Found your video hoping to find out what the mystery buckle on the top was for. There are also a couple of small buckles inside of the shoulder strap right at the top making small loops. No idea. Maybe to hang something in or out of the back panel? Anyway, how are you liking it?
That strap at the top of the pack is for diagonal ski carry, or vertical snowboard carry. It’s removable if you don’t need either of those features. You can also remove it and replace it with a ski strap to use for carrying skis.
I returned the BCA shortly after I made this video and went with the Deuter Alproof 38+5 E2. I like it, but I did appreciate that the BCA was boxier / stuck out more from the front to back (the Deuter feels smaller with the top open as you're getting things out / putting things in; with the BCA, you could see inside the bag better and find what you are looking for more easily). Another nagging thing is due to my height - when I'm skinning, with the shoulder straps let out quite far due to my height (6'6") the chest strap goes right across the bottom of my throat. When I ski, I tighten down the shoulder straps so I don't have that problem, but it's a little annoying. That said, I don't regret my decision.
@@tpwheiner sounds good, I didn't like the top opening either. my coworker bought the 25L and it's of an exceptional size, possibly even 25L not including the air bag system. I was looking at the 45L as most avi packs don't account for the bag & pump so their packable volume is considerably less. The 35L might be just right for me.
@@Cowicide It really is that I think the BCA top enclosure is poorly designed (e.g. could allow H20 in the top of the pack). Just yesterday, during a 45 minute skin up while it was snowing, I had a bunch of snow melting to water on the top of my pack and I believe it would be possible for that moisture to enter the top of the BCA pack.
Found your video hoping to find out what the mystery buckle on the top was for. There are also a couple of small buckles inside of the shoulder strap right at the top making small loops. No idea. Maybe to hang something in or out of the back panel? Anyway, how are you liking it?
That strap at the top of the pack is for diagonal ski carry, or vertical snowboard carry. It’s removable if you don’t need either of those features. You can also remove it and replace it with a ski strap to use for carrying skis.
What is you final decision? What have you bought? Deuter Alproof 38+5 E2 or BCA Float 45 Alpride E2?
I returned the BCA shortly after I made this video and went with the Deuter Alproof 38+5 E2. I like it, but I did appreciate that the BCA was boxier / stuck out more from the front to back (the Deuter feels smaller with the top open as you're getting things out / putting things in; with the BCA, you could see inside the bag better and find what you are looking for more easily). Another nagging thing is due to my height - when I'm skinning, with the shoulder straps let out quite far due to my height (6'6") the chest strap goes right across the bottom of my throat. When I ski, I tighten down the shoulder straps so I don't have that problem, but it's a little annoying.
That said, I don't regret my decision.
@@tpwheiner thanks a lot for your answer! I am a bit shorter, 194-195 sm so we have similar problems ;)
Has anyone had issues flying with these?
3 months in, what are your thoughts?
Sorry - Just saw your comment - I returned the BCA bag shortly after this review and bought the Deuter Alproof 38+5 E2
@@tpwheiner sounds good, I didn't like the top opening either. my coworker bought the 25L and it's of an exceptional size, possibly even 25L not including the air bag system.
I was looking at the 45L as most avi packs don't account for the bag & pump so their packable volume is considerably less. The 35L might be just right for me.
@@tpwheiner What made you go with Deuter instead of BCA?
@@Cowicide It really is that I think the BCA top enclosure is poorly designed (e.g. could allow H20 in the top of the pack). Just yesterday, during a 45 minute skin up while it was snowing, I had a bunch of snow melting to water on the top of my pack and I believe it would be possible for that moisture to enter the top of the BCA pack.
If I didn't buy the BCA E2-35 then I would of bought the E2-45 but the E2-45 wasn't made then.