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Mountainsmith Roots Collection

Austin Parker
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Mountainsmith
Image used with permission by copyright holder
They just don’t build packs like they used to. With ultralight fabrics, high tech harnesses and more features than you can count, modern packs are heavy on advancement, but sometimes form gets lost in all the function. Our friends at Mountainsmith took that to heart with their new Roots Collection, recreating some of their early 1990’s classics, albeit with updated materials and features for the backcountry or urban explorer. If you’ve been combing the thrift stores for that perfectly aged vintage pack,  search no further. With one of these excellent bags, you’ll get the vintage design, modern comfort, and get to put your own patina on it for years to come.

Related: Pack It In: Summer Car Camping | The Best Backpacks of 2016 

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Grand Tour $100

Grand Tour
Originally designed as a side-country ski pack, the Grand Tour is a classic rucksack clamshell design. In 2016 it sees an upgraded side-access padded laptop pouch, as well as dual side mesh pockets for when you’re not lashing skis to the sides. At nineteen liters, it is perfectly sized for day-long adventures whether you’re exploring deep snow or urban concrete.

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Adventure Office Messenger Bag $120

Adventure Office
If you’re like us, you probably can’t make that last commitment of a dedicated briefcase or attache to finally admit that you have a nine to five job in a respectable office. If you’re holding on to your dirtbag outdoors roots, the Adventure office bag is your connection to days when your daily commute was a little more rugged. It features all the hallmarks of a top notch travel bag – separate pouches for laptop, boarding pass, and electronics organization as well as attachment to a rolling bag – in a much more durable package. The 610-d cordura outer fabric will take a serious beating – think years of abuse. The inner fabric is a contrast yellow, helping you find your daily essentials with ease.

Wizard $140

Wizard
For longer adventures, the Wizard is a classic top loader inspired by Mountainsmith’s venerable climbing pack of the same name. This time around you can still haul that sixty meter rope, but extra organization as well as a hidden laptop sleeve make this pack more useful as an all-around gear hauler for weekend use. The air-mesh back panel and side carry luggage handle make this pack an excellent option for road trippers who are constantly on the move. Like the other packs in the collection, burly Cordura fabric will make this pack a mainstay for all your adventure travel needs.

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Austin Parker
Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
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