Multiday packs
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These three packs have something for everyone: those on a budget; those wanting a hard-wearing, long lasting option; and one specifically for the ladies.
FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS TRAMPER
Berghaus Verden 65+10 $249
Reviewed by Mark Banham
Truly great outdoor gear should serve more than one purpose… but failing that, doing the same thing for different people is surely a close second.
That seems to be the big selling point of Berghaus’ Verden 65. This mid-sized pack features a Biofit harness that allows you to adjust the length of the rucksack in a matter of seconds. This means you can loan it to your mates or your spouse, or share it between siblings, or adjust it to kids’ heights as they grow.
Besides this nifty feature, the Verden 65+10 is a nicely put together pack. It’s positively bristling with features like a large map pocket, hiking pole loops, a hydration bladder sleeve, mesh pockets for trail snacks and an integrated pack cover. Despite all these bells and whistles, it weighs in at a very reasonable 2150g.
On the trail it proved comfy, well ventilated and stable – on the whole a good design. But surprisingly, the feature I really appreciated was the multiple ways to access the main compartment. This design allows you to get at your stuff through the top, the bottom and the side letting you pack heavy stuff like that spare camera lens low and close to your spine, but still get to it in a hurry if you need to. However, this could adversely affect the pack’s waterproofing.
It’s worth noting that the trade-off for the Verden 65+10’s light weight and feature-rich design seems to be a slight loss in durability. The Biofit system seems well engineered, but definitely not over-engineered; the fabric is ripstop, but fairly lightweight and the mesh side pockets certainly wouldn’t last long around lawyer vines. I tested this one out on some sections of the Routeburn Track for which it was perfect – but I wouldn’t recommend it for bush bashing or mountaineering.
On the whole though, as long as it’s used for its intended purpose it’s an excellent piece of kit. Weight: 2150g
FOR THE BUSH BASHER
One Planet Mungo $429
Reviewed by Paul King
Promoted as lightweight, the 2500g Mungo is a pack that’ll last for years. Stiff and durable Waterloc polyester cotton canvas offers great water resistance and handles every abrasive surface it comes into contact with.
I found the harness to be supportive and reliable every time I used it, but Exact Fit doesn’t mean easy fit; it’s best adjusted off your back. The Exact Fit buckles are tricky to reach and would be better orientated with the webbing pulling forwards, rather than unnaturally backwards.
The hip belt cinches up snugly, and pivots well. Bottle pockets on the main sac keep weight low and water accessible without the need for a hydration reservoir, but sliding bottles back into place when the hip belt stabiliser straps are pulled up is difficult.
The lumbar pad is generous and tips the load towards your back for improved balance and airflow between you and the harness.
Pulling up the compression straps did little to stabilise my load. Only the top straps – attached too high on the pack – provide any sort of compression; the lower ones are positioned and effective only for securing a sleeping mat. The pack becomes a giant pear shape when partially loaded, with everything gathering at the bottom.
While the storm throat is very short, the flanks of the lid, effectively secured with a single buckle, cover it well.
Once ice axes are in their loops, their tips need to either tuck under the pack’s front shock cord, or through its side compression straps: there doesn’t appear to be any other means of holding them.
The Mungo is a great looking pack hindered by some basic design flaws, and it is heavy. However, its published 60-litre volume feels more like 65 or 70, easily carrying all you need for a well-stocked weekend away, or relatviely lightweight multi-day tramp. Weight: 2500g.
FOR THE LADIES
Tatonka Isis 60 $359
Reviewed by Beth Masser
This German brand has a range of tramping packs, Isis being the woman’s range and Yukon the men’s.
The 60L Isis grew on me over the three three months I used it. We had a number of adventures together: tramping Fiordland’s Hump Track, a snowy trip on the Kepler Track, snow shoeing along Bealey Spur in Arthur’s Pass, some rough boulder hopping down the South Island’s West Coast from Big Bay to Martin’s Bay and numerous shorter trips.
This is not a streamlined pack, sporting an initially alarming array of straps and compartments, that could mean you discover hidden treasures like car keys years after stashing them.
It comes in jolly red or hide-the-dirt grey and is constructed from tough looking textured nylon fabrics including Textreme and Texamid. I had no problems with leakage but have not tested the pack in very heavy rain. It comes with a rain cover, something I’ve never used before but have heard plenty of stories of them blowing off packs in rough weather. During a heavy snow storm it worked fine for me.
At 2900g it isn’t too bad weight-wise for a multiday pack. As one would expect with German engineering, everything’s been well thought out. One of its best features is the carrying system which Tatonka call V2 and is designed for carrying medium to heavy loads. It has plenty of adjustment features allowing it to be tailored to your body dimensions before putting it on and then easy fine tuning once saddled up. In addition to carrying it myself in different situations I also fitted it comfortably to both a larger and smaller friend. The hip and shoulder padding is excellent, making it a very comfortable pack to wear.
With a retail price of $359, including a two-year warranty, the pack is pretty good value for money. Weight: 2850g.
FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS TRAMPER
Berghaus Verden 65+10 $249
Reviewed by Mark Banham
Truly great outdoor gear should serve more than one purpose… but failing that, doing the same thing for different people is surely a close second.
That seems to be the big selling point of Berghaus’ Verden 65. This mid-sized pack features a Biofit harness that allows you to adjust the length of the rucksack in a matter of seconds. This means you can loan it to your mates or your spouse, or share it between siblings, or adjust it to kids’ heights as they grow.
Besides this nifty feature, the Verden 65+10 is a nicely put together pack. It’s positively bristling with features like a large map pocket, hiking pole loops, a hydration bladder sleeve, mesh pockets for trail snacks and an integrated pack cover. Despite all these bells and whistles, it weighs in at a very reasonable 2150g.
On the trail it proved comfy, well ventilated and stable – on the whole a good design. But surprisingly, the feature I really appreciated was the multiple ways to access the main compartment. This design allows you to get at your stuff through the top, the bottom and the side letting you pack heavy stuff like that spare camera lens low and close to your spine, but still get to it in a hurry if you need to. However, this could adversely affect the pack’s waterproofing.
It’s worth noting that the trade-off for the Verden 65+10’s light weight and feature-rich design seems to be a slight loss in durability. The Biofit system seems well engineered, but definitely not over-engineered; the fabric is ripstop, but fairly lightweight and the mesh side pockets certainly wouldn’t last long around lawyer vines. I tested this one out on some sections of the Routeburn Track for which it was perfect – but I wouldn’t recommend it for bush bashing or mountaineering.
On the whole though, as long as it’s used for its intended purpose it’s an excellent piece of kit. Weight: 2150g
FOR THE BUSH BASHER
One Planet Mungo $429
Reviewed by Paul King
Promoted as lightweight, the 2500g Mungo is a pack that’ll last for years. Stiff and durable Waterloc polyester cotton canvas offers great water resistance and handles every abrasive surface it comes into contact with.
I found the harness to be supportive and reliable every time I used it, but Exact Fit doesn’t mean easy fit; it’s best adjusted off your back. The Exact Fit buckles are tricky to reach and would be better orientated with the webbing pulling forwards, rather than unnaturally backwards.
The hip belt cinches up snugly, and pivots well. Bottle pockets on the main sac keep weight low and water accessible without the need for a hydration reservoir, but sliding bottles back into place when the hip belt stabiliser straps are pulled up is difficult.
The lumbar pad is generous and tips the load towards your back for improved balance and airflow between you and the harness.
Pulling up the compression straps did little to stabilise my load. Only the top straps – attached too high on the pack – provide any sort of compression; the lower ones are positioned and effective only for securing a sleeping mat. The pack becomes a giant pear shape when partially loaded, with everything gathering at the bottom.
While the storm throat is very short, the flanks of the lid, effectively secured with a single buckle, cover it well.
Once ice axes are in their loops, their tips need to either tuck under the pack’s front shock cord, or through its side compression straps: there doesn’t appear to be any other means of holding them.
The Mungo is a great looking pack hindered by some basic design flaws, and it is heavy. However, its published 60-litre volume feels more like 65 or 70, easily carrying all you need for a well-stocked weekend away, or relatviely lightweight multi-day tramp. Weight: 2500g.
FOR THE LADIES
Tatonka Isis 60 $359
Reviewed by Beth Masser
This German brand has a range of tramping packs, Isis being the woman’s range and Yukon the men’s.
The 60L Isis grew on me over the three three months I used it. We had a number of adventures together: tramping Fiordland’s Hump Track, a snowy trip on the Kepler Track, snow shoeing along Bealey Spur in Arthur’s Pass, some rough boulder hopping down the South Island’s West Coast from Big Bay to Martin’s Bay and numerous shorter trips.
This is not a streamlined pack, sporting an initially alarming array of straps and compartments, that could mean you discover hidden treasures like car keys years after stashing them.
It comes in jolly red or hide-the-dirt grey and is constructed from tough looking textured nylon fabrics including Textreme and Texamid. I had no problems with leakage but have not tested the pack in very heavy rain. It comes with a rain cover, something I’ve never used before but have heard plenty of stories of them blowing off packs in rough weather. During a heavy snow storm it worked fine for me.
At 2900g it isn’t too bad weight-wise for a multiday pack. As one would expect with German engineering, everything’s been well thought out. One of its best features is the carrying system which Tatonka call V2 and is designed for carrying medium to heavy loads. It has plenty of adjustment features allowing it to be tailored to your body dimensions before putting it on and then easy fine tuning once saddled up. In addition to carrying it myself in different situations I also fitted it comfortably to both a larger and smaller friend. The hip and shoulder padding is excellent, making it a very comfortable pack to wear.
With a retail price of $359, including a two-year warranty, the pack is pretty good value for money. Weight: 2850g.
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