About this product
Blue is the pack for people who want neither extreme. It stands out enough to be identified at a camp or spotted if it is set down off a trail, and it is dark enough that the red dust of a Tanzanian dry season does not make it look worn out after one trip.
Seventy-five litres is expedition capacity – a tent, a sleeping bag, a mat, a stove, food for several days and spare clothing, without compressing everything into a shape that fights you every morning. The main compartment is 70 litres with a further 5 litres of extension at the top, and a separate sleeping bag compartment at the bottom so the one thing you want first at night is not underneath everything else.
What makes a pack this size carryable is the suspension, and this one uses Naturehike’s Expeak Airflow system over a 65-grade aluminium alloy frame. The frame transfers the weight to the hip belt rather than hanging it off your shoulders, and the airflow channel keeps the pack off your back – which on a humid climb through the Tanzanian forest belt is not a luxury. The V-shaped back structure lets your shoulders move rather than locking them.
The fabric is 420D nylon outside over a 210D lining, splash, abrasion and tear resistant, and a rain cover is built into the base for when splash resistance stops being enough. There is a hip belt pocket for the things you need without stopping, hydration bladder compatibility, and external straps for a tent, a mat or trekking poles.
At 1,810 g empty it is not an ultralight pack, and it should not be – a 75 litre load needs a frame and a hip belt that can carry it. Packed size is 75 x 33 x 27 cm. It suits Kilimanjaro and Meru, multi-day treks in the Udzungwas and Usambaras, and long travel where one bag has to hold everything.
Naturehike 70L + 5L Hiking Backpack - Blue