Buying Guide Compact rucksacks
YOUR COMPLETE BUYING GUIDE TO
Expert advice on the kit that makes a difference
ARUCKSACK DESIGNER once told us: ‘The funny thing with our job is, if we do it right, you won’t know that we ever did it’. And it’s absolutely true: the highest compliment that can be paid to a rucksack is that you don’t sense that it’s there: not on the hardest slog up the steepest slope, not in the balmy heat of a July afternoon, not on a freakishly warm spring day when it turns out you brought far more layers than you actually need to wear so they’re all in the bag. With the aim of being as unobtrusive as possible, modern rucksacks cram in a vast array of techniques and technologies, from breathable back systems to harnesses that spread their own weight evenly around your torso. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the compact day-hiking market, where we want our packs to carry a lot, be light and airy, and preferably as small as possible. It’s a tricky old balancing act – but when it all comes together perfectly it can make every walk a pleasure. So, we’ve taken 12 compact rucksacks and tested them thoroughly over winter and spring, to see just how undetectable they can be.
About our reviews
We’ve chosen 12 packs ideal for day‐hikes which should be widely available in the UK at the time of going to press, both online and in stores. The packs range from 15 litres to 30 litres in capacity. Most of the packs are unisex, as shown by this symbol . Separate dots ( ) mean it has variant designs for each gender. We don’t pick an overall winner as everyone is looking for something different and no single option will suit every walker. But Nick (NH) and Sarah (SR) have each picked a Tester’s Choice they particularly liked, and chosen a Best Value option too.
VANGO Apex 20
RRP: £47.50 Target price: £45 I’ve become very fond of this slimline daypack. It’s a simple creature: main storage bay, smaller compartment for grabbables, uncomplicated mesh back panel, an external stash pocket and a fuss-free harness. It has a chest s
