Haglofs LIM Airak 24 Backpack Review: A comfortable and lightweight backpack perfect for everything from hiking to fastpacking, with a minimalist design and deep attention to detail

It's strange, but by continuing to look at new products from around the world every season, I've become able to tell whether a backpack is good or not just by looking at it (or touching it), and think, ``This is good, isn't it?'' (Of course, sometimes I'm disappointed, and that's fun too)

The backpack I'll be reviewing today is the LIM Airak 24, from Haglofs, a prestigious company founded 110 years ago in Scandinavia, a country famous for its outdoor activities, with its roots in backpack manufacturing .

It was also featured at Outdoor Gearzine's recent offline event, "Haglofs Special," and the more I heard about its contents, the more impressed I was with the careful attention to detail in its construction. How does it perform in the field? I've been using it extensively on early summer mountain climbing and fastpacking trips, so I'd like to share my review

Related page (YouTube video)

Key Features of the Haglofs LIM Airak 24 Backpack

The Haglofs LIM Airak 24 is a compact backpack that offers lightness, comfort, and practicality for effortless trail travel. Its breathable tension mesh back panel and wide, vest-style shoulder harness provide comfortable carrying and practicality, allowing for easy access to essential items on the move. The waistbelt, unusual for this class, offers solid load support and is hollowed out for increased weight and breathability, while maintaining a stable fit even when tilted. The roll-top design and side compression closures ensure stable compression regardless of the load, and ample external storage, including the shoulder harness and side mesh pockets, allows for quick access to essential items while on the move. This lightweight backpack, characteristic of Haglofs, is lightweight yet durable and practical for use in the field, making it ideal for everything from snow-free day trips to overnight hut hikes and tent-based fastpacking.

Favorite points

• Tension mesh provides excellent breathability and a snug fit for a comfortable carrying experience
• Stable due to robust frame structure
• Tension adjustment function that allows you to change the ventilation level and center of gravity position
• A hip belt that has been carefully crafted down to the finest details, providing excellent fit, cushioning, ease of movement, and ease of use
• Spacious stretch mesh side pockets

Points of concern

• It's as light as a lightweight backpack can get
• (This is true for all mesh back structures) The cargo area is slightly constricted, making it difficult to pack
• The front zip pocket and elastic cord are a little tricky to use

Main specifications and evaluation

Detailed Review

Weight and comfort: Not just lightness, but a comfortable design that emphasizes the lightness you feel when actually carrying the bag

This backpack is part of Haglofs' "LIM series," which aims to combine lightness with excellent performance for lightweight trekking. In that sense, you might naturally expect this model to be light as well

However, although the weight of 930g for a 24 liter backpack is certainly lighter than average for a conventional mountaineering backpack, it is not that light when compared to a so-called ultralight backpack, and even when I actually held it, it did not feel as "light" as I had expected

However, when you actually put it on, you start to feel that it's not that heavy, which is strange. When you use it, it's undoubtedly a "light and nimble" backpack (though of course I wouldn't say it's comfortable for running)

The secret lies in the back panel, which is optimized for high-pulse activities and more than makes up for the slight weight it may bring, and the many ingenious details that have been incorporated to make the lightweight feel subtle, in accordance with the LIM series concept of "combining lightweight design with excellent performance."

The back is made of tension mesh, which not only keeps your back dry but also makes you feel less weight

The back is surrounded by a sturdy, lightweight hollow aluminum tube, so there's no need to worry about the pack twisting or the back becoming uneven. When fully loaded, it will probably weigh over 10 kg, but at that weight, it feels completely stable and the weight is always distributed across the entire back

There's also a space between your back and the backpack, and the part that touches your back, where sweating is most likely to occur, is made of mesh fabric, known as a "tension mesh structure," so you can always feel the breeze on your back even on hot days. Even if you work up a sweat, it dries quickly before you feel uncomfortable, keeping you dry at all times (= less likely to develop hypothermia and safer)

The back frame is made of sturdy hollow aluminum stretched vertically and horizontally (left). The tension can be adjusted with a belt (right)

It's true that this tension mesh structure may not be uncommon these days in backpacks that boast a comfortable fit. However, this is where Haglofs really shines. In this model, the tension can be adjusted using the belt. This way, increasing the tension creates more space and increases breathability (see photo below, right), while decreasing the tension reduces breathability but moves the pack's center of gravity closer to your back, increasing stability (see photo below, left)

The tension of the back frame can be customized, allowing you to adjust the amount of back space depending on the load and temperature

Being able to adjust the width of the gap means that when carrying heavy loads, the gap can be narrowed, making it easier to pull the center of gravity closer to the body. In other words, this overcomes the weakness of tension mesh structures, which tend to cause the pack's center of gravity to be pushed back and away from the body. Incidentally, this adjustment also allows for slight adjustment of the back length, making it suitable for a wide range of body types, regardless of gender, so it really does kill two birds with one stone

The three-dimensional mesh padding provides excellent cushioning and quick-drying properties, quickly dispersing sweat even during high-tempo activities

The durable shoulder harness is connected with a yoke and is equipped with a load lifter, which is essential for a stable and comfortable carrying experience

A vest-style shoulder harness provides a snug fit, while the clever hip belt is both lightweight and stable

Although it is not particularly light, the reason it feels light and agile even when doing speedy hikes such as fastpacking is due to the quality of the shoulder harness and hip belt

As you can see from the exterior, the shoulder harness has a "vest-type" structure, which is not uncommon in today's lightweight backpacks, and the moderately cushioned padding fits broadly around the chest, reducing the weight on the shoulders (see photo below). This wide harness and two sternum straps minimize pack movement even when running, making fast walking more comfortable. The mesh pockets on both sides are also extremely convenient (see below)

The wide, vest-style harness provides a comfortable, stable fit

The hip belt is a "reverse pull" type that tightens by pulling forward, so it tightens securely with little force and is easy to operate. Furthermore, the belt is sewn in a V shape, so tension can be applied to the entire wide hip belt (see photo below)

Currently, the best structure for me is this "V-shaped reverse pull" type hip belt

The hip belt has minimal cushioning without compromising lightness, and is hollowed out in the center. This allows the hip belt to flex flexibly with the bending of the waist, so it won't get in the way even during intense movements. Usually, hip and waist belts are omitted on fastpacking backpacks of around 25 liters, but this one is perfectly acceptable. And even though it's flexible, it's still strong enough to support the load firmly, so it functions properly as a hip belt even when carrying heavy loads

This exquisite hip belt easily follows your movements and yet can support your weight. It truly embodies the concept of "combining lightness and performance."

With the Airak 24, even with a reasonable weight, I was able to maintain a stable carrying experience even when hiking at a fast pace

Storage and ease of use: Simple and easy to use storage

The Airak 24's storage is generally straightforward and easy to understand, so even beginners will have little trouble. Furthermore, the versatile parts unique to Haglofs, which is familiar with a wide range of activities and takes into account the know-how of recent lightweight backpacks, shine through

Main storage

The main compartment is a highly waterproof and compressible roll-top design. Once rolled up, the ends fasten with buckles on each side, allowing for a more compact design. As is typical with breathable mesh backs, the storage area isn't a simple cylindrical shape, but rather a complex shape with a hollowed-out back, making it difficult to pack. Packing your belongings neatly and without gaps requires some practice and skill, such as dividing them into smaller pieces as much as possible

The roll-top main compartment allows you to compress the pack securely regardless of the amount of luggage you have

By the way, there is a rope holder at the top that can be used for compression and rope fixing

The top is equipped with a rope holder that can hold a rope or even a mat

Minimalist yet multifunctional front and side pockets

There is a small zip pocket at the top of the front for small items, with a bungee cord attached underneath. The zip pocket is not very deep, so it is convenient for storing small and thin items such as a wallet, sunscreen, hand towel, gels, and maps

The bungee cord can be used to secure rain gear or a towel, or as a compression cord for the pack when you're not carrying much (see photo below). However, I personally didn't find either of these features particularly useful, and I thought a larger stretch mesh stash pocket (though that's a bit of a common feature) would have been better

The stretch mesh pockets on the sides are wide and deep, so you can easily store items without worrying about them falling out. For example, they can easily fit a 1-liter Nalgene bottle (see photo below, left), and by combining the pockets with the side compression straps, you can easily store long items like poles (see photo below, right)

Side compression straps can also be used to compress and secure longer items with minimal bulk

There are reinforced loops at the bottom of both sides, allowing you to thread poles or other long items through or attach carabiners. If you're using cross-country skis, you can attach them here along with the straps at the top

There are trekking pole holders on both sides of the front that can be used to secure telescopic poles

A shoulder strap pocket with a clear purpose and easy to use

The pockets on the Airak 24's shoulder straps are asymmetrical. The stretch mesh pocket on the left chest is a stash type (see photo below) that is convenient for storing bottles and soft flasks, and the stretch mesh pocket on the right chest has a vertical zipper opening on the outside, making it ideal for storing a smartphone

The left shoulder strap is perfect for carrying a soft flask and the right shoulder strap is perfect for carrying a smartphone. There is also an elastic cord under the left chest for temporarily securing poles or other items

Removable hip belt zip pocket with customizable mounting location

Attached to one side of the hip belt is a removable zip pocket, and there are similar attachment points on both sides of the hip belt as well as on the inside of the pack (see photo below)

The detachable hip belt zip pocket can be used for general use or as a wallet while hiking

Summary: A sophisticated, lightweight backpack that embodies the concept of "LIM = Less is More," allowing anyone to enjoy light hiking at a high level

Fast and light hiking with exceptionally light gear may seem accessible at first glance, but to do it safely and comfortably requires proper environment and conditions, as well as a bit of experience and ingenuity. Haglofs' lightweight philosophy, "LIM (less is more)," embodies the concept of balancing lightness with practical performance, rather than simply pursuing lighter than necessary. With a minimalist appearance and reasonable lightness, a back structure that supports active movement, and external storage that's easy to access while on the move, this backpack offers hikers exactly that "practical lightness," making it a highly satisfying lightweight backpack

In that sense, with this backpack, anyone can enjoy fastpacking and lightweight hiking at a high level right away, without having to think about complicated things or having a lot of experience. Why not go out and the Haglofs LIM Airak 24 , which covers everything from light-weight hiking in the low mountains to traversing the Alps in the snow-free season?

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