope that MHW saves the design to use with other, warmer materials.

It’s been a long time since I changed up my jacket situation. There are tons of great waterproof-breathable jackets out there so it does take a lot to catch my notice. Dry-Q is MHW’s new fabric that promises to be so breathable that I wouldn’t experience that uncomfortable overheating sensation before the breathability kicked in. Honestly, every time I’ve overheated I’ve just taken my jacket off, so I’ve no idea whether normal waterproof-breathable jackets really do start venting better once you get heated up. The only time I put on a waterproof-breathable is when it’s actively precipitating anyway; for everything else I wear softshells. So it was a bit of a leap of faith to take this jacket straight out backcountry skiing in our sub-zero November to see how it performed. Funny how, although it’s my job to test stuff out, I don’t like doing it when I’m doing sports I really like, because who likes to flail around with new stuff when you could be having fun?

However, I had really loved the fit of this jacket, which was quintessential MHW perfect; slim in the body, just-shy-of-hip length, and roomy sleeves and shoulders. I cringed at the white color, knowing that the very second I touched it it was going to turn dirty brown, but if they send white stuff, that’s just the way it goes. It feels like a sort of modified softshell and I figured I should try it out in real conditions. Sadly (not) the weather did not cooperate and it was clear and sunny when we set out, no precip to be had.

It was super cold, probably a few digits below zero when we started out, but I like to work hard going uphill so I opted to wear just a base layer with this jacket on top. I could not believe how perfect it was even for that cold weather. I never got too hot and never really got cold. Neutral, unchanging core temperature the entire time. That felt pretty awesome! Since then I’ve made the Dry-Q Elite my go-to for backcountry and it’s done well every time. Bear in mind that I’ve only worn it in reasonable conditions, nothing really insane in terms of precip yet. I don’t know that I’d be able to stack a ton of layers underneath it because it is pretty slim in the torso; maybe just a low-pro puffy, but I think that good fit contributes to its performance, breathability-wise. Baggy stuff just doesn’t breathe as well, and it’s a constant problem finding stuff that has the right fit to maximize performance while allowing flexibility in layers. I also don’t like it when jackets are too long in the arms and that’s what happens if I go up a size, especially in MHW. However, fit is individual so use your own judgment there.

I’m pretty impressed at how relatively clean the white stays; probably whatever finish they use on the jacket helps to repel stains somewhat. I don’t see white as an option at any retail outlets so maybe that’s just a special sample color or something. I spent some time the other day thrashing around in a deadfall and I was surprised that the jacket came out of that relatively unscathed; I kind of expected some punctures but it held up really well and didn’t even get that dirty. Other minor features just solidify the jacket as a good solid choice: it’s got inner cuffs that really ratchet up the comfort factor; since the cuffs are built in you don’t have to mess with keeping the snow out and they’re soft and comfortable against your skin. I took the powder skirt out because of the fuss factor, but there is one if you like that sort of thing. There’s a few inner pockets and the handwarmer pockets are nice and roomy. I didn’t think I could be impressed by a jacket this much anymore, but I’m glad that Mountain Hardwear can still prove me wrong.

Best price on this jacket right now is 30% off at $294 on rei.com, pretty damn good.

You’re probably getting my point; that tall folks or people with high ape indexes will fit this shirt fine, and they’re lucky because it’s a great piece. Super warm and toasty, it’s got an unusually soft texture (probably why it’s got “butter” in the name) and is very quick-drying. It’s simple, with a 1/3 zip (mandatory for any base layer if you ask me) and one simple pocket down by the lower rib cage area. Sadly for me, I can’t really wear it very comfortably because the sleeves are way, way, way too long. I usually endorse adding a little extra length to sleeves because clothes aren’t usually small enough in the body and long enough in the arms for me – I have to settle for too-short sleeves or too-baggy torsos – so this is the first time ever that I think an item has sleeves that are too long. Even the hem of this piece is bordering on too long for me. the good news is that it fits nicely in the torso so you long and lean chicas will be happy with this one.

I’m 5’5″ so I’m not super itty bitty, so I’d say that this piece is probably best for women 5’7″ and above, or just very long-limbed. At least make sure to try it on before you buy to make sure you’ll like the fit. Other reviews have stated that the fit is spot-on, so it’s possible that my Butter Zippity is suffering from sample-itis, which is what happens when samples get sent to media and are changed a bit before they’re mass produced. If anyone has their hands on a retail version of this shirt, please weigh in on the fit.

If you just wanna roll the dice, you can order it at Backcountry.com for $69.

I’ve tried every iteration of this base layer now, and I’m a total believer. I know, after 350 reviews I just kind of cut to the chase these days. Because I didn’t go to OR last summer, and MHW has changed up their PR crew, I got a pile of these to try but without guidance ended up kind of left in the dark about what they are made of and how to use them. Some people are snotty about whether manufacturer feedback should be important to a tester, but I think it’s super valuable. Did I mention I have 350 reviews under my belt now? I’ve found that learning what the product is made to do is really vital. How else can I pass that information on to you fine people? In this case, though, I had little to go on. I figured it might be kind of cool to just give them a try, see what I thought, and THEN do the research. Totally intentional.

After a few months of blind-ish testing, this is what I wear when I want to make sure I can be warm when I need to throw on a layer. What, I’m the only one who doesn’t use base layers as base layers? Can’t be true. The Integral series is so thin that it was hard to trust it at first, but I soon learned that I’d be sweating if I misjudged the temperature so I started bringing the Integral tops along as midlayers since it’s not cold enough to need them as base yet. My favorite is the Zip T (I think any shirt without at least a 3/4 zip should be illegal) though I expect to use the L/S version when the weather really gets cold and I don’t have to climb or anything (good excuse for an actual resort day, someday).

So I liked this base layer. It wasn’t until I sat down and started writing this review that I looked up the composition. I was surprised to find it is 65% merino (wool) and 35% polyester. I must say that I’m not a huge wool fan; I usually find it clammy, itchy, weirdly slippery, and not all that warm. I sometimes shy away from reviewing it because so many people love it; I figure it must be just a preference and as wool is clearly not my preference, it’s unfair to say I don’t like a product just because it’s wool. This is the first wool product that has made me think “oh…THAT’S what they mean when they say they like it.”

I shouldn’t really surprised about the wool composition, because the Integrals have that weird warm-but-not-warm way about them, but since it really did trend to the warm I liked them. It must be the high polyester content that keeps them from being itchy and clammy. They aren’t at all wind resistant but that is probably what keeps them breathable. If you are actually using them as a base layer rather than an outer- or mid-layer, like I do, this won’t matter to you (the lack of wind-resistance, I mean). The product info says that the underarm panels are 100% polyester to allow for breathability, which, given my experience with the garment, makes total sense. I tend to get warm at the areas covered by the merino blend, while not in the underarms, which was a weird sensation and took some getting used to, but was kind of awesome once I did.

Typical to most upper body Mountain Hardwear, the fit is really nice. Sleeves long enough, cut trim with ample room in upper arms, and long enough in the torso to either tuck in securely or stay put easily. I say “most” Mountain Hardwear, because lately they can’t seem to match up their jacket designs with their base and mid layer designs – all the sleeves on the jackets are much too short and the jacket torsos could use a few millimeters as well.

Unfortunately the tights are not engineered quite as well. The fabric is great but the fit has some problems; again, common to wool because it doesn’t hold its shape. Because of that (I assume), MHW put in a big elastic waistband, but made it too loose so the drawers will droop in short order. I hardly ever wear the tights for that reason. It’s a real shame because the fabric is technically quite good. The fit of the tights seems to be a lazy mistake that is not typical of MHW. I’m usually not a drawstring fan but a drawstring would have helped out, here. Still, there are body types that might do OK with this design so they are worth trying on; just count on the fact that if the waistband is even a little bit loose, it’s just going to get looser.

An excellent base layer that is much warmer than you will think when you pick it up. Buy it at Backcountry.com by clicking here.

I sent these gloves to petite Irene because they were too small for me. I did hang onto them for a while, hoping that my hands would become magically smaller, because I loved the gloves and wanted to wear them; they looked great for ice climbing. When it was time to send Irene a shipment, though, I gave in and included them since she’ll get more use out of them. Here’s what she reports:

The Mountain Hardwear Epic Glove for Women. The manufacturer says: “Designed for a woman’s smaller hands, a windproof, and waterproof, breathable glove for all backcountry sports. Brushed lining adds warmth and wicks moisture. Durable, high grip, synthetic palm.”

Well, my first response to a woman’s sized S/P glove is to run the other way. Though my hands are small, petite, with long thin fingers, unlike a man’s thicker hand and small stubby fingers, so when I shop for gloves I usually head to the men’s department. Quite a switch for me, shopping in the men’s department is mostly a no for myself. I stray towards more room in finger gloves primarily so my fingers do not get cold from being too constricted, same idea as for fitting shoes/boots: it is generally prudent to have a little more wiggle room, and, never snug.

Surprise! These gloves fit like a… well, “like a glove”, imagine that. Who would have thunk it? Certainly not me. These gloves fit my fingers and hands well, not too tight, comfortable, just right.

In early spring (that’s still cold in these parts) these gloves kept my fingers warm and I had the satisfaction of them also being a nice protective layer while roller blading. These are now my standard glove for my roller blading pack. The area I travel a lot is always windy, and quite often raining, these gloves are wonderful for these conditions. The outer layer is 100% nylon, the inner layer is 100% polyester, and for some reason, known to the manufacturer, they do breathe well. As I think about the winds I face heading home from the Glacier I just came up with a brilliant idea while writing this review. If I start my trek at the Glacier, instead of the beginning of the 8-mile road, I could perhaps skate into the wind going out, and have the wind to my back coming home? But then, this would add an additional 16 miles of driving my rig, darned it, I want it all. Brilliant idea turns into a dilemma, well; at least I have the gloves to suit my needs. Wish I had a second pair for my daypack, and a third pair for my backpack. I find that when I start switching gear from pack to pack, something gets lost in the shuffle, I am spoiled, and that is a good thing. (I do the same – where the HELL is my Down Shirt????) -HG

There is a simple to use clip to keep these gloves together when not being used. Unlike some clips that are a pain to undo, this clip is simple and works well. A small Velcro closure at the opening helps to open the gloves at the writs/arm a little wider making it easy to get the glove on and off. These gloves extend 2 inches above the wrist, easy to wear under a coat. Guess I’ll have to stop and smell the roses a bit more in the women’s glove department, funny how you can be so set in your ways, only to have someone prove you wrong, thank you Mountain Hardwear.

Priced at $59.95 at backcountry.com. Probably some good sales coming up one of these days too.

I have loved my Fluid 10 pack for mountain biking, so I was stoked to try a larger version of a Fluid pack to see how I liked it. Unfortunately, the pack is not sized for smaller torsos like mine, so I shipped it off to Amy Jurries at thegearcaster.com since she’s taller than me. Sounds like she had a good time with the pack – and the pack had a good time too, since it got to go to Italy!

Here’s what Amy had to say:

The Fluid 32 from Mountain Hardwear is a lightweight, top-loading pack that can be used for everything from day hiking, climbing, or summit bids, to multi-day ultralight backpacking trips. I was excited to test out the pack during my multi-sport Dolomites adventure as it reminds me a lot of one of my favorite fast and light packs, the Black Diamond Speed Pack.

The single, roomy, 32 Liter main compartment enables you to pack in a ton of gear with good stuffing technique. The quick drawstring closure system takes awhile to get used to, but when you do, makes opening and closing the pack quick and easy to do with one hand.

The Fluid 32 is hydration compatible with a separate zippered pouch to keep any spilled water away from the rest of your gear. A full hydration bladder will take up quite a bit of space inside the pack so keep that in mind when planning your load.

A wide front pocket is perfect for securely storing your climbing helmet, climbing shoes, or an even extra layer such as your rain jacket. The fixed top lid, with multiple zippered storage pockets, fastens to this front pocket using a hook versus a normal buckle closure. In theory this makes opening the lid quicker and easier, but unless the Fluid 32 is completely full, this hook comes undone, flapping around the back of your pack.

Two zippered pockets on the hipbelt are convenient for storing your snacks, lip balm, and even a small camera for the day. Mountain Hardwear has recently gone minimalist with their hipbelts, to the detriment of many the female wearer. The padding tends to stop right on top of your hipbones with a thin piece of webbing and buckle completing the belt. Not only does this usually leave you with an unwelcome muffin top when the hipbelt is tight, but bruised or blistered hipbones by the end of the day. All the female guides I know who use Mountain Hardwear packs have switched out the hipbelts for older models.

The Fluid 32 features Mountain Hardwear On-The-Fly compression straps that enable you to cinch the pack in closer to your body by using pull handles at the end of the long, zigzagged webbing running down the side of the pack. This compression system keeps the pack from bouncing if you are running along the trail or gives you’re a nice low profile for climbing. Once pulled tight however, the handles and excess webbing hang down below your pack and tend to get caught on rocks or any other protruding object.

The breathable spacer mesh back panel uses air channels to help ventilate and keep your back cool and comfortable during hot days outside. The lightweight shoulder straps are padded with perforated foam to further help with ventilation.

Two stretch side pockets can hold full size water bottles if you don’t like using a hydration bladder. An ice axe loop and tie downs are convenient for storing your trekking poles if you are using the pack for hiking or backpacking. If you are out on a multi-day adventure, the bottom of the Fluid 32 includes two buckled tie downs to hold your tent or sleeping pad.

Both my husband and I were actually able to use this unisex pack as we have somewhat similar torso lengths. There is enough adjustability in the hipbelt and shoulder straps that we both could wear the pack comfortably.

Overall, the Mountain Hardwear Fluid 32 is a comfortable and extremely lightweight pack that provides tons of storage room for gear, whatever your outdoor activity.

I think this pack is really nicely priced at $129 retail, and you can get it here at backcountry.com.

The picture above links to Backcountry.com which will give me a tiny commission if you buy the pants from them. I hope you do, because commissions are sweet!

These pants are not impervious to bleach, as I am sadly aware. I reveal this because it could be possible that I haven’t exactly treated these pants with kid gloves, which is a shame because I really like them. I think they are meant to be climbing pants, based on the fact that they have a little rear-leg pocket for something or other, but I only use them for around-the-house/lounging pants. I hate that they have a bleach spot now because if I wear them anywhere else I look like I live in a trailer court. Bah.

For climbing, they’d be all right. They’re made of stretchy cotton (like sweatpants) so they are not abrasion-resistant. For a climber who might occasionally throw a knee on a hold (not me, no never!) they’d wear through pretty quickly. For a gym climber they would work out a little better, I’d think. I’ll try them the next time I make my annual pilgrimage to the climbing gym and let you know.

I really liked these pants when I got them in this season’s sample shipment from Mountain Hardwear. They were so cute and comfortable and perfect; with a lowish rise and a nice conical wide waistband that was so comfy and flattering. However, in the time I’ve been wearing them, the waist has stretched out a bit and now I can get a bit of a sag going. That’s not quite as flattering, as you might expect. They might work better for a person with a smaller hip-waist ratio, but in general I’d advise buying a size smaller than usual and just going with that. If they are a bit tight at first, they’ll loosen up. The main draw of the High Step pants is that they are so comfortable you won’t even believe it. Oh, and if you get bleach on them you can color them back in with a matching Sharpie.

Fast forward four years and it occurs to me that it would be nice to not have to use my base layer as my outer shirt when I stop by to get pizza and beer after skiing. It would also be nice to wear normal clothes on some occasions. I’m not a shopper, though, so how was I to know where to even start with figuring out what normal clothes to get? I have a pretty good sense of what looks good on me in business wear and my closet is pretty much limited to the power suit section and the ski/climb/hike section. I needed an in-between, but the racks and racks of lifestyle clothes were too daunting for me to even start.

Mountain Hardwear to the rescue! MHW churns out new lifestyle pieces pretty regularly, and so far they’re all pretty awesome. I thought I’d share with you some of my favorites from recent months. I love them because the fit is always reliable and they have a knack for making attractive pieces that don’t make the more “mature” crowd I belong to look like they’re trying to be 22 again. Attractive AND age-appropriate is a tough line to walk but I think MHW does it well for the most part.

The Pandra Long Sleeve was the first non-tech piece I tried. Interestingly, it’s a wool blend so I suppose it could be used as a moderately technical piece as well, but it’s definitely styled as a fashion piece with its shirt-within-a-shirt design with a peekaboo-style neck. I think it would be extra cool if the inner shirt were a different color than the outer shirt, but it’s still very attractive the way it is. I love this shirt for its form-fitting-yet-not-overly-sexual cut and the lovely soft fabric.

The Vina sweater is new this year and is just lovely. It’s a tightly-woven sweater styled as a hoodie, complete with kangaroo pocket. The sleeves are really cool; cut a little longer on the outside than on the inside, so you get a nice handwarmer effect. There are thumbholes but they aren’t as intrusive as they usually are, you can easily get away without using them. I’d personally prefer the sleeves be a bit shorter and without thumbholes, but that’s just a personal preference. I got this in a rich cranberry color and I love it. Taller ladies might wish it were a little longer, and I think it could use an extra inch in the hem, too, but that’s not an issue if you are 5’5″ or shorter.

Back to the shirt-within-a-shirt theme: the Butter Button Up has similar styling as the Pandra, but with a few extra contrasting details. I suspect the “butter” in the name has to do with the fabric, which is so soft it feels like bunny fur. This one is also new this season and it appears to be pretty much sold out everywhere so you know it must be good. Like the Pandra, it has technical aspects including a wicking finish, so it could reasonably be worn hiking or climbing if you were so inclined.

Once again – thumbholes – okay, kind of sick of the thumbholes now. For a tech piece they have occasional merit, but on a fashion piece I think they are just pointless and, honestly, kind of annoying. They always end up cutting into the meat of my palm and getting in my way. I also want to eat my burger without dripping aioli all over the ends of the sleeves because they are so long. So, although I love this shirt, I could do without thumbholes on every single shirt. Thumbholes are supposed to be for keeping your sleeves in place while you pull gloves on, but on shirts like this it’s obvious they are just supposed to be “cute” and I’m in my late 30s. I do not want to be “cute.” I’m no Rory Gilmore and I’ll keep it that way. Sitting in a restaurant with your sleeves pulled down over your hands is an affectation that I’ll leave to the 12 year olds. When every damn thing has thumbholes you end up with an insane bunch of fabric at your wrists when you layer.

I’m not afraid to restyle, though, so I’ve taken to cutting the thumbholes off most shirts that come with them and just hemming the sleeves up to a more reasonable length. I’ll likely do that with the Butter Button Up but I’ll leave the ones on the Vila. The difference? The Vila sleeves are long enough that the thumbholes don’t cut into my hands and they’re easy to push out of the way. The sleeves are loose so they don’t bunch at my wrists if I don’t use the thumbholes. I do notice that many people love the thumbholes, so make up your own mind on that one.

Does anyone else buy the same shirt or dress in multiple colors? Just me? Oh.

Oh, Mountain Hardwear. You have a way with the jackets. Has there ever been a MHW jacket that I haven’t liked? No. So why keep reviewing them? Because MHW jackets just keep getting better and better and although I could just give a blanket endorsement, it’s more fun to test them all out. Besides, some day they just might make a mistake, and what a scoop that would be! Just kidding, of course.

Latest is the Geist jacket, which has actually been out about a year or so. I was hesitant to review it because of what I mentioned above – I figured it was just another awesome light jacket from Mountain Hardwear. And it is. But it’s so much more! The Geist is designed for exertion in chilly temps, naturally, but not too chilly. We’re talking upper thirties and forties, here. It’s a range that is hard to hit, and one that none of my existing jackets covers as nicely as the Geist does. It’s a superlight, megabreathable wonder with tons of reflective accents, just made for falltime running outings. The fabric itself is breathable, and the jacket also has vents to let out the heat and moisture. It’s also warmer than you think – I tried for weeks to wear it when temperatures were in the low 50s, but had to ditch it every time. Now that temps are dipping into the 40s I’ve had the chance to use it – but it’s still too warm to actually run in it. As the mornings get frostier, this jacket’s going to get a workout.

So yeah, it’s technically killer as usually from MHW, and, also as usual, it is a stunner in regards to looks. It’s cut perfectly – not too long, not too short, with arms that actually fit an athletic woman who can pick up more than just a small hammer with her biceps. It stuffs into its own pocket as per usual these days. You’re crazy if you don’t get the hot red color but the grey works too. Yep, for the first time, I chose red over grey. Mark this day on your calendar. And get yourself a Geist. It’s flattering, sharp, and functional – getting to be pretty standard for Mountain Hardwear.

I have wanted to try this pack since I saw it at the 2009 MHW pack testing trip. This was the one that all the reviewers tried to pounce on first, because it’s small and no one wanted to carry heavy stuff. It’s small, narrow, and simple; seemingly perfect for mountain biking. I finally got around to asking Mountain Hardwear to send one for testing, and I’ve been using it as my mountain bike pack ever since. Despite a few drawbacks I really like it.

First of all, the fit is really good. It’s hard to find a small pack that is both narrow enough and short enough for a woman’s torso, and the Fluid 10 fits the bill. It’s very comfortable to wear and truly is great for mountain biking; it doesn’t shift around or interfere with the rider’s movement. It carries nicely and has comfortable straps. Even though it’s not an official “women’s” pack, the chest strap is set up to adjust high enough to not be uncomfortable for ladies. The straps and padding are designed to be comfortable on bare skin so you can rock the sports bra during hot days and not get chafed. This is important, believe me – I’ve had the backpack-mark on my lower back when I went with just a sports bra one day – ow, and, unattractive as well. There are tons of great features on the Fluid 10 – lots of reflective spots, really useful mesh pockets on the sides that are very secure yet accessible, and two hip belt pockets that require a bit of flexibility to access but are great for Gu packets, car keys, or other small items. There’s a fleece pocket, supposedly for sunglasses and delicate stuff, but I use mine for my tools so that I don’t lose them in the big compartment.

It can be hard to wrestle a hydration bladder into the pocket because the load lifter straps get in the way. This has been the source of some occasional frustration during time-critical preparation scenarios (read: I’m running late) and I’ve found that it’s almost a two person job. Once it’s in there, though, it is comfortable and doesn’t shift, bulge, or flop around, so I guess that’s all right. If I’m by myself, I try to fill the bladder when it’s already in the pocket, which so far has been successful but carries with it the risks of water spillage, so hopefully my luck will hold.

Everything on this pack is designed to be light – every strap does double duty as something to hold the pack on and something to compress the load. The waist strap hooks into the main pack to compress the bottom of the load, which makes it necessary to adjust the waist strap for sizing for different loads. This is easy though, so it’s not a detriment. The bungee cord on the outside serves as both an on-the-fly compression strap and a load adjusting system, via a kind of complicated hook system. This part, while helpful to keep the pack stable, can be kind of annoying when you want to get in and out of your pack quickly. I can live with it, though, and if your pack is full, you don’t need to use the hooks so it’s not an issue.

Speaking of a full pack, this little wonder carries more than I thought it would. I can comfortably pack for a day’s mountain bike ride, with 100 oz of water, snacks, and enough layers for a descent in 35 degree conditions. Disclaimer: I use plastic bags for layering, so I might be cheating here. But seriously, this pack carries enough stuff for a day hike for any reasonable person. The designers (who I, like, personally have met and everything) put a lot of thought into the MHW packs and it shows with all the details and features that add up to one great little pack.