Fjällräven Ulvö Rolltop

Price: £140
Weight: 650g
Best for: Commuting, general outdoor use
Key attributes: Durable, waterproof, padded laptop sleeve

With a look that’ll fit right in in the city, at work or in the classroom, the Fjällräven Ulvö Rolltop will make for a great commuter pack for the urban dwellers out there, but there’s more to it than that. In fact, the Ulvö carries a load of features that make it suited for a range of activities from city to summit.

Fjällräven’s own all-new tough and waterproof Bergshell fabric has been used here with the Ulvö Rolltop. It’s an impressive fabric that’s soft to the touch and that boasts a protective laminate underneath with fully taped seams – all of which makes the backpack impressively watertight. Interestingly, the weave they’ve adds an extra level of durability to the Ulvö through the use of a flat ripstop technique that minimises the risk of fibres catching and scuffing on anything rough.

A roll top closure makes access to the main compartment simple and efficient, whilst also adding an extra barrier of waterproof protection for gear stashed inside this pack. Inside there’s a useful zipped pocket as well as a padded laptop sleeve. There are stretchy side pockets as well – super useful for stashing things quickly while on the go.

Full Specifications

20-litre capacity / 210D nylon mini ripstop material / 420D nylon base reinforcement / zipped lid closure / pole attachments / two side pockets / two hipbelt pockets / hydration sleeve / Duraflex compression strap buckles.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2019/20 – Check out our full Fjällräven Ulvö Rolltop Backpack review

Get the latest price at:
blackleaf.com

 

Filson Dry Backpack

Price: £195
Weight: 992g
Best for: Hiking, fishing, canoeing, SUPing, cycling
Key attributes: Tough, waterproof, roomy

If you’re an outdoorsy type who loves getting out on the water, or relishes tough, wet conditions, you’ll definitely appreciate the qualities of the 28-litre Filson Dry Backpack. Designed primarily for rainy-day hiking, fishing, rafting and canoeing, it’s also a solid choice for surfing, paddleboarding and even cycling.

It uses a super-tough 840-denier coated nylon for the main fabric, with equally durable nylon webbing, chunky EVA foam and high density plastic components. The padding on the back and shoulder straps enhances comfort, while the PU coated nylon is waterproof, abrasion-resistant, and flexible.

One of the standout features of the Filson Dry Backpack is the roll-and cinch closure with its generous wide-mouth opening. This is completely watertight and supremely hard-wearing, unlike most zip-top designs, but it also makes loading and unloading your gear very easy.

Full Specifications

28-litre capacity / PU-coated 840-denier nylon / RF-welded seams / Breathable, padded back panel / Adjustable, padded shoulder straps with sternum strap / Exterior and interior zippered pockets / Roll-top closure with side-cinch and center webbing straps.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 202/210 – Here’s our Filson Dry Backpack Full Review

Get the best price at:
filson.com

 

Silva Orbit 25L

Price: £127
Weight: 1000g
Best for: Hiking, fishing, canoeing, SUPing, cycling
Key attributes: Tough, waterproof, roomy

The Orbit 25L from Silva is an incredibly durable roll top backpack that’s able to offer full wet weather protection for all of your kit in the worst of conditions thanks to a 420 denier, ripstop, double-coated, seam sealed fabric with a roll-top closure.

On top of this solid build, the Orbit 25L has a feature list that makes it a great daypack for a multitude of conditions and activities and uses. These features include a grab handle on the top, zipped internal pocket, an external waterproof, a padded laptop compartment, and finally reflective details across whole pack that make it ideal for nighttime commuting.

Full Specifications

20-litre capacity / 210D nylon mini ripstop material / 420D nylon base reinforcement / zipped lid closure / pole attachments / two side pockets / two hipbelt pockets / hydration sleeve / Duraflex compression strap buckles.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2019/20 – Check out our full Silva Orbit 25L review

Get the latest price at:
silva.se

 

Aiguille Alpine Midi 40L

Price: £94
Weight: 560g
Best for: Scrambling, hiking and hillwalking
Key attributes: Tough, durable, roomy

Made in the Lake District, this traditionally designed bag has been built to last. It features a no-frills construction that’s simply able to stand up to all of the abuse that you’re sure to put it through whilst out in the mountains climbing, scrambling or hillwalking. As with all of Aiguille’s packs, the Midi 40L boasts an extremely durable fabric with a strength rating of a whopping 1000D. To put that into perspective, the Fjällräven Ulvö pack (featured above), which we found to be super tough itself, is only 400D.

Thanks to the toggled drawcord under the top lid, the main compartment can be opened right up for easy access to your kit. And this thing can certainly swallow a lot of stuff. During our testing, we managed to carry all our equipment for a weekend wild camp.

A downside when you’re carrying heavy loads with this is that there isn’t a stiffened back system, and you’ll need to add on a hipbelt and sternum strap if you need them. Still, for robust simplicity, and a long lifespan, this is a great pack to consider.

Aiguille make all of their products out of their workshop in the Lake District and they’re open to customisation of designs. So if you want to add on pockets, straps, and go for different colours or sizes, none of that is off the table.

Full Specifications

40-litre capacity / 1000D texturised nylon fabric / under lid pocket / reinforced base / curved shoulder straps / slightly padded back / waist belt and chest strap attachment points / ice axe attachment.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2019/20 – Here’s our Aiguille Alpine Midi 40L Full Review

Get the latest price at:
aiguillealpine.co.uk

Thule AllTrail 25L

Price: £94
Weight: 560g
Best for: Hiking and hillwalking
Key attributes: Durable, practical, hydration-compatible

The AllTrail range from Thule measures from 15 up to 45 litres, with each pack in the range having an extremely durable build. This, the AllTrail 25 is going to be a great size as a summer hiking daypack. As like many of the other packs in this roundup, the AllTrail 28 has been built with a tough outer fabric giving the pack a tank-like build – the durable fabric in question this time is a 420D Dobby Poly with a lighter weight 330D ripstop polyester protecting the front.

It’s a top-loading design with a relatively thin lid covering a toggled drawcord access and a handy zip down the side allows you to grab anything you may have buried deep within it. A single ice axe holder doubles up as a trekking pole attachment, whilst a hydration system can be bought separately and linked up with the hydration tube exit port.

Full Specifications

25-litre capacity / 420D and 330D materials / top lid closure / front stash pocket / two side pockets / breathable shoulder straps and hipbelt fins / hydration sleeve / compression strap buckles.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2019/20 – Check out our full Thule AllTrail 25L review

Shop the latest price at:
thule.com

 

Osprey Skimmer 28

Price: £90
Weight: 840g
Best for: Hiking, hillwalking, general use
Key attributes: Comfortable, well-ventilated, clean design

It’s nothing new that Osprey make some of the best quality packs in the game – it’s what you’d expect from a business that has specialised in packs since 1974.

The all-new Skimmer is a women’s-specific daypack (the men’s version is called the Skarab) that merges a clean, simple, aesthetic with a distinct practicality.

Clearly designed with versatility in mind, the large daypack capacity here means it’s perfect for those day-long adventures, whatever the season. An innovative foam back panel ticks all the boxes in terms of comfort and ventilation while the low-profile harness and nicely padded hipbelt provide decent load-transfer even when the pack has been well and truly overstuffed.

Full Specifications

28-litre capacity / AirScape backpanel / bump-foam ventilation / integrated & detachable raincover / bucket-zip access / external hydration access / zippered scratch-free sunglasses and electronics pocket

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2019/20 – Check out our full Osprey Skimmer 28 review

Shop the latest price at:
webtogs.com

OMM Phantom 20L

Price: £120
Weight: 315g
Best for: Trail running, fell and mountain racing
Key attributes: Superlight, stable, chest pockets

OMM make kit designed to help runners cope with the conditions and demands of their eponymously named endurance event that they’ve held each year for the past 40 years. In this, competitors put themselves through two days of fell running, racing from checkpoint to checkpoint, camping out overnight, and ascending up to 3,500 vertical metres in order to complete the race. Their focus is on lightweight designs that function in wet weather, that carry well, and that bring convenience while on the move.

Weighing in at only 315g, this running pack is by far the lightest backpack in this roundup. Given that it’s a trail running specific daypack, stability has been the focus of the Phantom 20L. This has been achieved by creating a v-shaped anchor or yoke that sits behind your neck where the two straps merge together. This anchor avoids the full load of the rucksack being taken by each shoulder one at a time with each step, the weight instead being channelled into the anchor point to allow for a more stable carry.

Outdoors Magic Staff Writer, Jordan Tiernan got some time with the Phantom 20L: “It’s worth making sure to carefully adjust the fit to suit each load you’re carrying and to spread its weight equally across the anchor points. Once I got this right it carried better than any other trail-running pack I’ve tried.”

Full Specifications

20-litre capacity / vest harness system / hydration bladder compatible / 6mm EVA back panel / 2 front stretch mesh, one zipped top pocket.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2019/20 – Here’s our OMM Phantom 20L Running Pack Full Review

Shop the latest price at:
theomm.com

Patagonia Nine Trails 28L

Price: £130
Weight: 1,000g
Best for: Hiking, scrambling, hillwalking
Key attributes: Stable, comfortable, roomy

The Patagonia Nine Trails Pack 28L is a beautifully designed and comfortable daypack with all the features you’d need for a day of walking or scrambling in the hills or mountains. The first thing to catch our eye was the huge U-shaped zip that runs around the lid and almost around the whole front of the pack, allowing you to really open up the main storage compartment for ease of access.

The Nine Trails weighs in at around 1000g but still feels light and comfortable to carry. It features a flexible mesh back panel and uses durable materials, including Cordura ripstop nylon that’s treated with water-repellent finish. We like the double side compression straps, which let you really scrunch the pack down when it isn’t fully loaded to avoid any sagging. Those straps are also useful for lashing things like poles and small tripods to the side of the pack if needed.

In terms of pockets, you get two stretch side pockets, a large stretch external front pocket, two zipped hipbelt pockets, and a small zipped valuables pocket inside. The shoulders and hips are nicely padded, making the whole package extremely comfortable. In short, the Patagonia Nine Trails 28L gets a big thumbs up from us.

Full Specifications

28-litre capacity / available in two sizes: S/M and L/XL / lightweight yet durable Cordura nylon ripstop / extended U-shaped zipper to main compartment / stash pockets for organising / exterior stretch pocket / two quick-stash side pockets secure extra items / mono-mesh back panel provides excellent airflow and prevents moisture buildup

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2018/19 – Here’s our Patagonia Nine Trails 28L Full Review

Shop the latest price at:
patagonia.com

 

Jack Wolfskin Eco Loader 24

Price: £90
Weight: 870g
Best for: Hiking, general outdoor use
Key attributes: Eco-friendly, functional

This innovative pack is made from 100% recycled and sustainable materials. In fact, 18 plastic bottles went into its durable synthetic fabric. But that’s not all. The foam in the back panel and the shoulder straps is made from algae. Using algae has a number of sustainability benefits. First of all, it’s a renewable alternative to CO2 producing plastics, but then there’s also the fact that in many water sources, algae is growing too fast and it therefore needs to be removed in order to allow other marine life to survive. The main reason it’s growing too fast? As usual, it’s a man-made problem thanks to fertiliser run off from agricultural and industrial processes.

The eco-credentials of the Eco Loader don’t stop there. It’s also bluesign approved and it’s completely free from any of those nasty environmental hazardous PFCs that are often used to make outdoor products water resistant.

As a pack, it’s fairly simple but does have a long wraparound zip entry for quick access and easy loading. The 24-litre capacity makes it the perfect size for any day-long outdoor escapes. You’ll comfortably be able to fit your lunch, a few warm layers and a thermos flask inside with space for any extras as well.

Full Specifications

24-litre capacity / 53 x 29 x 20cm / Flexible, full-contact back system with body-hugging fit / 4-way zip provides multiple access options / Main compartment with inner pocket, security pocket at the back / Integrated rain cover in base compartment / Robust, 100% recycled diamond grid polyester ripstop fabric.

Selected for our Green Gear Guide 2020/21. Read our full Jack Wolfskin Eco Loader 24 review.

Shop the latest price at:
jack-wolfskin.co.uk

Klättermusen Ull Blot 30

Price: £248
Weight: 850g
Best for: Ski touring
Key attributes: Lightweight, eco-friendly, durable

The Ull Blot is a specialist, technical ski touring pack made from undyed, 100% recycled polyamide that is reinforced with durable Aramid fibres – which are also used to make Kevlar (yes, the stuff in bulletproof vests). But as well as being tough, it’s kind to the planet, since this backpack is also fluorocarbon-free.

The pack has a cinch closure system for easy one-handed access. The ability to roll the top to compress it, in order to keep it close to your back, is another nice touch in this area. Move into the guts of the backpack, which offers the user 30L worth of storage, and you’ll find a safety pocket for avalanche tools. The internal space offered by the backpack, it’s worth adding, can be adjusted via the Ull Blot’s compression straps. This means you can optimise the pack’s shape to suit your situation.

Full Specifications

30-litre capacity / Chest strap / Load lifters / Internal safety pocket to keep avalanche tools / Adjustable compression straps / Side zip / Ski/trekking poles and ice axe attachement points / Hipbelt pocket / Removable back plate / Hydration-compatible / Padded back with ventilation channels / Rolltop closure.

Selected for the Outdoor 100 2020/21. Read the full Klattermusen Ull Blot Backpack Review.

Shop the latest price at:
klattermusen.com

Photo: Mike Brindley

Montane Rock Up 20

Price: £55
Weight: 440g
Best for: Trad and sport climbing
Key attributes: Tough, compact, functional

This is an extremely durable climbing pack, produced in collaboration with the British Mountaineering Council. In addition, 5% of sales will go towards the Moors for the Future partnership, helping to conserve these rare habitats by restoring blanket peat bog. So, it’s a great collab and a great eco initiative too.

The pack features a drawcord closure and ‘bivi flap’ rather than a full lid, which doubles as a rope strap. Inside there’s an internal daisy chain to help you organise your gear, while outside there are plenty of gear clip loops and external attachment points to cater for your carabiners, helmet and even two ice axes.

In terms of pockets, there’s one small zipped one for valuables on the inside, along with a sleeve for a hydration bladder but that’s it. Should Montane have added some stretch pockets on the outside? We’d normally say so but that might’ve ruined the simple functionality of this thing when it comes to climbing.

The back panel is comfortable enough thanks to its foam padding, aided by ergonomically shaped shoulder straps. The harness, including a removable hipbelt, is basic but it does its job well, holding the bag in place comfortably and effectively, even while climbing.

The overall shape of the Rock Up 20 is narrow enough that it won’t stick out beyond your own silhouette. It also won’t infringe upon your harness or get in the way of a chalk bag that’s attached to it.

Full Specifications

20-litre capacity / 300 denier main fabric / Contact Air Mesh Plus on harness and back pad / Click and Go chest harness strap / Harness compatible, height adjusting, removable waist belt / Streamlined shape for unrestricted movement and access to chalk bag or gear / Asymmetric drawcord opening with Cord Lord quick release adjustment and bivi flap / Internal zipped organisation pocket with key clip / Hydration bladder compatible.

Chosen for the Outdoor 100 2020/21. Read the full Montane Rock Up 20 review.

Shop the latest price at:
montane.com

Gregory Salvo 24

Price: £90
Weight: 1100g
Best for: Hiking and hillwalking
Key attributes: Robust and well-ventilated

Despite its relatively small 24-litre capacity, the Gregory 24 Salvo rucksack still manages to feel very roomy with easy access thanks to the large zip that runs around the top of the main compartment. It isn’t particularly light at 1100g, but makes up for that with a very robust feel and an excellent ventilated back system that lifts the pack well clear of your body for increased airflow.

You get the usual hiking daypack pocket collection (large front stretch, two stretch side, two zipped hipbelt, two zipped valuables), plus pole attachments, side compression straps, an internal hydration bladder sleeve, and a separate rain cover.

Our favourite thing about the Gregory 24 Salvo, though, is the Vaporspan back panel. It’s tensioned and flexible with fantastic ventilation that’ll keep you sweat-free, plus a lower-back cushion that makes it one of the most comfortable daypacks we’ve tested. Perfect for walking and hiking all year round.

Full Specifications

24-litre capacity / 210D Cryptorip nylon material / 210D nylon Dobby base / Evo Foam hipbelt / Vaporspan back panel / spring steel frame / front and side stretch pockets / zipped hipbelt and valuables pockets / zipped main opening / internal hydration bladder / separate rain cover / pole attachments.

Shop the latest price at:
gregorypacks.com

Deuter Futura 26

Price: £105
Weight: 1400g
Best for: Hiking and hillwalking
Key attributes: Superb features, well-ventilated

Deuter have a well deserved reputation for making great backpacks, and the updated Futura 26 is the latest in a very long list of impressive releases. This pack has every feature you’d expect or need as a walker, plus a heavy-duty and robust build quality that makes it feel indestructible.

In terms of useful features, it’s hard to know where to start. The roomy main compartment is accessed via a clipped floating lid with drawstring adjustment, plus you can also gain entry via the big double zip that runs round the front of the pack. You get external and internal zipped lid pockets, a large clipped front storage pocket, stretch side pockets and two zipped hipbelt pockets. The hipbelt is so well padded it feels like it’s hugging you, and the new Aircomfort Sensic back system lifts the whole pack a good few inches from your back for great ventilation.

All of this comes with a slight drawback in terms of weight. At 1400g the Deuter Futura 26L is a very heavy daypack, but if you can put up with that it’s hard to see how you can find a better equipped hiking rucksack.

Full Specifications

26-litre capacity / Dynajin 210/PES 600 material / round profile frame / raincover / padded hipbelt / hydration sleeve / wet gear storage pocket / pole attachments / front access zip / valuables pocket / side pockets / hipbelt pockets / SOS label.

Shop the latest price at:
webtogs.com

Fjällräven Kaipak 28

Price: £130
Weight: 1050g
Best for: Hiking, hillwalking, everyday carry
Key attributes: Well-made, durable, versatile

Typically from Fjällräven, the Kaipak 28 is a classy-looking pack that looks as good on the high street as it does in the high mountains. Made from robust G-1000 HeavyDuty Eco fabric, it has instant visual appeal and feels built to last.

The base of the Kaipak 28 rucksack is made from double-layer nylon, meaning you can place it down on damp ground when you stop for a rest without the contents getting soaked. Plus, you can wax the whole pack with Fjällräven’s Greenland Wax to make it more water-resistant and durable. The spacious main compartment is top-loaded with a floating lid big enough to hold a essentials like gloves and hats, with a long external zip down the front of the pack that gives access to a slim compartment that’s perfect for maps and thin layers.

You also get side pockets, a snow lock, side compression straps, pole attachments, and a supplied rain cover; but it does lack some features walkers will like. The detachable hipbelt is very thin and unsupportive so you take most of the weight on your shoulders, plus there are no hipbelt pockets or top tensioning straps. But what it lacks in terms of regular features, it makes up for by oozing class and visual punch.

Full specifications

28-litre capacity / G-1000 HeavyDuty Eco material / double-layer nylon base / clipped lid closure / side pockets / pole attachments / two side pockets / separate rain cover.

Shop the latest price at:
fjallraven.com

Salewa Mtn Trainer 28L

Price: £135
Weight: 1023g
Best for: Hiking, hillwalking, scrambling
Key attributes: Well-made, plenty of features, well-ventilated

Salewa is a big Italian brand that’s slowly becoming more recognisable in the UK, and it’s all down to the quality of their mountain gear. Every product feels very well thought-out and exceptional quality, and the Salewa Mtn Trainer 28L rucksack is no exception.

The 28-litre capacity makes it suitable for everything from day hikes to scrambles and very lightweight overnight trips, with a traditional floating lid and drawstring closure design giving instant appeal to purists. The Contact Flow Fit back system keeps you ventilated by using two big pads on the sides that stay in contact with your body, with a large channel down the middle for air to flow freely. It seems to work too!

The thin shoulder straps with large ventilation holes feel a little bit like they’ve sacrificed comfort for a little extra airflow, but otherwise this pack is hard to fault. It’s comfortable and not too heavy, with plenty of pockets to stash your kit and features that are as useful on countryside walks as they are on technical mountain routes.

Full Specifications

28-litre capacity / 100Dx280D nylon twill material / Contact Flow ventilated back system / separate raincover / internal hydration bladder sleeve / floating lid with drawstring closure / zipped valuables pocket / zipped hipbelt pocket / two stretch side pockets / pole attachments / compression straps.

Shop the latest prices at:
salewa.com

 

You May Also Like:

Best Walking Boots

Best Running Backpacks Reviewed

Best Trekking Poles