Comments on: Prepping a New Backpack — BCA Alp40 Goes Under the Knife (Alp 40) http://www.wildsnow.com/731/prepping-a-new-backpack-bca-alp40-goes-under-the-knife-alp-40/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:02:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/731/prepping-a-new-backpack-bca-alp40-goes-under-the-knife-alp-40/comment-page-1/#comment-25771 Lou Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:04:12 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=731#comment-25771 Tim, sorry to hear that. I'd heard of some stitching problems a few years ago but nothing since then. I wonder if you got old stock? Quality control really is tough for these companies, but they need to step up to the plate. I would trust that market forces would make that happen, but seems like that's an imperfect motivation. The backpack business is so ultra competitive it's ridiculous. On top of that, what sells backpacks for the most part is how they look on the rack in the store, rather than durability or lack of weight. Sigh. Tim, sorry to hear that. I’d heard of some stitching problems a few years ago but nothing since then. I wonder if you got old stock?

Quality control really is tough for these companies, but they need to step up to the plate. I would trust that market forces would make that happen, but seems like that’s an imperfect motivation. The backpack business is so ultra competitive it’s ridiculous. On top of that, what sells backpacks for the most part is how they look on the rack in the store, rather than durability or lack of weight. Sigh.

]]> By: TimBo http://www.wildsnow.com/731/prepping-a-new-backpack-bca-alp40-goes-under-the-knife-alp-40/comment-page-1/#comment-25769 TimBo Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:20:42 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=731#comment-25769 My Alp Stash 40 didn't survive its first four day ski tour (France and Italy) intact. The stash pockets on the belt are useful but the stitching into the pack on each side came away (whilst the belt itself remained fine). Not good. I have emailed my retailer with some photos and we will see how BCA responds. It's probably a design as well as manufacturing fault, in that there is no need for the stash pockets to be stitched into the pack itself. Otherwise the pack was great. Even the hydration system delivered without freezing. My Alp Stash 40 didn’t survive its first four day ski tour (France and Italy) intact. The stash pockets on the belt are useful but the stitching into the pack on each side came away (whilst the belt itself remained fine). Not good. I have emailed my retailer with some photos and we will see how BCA responds. It’s probably a design as well as manufacturing fault, in that there is no need for the stash pockets to be stitched into the pack itself. Otherwise the pack was great. Even the hydration system delivered without freezing.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/731/prepping-a-new-backpack-bca-alp40-goes-under-the-knife-alp-40/comment-page-1/#comment-10258 Lou Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:52:01 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=731#comment-10258 Thanks George! Thanks George!

]]> By: George http://www.wildsnow.com/731/prepping-a-new-backpack-bca-alp40-goes-under-the-knife-alp-40/comment-page-1/#comment-10255 George Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:58:45 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=731#comment-10255 tks Lou, my skis are light enough that your current mod will most likely work fine for me. On another note, I broke one of my dynafit comfort volcanos while on a recent trip and happy to see you've got excellent instructions on how to replace. Really appreciate all the great info available on your site. tks Lou, my skis are light enough that your current mod will most likely work fine for me. On another note, I broke one of my dynafit comfort volcanos while on a recent trip and happy to see you’ve got excellent instructions on how to replace. Really appreciate all the great info available on your site.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/731/prepping-a-new-backpack-bca-alp40-goes-under-the-knife-alp-40/comment-page-1/#comment-10247 Lou Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:54:46 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=731#comment-10247 George, what seems to work is to use one of the existing loops for the tails, then lash the upper part of the skis over far enough to angle the tails away from the back of your legs. I do wish the lower loop was a few inches over to the side, and might still do that mod. Not a big deal, just a matter of doing some sewing since I cut out the partition and won't have to worry about sewing through it. Last winter, on my Avalung pack I mounted a ski lash strap that was threaded through one of the shoulder strap attachments, as shown above for the Alp 40. This seems to work but only for lighter skis, as it does end up with the skis pulling more on one shoulder strap than the other. George, what seems to work is to use one of the existing loops for the tails, then lash the upper part of the skis over far enough to angle the tails away from the back of your legs. I do wish the lower loop was a few inches over to the side, and might still do that mod. Not a big deal, just a matter of doing some sewing since I cut out the partition and won’t have to worry about sewing through it.

Last winter, on my Avalung pack I mounted a ski lash strap that was threaded through one of the shoulder strap attachments, as shown above for the Alp 40. This seems to work but only for lighter skis, as it does end up with the skis pulling more on one shoulder strap than the other.

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