With the summer weather finally beginning to come around in Michigan, I’ve started to gather the gear I’ll need for several camping and backpacking trips in the coming months. High Sierra recently sent me the women’s Piton 30 Frame Pack to review for ActionHub, which is big enough to handle a day trip or one-night trip, but probably too small for anything longer than that. A pack was one of the few items remaining on my list of gear to purchase, so I was anxious to give it a try during two preparatory half-day hikes.

The pack is promoted as a day pack, but I still found it to be a bit too large for what I needed, as I tend to go with something between the size of a small CamelBak and a traditional school backpack. Because I wasn’t testing the pack on overnight trips, I made sure to fill it with the same gear I would have taken on such a trip in order to provide a more well-rounded review. Once the weight was as close to what it would have been on an overnight trip, I set off on my first hike. Because it’s been a long winter and I haven’t done an overnight trip in some time, it was a good reminder about how much more challenging a hike is when you’re carrying a load of gear on your back. While it wasn’t near the amount someone would carry on a longer trek, it served as a remembrance nonetheless. I believe it would be easy enough to secure a small sleeping bag to the bottom of the pack, but I think a tent would be too much. This leaves me wondering about the ideal use for the Piton 30.

Before we move on, let’s take a look at the specs:

• Designed with a female-specific fit, this is a lightweight pack ideal for day trips.
• Top-load main compartment with gusseted drawstring closure and adjustable top lid.
• Padded backpack straps, with adjustable load lifters are constructed with HEX-VENT mesh.
• Adjustable sternum strap.
• Adjustable contoured aluminum frame bar.
• Molded foam back panel with AIRFLOW channels.
• Adjustable waist belt, with HEX-VENT mesh padding.
• Webbing daisy chain to attach other gear.
• Side and bottom compression straps.
• Soft lashing hardware holds ice ax/hiking poles.
• Side mesh pockets hold water bottles.
• Internal hydration reservoir sleeve and dual exit ports for tube (reservoir not included).
• Tuck-away rain cover also protects pack when checked for air travel.
• Capacity: 1830 cu. in.
• Weight: 2.9 lbs
• Body Dimensions: 23.25″ x 13.0″ x 8.0″

Carrying a pack while hiking is never what one would call comfortable, no matter how expensive or technical a brand you buy. But sooner than I had expected, my shoulders were feeling the pain. It wasn’t necessarily caused by the weight, but more so the material of the padded straps. The padding was wonderful and the edges of the straps didn’t dig into my shoulders, but the strap material began to irritate my skin after a few miles. I was wearing a thin-strapped workout tank, and that left my skin exposed to the straps. That, combined with temperatures in the low 70s and high humidity, may have been why the irritation occurred.

I didn’t notice any irritation with the waist strap, which is made of the same material, although none of my skin was exposed in that area. This waist strap was a great added bonus, as packs this size sometimes come without the feature. It helped me feel more secure while hiking on uneven ground and prevented the whole pack from shifting around often. Note: During my second round of testing, it was a cooler day in the low 60s and I wore a long-sleeved shirt, therefore I didn’t notice any irritation from the shoulder straps.

A bit of rain started to fall, which normally would have been enough to dampen one of my smaller, non-waterproof packs that are usually my go-to items for day trips. The Piton 30 held up in this regard, as the main compartment of the bag that stored the majority of the gear was protected by both the gusseted drawstring enclosure as well as the adjustable top lid. As far as rain protection goes, this is a great buy.

With the side mesh pockets and light weight, it’s perfect for beginning hikers who are planning a day hike or overnight hike with a friend (who would carry the tent, as this bag is a bit too small). It’s also one of the least expensive packs in its category, so buyers won’t feel like they’re breaking the bank while trying to stock up on new gear for an upcoming trip.

Main image courtesy High Sierra/Photo gallery images by Ariel Black