• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop
Gear

Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide

March 2, 2017 by Scott Witner Leave a Comment

Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide

“Head straight to the trail from campus or the office with the Divide. Features include: side access laptop compartment, right side accessory pocket with cover flap, left side mesh bottle pocket with bungee closure, zippered main compartment with internal organization pockets, interior hanging pocket and sunglass holder, internal hydration sleeve with hose port, EVA frame sheet with air mesh back panel, elastic sternum strap with bite valve catch.” – Mountainsmith

The Mountainsmith Divide makes for a great day pack for a day out on the trail or as an everyday ‘go-bag’. What makes this a great go-bag is the fact that is doesn’t scream military or tactical. You could have a fully loaded out go bag and walk around a college campus without anybody thinking twice. The Divide blends right in with the urban environment. Although I haven’t used this bag in a truly urban environment, I have used it as a day hike bag several times over the past few months, so that’s what I’m basing this review off of.

The first thing that I noticed about this pack out of the gate was the mesh water bottle pocket. This mesh water bottle pocket actually fits a full size water bottle. This is one of my pet peeves when selecting a backpack. I’ve seen so many great packs that fall short on this small feature. They are usually too small and/or do not have adequate retention to hold the water bottle securely.

Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide
Mesh Water Bottle Pocket

The other feature that stands out is the high visibility yellow interior lining. By having this bright liner inside the pack allow to locate items quicker than normal as it seems that it is brighter inside the pack versus having a dark colored interior. I’ve seen some custom gear manufacturers start doing this recently and I’m glad to see Mountainsmith doing that with this pack.

Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide
High Vis yellow interior.

Facing the pack from the front, on the right is a ideally sized admin pouch that I used for my first aid kit and SWAT-T tourniquet. You could use this pouch for many things, but when I think of a quick access pouch, I think of medical. The last thing I want in a time sensitive emergency is to be digging around inside the pack for my first aid kit or tourniquet.

Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide
Utility pouch as a quick access medical pouch.

Also inside the pack is a sleeve for a hydration bladder. This is a nice feature to have available in case you go on a longer day hike and need more water. In addition to the sleeve there is also a hook to suspend the bladder from, a hose port in the top of the pack to route the drinking hose through, and finally loops on the shoulder strap to secure the drinking hose. Although I haven’t used a bladder in this pack yet, I intend to do so.

Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide
Hydration Port on the top of the pack
Mountainsmith Roots Collection | The Divide
Shoulder straps with loops to secure a drinking hose

I will continue my testing of this pack into the fall and winter months. I will provide an updated review after further testing and evaluation has been completed, to include using a hydration bladder. Stay tuned….

Share This

About the Author

Avatar

Scott Witner is the Editor of The Loadout Room and handles product sourcing for both Crate Club and Cuna Dog. He is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines and was attached to the 24th MEU(SOC) for a 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. He has completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, mountain warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center and attended the South Korean Mountain Warfare school in Pohang.

See All Scott Witner Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

Find Us on Facebook

The Loadout Room

Recent Comments

  • berniyin on Gear in the Wild: Astronaut uncovers relic aboard the International Space Station
  • berniyin on Gear in the Wild: The right gear for chemical attacks (or for when you forget your gym bag in the trunk)
  • berniyin on Gear in the Wild: Divers work to recover bodies of lost WWII bomber crew

Tags

9mm AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AR-15 arms guide CCW concealed carry defense EDC Erik Meisner everyday carry firearms fitness GBGuns gear Glock Guns Handgun Headline loadout room LONG TAB MARSOC Military Navy Seal pistol preparation preparedness PT PT PREP Rex Nanorum Rifle Selection self defense sfas Shooting socom SOF SOF PT sofrep Special Operations SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES Survival TAG thearmsguide Training US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

Latest From SOFREP

Entertainment

First Formation Take-off, “..Don’t Worry, We’ll Talk You Through It”

SOF

Do You Have What It Takes? Study Reveals Traits Necessary to Pass Navy SEAL Selection

Editorial

Is the Army Going to Extremes Over Extremism?

US SOCOM

A Paradigm Shift in U.S. Special Operations

© Copyright 2021 SOFREP Media Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers