The Ull Blot is made from undyed,  100% recycled polyamide and is reinforced with durable Aramid and Kevlar. Speaking of its environmental credentials, this backpack is also Fluorocarbon-free.

Features

Starting from the top and working our way down, the Ull Blot 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.

The distinct loop webbing on the outside of the backpack is ideal for attaching equipment like ski poles and ice axes. Your climbing rope can be easily attached to the side of the Ull Blot, and the hipbelt pocket here is great for storing smaller items. While we’re on the subject of storage, the side zip on the Ull Blot is good because it allows for quick, easy, access to your essentials when you’re up on the mountain.

Other features worth shouting about include the S-shaped shoulder straps for maximum movability, the removable backplate to make the already lightweight 850g backpack even lighter, the top tension locks for increased stability, and the padded back with ventilation channels (useful on those bluebird days when you’re really working up a sweat).

Lightweight and Durable

When it comes to outdoor kit, making something that’s durable and lightweight is no mean feat. Credit then to Klattermusen, who’ve married the two factors together here in an item that can more than hold its own in rocky, craggy, terrain.

Thanks to the Ull Blot’s streamlined, and stripped back, design – as well as that removable backplate – this product comes across less like a backpack and more like one of those mega tough military jeeps that’s had a load of the unnecessary extras stripped off it.

The Aramid reinforcement and use of Kevlar fibres – which also features in bulletproof vests – are two of the main reasons this product brings such reassuring durability to your big mountain adventures. 

Conclusion

With an RRP of £300, and a ‘love it or hate it’ aesthetic (we love it), there’s no getting away from the fact that the Klattermusen Ull Blot won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s ok though. It’s not designed for the everyman, not designed for everyday outdoor missions. It’s a specialist product for specialist adventures. If that sounds like your kind of thing, we can’t recommend it enough.

Tester’s Verdict

Holly Burns, Outdoors Magic gear tester

“The Klattermusen Ull Blot has joined me in the wild Scottish Highlands, over classic Lake District scrambles and simple hiking in the South Downs. Throughout these trips, I’ve become a big fan of the simple, yet functional design of it.

“Although originally designed for ski touring, on first inspection, I was very impressed with all its different features that also make it suitable for a wild camping adventure for those who prefer to pack lightweight. I really like the simplistic / clean design which means that there’s less to go wrong or break on this pack.

“For me, a roll top is the best way to design a backpack. It means that I’ve been able to pack it over its basic capacity and when it’s not full, it’s great to be able to cinch it down to keep the load stable.

“Internally the bag has a waterproof pocket, In winter you could use this for avalanche gear but on a wet day in the Lake District it was perfect for putting extra dry clothes / layers. There is also another smaller internal pocket which is great for smaller items such as your head torch / first aid kit / valuables to stop them floating and keep them all in one place.

“The shape of this bag, to me, is aesthetically pleasing and when packed to full capacity it’s very easy to fill small pockets of space.”