Why We Chose The Montane Rock Up 20 Rucksack: Great collaboration, tough and portable rock climbing pack, helps a good cause as well

Montane’s three-year-old partnership with the British Mountaineering Council has already produced some quality outdoor kit, including the Terra Ridge trousers which the team here at OM liked enough to include in our Outdoor 100 last year. For 2020, the partnership brings us a huge new collection of kit, all designed with climbers who aspire to spend every second of every day at the crag very much in mind. This, the Montane Rock Up 20 is our favourite item in it, though there’s also some apparel that’s worth a look at as well.

Who Is The Montane Rock Up 20 Rucksack For?

In short… climbers. This thing should certainly appeal to anyone who walks (or cycles) to their climbs, be that outdoors or indoors. It’s actually been designed so that it’s convenient to climb with as well.

Materials and Designs

First of all, this thing is durable – durable enough, we’d say, to withstand years of gristone abuse. Its nylon fabric is 300D in strength. To put that into perspective, Osprey’s Stratos, which is by no means flimsy, uses a 210D fabric. The stitching is all super solid as well, with solid bar tacking throughout.

The back panel is comfortable enough thanks to its foam padding and there’s a tiny bit of airflow thanks to the ‘Contact Air Mesh Plus mesh which is also present on the slightly padded and 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.

“Montane will be donating 5% of the proceeds to ‘Moors For The Future’.”

Rather than a normal buckle on the sternum strap, Montane have opted for their ‘Click And Go’ design. With this, one side has a secure hook that can be height adjusted when necessary and the other side is a little tab that fixes onto a bar that it slides up and down. Releasing it is quick and easy, even with gloves on, as you simply pull on the little orange tag. Fastening it is also quick and easy – but not so much when you’re wearing gloves.

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.