It's strange, as I keep watching new releases from around the world every season, I can tell whether it's in good condition, just by seeing (or touching) the appearance of my backpack, "Isn't this okay?" (of course, it's fun, as it can sometimes be a miss).
One of the new items that I've learned after working with Outdoor Gearzine for about 10 years has been a resonating with this sense of smell this season is the backpack I'm reviewing today. This is the LIM Airak 24 from Haglofs , a prestigious family that celebrates its 110th anniversary in the outdoor powerhouse, Nordic, with its roots in backpack making
It was also featured in the recent Outdoor Gearzine offline event, "Haglofs Special," and the more I listened to what was inside, the more I was impressed by the careful design that was thought up down to the smallest detail. How are your actual ability in the field? I tried using it carefully during early summer mountain climbing and fast packing, so I'll give you a review right away.
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table of contents
Main features of the Haglofs LIM Airak 24 Backpack
The Haglofs LIM Airak 24 is a small backpack that is evenly light, comfortable and practical for easy travelling along the trail. The back panel with a tension mesh structure with excellent ventilation on the back and a wide vest-shaped shoulder harness provide a comfortable fit and practicality that makes it easy to access the items you need while taking action. The waist belt, which is rare for this class, can support a solid load, is slacked inside, making it lighter and more breathable, while also making it easier to maintain a stable fit against the tilt of the body. The roll-top style and side compression allow for stable compression regardless of the amount of luggage, and there is plenty of external storage including shoulder harness and side mesh pockets, allowing you to quickly access the items you need while you are on the move. This lightweight backpack is designed to be lightweight while still being durable and easy to use in the field, and offers a range of Hoglovs-like characteristics, covering everything from day trips during snow-free seasons to hiking in huts and fast packing in tents.
Favorite points
- Excellent breathability and fit tension mesh for comfortable carrying
- Stable frame structure
- Tension adjustment function that allows you to change the ventilation and center of gravity position
- A hip belt with a detailed look, including excellent fit, cushioning, ease of movement, and ease of use.
- High storage stretch mesh pockets on the sides
Interesting points
- It's just as light as a lightweight backpack
- (This can be said for all back mesh structures) The cargo space is slightly compressed and difficult to pack.
- The front zip pocket and elastic cord are a bit difficult to use.
Main Specifications and ratings
| Item name | Haglofs LIM Airak 24 |
|---|---|
| capacity | 24 liters |
| Actual measured weight | 930 g |
| material |
|
| Model for women (pearls) | Unisex model |
| Size/Length of the back | One size (slightly adjustable) |
| Rear panel | Rear mesh with frame structure that allows for adjustable rear ventilation |
| Hydration sleeve | ◯ |
| Main Access | Roll top type |
| Rain cover | × |
| Pockets, attachments, parts |
|
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| Stability | ★★★★☆ |
| Storageability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Functionality (ease of use) | ★★★★☆ |
| Durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
| Customizability | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed review
Weight and comfort: Not just lightness, but comfortable design that emphasizes the lightness of actual activities
Among Hoglovs's "LIM series," this backpack is positioned as one of the series aimed at achieving both lightness and excellent performance, designed for lightweight trekking. In that sense, you might expect this model to be "lightweight".
However, although it weighs approximately 24 liters and 930g, it is certainly lighter than average for a traditional mountain climbing backpack, it is not that light when viewed as an ultra-light backpack, and when I actually held it, I didn't feel that it was as light as I had hoped.
However, when I actually carry it on my back, it's strange that I start to feel that it's not that heavy. When you try it, it's an undoubtedly "light and light" backpack (although of course it's not so comfortable to run).
The secret lies in the back panel optimized for high-pulse activities, which can more than make up for the slightest weight, and is a way to avoid the lightness of the many details that have been stacked up to "weight and excellent performance," which is the concept of the LIM series.
Not only is the back dry, but the tension mesh back has been designed to make it less heavy.
The back is surrounded by a sturdy, lightweight hollow aluminum tube that surrounds the entire outside, so there is no need to worry about the pack being twisted or the back being uneven. If you pack it all up, it will cost around 10 kg, but if it is that weight, it will be completely stable and the weight will always be applied to the entire back.
There is also a space between your back and your backpack, and the surface that touches your back, which is especially prone to sweat, is made of mesh fabric, which means that you can always walk while feeling the wind on your back, even on hot days. Even if you sweat a lot, it dries quickly before you feel uncomfortable and keeps you dry at all times (=safe and less likely to cause hypothermia).
The rear frame is sturdy hollow aluminum stretched vertically and horizontally (left). The tension can be adjusted with the belt (right).
It is certainly not uncommon for backpacks that claim to be comfortable to carry around with. However, this is what Hoglovs is supposed to be. In this model, the tension tension can be adjusted by a belt. By doing this, the stronger the tension, the space will be wider and the more breathable (right in the photo below), and the lower the tension will reduce the breathability, but instead, the more the pack's center of gravity will approach the back, increasing stability (left in the photo below).
The back frame can be customized for the strength of the tension, allowing you to adjust the gap in the back according to your luggage and temperature.
The ability to adjust the width of the gap means that when heavy loads are loaded, the gap is even smaller and the center of gravity is easier to attract towards the body. In other words, it is designed to cover the fact that the pack's center of gravity, which is a weak point of the tension mesh structure, is likely to be in the back of the body. By the way, this adjustment allows for slightly adjusting the length of the back, so if it can be adapted to a wide range of body types, not just for men and women, it can be said that it is one of two birds with one stone.
The 3D mesh pads with excellent cushioning and quick drying properties quickly spread sweat even in high-tempo activities
The shoulder harness is highly durable and is joined by a yoke, and has a road lifter that is resistant to shake and is essential for a stable carrying experience.
A highly fitted vest-shaped shoulder harness with a skillful hip belt that combines lightness and stability
Although it is not particularly light, the reason why it gives off a sense of lightness even on speedy hikes such as fast packing is also the good construction of the shoulder harness and hip belt.
As you can see from the exterior, the shoulder harness has a "vest-shaped" structure, which is no longer common in modern lightweight backpacks, with moderate cushion pads that fit around the chest and relieve the weight placed on the shoulders (photo below). This wide harness and two sternum straps minimize the shaking of the pack even when running, making it more comfortable to travel quickly. The mesh pockets on the left and right are also extremely convenient (see below).
Wide vest-shaped harness provides a comfortable fit that is resistant to blurring
The hip belt is a "reverse pull type" that tightens by pulling forward, making it easy to operate with little force. Furthermore, the belt is sewn in a V-shaped shape, allowing you to apply tension to the entire wide hip belt (photo below).
This "V-shaped reverse lookup" type hip belt is currently the best structure of my own.
The hip belt has minimal cushioning that does not compromise its lightness, and is hollowed out in the center. This allows the hip belt to follow the flexion of the waist, so even in intense movements it won't get in the way. Normally, a fast packing backpack of around 25 liters is often omitted from hip and waist belts, but this is absolutely fine. Also, even though it is flexible, it has a strong elasticity to support the load firmly, so when it comes to heavy loads, it functions as a hip belt.
An exquisite hip belt that is easy to follow movements and can also support loads. This is truly embodied in "balance between lightness and performance."
With the Airak 24, it has a reasonable weight that keeps you feeling stable even on active and speedy hikes.
Storage and ease of use: Simple and easy to use, and there are plenty of storage spaces to keep you comfortable
The Airak 24's storage is generally made up of straightforward and easy-to-understand storage, so even beginners will not be confused. Furthermore, taking into account the recent know-how of lightweight backpacks, the highly versatile parts unique to Hoglovs, which are well-versed in a wide range of activities, stand out.
Main storage
The main storage is a roll-top type with excellent waterproof and compressibility. Once you roll it around, both ends are fastened with buckles on each side, allowing you to compress the pack more neatly. As is the case with the back of the ventilation mesh, the storage area is not a simple cylindrical shape, but rather the complex shape with the back groveling inside, making it difficult to pack. To store your luggage neatly and without gaps, you will need to have some tips and get used to it, such as dividing it into small pieces as much as possible.
The roll-top main storage allows you to compress the pack firmly regardless of the amount of luggage.
Incidentally, a rope holder is installed at the top, which can be used for compression and rope fixing.
The top has a rope holder that can hold the rope and, in some cases, mats.
Minimalistic yet multi-functional front and side pockets
There is a small zip pocket on the front where small items can be stored, and a bungee cord is attached below it. The zip pocket is not too deep, making it convenient for storing small, thin items such as wallets, sunscreen, hand towels, gels, and maps.
You can secure rain gear, towels, etc. here with bungee cords, or when there are fewer luggages, it can also be used as a compression cord for packs (photo below). However, personally, I didn't think either of these would be very convenient, and I thought the large stretch mesh stash pocket would have been better (although it's commonplace).
The stretch mesh pockets on the sides are both wide and deep, so they are easy to use without worrying about things shaking or falling off. For example, it can store a 1-liter Nalgene bottle just right (left photo below), and by combining the pocket and side compression straps, you can easily store long items such as poles (right photo below).
Side compression straps can be used to hold long items from compression to minimal parts
Reinforced loops are attached to the bottoms of both sides, allowing long objects such as poles to be passed through and carabiners to be hooked onto them. If you're looking for a cross-country ski, you can attach it here with the strap on the top.
There are trekking pole holders on both sides of the front, which can be used to secure telescopic poles.
A shoulder strap pocket with clear use and easy to use
The pockets on the Airak 24's shoulder strap are asymmetrical, the stretch mesh pocket on the left chest is convenient for storing bottles and soft flasks (photo below), and the stretch mesh pocket on the right chest has a vertical zipper opening on the outside, making it perfect for storing your smartphone.
A shoulder strap is perfect for storing soft flasks on your left chest and a smartphone on your right chest. There is also an elastic cord under the left chest to temporarily hold poles and other items.
Removable hip belt zip pocket with customizable mounting position
One side of the hip belt is a removable zip pocket, with points that can be attached in the same way on the left and right sides of the hip belt as well as inside the pack (photo below).
The removable hip belt zip pocket can be used normally, and can be removed and carried around as a wallet while climbing.
Summary: A sophisticated lightweight backpack that embodies "LIM = less is more" and allows anyone to enjoy a light hike at a higher level.
The fast and light hike with extremely light tools may seem wide at first glance, and in order to do it safely and comfortably, it requires a little experience and ingenuity to adjust the environment and conditions. In this context, Hoglovs' light-weight philosophy, "LIM = less is more" is based on the concept of not pursuing lighter than necessary, but combining lighterness with performance in a practical sense. With a minimalist exterior, a decent light weight, a back structure that supports active movements, and external storage that is easy to access while taking action, this game is a highly satisfying lightweight backpack that provides hikers with such "substantial lightness."
In that sense, this backpack allows anyone to enjoy fast packing and lightweight hiking at a high level without having to think about difficult things or require long experience. Why not go and see the spectacular scenery this summer at the Haglofs LIM Airak 24 which covers everything from light-climbing low mountain hikes to traversing the Alps during the snow-free season
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