Cold Cold World is a small cottage manufacturer in New Hampshire's White Mountains that specializes in making climbing and mountaineering backpacks. They're world-famous in climbing circles for making high-function, durable backpacks. The 66L Cold Cold World Chaos is a frameless alpine backpack, weighing 3 lbs 12 oz (3 lb 8 oz, reviewed here) but well sized for overnight or multi-day winter trips (inquire about custom fabrics). I've owned the one pictured above for going on 10 years now and we've been on many adventures together. I still use the Chaos and haven't yet found a pack that its equal for hauling heavy gear and traction on winter backpacking trips. If a 66L pack is more than you need for winter backpacks or day hikes, check out the Cold Cold World Chernobyl Backpack. It has most of the features detailed below in a 50L size pack.
Specs at a Glance
- Volume:
- 70L (size large) 4300 ci.
- 66L (size medium) 4000 ci
- Weight: 3 lbs 12 oz (factory); 3 lb 8 reviewed (custom colored fabric)
- Removable lid (9.4 oz)
- Frame type: Frameless (internal foam sleeping pad pocket)
- Torso Sizes:
- Medium: 16″-19″
- Large: 18″-22″
- Materials: 420d packcloth/500d Cordura
- Price: $245
Organization and Internal Storage
The Chaos is an alpine style backpack with a floating top lid, a large main compartment, an internal sleeping pad pocket, and an external crampon pocket. It doesn't have an internal hydration pocket, no hydration reservoir hang loops or hydration ports.
The floating top lid has three pockets, two on top and one underneath. The top pocket is perfectly sized for carrying a compass, gps, satellite tracker, or snacks. The bigger pocket below it is well sized for carrying extra gloves, a balaclava, or facemask. The pocket on the underside of the lid is good for carrying a small first aid kit, headlamp, and toilet supplies. The lid is attached to the main pack bag by a strip of velcro and 4 webbing straps, making it easy to raise or lower when used as a floating lid (more below). The main compartment also has a long extension collar to protect your gear if you need to pack more and make use of the floating lid.
The main compartment is just a big bag with an internal sleeping pad pocket. The factory pack comes with a foam bivy pad, but I prefer using an 8 segment accordion-style Therm-a-Rest Zlite pad as a framesheet because it makes a better secondary sleeping pad (higher R-value) for winter backpacking trips. I also use the same pad to sit on when melting water and cooking on winter nights outside of my tent. When I bought the Chaos, the multi-function use of a sleeping pad as a framesheet appealed to me because it cut down the amount of weight I needed to carry. It also eliminates the need to carry a foam pad on the outside of my pack which is a PITA because it's easily shredded by vegetation and can compromise your ability to scramble on rock ledge.
The Chaos also has an external crampon pocket, which is a handy feature you don't find on many backpacks, because it keeps your sharp points away from the rest of gear. This is doubly beneficial when your crampons are caked with ice and soaking wet and you don't want them anywhere near your dry warm gear. When I'm not carrying crampons, I use the crampon pocket like I would a rear mesh pocket on an ultralight backpack, for storing extra layers like mitten shells, wind shirt, hat, and snacks so I don't have to stop and open the main pack. This helps keep my transition times very short, which is a real benefit above treeline in crappy conditions. I've even used that crampon pocket to carry my winter tent (Black Diamond FirstLight) when I've been short on space in the main compartment.
External Attachment and Compression System
The external attachment system on the Chaos is top-notch. You can haul an amazing amount of gear on the outside of the pack, which is particularly important when you can't anticipate what conditions will be on your route.
- Dual daisy chains down the sides of the pack w/ haul loops
- Dual daisy chains down the back of the pack
- Dual shaft holders and ice axe loops
- Two tier of compression straps
- Ski loops
- Dual gear loops on hip belt
- Daisy chains on the shoulder straps
- Daisy chains on the top of the top lid
- Rope strap running over the main compartment
On most winter overnight trips, I lash my snowshoes under the side compression straps, secure an ice axe in one of the shaft holders and a shovel handle in the other (secured with the bottom ice axe loops), I attach an insulated water bottle (see Insulated Water Bottle Jackets) to one of the hip belt gear loops with a carabiner and put a pair of crampons in the crampon pocket. If I bring microspikes, I'll clip them to one of the rear daisy chains with another carabiner. In addition, I add a whistle and an external camera pocket to the two daisy chains on the front of the shoulder straps, and possibly a map holder as well, if we expect challenging, low visibility weather, or plan to hike off-trail.
That's a typical winter load out for me, but there's really no limit to the ways you can use these external attachment points by themselves or with a few added Volie ski straps, which won't freeze if they get damp or wet.
Backpack Frame and Suspension System
The Chaos is a frameless backpack, but can still carry a remarkable amount of gear, water, and food quite comfortably. I rate the maximum comfortable carrying capacity at 30-35 pounds, but you have to know how to pack it to get that kind of performance out of it.
The Chaos uses a sleeping pad for a frame to give the pack some stiffness and prevent items from poking into your back. The sleeping pad pocket extends to the base of the hip belt and into the area behind, much like a pack with an internal framesheet. When packing the pack, you want to load your bulkiest and heaviest items at the bottom as you normally would. If packing a sleeping bag at the bottom of your main compartment, I'd recommend packing it in a stuff sack rather than loose in order to prevent the sleeping pad from collapsing inward. The same holds for the rest of your gear. Pack it all as tightly as possible and be aggressive in your use of the compression straps, so that your "load becomes the frame." This same techniques works quite well for most frameless backpacks.
The hip belt is sewn directly to the back of the pack which always provides better load-to-hip transfer than hip belts that are attached with velcro. While the hip belt is padded, it's not overly padded, so you get a good hip bone wrap that conforms to your body shape. There are also adjustable load control straps connecting the hip belt to the pack body to help minimize uncontrolled "load swings" when scrambling or climbing. The hip belt closes with a large buckle and wide pull-back webbing straps. The 2″ width of the webbing has several benefits. The first is that it doesn't fold onto itself and won't get jammed in the buckle. It's also wide enough that it doesn't slip down over slippery hard shells or wind shirts, which can be a real problem when winter hiking.
Instead of pockets, the hip belt has gear loops for hanging climbing gear or 'biners, which is pretty typical on a winter backpack. However, is still possible to attach an accessory pocket over the hip belt winds and clip it in place using a quick attach tri-glide or mini-biner. Most of the time, I just hang an insulated water bottle or a snack bottle from the gear loops.
Recommendation
The Cold Cold World Chaos is a 66-70 liter lightweight winter backpack that's ideal for overnight or multi-day winter hiking, mountaineering, and climbing. Frameless, it has an internal sleeping pad pocket like many ultralight backpacks, but can carry much heavier loads up to 30-35 pounds with relative ease. But the thing at distinguishes the Chaos from all other higher volume winter backpacks is its outstanding external attachment capabilities. If winter conditions require you to carry lots of tools or traction, the Chaos's ability to haul gear is unparalleled.
As a gear tester specializing in backpack reviews, I end up with new cutting edge backpacks in my gear closet every year. The parade of new specialty fabrics, features, and frame systems is never-ending. While I get rid of most of the backpacks that come my way, I doubt I'll ever get rid of the Chaos. I've owned it coming on 10 years and still rate it as one of the best backpacks I've ever used. If there was a Backpack Hall of Fame, the Cold Cold World Chaos would be my first nomination.
Disclosure: The author purchased this product with his own funds.
Written 2017.
See Also:
- The Best Winter Hiking Backpacks
- Lightweight Winter Backpacking Gear List Explained
- Backpacking External Attachment Guide
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