Storage
The Thule Guidepost 65 has a large lid that has plenty of storage and can be removed to utilize as a 24 liter day pack. This was great for setting up camp and doing some day trip exploring. The Guidepost 65 has multiple points of access including the traditional storm flap entrance, a bottom entrance and a large J shaped side zippered access. This allows you to have multiple points of access and allow for more storage options.
The Guidepost 65 has two zippered front pockets that provided added storage for clothing or rain gear and allowed me to gain access to these items quickly and on the fly without accessing the main compartment. The Guidepost comes with two zippered hip-belt pockets that provide good storage for sunglasses, a small camera, snacks, or a beanie. Two side stretch side mesh pockets accept 1-liter bottles, but I would prefer they be just a bit deeper. The Guidepost also utilizes the traditional main compartment hydration sleeve that can store up to a 3-liter hydration bladder.
Comfort
Hip Belt
The Guidepost incorporates thick foam in the hip-belt and wraps around the hips better than all packs in this category and is equivalent to the Osprey Atmos AG in this respect. The hip belt also provides good lumbar support that works well in transferring the load onto the hips and lumbar area for increased comfort. The hip belt has a pivot point to allow the hips to swing more fully and while this may improve your gait, much like other packs that incorporate this feature, I have found it to be negligible.
Back Panel/Shoulder Straps
The Guidepost provides a thick padding on the shoulder straps and three settings to allow you to adjust the width of the shoulder straps to improve comfort and an easy to use sternum strap. The back panel provided good support on the contact points and airflow in the other areas to improve comfort.
Stability
The Guidepost 65 performs well in carrying loads in the 40 to 50 pound range, in a variety of terrain and on the occasional scramble. When carrying weight over 60 pounds I found it would sway just a small amount and felt a bit less stable.
Overall Comfort
The Guidepost 65 is a comfortable pack that has numerous adjustment settings to help you find the perfect fit. Thick padding on the shoulder straps and a wrap around hip belt is very comfortable. A stiff frame adds to the stability of the pack adds to its comfort on long treks with heavy loads.
Durability
The Thule Guidepost backpack proved tough and durable in a variety of conditions. I utilized this pack in very rugged terrain and exposed it to various types of weather, mud, rock, snow, rain and thick brush and it sustained no visible damage and continued to perform well.
The Verdict
The Thule Guidepost 65 is a medium volume backpack that provides numerous storage and fitting options. This pack performs well in comparison to other backpacks in this category in terms of comfort, organization and features like a removable lid that converts into a 24 liter day pack.
