Arete 35 Day Sack
4.7
5
3
3
what a excellent piece of kit got to be the most robust daysack i have ever owned would recommened to anyone who needs a daysack that can withstand the arrduace lifestyle of outdoor activitys.
13 January 2012
An almost perfect technical daysack
I recently purchased this Berghaus Arete 35 daysack for an expedition i will be undertaking in the summer to South America - I eventually chose this rucksack because not only did it seem appropriate for my expedition, but it also seemed to be the right choice as an all round rucksack.
First of all, the most important part about the rucksack - it is comfortable. It makes use of Berghaus's fusion 2 back system, which i think is absolutley amazing for two reasons: Firstly, it is very light - the whole reason for the inclusion of the system as far as i'm aware is to provide a lightweight lumber support which doesn't use a metal frame like most rucksacks, but still shapes such that it is the best possible fit for your back. The second reason i like it is the way that it moulds to your back. When you first put it on, it may be deceptively uncomfortable at first but if you make sure you place the waist belt on your hips, and adjust the straps so that it has the closest possible fit whilst staying on your waist once you have been walking or climbing for about ten minutes the lumber support will have moulded to the contours of your back - and it will quite literally feel like it is an extension of your back! I recently completed a very hill 42km walk on the south coast wearing my arete 35 and due to the fantastic back system and weight distribution I didn't even struggle.
The litreage of the rucksack is very good too - it has a good capacity main section of 35 litres, and it has a pocket inside for inserting a removable bladder - i don't know precisely the maximum size which is designed to take but it will comfortably hold my 3L camelbak.
The rucksack (as one would expect with a Berghaus item) is very robust, whilst it is not marketed as waterproof i have never had any problems with waterproofness, the only water problem i ever had was when i forgot to tighten my removable bladder! Even though it doesn't have an inbuilt raincover like my verden 65+10 which i use for more substantial carriage requirements and overnight expeditions i have never had found the need for a raincover and i have been caught it some truly appalling British weather whilst out walking. I'm not sure if the fabric is ripstop but it's fairly tought. It has abrasion resistance on the bottom and some areas of the sides that are most prone to wear and tear, and it is generally a well constructed pack.
I also find the weight to be a big help - the whole pack weighs in at less than a kilogram, and on a long walk where you're carrying a lot of kit, this feature really is a god send. Unfortunately however, it seems that a few important features may have been sacrificed so that the weight could be kept down;
My only real quibbles with the rucksack are the lack of side pockets, and the closure. I always like to have at least three pockets on the outside of my rucksack - one to store my rain jacket, one to store my waterproof trousers and gaiters, and a third one to store light snacks, a camera, a phone, an inhaler, and some sunglasses - this i fear, is where the rucksack is lacking - there is but one pocket, and that is on the top - to shove all of my loose items in there does unfortunately cause some clanking and due to it's size makes them difficult to get out again, and since I must store my waterproofs inside, during bad weather the contents of my rucksack have to get wet when I open my rucksack to get out my waterproofs - not ideal.
A second minor quibble I have is with the closure - unlike my verden, which has two straps to close the top of the rucksack, this has one, meaning that it doesn't close quite as securely, and you can't compress the rucksack as efficiently.
Therefore in conclusion i feel that this is a great rucksack, definitley one of the lightest on the rucksack. Nevertheless, i feel it is lacking too much in the lack of side pockets to be an outright perfect rucksack, therefore, i feel that if weight is a real consideration for you - this is definitley the rucksack to go for - if you are more interested in features and can make the sacrifice of having a few extra grams, then you may be better off going for a slightly heavier rucksack.
28 June 2011
Excellent Daysac
Whilst this review may not be directly related to original design brief of this superb daysac, it worked wonderfully. This pack has just undergone the ardeous task of carrying daily supplies for a family of five whilst on vacation.
The lightweight design made it a boon for travel, the load carrying system was supportive, comfortable and relatively cool given the warm humid climate it was operating in. The materials used in its construction show no signs of wear or tear despite being taken on and off countless times as each family member required a drink (carrying 5+ litres in bottles no problem) or something to eat, or a jumper or other clothes etc.
So all in all this daysac was excellent, oh and it is also excellent when used on the hill full of climbing gear.
11 March 2011
