Our 12 Best Active Backpack Finalists take their roles seriously, all delivering noteworthy performances in their different ways. But only one will successfully scale the summit to active pack glory. Which one will you choose?

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Who It Suits

Beginner hikers and backpackers, this is a full-feature bag with a great trampoline suspension and exterior stretch mesh pockets. It’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t.  This is a solid entry bag if you’re looking to spend longer days in the mountains, especially if you live in a warmer climate – I was really impressed at how well this ventilated.

“Beginner hikers and backpackers, this is a full-feature bag with a great trampoline suspension and exterior stretch mesh pockets. It’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t.”

Who It Doesn’t

Commuters and the EDC crowd looking for a multi-role bag.  The rigid frame doesn’t give you much in the way of versatility. The back panel is curved for comfort while hiking, so when I slide my laptop into the bag I end up with dead space on either side.  Much like laying a board on a cylinder.

“The rigid frame doesn’t give you much in the way of versatility.”

The Good

For lightweight adventures, this really hits a sweet spot with its feature set.  Sub 2 pounds, ventilated back panel, huge stretch mesh pockets, and a floating lid. This bag checks a lot of boxes for me, and that’s pretty tough to do.

“For lightweight adventures, this really hits a sweet spot with its feature set.”

I’ve said it before, but when you’re buying a bag, pay close attention to everything that’s touching you: the suspension system on an outdoor bag is the most important part of the whole contraption.  Bergans was able to get it done with the tensioned mesh back panel.

“I was really impressed at how well this ventilated.”

The floating lid actually is a big deal, especially in a bag this size.  Being that this bag is a cinch top, a floating lid allows you to really abuse that 32L capacity limit.  I can easily carry a tent or pad between the lid and the main compartment, turning a “daypack” into an overnight bag no problem.  It’s also pretty big, which means more room for snacks. Excellent.

“Being that this bag is a cinch top, a floating lid allows you to really abuse that 32L capacity limit.”

The stretch mesh pockets are awesome. They completely swallow a 1L Nalgene and can easily handle a pair of rain pants, a hat and gloves, or pretty much anything else you want to stash for quick access.  The stretch mesh front-face pouch works great for shells and layers and has an expansion zip that allows you a little more space for when you’ve really got to pack it in (though I’m not sold this actually does anything).

“The stretch mesh pockets are awesome.”

The Not So Good

The hip belt is not up to snuff for me; the foam is way too flimsy to be taken seriously, and when I’m not using it, there’s nowhere for it to go, so it flaps between my legs like a bad fishing experience.  They’re also sewn in in the wrong direction.  What I mean by this is that their natural resting place is across the back panel rather than out around your hips.

“The hip belt is not up to snuff for me…”

The carry handle at the top of the pack is nearly useless. It’s short and rests just beneath the lid of the bag so most of the time when I go to grab it, I’m actually holding the weight of the bag via the lid rather than the carry handle.

“The carry handle at the top of the pack is nearly useless.”

The hardware on this bag is also a bit of a turnoff: the clips just aren’t as snappy or as rugged as I want them to be on a bag that’s solely going to be toted around in big environments.  The cord lock on the cinch top and collar didn’t instill confidence in me either.

“The hardware on this bag is also a bit of a turnoff: the clips just aren’t as snappy or as rugged as I want them to be on a bag that’s solely going to be toted around in big environments.”

Lastly, the bottom of the bag seems unfinished in my eyes.  The frame extends below the seam where the bottom panel is sewn in.  Typically, I’ve seen the bottom panel wrap around or cover the bottom of the frame and the seam placement there would rest on the very bottom on the back panel closest to the wearer’s back.  With the Skarstind it’s apparent that the bag is attached to the frame – I feel like most manufacturers try to make this fact a little more discreet.  It’s hardly noticeable when you’re carrying a full load, but when you’ve got a half load, or on inspecting the bag when empty, it’s a noticeable design element.

“Lastly, the bottom of the bag seems unfinished in my eyes.”

Alternatives to Consider

Most obviously, Gregory’s Zulu 35 and Osprey’s Talon 33 are comparable in every way.  While both options tend to sell at higher prices, I think the attention to detail they offer is worthwhile.

Verdict

If you’re in the market for a ventilated outdoor bag, the Skarstind is a great place to start.  But ultimately, while shopping for the specific feature set that the Skarstind provides, I’d probably opt for a Talon 33 and save a few bucks – Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee doesn’t hurt that case either.

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The post Road Tests :: Bergans Trollhetta 75 appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

As you read our recaps, keep an eye out for trends that we spotted at this year’s Outdoor Retailer: packable duffels, backpacking packs with removable tops that convert to sling or waist packs, very simple packs used for grocery-getting or yoga classes, simple hydration packs for music festivals and outdoor venues, Carry awards displayed at booths, different types of adjustable harnesses (both shoulder and waist), and a nod to the environment.

Alchemy Equipment

Let’s start things off with a bang. Alchemy, a brand founded recently by Campbell Junor, formerly of Macpac, pulled no punches when it came to their OR showing. Their booth, located in the center of the special Venture Out portion of the center Pavilion, was definitely a hot spot with media (like us), buyers (saw Moosejaw there), and apparently even designers (spies?) hovering around.

The booth had a very clean aesthetic, not unlike their clothing and bags. Lots of dark grays, wood, and steel and intense spotlights on the items being showcased.

The duo representing the brand had a number of new offerings including packs and clothing. Of course, we were keen on just the carry stuff. The one that caught our eyes the most was the Convertible Satchel known simply as Travel Pack #12. It’s (roughly) a 40L masterpiece that is based on their carry-on but converts easily into a daypack. Some notable features include stowable straps, carry-on sizing, and a shoulder sling. The coolest thing I saw was a little strap you can use to pull out your laptop, instead of reaching in with your big paws.

Their take on the weekender duffel with waxed cotton and compression straps was on point as well. We won’t tell you how long this small team took to put together this Spring ’16 line but let’s say it’s both scary and amazing. Keep an eye on the blog and you’ll see how much we are digging their stuff.

Fjällräven

This iconic Swedish brand was founded in 1960 by Åke Nordin. You probably recognize them for one iconic bag: the Kånken. Turns out, there’s so much more to the brand. Fjällräven had an absolutely huge display on the main floor of OR. They even had a second storey where a tailor was making gear repairs. The ambiance of the booth was one of forested outdoors complete with lots of foliage and exposed wood.

The pack that really caught our interest was the Kaipak. It’s made of a mixture of cotton and polyester (G1000), infused with their own blend of beeswax and paraffin, giving the pack waterproof properties without harsh DWR chemical treatment. We were blown away by all the sustainability and environmentally-conscious design and production decisions Fjällräven has made. They aim to have all their packs made of sustainable materials by Fall 2016. Apparently, this type of eco-thinking has been in their ethos for a long time now and they have just been doing the “right” thing without much publicity or fanfare.

Another cool feature in some of their technical packs was the use of bamboo stays (instead of aluminum), to add rigidity in the back panel. This not only looks cool but speaks to their goal of sustainability and natural materials.

The next pack we checked out was the High Coast which also lacked a top, similar to the Kånken. It comes in two sizes: 18L and 24L. We also saw the Raven, which is coming out Spring ’16 and is poised to potentially replace the Kånken. It comes in three sizes: Mini (15L), 20L and 28L and I definitely could see this usurping the reigning champion. It’s a classy-looking backpack that will have wide appeal.

Bergans

The Bergans booth had only one entry which produced more of a room instead of booth feel. After a bumpy start, we were able to get a walkthrough of their most exciting products. The Helium pack, weighing just 1 kilogram, blew our minds. It is a fully adjustable pack with a molded hip pad, and uses the SPINE ®ADJUSTABLE frame system, pivotal hip belt, load lifters, and quick-release buckles. The SPINE System, which is not new but still awesome, uses a spring steel double helix suspension to stabilize the load as you walk/run. We were told that Bergans’ design principles followed the real “Norwegian mentality” which is to find simple solutions to problems and stop right there. We also took a look at the Trollhetta and Glittertind packs which are more substantial than the Helium but still reasonable in weight.

CamelBak

CamelBak’s booth was massive, complete with multiple serve-yourself water stations, which provided much needed relief with all the walking we did. We spoke to their design director as well as one of the product designers and they walked us through their Spring ’16 offerings.

First up are their cycling packs, specifically geared towards the MTB market. The Low Rider is a lumbar integrated hydration pack. It offers a low center of gravity and is meant to mainly carry the bladder; the entire top part is removed. It’ll retail for $75. Next up are the Skyline/Solstice packs and they feature 3L lumbar water carry, 10L total capacity, light armor carry (requested by customers), tool roll, and closed cell foam padding for comfort. It comes in at $130.

Last of the cycling packs is the Palos, the first MTB waist hydration pack. It holds a 1.5L bladder, with 4L total volume. Interestingly, the hose wraps around the waist and is secured with a magnet. This keeps the elbows and shoulders free for maneuverability.

The next pack we saw was Arete. It happened to be the first one we saw of its kind that day, but by Day 3, this was clearly a trend for OR 2015. The pack is a lightweight ruck that is meant to be used by travelers and at music festivals. It has an urban vibe to it and according to CamelBak, these types of bags are the fastest growing segment. Think Coachella instead of Leadville. It is reversible – turning from a reservoir sleeve to a lightweight hydration pack. The 18L version holds a 1.5L bladder while the 22L version holds a 2L one. It will retail for around $65 and $80.

Next up is the Recon series, their military-inspired urban packs. The Carryology crew were pleasantly surprised at how nice the Quantico and Coronado packs looked. Really clean lines and not like anything we’ve seen from CamelBak lately. Interestingly, the packs are not reservoir based; instead they employ a pair of interior sleeves to hold bottles. They use authentic military materials (which is just a fancy way of saying nice materials and hardware). They can hold a tablet, and can fold flat for easy access and packing. The nylon is a 420 material but feels and looks surprisingly soft and supple. There is plenty of internal organization. The two names refer to two sizes, the Quantico being the larger of the two bags, and retail pricing is $130 with a $30 premium if you want the special camo version.

Finally, we went to see the packs some of the US armed forces are using on the field. These packs are huge but remember, they were designed to be worn by soldiers with full body armor on. The most interesting part of the new packs is the removal of the traditional MOLLE panel. They were able to get double digit percentage weight savings by switching over to a new panel that has the slits laser cut. Another advantage is this keeps the camouflage intact, instead of it broken up with strips, which defeats the whole point of camo. Finally, it’s near IR compliant.

For us, the Arete and Recon series were the most appealing and we can’t wait to get a closer look at them!

Granite Gear

We won’t say much about Granite Gear, but it’s not for lack of innovation or technology. We simply didn’t spend much time there. The darling of their display was of course the Lutsen Series with the RE-FIT A.C. Frame, designed by Michael Meyer and his team. It features molded air channels that work with the foam back panel and stretch mesh to keep your back cool and dry. The whole system works together so nicely; we were really impressed.

They also had a full gamut of stackable luggage (i.e. daypack sliding into the rails of a roller) and packable duffels. Nothing we haven’t seen before but worth mentioning if you’re in the market.

Mystery Ranch

By far one of our favorite brands, the guys from Montana really brought it this year. They occupied a really simple and small booth, just around the corner from industry giant Arc’teryx.

We had a nice long chat with the crew and you could not ask for a nicer group of people, truly excited about what they do. Everything looked amazing and if you’re like us, you’re going to love the new colorways. As it was told to us, the pendulum may have swung a bit too far in the opposite direction. We like the change though and don’t worry, there’s no question that the MR DNA runs strong in the new offerings. Let’s kick things off, shall we?

First up is the Pitch, a climbing-specific pack, ranging from 17-55L. To save weight, they used a lighter material in areas that did not require much strength or abrasion resistance.

Next, we focused on the urban line. Finally! Mystery Ranch has gone EDC! First, we saw the 3-Way Briefcase, named as such because of the three ways it can be carried. It comes in two versions – expandable and not. The former has two pockets. Really simple, but snazzy bag perfect for the office.

Next is the Streetfighter and its bigger brother the Gunfighter. Both were apparently available on the US site but nobody bought them so they removed them. Interestingly, their Japanese distributor had great luck with them and suddenly Americans are clamoring for them, so for the new season Mystery Ranch is bringing them back. The Streetfighter features waterproof zippers, and a bottom MOLLE attachment (which is really for show). The Gunfighter has more functional MOLLE on the sides, different padding, and a Stick-It front pocket designed to hold a shed layer or a cycling helmet.

The Java is a play on the 3-Zip design and the design was inspired by Japanese businessmen traveling on the subway, with not much room around them. There are, admittedly, a bunch of zippers, but the idea is to give you access no matter how little space you have.

The Urban Assault is a clean and slim daypack rocking the infamous 3-Zip. It has fixed harnessing and no yoke, to save on weight.

Finally, we checked out the Booty Bag, which is a no-frills simple and light bag that can be used for anything from yoga classes, to hauling fresh fruits and veggies from the farmer’s market. Since everyone at the Ranch knows how to sew, they often make their own bags and everyone was essentially creating the Booty Bag, so they decided to bring it to market.

There were other new bags that we didn’t get around to but we’ve told you about the ones that most excited us.

Osprey

The Osprey booth was a little crowded but the hardwood floors and interesting display walls (with perforations) really fit well with the vibe of the company.

The spotlight was definitely on their AG (Anti-Gravity) technology, which has garnered many awards, including one from us. They feature it prominently on their Atmos/Aura series bags and from now, all Atmos/Aura bags will come with AG standard. They are also pushing the AG technology into other packs such as their baby carrier (Poco Plus available Spring ’16) and a daypack. We tried the Atmos on and it honestly felt like there was nothing on you. The hipbelts hug your waist and the bag feels like it’s floating off your back. Apparently, it took the founder ten years to perfect.

Cycling packs the Manta and Raptor have small updates. We also saw the Volt/Viva packs which have 6 inches of adjustability, allowing Osprey to sell just one size. Do-it-all packs Kestral/Kyte are perfect for skiing or hiking. One of my favorites, the Flap, has some updates with expandable sides for water bottles and a single strap on front, as opposed to the dual straps. Finally, their travel luggage has some updates, including a roller with shoulder straps and a detachable day bag for when you get into the destination city.

Pacsafe

The Pacsafe booth had a quiet, calm demeanor and was almost entirely enclosed with only a few narrow exit lanes. They introduced us to three new products. The first is the Venturesafe X which is an outdoors/hiking pack. It features their exo-mesh, smart zippers, and RFID pocket. These are all classic Pacsafe materials but we think what sets the Venturesafe X apart is it’s one snazzy-looking pack. Next, the Travelsafe X is a small (15L) pack that works as a safe insert. It can be used alone but is meant to sit inside the Venturesafe for added protection. Finally, the Ultimatesafe Z is a portable safe meant for lock and leave in situations where your hotel or hostel may not have a secure lockbox. It features a padded compartment for 15″ laptops. Rounding out things are their urban commuter range and camera bags, all of which feature Pacsafe’s patented security mechanisms.

The North Face

TNF set up one of the most attractive and largest displays at Outdoor Retailer. They had numerous tents set up in faux campsites, colored lights, and music. In addition, about a fifth of the display was dedicated to promoting the film Meru, about climbing the namesake mountain. While The North Face didn’t sponsor the movie, they made numerous custom pieces for the athletes so their goods are prominently displayed in the film.

This was one of the coolest meetings of the show. We were taken upstairs to a private showroom, replete with their own wi-fi network and snacks. This was the first time in the show we felt we could relax, put our bags down, and just have a discussion about the products, instead of hurriedly rushing through things. They opened with a focus on their technical packs. We checked out the Fovero, a large, load-carrying pack with an adjustable torso, trampoline back panel, and OPTIFIT. Note: the 70L version doesn’t use the trampoline paneling.

We briefly caught a glimpse of the Terra, which is a base level, entry pack. Next up is the Banchee, a sub 4 lb bag, again with trampoline suspension. They were able to get the pack stable even up to 50 lbs and it maintains this stability even while running. An angled water bottle holder and tool loops for poles or hammers round out the features.

Next was probably one of the coolest names for a bag encountered during OR – the Cragaconda. As you can imagine, this was specifically made for cragging. It lays flat and has a load top, taco feature, and reinforced carry handle.

The Shadow is a stripped-down, fast and light pack. It has webbing for extra reinforcements on darted areas and a really interesting outline and silhouette. You can tell the design team really got to let loose on this one.

Now that the advanced bags were out of the way, things started getting real interesting. The next bag they wanted to show us was the Base Camp Duffel. Now, we are sure this is a bag that’s familiar to our readers. As it was told to us, and this might not be entirely accurate, but something like 1 in 500 Norwegians own a Base Camp Duffel. That’s how popular they are, and how much a part of the carry quiver for some countries. Did you know the Base Camp had not been redesigned for 15 years? Why fix something unless it’s broken, right? Well, a little site called Carryology posted a head-to-head comparison between TNF Base Camp and the Patagonia Black Hole and the latter edged out the win. This lit a fire under the pack and travel team and the product manager challenged them to address the issues while keeping the price and weight the same. They were able to pull it off and even shaved a little bit of weight off. Let’s go over the features:

• Exterior stow/dirty clothes pocket to keep things separate
• Quick-access side and end pockets, depending on size
• Shoulder straps updated; no more duffel straps
• Two side handles
• Wide buckles to prevent twisting, more like a backpack
• Honeycomb ID privacy window
• New packaging, less waste; redesigned hardware to not require packing/padding during transport and storage. Reusable strap from packaging
• Molded nylon zip pulls
• $100, $145
• Special editions with some pretty cool graphics for the Base Camp’s 30th anniversary, coming soon

Whew, that was a mouthful. Pretty awesome to see that our little corner of the internet has some real impact, and customers are the ones who will benefit.

Last, but not least, we took a look at their daypack line. You might be surprised at how much their casual backpack lines account for their total business. Remember, you might buy an expedition pack once in your life, but a student might get a new school bag every year. The thing that really stood out for us were the women-specific features. They actually had a focus group at work and measured women’s spine heights, body heights, back curves, shoulder widths, etc. and charted them. They were able to create a pack with thicker shoulder straps, ladder locks curved to prevent hitting elbows, and softer materials. We think that more companies should think about women-specific packs, because quite simply, our anatomies are all different.

Kudos to The North Face crew for innovating and pushing the envelope even while being such a large outdoor machine.

Incase

Incase was rocking a really modern-looking booth in one of the Pavilion tents. They were the only booth, that we could recall, that decided to put half their collection behind glass. Before you jump on our bag photography, we did the best we could. Sorry about the reflections. The booth had lots of glass, clean white paneling and shine. Definitely very Incase.

There’s not much new here, mostly updates to colorways and accessories but let’s go through it. First, an action camera pack, this time collaborating with pro surfer Kelly Slater. As you can imagine, this is primarily focused towards watersports. Slater picked the exterior patterns. The theme of this release is accessories. We saw a number of cases to hold GoPro’s, batteries and accessories. What’s cool is they float and all fit nicely into the KS Pro Pack.

The DSLR pack didn’t get much of an update but there were a few new accessories. First up are lens cases coming in four different sizes. Also, neck and wrist straps that are simple affairs made of leather and utilize the same quick-release strap attachments. Apparently, the kit will come with different-sized ends so you can loop it through your digital point and shoot or giant medium format camera just the same. A memory card and lens cap slip round things out.

Their iPhone case line, SYSTM, is simply updated with new colors while their Travel line gets the edition of their Ecoya fabric, in gray and black colorways, to add a little sustainability flair to things.

Incase knows their brand identity well and their new products keep the message consistent.

Thule

Thule had an absolutely huge display, and it reminded us of being in a mall store. On one wall alone they had roughly a 10 x 10 display. Just a massive operation! We checked out a number of bags.

The Stir 25 is a lightweight and minimalist bag. It features a 3/4 raincover and a bottom cover which combine to provide 100% water resistance. It’s made of 210D with 210D laminated webbing and the torso is adjustable. The 35L weighs 2.2 lbs.

Next, we were shown the Versant Pack, which comes in 50, 60, and 70L sizes. It offers a lot of adjustability through the hips and torso. You’re able to turn the top of the pack into a sling bag, which is a cool feature, but not something we haven’t seen before.

Timbuk2

We didn’t spend too much time with this San Francisco favorite but the team all agreed that there’s a new face to the messenger bag company. They still have their bread and butter: the three-panel messenger bag, but half their showing was a more grown-up side. Their booth was large and had bright lights, large walls with hanging bags, multiple tables to chat, and even a dedicated tailor station where custom bags were being sewn up.

Overall, what we are seeing is use of more luxe materials (cotton, leather), and very subdued and minimalist branding. Their Especial Messenger is still rocking the Fidlock connectors and we’d like to see more of that in other bags. Scratch that, we’d like to see more Fidlock in the industry in general. Magnets are so attractive.

Leatherman

This is one of the small amount of EDC coverage for this event. We spent almost four days doing just bag coverage, so it was impossible to get to every booth and product category.

For Leatherman, of note is the Tread. As you may recall, this was introduced at SHOT Show as a test and the response was overwhelming. This caught the Portland, OR company off-guard and they had to scale back the publicity to get their production up to snuff. They are nearing full production and the bracelet tool will be available soon. Speaking with their PR and the president of the company, I learned some interesting things. This all may not pan out, so take them with a grain of salt.

• Some things you might see in the future
  • Narrower bracelet as an option
  • Attachment kits to attach to G-Shock, Apple Watch, Pebble, etc. watches
  • Choose-Your-Own custom version on the website. Pick just the tools you want.
  • Smaller links to allow for as little as 1/8th inch adjustments
  • Custom tools for cycling, snowboarding, etc.
• Trivia
  • The final design is not much different from the prototype developed when CEO Ben Rivera invented it after his multi-tool was removed on a trip to Disneyland
  • The original steel had to be changed because it was not water and abrasion-resistant enough

MindShift Gear

MindShift, a division of Think Tank Photo, had a small booth in the third Pavilion. While they are most known for their Rotation180 packs, they had something different to show us at OR. The FirstLight Series features their first non-rotating pack and is made for the expedition photographer. This is a large pack, meant to carry everything you might need in the field. It features an 11-point torso adjustment with 2.5-3 inches of adjustment. It uses two large parallel strips of Velcro to prevent slippage. It has multiple tripod carry options with an optional accessory that allows for horizontal carry. It comes standard with side suspension to fit one or all three legs. The FirstLight is available now.

MindShift also were showing off their DJI Phantom case, which uses the traditional removable and Velcroed walls as dividers and a soft exterior, rather than the hard cases drone owners are used to. Lastly, they had a series of GoPro accessory cases and interestingly opted to make them simply pouches, rather than using molded foam. The pouches are all made to stack which makes slipping them into a pack easy.

The MindShift guys were keen on saying people don’t know they have a problem until we show them a solution. We hope to see more exciting things from them in the future.

Material ConneXion

This booth was located on the third floor, in an area that is primarily for materials and hardware manufacturers. Material ConneXion is an interesting company. They have locations in many major cities and their buildings act as materials libraries where companies and people can come to research and learn about materials. They also have materials scientists who can help people figure out what material is best for them. Access is on a membership basis. While we were visiting their booth we saw some cool examples, like washable cow leather, and a replacement for neoprene.

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