robust and durable materials designed for use in tough and harsh situations .
that combines ease of movement and stylishness, both engineering and design .
The rational and lean functional beauty comes from the pursuit of ease of use .
All of these are the most irrelevant attractions when talking about Arc'teryx's products. There are many enthusiasts all over the world who are fascinated by the unique value that cannot be replaced by money. This Canadian outdoor brand has never had a long history, and has grown to be recognized as one of the leading brands of harnesses, expanding its range of activities, including climbing, skiing and trail running, creating creative products without compromise, without compromise, and has grown to the point that it is now recognized as one of the leading brands that create "real things" in this world.
Finally, or rather, finally, released this spring, the AERIOS backpack series, a lightweight backpack for long-term through-hiking and long trekking.
This backpack can't help but expect from not only regular Ultralight Hikers and Arc'teryx fans, but also many outdoor enthusiasts. At the same time as the release, I bought it myself (of course) and deliberately hiked the low mountains of Okutama and Nagano with heavy burdens, so I'll start reviewing it right away.
table of contents
- Key features of the Arc'teryx Aerios 45:
- Main Specifications and ratings
- Detailed review: I walked through hiking
- Clean and flexible appearance and form
- Excellent durability, even at the expense of a certain amount of lightness
- Comfortable rear panel with excellent shape stability and breathability
- A variety of simple storage spaces that are extremely customizable
- Still, I was curious about it: comfort and stability under heavy load
- Summary: Based on its lightness, strength and storage, its attractiveness is its high expandability that can be convenient to the fullest depending on how it is used.
Main features of Arc'teryx Aerios 45
A durable, lightweight backpack for through-hiking and long trekking, using a fabric that combines lightweight, high-strength, high-durability liquid crystal polymer ripstop and Cordura nylon, while achieving maximum storage and ease of use with fewer parts. The main compartment is a roll-top type with a wide opening mouth, making it easy to put in and take out. There are plenty of external storage, including extra large pockets on both sides, a large mesh pocket on the shoulder harness that can store bottles, flasks and smartphones, and a mesh pocket on the waist harness that can store small items, allowing you to efficiently store many of the items needed for long-term mountain hiking. Another major attraction is that the simple external attachment system using a daisy chain and bungee cord allows you to efficiently carry items of various shapes with ease depending on your ingenuity. This backpack is ideal for through-hikers who want to spend a few days long hiking, with the lowest weight and light equipment as they are equipped to stay in a tent.
Recommended points
- Lightweight yet durable
- Comfortable rear panel with excellent shape stability and breathability
- A variety of storage spaces with ingenuity with minimal parts
- External attachments that can be arranged in your own way depending on your ingenuity
Interesting points
- Not as light as "ultra light"
- When your luggage exceeds 12kg, stability and comfort become more difficult.
- Sternum (chest) straps tend to loosen
- Sweet side pockets mouth
Main Specifications and ratings
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Item name | Arc'teryx Aerios 45 |
| External dimensions | Height: 71cm, Width: 37cm, Depth: 31cm |
| capacity | 45 liters (Other models available) |
| weight |
Official and actual measurements: 1.09kg |
| material |
|
| Models for women | can be |
| Size/Length of the back | Regular and Tall for both men and women |
| Hydration sleeve | ◯ |
| Main Access | Roll top side zipper |
| Rain cover | none |
| Pocket attachment |
|
| evaluation | |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Mobility | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storageability | ★★★★☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| Weight (per capacity) | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed review: I walked through hiking
The capacity size I chose this time was, of course, 45 liters. With Ultra Light, you can enjoy long-term mountain hiking for a few days to over a week, with the assumption that you stay in a tent, making it a perfect capacity to enjoy thru-hiking. This time, I was unable to walk the long-term route in a timely manner, so I decided to use only my luggage as a thru-hike option (photo below), and evaluated it while assuming a plan that involves repeated day trips and heavy loads. By the way, the weight was about 11kg for the first time and about 15kg for the second time, including water and food.
Clean and flexible appearance and form
The exterior is typical of the usual Arc'teryx, with a clean surface with as little unnecessary decoration as possible besides the daisy chain and bungee cord attachments on the front. The back has a three-dimensional mesh panel, a shoulder strap mesh pocket, and a large side pocket on the side is visible (photo below).
What I thought was the flexibility of its form. It's hard to see in the photo, but the shape of the main storage part of the backpack actually has a subtle inverted trapezoid shape that increases the bottom area as you go up. In addition, there are large pockets on both sides that can store a lot of items.
This "reverse trapezoid + large pockets on the left and right" structure allows you to concentrate your luggage within the main storage to bring the center of gravity closer to the top of the shoulder, making it easier to tire and provide stable loads when traversing. On the other hand, if you distribute your luggage in both side pockets, you can move the center of gravity lower, allowing for more stable actions such as when passing steep walls such as chain areas, or when climbing streams where waterfalls often pass through. Because it can be packed flexibly according to the situation and activities, it is a pack that is simple yet highly adaptable.
Excellent durability, even at the expense of a certain amount of lightness
The 210 denier main fabric, which incorporates ripstop grid fibers made from liquid crystal polymers that are extremely resistant to wear and tear, into Cordura nylon, is the same type as the original material that has been proven to have been used in the Alpha AR Backpack This fabric is adjusted to be lighter and is lightweight, strong and firm, making it a lightweight material that is extremely reliable.
Ultralight gear, which is intended for thru-hiking on the West Coast of the United States, where weather is relatively stable, cannot be said to be acceptable to some extent, even if it costs some durability to reduce the weight. However, this is not acceptable for Arcteryx, who has continued to maintain its "strength" that can be used safely even in the harsh conditions of the Canada Coast Mountains, where there is a lot of rain and deep weather. For their lightweight backpacks, this material was essential, not just light, but also a great balance of lightness and strength.
However, although it is said to be lighter within the brand's lineup, the 45 liter size weighs over 1kg, making it impossible to say that it is lighter than the ultra-light backpack, where a 3-digit gram base is the norm. For users who were hoping for this, there is no denying that there is a slight sense of over-the-top feeling, but even so, there is certainly a sense of security that allows you to press the pack against you without hesitation, whether it is rocky or in the bushes, and the Arc'teryx philosophy that seems to say, "There's no point in being light that's not Durable."
Comfortable rear panel with excellent shape stability and breathability
The rear panel is made of a sturdy resin frame that does not easily fold and a high density foam, and the surface is covered with a three-dimensional mesh that does not absorb water (photo below). This ensures a firm load near the back, while providing ventilation space on the surface that contacts the back, providing great comfort even in heavy loads and hot seasons. *Unfortunately, it appears that the panel is almost impossible to remove.
Another interesting thing is the shoulder stabilizer located at the shoulder to bring the backpack closer to the back to prevent the center of gravity from shaking. This was the same mechanism as the quick race used in running shoes from SALOMON, a brother brand of the group (photo below). It's certainly easy to tighten and doesn't loosen, so it might be just right.
A variety of simple storage spaces that are extremely customizable
Lightweight backpacks, which are basically light and simple, were generally omitted from pockets that could be packed into small pieces. However, this backpack may make it seem like an old way of thinking. Let's take a look at a number of stunning gimmicks that try to reduce weight but provide even more convenient storage than a regular backpack.
First of all, the main storage is easy to put in and take out when opened, and is highly waterproof when closed (photo below).
While the roll top type is convenient, opening and closing operations are a bit tedious. However, there is a long zipper that allows you to access the main storage directly from the side, so you can take good care of it (photo below).
And the large, deep pockets on both sides make a great visual impact (photo below). Not only can you store and secure your drinks and food, but you can also store thick winter clothing, rain gear, tents and sleeping bags, as well as 2 liter plastic bottles and foldable sleeping pads. In addition, since we deliberately put the same nylon pocket as the main fabric rather than mesh, there is no need to worry about it being torn like a mesh pocket or getting wet from outside.
The pocket opening is tightened with an elastic cord that also serves as compression on the top, so when not in use, you can close it tightly and keep it slim without doweling.
However, although this cord can be fixed to a certain extent to prevent objects from falling or becoming distorted, it cannot be tightened perfectly, so items that were accidentally placed could spill. It's best not to trust the sealing properties, but to reinforce key points yourself (photo below).
It cannot be secured completely with the installed telescopic cord, but the daisy chain on the top is reinforced with its own strap. You can do this freely too.
Another major feature is the external attachment system (photo below) using the front "bungee compression system webbing daisy chain". Not only can you attach rain gear, winter clothing, and light and bulky items that you want to take out immediately, but you can also hang wet rain gear and tent flyers while hanging out.
When used in conjunction with the trekking pole loop attached to the bottom, the trekking pole can be easily secured (photo below).
Moreover, this bungee cord was spread out from the side of the backpack to the top of the front, and when there was little load, I could squeeze it to my heart's content and use it as a compression cord for my backpack (photo below).
There are daisy chains on the left and right front, so you can hang your luggage through the carabiner or secure a larger luggage through the strap, which requires some experience and ingenuity, but it is expandable enough (photo below).
When you turn the pack over, there are many convenient storage spaces on the shoulder strap. The large, deep mesh pockets on the left and right + zipper mesh pockets can hold 500ml plastic bottles. If it's soft like a soft flask, you can store your smartphone in addition to your drink (photo below).
These front shoulder pockets are more practical than running packs such as trail running, and recently many lightweight hiking backpacks have become available, which is very appreciated.
Of course, you can rest assured that it also comes with basic pockets, hydration attachments, and tube holes that are included with regular mountain climbing packs (photo below).
Large enough front zipper pocket.
There is also an inner pocket with a keychain on the back of the back with the hydration attachment.
Both waist harnesses have mesh zippered pockets.
And the final step is the trekking pole attachments located around both sides, although not the original. By passing the loop around your waist and chest, you can put the pole on either the left or right like a wakizashi. It allows both hands to be free without having to put down your backpack every time, making it a convenient feature for small chains (although I'm concerned that it's a bit difficult to attach).
Still, I was curious about it: comfort and stability under heavy load
With excellent comfort and well-thought storage and functionality, it is definitely a well-made backpack overall, but it is not that there were no points that really bothered me. This became particularly noticeable as the heavier the luggage became.
Reliability and stability of the waist harness
The larger the weight, the greater the load on your lower back, but I feel that the rigidity and cushioning of the waist harness that supports it is not enough for a 45-liter backpack. Furthermore, the harness is only fixed at the center of the back of the waist (photo below), so the backpack is likely to shake from side to side, and the more burden it becomes, the centre of gravity will be shaking and the more comfortable it becomes.
Even if the luggage was light, I was concerned about the ease of shaking when there were activities that were very moving, such as fast packing. I am very disappointed about this part, wondering how comfortable and stable it would be if there were straps on both sides of the waist part of the harness that pulled the backpack towards the waist.
Sternum strap (chest strap) is easy to loosen
Also, the sternum strap attached to the chest becomes a burden and becomes significantly more likely to loosen. If they had used a slightly more sturdy strap instead of a thin elastic cord (at least for 45 liters), they would have maintained a comfortable carrying experience.
Summary: Based on its lightness, strength and storage, its attractiveness is its high expandability that can be convenient to the fullest depending on how it is used.
Overall, I felt that it was the Windrider of Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) that is familiar to us. It may not be a coincidence that HMG is oriented towards thru-hiking on the humid east coast Arcteryx, which is designed to be a long hike in the heavy rainy and harsh Coast Mountains,
In addition to the balance between lightweight and durability, I felt that this model is more attractive than anything else, the high storage capacity and convenience that can be achieved by ingenuity with the vest pocket on the front, large pockets on both sides, and the simple daisy chain on the front, which is a unique appeal that no other lightweight backpack can offer.
On the other hand, when it comes to lightness and comfort, it is good for luggage up to about 10 kg, but it is important to note that if you pack your luggage to the fullest in a 45 liter size and weigh over 12 kg, the comfortable carrying experience will be compromised. Regarding action speed, the main focus is on long-distance hiking, and you should also be careful of activities that require rapid movement (although there may be no one who does it for 45 liters).
This backpack is simple and convenient at first glance, and of course, it may be just right as it is, but by customizing it in your own way based on the above caution, you will be able to become even more convenient and addictive.
In that sense, it is by no means a recommended first-time backpack, but personally I would like to try a long distance or long days to walk along long trails in Japan, with ups and downs, rocky areas, and rough, thin trails.
Buy it and feel comfortable! convenience! Backpacks are not uncommon these days, but once in a while it's good to experience the normal act and fun of "arranging tools to make them easy to use" that has been done by mountaineers and hikers since ancient times.
