Top Rated: Blue Ice Warthog 40 (pre-2019) (8.4 / 10)
Category: 40L (to 60L) Sub Zero Mountain Pack
When Blue Ice made the Warthog packs, we can't help but feel they were making them for themselves, as enthusiastic alpinists. "What would we want in a mountaineering pack?" they may have asked. Answer: a rock solid base made from insanely tough 1680D ballistic nylon; a body made from 420D Cordura; a comfortable, stiff boarded back panel and high quality straps without any fussy padding; an ultra-durable, yet impressively light 40L beast of a pack at an affordable price.
I can't help but feel, the "corporate" has invaded and to some extent displaced the "passionate" and for 2019 Blue Ice might instead have asked: "What would our customers accept as a Blue Ice mountaineering pack?" That's a very different question and it's resulted in a very different outcome that quite frankly should not carry the "Warthog" label.
The Pre-2019 Warthog is exactly what we at Scramble look for in a winter trekking / sub-zero mountaineering pack. When paired with a couple of Towers, it has enough room for a sub-zero sleeping bag and 8 days of food rations. Blue Ice's pre-2019 Warthog 40 is Scramble's top pick in the Sub Zero Mountain Pack category.