Nike ACG Karst Backpack – Great Multi-Purpose Backpack

Austen Beason

The Nike ACG Karst Backpack $100 is a great multi-purpose backpack for day trips up your favorite trail and running errands around town.  The Karst is built with durable materials for longevity, plenty of pockets and clip points to carry what you need, and fully adjustable waist and shoulder straps to fit most body types. I’ve been using the Karst as my daily commuter-work pack as well as for quick hikes and climbs around home and have been super pleased.

The Karst is loaded with features and adjustability. I’ve not been able to find an official volume measurement for the Karst, however in comparison with some of my other packs and personal experience, I’d put the Karst somewhere in the 20-25 liter capacity range (~1200-1500 in.3). This volume is split between 3 zippered compartments, a front pocket with an internal Velcro accessories pocket, a main compartment in the middle zip with an inside zippered mesh pocket, and a back laptop carry-esque compartment also with two inside pockets. Additionally, there are zippered hip pockets on each side.

Adding to the carrying capacity, there are a few external attachments points to work with. Running down the center of the main face of the pack is a sewn daisy chain with a complementary ACG triangle carabiner, great for clipping a water bottle to. On each side of the pack as well as the bottom, are two compression straps each, that are great for attaching things like sleeping pads-bags, or whatever bulky item you might need.

The padding and suspension on the Karst seems to match the intended loads this pack should see on most day treks. The shoulder straps and back panel both have modest pads running their lengths, while the waist wings and belt are unpadded. That being said, the waist belt is adjustable to different waist sizes/types via the main webbing belt as well as rear wing adjusters. For all of my outings I felt the padding was adequately comfortable and the pack was well secured while I moved through rough and steep terrain.

To round out the Karst’s adventure capability, the pack is built with a nylon-polyester blend that is water and abrasion resistant. It’s winter in Colorado now as I’ve been testing out the Karst, so I’ve not been out in any rain, however I’ve had no problems or concerns with tossing the pack down into the snow and keeping my gear dry; the material seems to shed moisture and dirt well. Furthermore, the pack still looks great after a few days of shoving sharp ice climbing gear into a fully loaded pack. Time will tell of course, but so far the Karst is holding up great.

If you’re looking for a pack that can handle big days exploring the hills as well as it does cruising around town, the Nike ACG Karst backpack is an excellent choice.

See Austen’s review on the Nike ACG Gore-Tex Misery Ridge here.

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Austen Beason

A transplant of the Midwest, Austen immigrated to the promised land of western Colorado in 2012 in search of good climbing, deep snow, quality rivers, and a college degree when his goofing off allowed. He learned pretty quick the difference quality gear can make on the outcome of a day (or days) in the mountains and began looking for the best gear to abuse.

In the summer Austen is an avid whitewater kayaker, bouncing his boat down the steep, rocky waterways of Colorado, trad climber in search of the route less traveled, and works as a federal river ranger along the Gunnison River. During the winter Austen spends his time telemarking around the backcountry of western Colorado and working as a ski patroller up on the continental divide.

Austen says, “A hundred days of skiing and paddling each per year and you’ll figure out what is wrong or right with your equipment, especially when your lively-hood depends on it.” Austen also has his American Avalanche Association Professional Level 1 avalanche certification, EMT-B, and ACA swift-water rescue cert, as well as a member of the Search and Rescue team in Gunnison County for 6 years.