with robust and durable materials designed for use in tough and severe situations .
The cut and form are excellent from an engineering and design perspective , combining ease of movement with style .
A rational, streamlined and functional beauty that is the result of pursuing ease of use .
All of these are essential elements of Arc'teryx products. Countless enthusiasts around the world are captivated by their priceless, one-of-a-kind value. This Canadian outdoor brand, not particularly long-established, has not contented itself with simply making harnesses; it has expanded its range of activities to include climbing, skiing, and trail running, creating a succession of uncompromising, original products. It has grown to become recognized as one of the world's leading brands for creating "authentic" products
Arc'teryx has finally, or rather, finally released this spring the AERIOS backpack series designed for long-term through-hiking and long trekking.
This backpack is sure to be a hit with not only regular ultralight hikers and Arc'teryx fans, but also many outdoor enthusiasts. I bought one (with my own money, naturally) as soon as it was released and hiked the low mountains of Okutama and Nagano with a heavy load, so I'll give you my review straight away
table of contents
- Arc'teryx Aerios 45 Key Features:
- Main specifications and evaluation
- Detailed Review: I tried it in thru-hiking mode
- Summary: The appeal of this bag is its lightness, strength, and storage capacity, as well as its high expandability, which makes it infinitely more convenient depending on how you use it
Arc'teryx Aerios 45 Key Features:
This durable and lightweight backpack for thru-hiking and long trekking utilizes a lightweight, high-strength, durable combination of liquid crystal polymer ripstop and Cordura nylon, achieving maximum storage and ease of use with minimal parts. The main compartment features a wide, roll-top design for easy access. Ample external storage, including oversized side pockets, a large mesh pocket on the shoulder harness for bottles, flasks, and smartphones, and a mesh pocket on the waist harness for small items, allows for efficient storage of all your essentials for long-term mountain hiking. Another major plus is the simple external attachment system using daisy chains and bungee cords, which allows for efficient transport of a variety of items. This backpack is ideal for thru-hikers looking to minimize weight and gear when embarking on long, multi-day hikes, including camping trips
Recommended points
- Lightweight yet durable
- Comfortable, shape-retaining and breathable back panel
- A variety of ingenious storage solutions using minimal parts
- External attachments that can be arranged in a variety of ways depending on your ingenuity
Points of concern
- Not so light as to be called "ultralight"
- When the load exceeds 12 kg, stability and comfort become difficult to achieve
- Sternum (chest) straps tend to loosen
- The opening of the side pocket is loose
Main specifications and evaluation
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Item Name | Arc'teryx Aerios 45 |
| External dimensions | Height: 71cm, Width: 37cm, Depth: 31cm |
| capacity | 45 liters (15 and 30 liter models also available) |
| weight |
Official and actual weight: 1.09kg |
| material |
|
| Women's model | can be |
| Size/Back Length | Regular and Tall sizes for both men and women |
| Hydration sleeve | ◯ |
| Main Access | Roll top and side zipper |
| Rain cover | none |
| Pocket Attachment |
|
| evaluation | |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| stability | ★★★☆☆ |
| mobility | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storage capacity | ★★★★☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★★★ |
| durability | ★★★★★ |
| Weight (per volume) | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed Review: I tried it in thru-hiking mode
The capacity size I chose this time was, of course, 45 liters. This is enough capacity for an ultralight backpack to last from a few days to over a week, assuming you'll be camping in a tent, and is truly enough for a full-blown thru-hike. Since I didn't have enough time to hike a long route this time, I modified the luggage to suit thru-hikes (see photo below) and evaluated it while assuming repeated day hikes and heavy loads. Including water and food, the weight was about 11 kg the first time and about 15 kg the second time
Clean and flexible look and form
The exterior is typical of Arc'teryx, with a clean surface with minimal unnecessary decorations except for the daisy chain and bungee cord attachments on the front. The back features a three-dimensional mesh panel, mesh pockets on the shoulder straps, and large side pockets (see photo below)
What really impressed me was the flexibility of the design. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the main compartment of the backpack is actually a subtle inverted trapezoid, with the base area gradually increasing as you go up. There are also large pockets on both sides that can hold a lot of things
This "inverted trapezoid + large left and right pockets" structure allows you to concentrate your belongings in the main compartment, bringing the center of gravity closer to the upper part, just behind your shoulders, and making it possible to carry a stable load without fatigue when hiking. On the other hand, if you distribute your belongings among the pockets on both sides, you can move the center of gravity lower, allowing for more stable movement when passing steep walls such as chain sections, or when climbing streams that involve passing many waterfalls. The ability to pack flexibly depending on the situation and activity makes this a pack with a simple structure but high adaptability
Undeniably excellent durability, even at the expense of some lightness
The 210-denier main fabric, made with a highly abrasion- and tear-resistant liquid crystal polymer ripstop grid fiber integrated into Cordura nylon, is the same type of proven proprietary material used in the latest climbing backpack, the Alpha AR Backpack . This lighter version combines lightness with strength and stiffness, making it a very reliable material despite its light weight.
For ultralight gear designed for through-hiking in the relatively stable weather of the American West Coast, sacrificing some durability for weight reduction was acceptable to some extent. However, for Arc'teryx, which has always maintained its "strength" for reliable use in the harsh conditions of the rainy and deep Canadian Coast Mountains, this was unacceptable. For their lightweight backpacks, this material, which is not just light but offers an excellent balance of lightness and strength, was essential
However, while it is said to be light in the brand's lineup, its weight of over 1kg for a 45L size is by no means light compared to ultra-light backpacks that typically weigh in the triple digits. Users who had high expectations may be a little disappointed, but it still gives you the peace of mind you need to push the pack forward without hesitation, even on rocky terrain or in the bush, and you can definitely feel the Arc'teryx philosophy that "lightness is meaningless if it's not durable."
Comfortable, shape-retaining and breathable back panel
The back panel is made of a sturdy resin frame that won't bend easily and high-density foam, with a three-dimensional mesh on the surface that doesn't absorb water (see photo below). This allows the weight to be distributed firmly near the back while ensuring ventilation space on the surface that comes into contact with the back, providing excellent comfort even when carrying heavy loads or in hot weather. *Unfortunately, it seems that the panel is almost impossible to remove
Another interesting feature is the shoulder stabilizers placed on the shoulders to bring the backpack closer to the back and prevent the center of gravity from shifting. This is the same mechanism as the quicklace used in running shoes from SALOMON, a sister brand of the same group (see photo below). It's certainly easy to fasten and less likely to loosen, so it might just be just right
Simple yet highly customizable storage options
Lightweight backpacks, which are designed to be light and simple, typically lack pockets that allow you to pack small items separately. However, this backpack may make that an outdated way of thinking. Let's take a look at the many brilliant gimmicks that allow for more convenient storage than a regular backpack while keeping the weight down
First of all, the main storage is a roll-top type (see photo below), which makes it easy to access things when opened and highly waterproof when closed
Although the roll-top design is convenient, it can be a bit cumbersome to open and close, but this has been taken care of by providing a long zipper that allows direct access to the main compartment from the side (see photo below)
Also making a big impact visually are the deep, extra-large pockets on both sides (see photo below). They're perfect for storing and securing not only drinks and snacks, but also thick winter clothing, rain gear, tents, sleeping bags, and even 2-liter water bottles and foldable sleeping pads. What's more, by using the same nylon pockets as the main fabric instead of mesh, there's no need to worry about them tearing or getting wet in the rain like with mesh pockets
The opening of the pocket is closed with an elastic cord that also serves as compression at the top, so you can close it tightly when not in use to keep it slim and free of bagginess
However, although this cord can secure items to some extent so that they don't fall or shake, it cannot be tightened tightly, so items accidentally put in can fall out. It is best not to rely too much on the airtightness and to reinforce key points yourself (see photo below)
If the built-in elastic cord alone is not enough to secure it, you can reinforce it with your own straps by attaching it to the daisy chain at the top
Another major feature is the external attachment system (see photo below) with a "bungee compression system and webbing daisy chain" on the front. Not only can you attach rain gear, cold weather gear, and light, bulky items that you want to access quickly, but you can also dry wet rain gear and tent flies while you're out and about
When used in conjunction with the trekking pole loops attached at the bottom, trekking poles can be easily secured (see photo below)
What's more, this bungee cord is stretched from the side of the backpack to the top front, so when you don't have much luggage, you can just tighten the cord and use it as a compression cord for the backpack (see photo below)
Daisy chains are located on both sides of the front, so you can hang luggage through a carabiner or secure larger items with a strap.It requires some experience and ingenuity, but it is quite expandable (see photo below)
Turning the pack inside out, there are many convenient storage spaces on the shoulder straps. The large, deep mesh pockets on both sides and the zippered mesh pocket can hold a 500ml PET bottle. If you have something soft like a soft flask, you can also store a smartphone in addition to a drink (see photo below)
These front shoulder pockets have become increasingly popular, first as packs for trail running and other running, and recently have started to appear on many lightweight hiking backpacks as well, which is very useful
Of course, it also comes with the basic pockets, hydration attachments, and tube holes that you would find on a typical hiking pack, so you don't have to worry (see photo below)
Large and spacious front zipper pocket
There is also an inner pocket with a keychain on the back where the hydration attachment is located
The waist harness has mesh pockets, both with and without zippers
And the finishing touch, although not original, are the trekking pole attachments located around both sides of the waist (see photo below). By passing the poles through the loops around the waist and chest, you can store them on either the left or right side like a wakizashi. This leaves both hands free without having to take off the backpack, making it a convenient feature for short sections where you have to climb over chains (although I do worry that it's a little difficult to attach)
However, I was concerned about the comfort and stability of the bag when carrying a heavy load
With its excellent comfort and well-thought-out storage and functionality, it's definitely a well-made backpack overall, but it's not without its drawbacks, which became especially noticeable the heavier the load
The unreliability and stability of the waist harness
The heavier the weight, the greater the load on your waist, but the rigidity and cushioning of the waist harness that supports it feel insufficient for a 45-liter backpack. Moreover, because the harness is only fastened to the center of the back of your waist (see photo below), the backpack tends to sway from side to side, and the heavier the load, the more the center of gravity shifts, significantly reducing comfort
Even with a light load, I found the backpack to be unstable during activities that require a lot of movement, like fastpacking. I regret not having straps on both sides of the harness to pull the backpack closer to my waist, as this would have made it much more comfortable and stable
The sternum strap (chest strap) tends to loosen easily
The sternum strap attached to the chest also loosens noticeably under load, and a firmer strap instead of a thin elastic cord (at least in the 45-liter size) would have helped maintain a comfortable fit
Summary: The appeal of this bag is its lightness, strength, and storage capacity, as well as its high expandability, which makes it infinitely more convenient depending on how you use it
The overall image of this backpack is closer to Windrider by Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) HMG Arc'teryx , which is designed for long hikes in the rainy and harsh Coast Mountains, have similar designs.
In addition to the balance of lightness and durability, I felt that what makes this model so appealing is the high level of storage capacity and convenience that can be achieved by customizing the front vest pocket, large pockets on both sides, and the simple daisy chain on the front, which I found to be a unique feature not found in any other lightweight backpack
On the other hand, in terms of lightness and comfort of carrying, it is fine for up to about 10 kg of luggage, but it should be noted that if you fill the 45 liter size to the brim with luggage and the weight exceeds 12 kg, the comfort of carrying it will be compromised.As for speed of movement, it is mainly intended for long-distance hiking, so care should be taken with speedy, intense activities (although no one would do that with a 45 liter bag)
At first glance, this backpack appears simple and convenient, and some people may find it just right as is, but by customizing it to your own liking, taking the above points into consideration, it will become even more useful and something you will grow to love
In that sense, it is not something I would recommend as a first backpack, but personally, it is a backpack that I would like to customize to my own specifications and use to take long distances and long days on long trails in Japan, which have ups and downs, rocky areas, and rough, narrow trails
These days, it's not uncommon to find backpacks that are comfortable and convenient right out of the box, but sometimes it's good to experience the joy of adapting your gear to suit your needs, something that has been practiced by mountaineers and hikers for ages
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