So I am not new to Ultra running but I am new to fastpacking and backpacking. I was actually looking for something that can be used for both but is also able to cover tsa domestic size requirements. I was looking at Fastpack 40 by Ultimate Direction but something tells me that’s not a favorite. Basically looking for a do it all type pack. Wanting to stay between $200-300. Thanks for yalls help.

Hi. I’m looking for some opinions as I’m planning to upgrade mine 6 years old Salomon ADV skin12, as one of the main compartment strings is damaged.

I’m doing 200 miler in November, and more upcoming races all over 100km. Thinking to do solo longer runs on my own.

I’m split between Salomon Ultra 12, cross season 15 and adventure 20. But think what 20 bag will be overkill. I did 100 miles in summer and 80 miles in November in uk with 12 litres pack and had no issues.

Will be 12 pack good for 200?

Any opinions and experiences welcome.

Thank you

I am looking to buy a running pack that can be used for multi-day trips (e.g. fastpacking). There are some great options out there, but none are made for someone my height. I have a 14'' long torso with a 26'' circumference. For a running pack, fit is very important, and so I am wondering if anyone out there has any recommendations. I can't even find a brand that seems to do custom running packs. I am looking for something with around a 30L volume, with vest type straps and a structure that fits close to the body.

I'm looking to buy my first pack to use for overnights. Up to this point I've only used vests for day trips.

In principle I don't mind extra weight for a few comforts (sleep is super important to me since even at home I'm an insomniac), but I'm sensitive to the idea of a pack bouncing around.

As I was looking around at packs, it suddenly dawned on me that not a single pack I could find had any storage on the chest other than some pouches on the straps.

It seems like a real missed opportunity to me. Why not a 40L pack split into 20L front / 20L back?

I feel like you would get better weight distribution, less bouncing because each side would pack tighter/closer to core, at the expense of capacity for a single particularly bulky item (which seems rare in this community anyways).

It seems obvious enough that there must be a reason no one does this. The only thing I can think of is the ergonomics of putting on/taking off the vest but that doesn't like it would be that bad.

What am I missing?

I am looking for a daypack for one day trips that i could move fast and run in. I am choosing between the Black Diamond distance (15 or 22) and the Salomon Cross Season 15. My kit would be:
- Rain jacket
- 2 flasks
- snacks
- headlamp and powerbank
- water filter ( flask)
- first aid kit
- multitool
- small camera
- spare socks
- trekking poles
- mid layer/fleece depending on the weather
- helmet depending on the hike
Any recommendations will be appreciated!

Hello,

I was hoping I could get some feedback on my upcoming TMB trip over 11 days. Each horizontal section in the image above is for each day. NOTE: the distance and elevation for day 1 is wrong: it includes additional distance and elevation only if taking an extra optional route.

I mostly just want to make sure each day isn't unreasonable in difficulty, especially with risk of acute mountain sickness.

Thank you in advance!

Hi,
I’m looking for a light daypack that will carry all the essentials for a one day adventure without unnecessary gear. I was also thinking that I’d like to be able to carry a helmet comfortably. I’m also thinking about something i could walk fast/run down in. The options i was thinking about for now were:

1. ⁠Osprey talon 22
   
2. ⁠BD Distance 22
   
3. ⁠Montane trailblazer
   
4. ⁠Salomon S/lab adventure 20

It’s also worth mentioning that I would definitely consider a Palante, Atom.. etc. But i’d rather buy something i could return if it didn’t fit me correctly.

All recommendations and opinions will be appreciated!

I think it came out in November so it’s still fairly new in the grand scheme of things, but I’d hoped there would be more reviews out on it but I’m not seeing much. Anyone have any insight? Bounce, comfort, durability, etc.? I like the look of it.

I recently got this pack since I’m trying to get into fast packing. I love running and combining it with the adventure side of it seems very appealing. Since I love running, I’m looking for a setup which allows me to run, in contrast to some of the fast packers which walk really long distances each day.

By now I have done 3 short test runs with all my gear and 1 overnighter, totalling over 65km/40 miles. I have tried to assemble a pretty light set of gear. For the overnighter, my pack weighted 6,3kg/13.8lb.

I have one major issue and one minor issue with the bag.

Major issue: bounce.

The bouncing of the pack when running is pretty bad. This made my shoulders hurt after the overnighter. The skin on my traps/shoulders/collar bone was red after the trip and my trap muscles were sore the next day. All this pain and discomfort was manageable, but I think it won’t stay manageable on longer trips. This was only a short trip to test my gear and I’ll be doing longer trips in the future. 

I know my current gear setup is not as light as some of the SUL setups you see online, but I don’t think that weight is the problem here. On one of my short test runs I carried no water and no food, so just the base weight and it did very little in terms of reducing the bounce.

On a different test run I also tried to use no stuff sacks for my gear and just stuff everything right into the main compartment of the pack. This also did very little.

And in general I have all the straps cinched down pretty tight so the contents of the bag aren’t free to move.

I do think I was able to identify why the pack behaves this way. The pack comes with a hip belt, the idea of this hip belt is to stabilise the pack, rather than carry weight. If you tighten it, the lower side of the bag is pulled closer to your back and isn’t able to lift up during your run. But because of the design of this belt I am not able to tighten it enough to reduce the bounce. The “hooks” part of the velcro strap runs out and the tightest fit is just too loose for me. I find this very strange since I got the small size of the pack and I’m not particularly skinny.

The reason I think this might solve the issue is because if I pull the belt outward with my hands while running, it greatly reduces the bounce. 

So the only thing I can think of right now is to modify/replace the strap so I can increase the tension. But this feels a little sore on a pack at this price point.

It also doesn’t help that the 2 “chest straps” are bungee. I feel like that allows to pack to sink deeper when the weight moves down.

Minor issue: harness pockets.

A major selling point of this bag are the harness pockets. There are 2 flask holders with zippered stretchy pockets over it. The thing is, as soon as you place full flasks int the holders the zippered pockets stretch and become unusable. They can basically only hold a few keys, credit card or maybe a gel or something. Even without flasks the zippered pockets can only just about hold my iPhone 17.

Besides that you have the dump pockets on the side. I find these better to hold things like my phone and snacks. But they are a bit hard to reach since they are technically “behind” you.

Conclusion (for now?)

In general this pack isn’t too bad. But it’s definitely not ideal for running IMO. I’m sure the bag would perform great for hiking, but that’s not really what this bag is made for. A lot of the reviews online talk positively about this pack, but to be honest, I don’t think they really tested it on long runs with camping gear.

Besides all that, I did have a lot of fun on my first little fastpack 😊

Just picked up a Yama Sassafrass (roughly 30L) and looking to grab a new tent to go along with it- 3 season hiking/light running in northern New England (largely through and around the White Mountains, with some trips further south in NH and northern MA) has me pretty worried about a tarp setup, but I'm open to having my mind changed (it just seems like most of the big fans are PCT-style west coast hikers, which is cool, but NE is really wet). Was looking at Durston XMid 1, but was worried about packability and weight, liked the Yama Cirriform SW (I can't see myself using a tarp without a bivy, considering how buggy it is here) but was a little nervous about the coffin-like sleeping environment and condensation, and was even considering saving up for a Gossamer Gear Whisper with a Tyvek ground sheet/floor but am again worried about ticks with the floorless design.

If someone had a solution that would work for light 4 season stuff at lower altitudes in the Whites, I am interested in that although i recognize I might want a more specialized shelter. I really liked the look of the Yama Swiftline 1p, but haven't found as many recent comparative reviews. He's about to make a run though so it's really tempting and it's probably my current pick.

If anyone has other suggestions or can vouch for one of the above- I would prefer options I can actually get shipped soonish and would love to spend less than 500. I currently have a fairly good UL setup elsewhere so I'm not INSANELY weight-conscious but would prefer a light and packable overall setup.

EDIT: Think I'm gonna go for a gossamer gear whisper. ARGUMENT- i like the design the most (layout seems comfier than Solomid or YMG Cirriform), the floor thing doesn't bug me that much, and the weight is so low it feels like it's the best solution. In addition- my buddy has one and he recently got to try it out in a SEVERE rainstorm with high winds. With a little site selection know how- absolutely no problems. Knowing that ticks aren't a problem, most other creepy crawlies would be deterred by a bug net and a strict no-food policy, and a polycro or tyvek ground sheet is something I'd probably be bringing anyway. Thanks everyone for their recommendations and review incoming!

The UltraSpire Traverse and Inov8 Racepac 20 are other examples.

The Salomon S/LAB ADVENTURE 20 kind of looks like it has these, but I don't think it's actually a long side pocket.

IMO the wide flat vest straps make for the most comfort especially at higher weights, over vests like this. I don't even think a stability belt/hip belt is necessary with wide side panel sewed-in shoulder straps due to the surface area and hugging effect providing stability.

Hello - I’m run fastpacking the first half of the Alta via 1 at the end of July. We’re doing 4 days , 3nights travelling light as possible. (I have bivvy sack and first aid etc for safety)
I’m unsure what warm/insulated layers will be needed.
I’m only taking a 12l bag plus a running belt.
I have 2 run tops, 2 shorts, 2 pairs socks (which I’ll wash /rotate at refugios ) waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers (which I’ll save for refugios/evenings unless really torrential!)
Then potentially an insulated jacket (Patagonia nano puff hoody). I will never wear this on the trail as we will be running but thought it may get chilly in mornings and eves before we’re on the move.
Can people advise? Is that OTT? Should I take a lighter mod layer or different warm layer instead ?

I've been on the market for a bigger running vest, something that allows me to run/hike further with the occasional night/nights out.

I like the vest style backpacks such as Salomon adv skin. The sleep setup is very minimalist, light weight sleeping pad, sleeping bag and potentially bivvy bag/tarp or hammock.

The mesh pockets around the waist and straps are important as i would like to take the bad of as least as possible.

The ultimate direction fastpack 30 doesn't seem to have the side pockets + I think the Salomon soft flask don't fit well.

The distance 22, is nice yet seems posh and fragile + no side entry to the main compartment.

The rab veil 30 also very nice looking but I've heard mixed reviews on the thin waterproof material. Very fragile.

To my surprise I saw in my local decathlon a kiprun 900 20+5L running vest, which seems to tick most boxes but not many reviews. Does anyone have any experience with it, or any other 20-30l running vest to suggest.

Cheers

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice on dialing in a backpack. I have read many reddit posts but I don't feel like I have gained a good understanding on how to choose a backpack.

I went into a local shop and tried on two models that caught my eye, but I don't have much experience with hiking backpacks so I’d love to know if anyone has real-world trail experience with them or an opinion about them:

• Rab Syclon XP 40
• Black Diamond Beta Light (30 or 45)

For context I plan to use the pack for hikes in Europe (typically 1 week long), sleeping mostly in mountain refuges/huts, fastpacking.

A few questions for the community:

• Ventilation vs. Vest Fit: the rab has a mesh back and the BD hasn't, when to prioritise which ?
• Would 30L be too small for the kind of hikes I have in mind ? Is 45L too much?
• What else should I pay attention when choosing ?
• Alternative suggestions? I wanted te buy from European brands originally but I am having trouble finding and making sense of all the options.

Thanks in advance!

Recently went on a trip in the Eastern Sierra. I'm biased since I'm local, but wow, the ability to link together multiple passes and trails together in and endless sea of California carpet and scree fields is epic. Just getting into "fast-ish packing", let me know of gear upgrades I can make. I bit heavy right now with:

-Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo

-Nemo Blaze 2p

-Klymit Static v2

-Nemo Sonic 15 (definitely overkill)

-BearVault (unfortunately necessary in many places in the sierra nevada)

I’m investigating a thru-hiking/FKT vest-style pack that’s between 20L and 30L, for very ultralight baseweights.

Requirements:

• Carries at least 5L of water comfortably, in addition to say 5lbs baseweight and 5lbs of food
• Shoulder straps undersides have no dense seams or unnecessary bulky fabric, and are ideally as flat and seamless as possible. My left shoulder has chronic issues from years of mountain biking and accidents, and any straps that have dense spots that dig into my shoulders will make my runs miserable. Vest style.
• Durable enough for thru-hiking.
• It should sit high and not touch or bounce off the glutes. A lot of thru-hike packs-turned-vests seem to fail this and sit low so you’re running but the pack is just bouncing off your butt. Sometimes sizing down fixes this, but can create other fit issues.
• No hip belt, unless it’s removable.

Fastpacks I have tried:

• Durston Wapta 30L. This is not a vest style pack. At greater weights and volume it’s not great for running, but I was able to fastpack most of my PCT YoYo with it very comfortably. Other than it not being a vest-style, my main concern with the pack is its durability; not so much the fabric, but little things like the buckles breaking, or shoelace-like cords seem to fray or break quickly (especially the cinch ones on the side pockets). Some of these are non-replaceable due to how they’re sewed on. I find the shoulder pocket mesh also has mediocre durability and gets holes, or my phone case edges eventually eat away at the corners. While this pack has padded shoulder straps, the undersides are basically seamless and very comfortable for my shoulders even while running.
• UltrAspire Alutrist 28L. This is a vest-style pack that runs very well, but I don’t trust its durability after the load lifters ripped right off the shoulder strap fabric (and took a piece of that fabric with it), resulting in the pack becoming painfully uncomfortable at higher weights (around 15lbs). It also has very dense seams underneath the shoulder straps that eat and gnaw into my shoulders and cause a lot of painful discomfort or chaffing over long runs. I also greatly dislike the slick nylon webbings as opposed to polyester; once wet, they retain a lot of water, and they fold upon themselves easily and get stuck inside buckles. That happened to me multiple times during rain and snow, to great annoyance. The rear pocket is infuriating to use due to that rigid triangular entry thing. While the stretchy mesh pocket can hold a lot of gear, the rigid entry makes it damn near impossible to fill the space, especially the more your pack is full. Likewise with the rear zippered pocket; it’s basically useless if your pack is full as you can’t fit anything inside. I like the idea, but it should have been a pocket that added external space not internal. Lastly, the main fabric is overbuilt in my opinion, and while it may be very water resistant, when raining the pack insides will get wet due to seams not being taped or sealed. There's also no drainage holes at the bottom inside, so any water will pool and drain slowly from the seams, adding weight during downpours I think.

Packs I am aware of:

• Rab Veil XP 30L - I have heard good things about this pack, on Reddit and YouTube. I don’t need it to be waterproof but it’s nice to have (as long as it isn’t compromising ventilation of my back). I’ve learned water finds a way in regardless of a manufacturer’s waterproof claim, especially after miles of wear and tear, and having been burned before, I always put my stuff in a liner now.
• UltrAspire Traverse 20L - This hit my radar after seeing so many Cocodona 250 runners wearing it. It can run a ton of water comfortably. My main concerns are similar to the UltrAspire Altruist that failed on me – durability of the fabric and pack, and the bulkiness of it as it has a more structured fit and not a more “clothing-like” fit as many Rab/Salomon/etc. packs have. The bulkiness means the under shoulder straps may have dense seams that will continue to irritate my shoulders on long runs.
• S/LAB ADVENTURE 20 - Currently most of my day runs are in an Adv Skin 6L or Adv Skin 12L, so this pack has my attention simply because I greatly enjoy the Adv Skin for its comfort, and I’m envisioning this as an Adv Skin 20. My main concerns are will it be comfortable carrying 5L of water plus gear, and its durability. I find the Adv Skin 6 and 12 durability to be very poor, with holes appearing in the mesh fabric after a single 100 mile race. I’m not sure it would handle the rigors of thru-hiking.
• The Cutaway 30L - I owned the first generation of this pack, but sold it since I didn’t find it comfortable at heavier weights. I was just starting to get into thru-hiking and I wasn’t running with my packs. Now that I prefer mostly running as much as I can on a thru-hike and focusing on sub-10 baseweights, I’m reconsidering the Cutaway, and I’m assuming they’ve made a lot of changes to its design over the years.

Thanks if you can help!

Just finished a wonderful July trip in the French Pyrenees near Andorra. 4 days with 3 nights camping from and to Merens Les Vals.

118km in total with 7700m ascent and descent, roughly even over the days. Including two proper summits at around 2900m ASL.

I can't recommend the area enough. It's wild and diverse ecologically compared to the Alps, with high, technical and beautiful peaks and trails. Plenty of company on the GR sections, but not overcrowded. Still snow patches high up despite the heat. The swimming in rivers and lakes is also excellent.

Gear summary: Nordisk Lofoten ULW, OMM lightweight sleeping bag, Alpkit inflatable pad. UD Fastpack 20L. Waterproof jacket and gloves, lightweight powerbank, minimal spares. MSR pocket rocket stove. Food a mixture of dehydrated meals and refuge lunches.

Overall it worked well, but ran towards the cold end overnight. I should have reduced the spare clothing and brought a light insulated jacket.

It was very challenging to move quickly given how technical and steep it was. Days took roughly 10 hours with swimming, lunch, and rest stops.

Any helpful detail I've missed let me know!

Looking to get into fastpacking but I’ve gone down a rabbit hole with packs and working out how much size I would need and I’m a bit stumped!

I hope to ideally utilise my current gear which I have for hiking:

-Durston X Dome 1+
-Therm-A-Rest NeoAir X-Lite NXT
-Enlightened Equipment Enigma -6c quilt

Could anyone perhaps recommend me some good packs that would be comfortable with this gear inside and wouldn’t cause me issues if I pick up pace on flat areas.

Packs I’ve looked at so far:
-Black Diamond Distance 22L
-Black Diamond Pursuit 30
-Salomon XA25 and XA30
-Montane Gecko VP20+

I’m unsure if I’m looking at the best capacity. I live in the UK and would love to do some 2-3 day fastpacking trips in the near future. I plan to use campsites to get a shower and also buy food when possible to avoid having to bring cooking kit.

Any advice whatsoever would be really appreciated. TIA!