Review: MAMMUT Ducan Spine 28-35 No shake, no stuffiness, no talent. Backpacks that allow you to enjoy fast packing safely
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Fastpacking, which is as light as trail running, and as traverse climbing, satisfy the desire to walk on long courses that are intended to stay overnight, is nonetheless the mountain climbing style that has become popular all the time in recent years.
One of the major factors that underpin this popularity is, of course, the evolution of technology and the widespread use of suitable tools. The introduction of lightweight, highly functional tools, regardless of whether they are good or bad, has led to the opening of activities that have previously been allowed only by healthy legs to more people.
The Ducan Spine backpack released by Mammut this season has a newly developed rear system, and a variety of storage and attachments packed with fine gimmicks, making it a new backpack that will show off the power of technology.
last year's Black Diamond Distance 15 , I'm very curious as it's a model that has finally been released by the top climbing brands. Now, let's bring you a detailed review.
table of contents
Main features
The Ducan Spine (28-35/50-60) is a hiking backpack that combines comfort when carried, stability when operating, and practical storage and ease of use. The rear system, equipped with the patented technology "Active Spine Technology," distributes the load evenly, and absorbs shaking in the upper body when walking, allowing for more natural walking without hindering movements of the shoulders and hips. The back has a space, so it is highly breathable and maintains comfort even when sweating is severe. This light, multifunctional backpack is packed with a variety of storage and attachments, including a zipper that allows direct access to the main storage, a shoulder strap that can store drinks and small items, as well as pockets that can be attached to both the shoulder and hip belt of the backpack, and side pockets designed to make it easy to take out even when walking around.
This is ◎
- The back system is extremely stable, with a center of gravity that does not shake from side to side even when walking (or running) due to heavy loads.
- Excellent breathability and ample cushioning make it easy to wear back, hips and shoulders
- Main storage with roll top and front zipper access for quick access to the cargo area
- A wide variety of storage and attachments designed for practicality
I'm curious about this
- The cushion concentrated in the center of the back doesn't seem to fit the entire back, so it feels strange until you get used to it.
- The mesh pockets on both shoulder straps are shallow and small (I wanted the 500ml flask to be stable)
- The included water-repellent pocket is convenient, but if you want to be greedy, a slightly larger size would be better.
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | Specifications and ratings |
|---|---|
| material |
|
| color |
|
| Size/Length of the back |
|
| capacity | 28-35 liters/50-60 liters |
| weight | 1290 g (excluding 72 g rain cover, 34 g water-repellent pocket) |
| Models for women | can be |
| Main Access | Roll top front zipper |
| Hydration sleeve | ◯ |
| Rain cover | ◯ (Standard included) |
| Pocket attachment |
|
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability | ★★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★★ |
| Storageability | ★★★★☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed review
Exterior features
Looking at the surface, you can see only the outside of the main storage zipper, compression straps for compressing the pack, and attachments for the poles, and there is no canopy or anything, and the exterior face is very simple. Compared to the usual hiking and trekking backpacks, the lack of pockets and other storage space may be a bit disappointing, but these are skillfully covered by the convenience of other storage (see below).
Although it is made as light as possible, it weighs 1290 g, so it is by no means too lightweight for a backpack with this capacity. Overall, the waste has been removed, but the weight seems to be offset by the voluminous rear system. However, it is not extremely heavy, and the weight alone does not determine comfort and fatigue resistance, so there is no need to worry too much about it at the moment.
The main fabric is made of ripstop nylon (100 denier) fabric with a lightweight, high tear strength and sophisticated coloring (photo below), and the bottom is reinforced with an even more durable 210 denier fabric, so there is no particular concern about durability.
An innovative back system that combines stability and breathability
The rear system "Active Spine Technology," installed in the Ducan Spine the Trion Spine . After realising the skill of this rear system, I have now been using it often for mountain climbing on mountains that have not yet been snowy.
However, last season's Trion Spine was a four-season backpack with a strong alpine oriented backpack, so it's true that it was a bit out of stock to use as a mainstream for hiking. It is probably safe to assume that this Ducan Spine
That's all for the introduction, and now we'll explore the basic mechanisms.
First, the entire back is covered with a slightly dented trampoline-like, extremely rigid metal frame (photo below).
A sufficiently thick cushion is placed around the shoulders and waist, and a flexible fiberglass pole is passed through the center on the back. Furthermore, the upper and lower ends of the support (shoulders and waist) are rotated and fixed (photo below).
This single support deflects like a spine (=Spine) according to the tilt of your upper body, absorbing shaking when walking, keeping your backpack vertical at all times, and preventing shaking in the center of gravity (photo below).
The video introduced below is from last season's Trion Spine, but the basic structure is the same, so I'll post it for reference.
Until now, there have not been any backpacks with a hip belt rotated around the waist to stabilize the center of gravity movement when walking, but most of them are structured by only the hip belt rotating or bent, and I have hardly remember anything that completely links the entire back. The newest thing about "Active Spine Technology" is that not only stabilizes the center of gravity placed on the waist, but also skillfully links it with the shoulder load of the upper body, which contributes to ease of movement of the upper body and the distribution of the load across the entire back.
Furthermore, the trampoline-like back frame provides excellent ventilation to the back. Air flows freely down the back, and the large amount of sweat on the back will dry out quickly. The shoulder and hip belts are made of materials that are designed to be breathable, making them unpleasant even in Japan, where there are many damp weather (photo below). This system not only provides stability but also excellent response to heavy movements and sweating, making it a very suitable system for speed hiking.
This Sternum strap I've never seen before is made to be made because it has an elastic elastic so it won't hang around, and its minimal parts make it lighter and easy to adjust the position, and its lack of waste is stunning (photo below). However, it cannot be said that there is a bit of concern about the strength when the weight is at max.
It has a unique feel, but it's extremely easy to walk and doesn't get tired easily, making it a unique comfort
My impression when I actually tried carrying it on my back was, but to be honest, I felt uncomfortable at first. The cushion that comes into contact with the back has a pleasant resilience and is not unpleasant at all, but since it is concentrated in two places along the line of the spine (shoulders and waist), unlike the feeling of fitting evenly onto the back, it feels like it is in contact with each other at a point. This is the exact opposite of the back, which fits evenly evenly across the entire back, and to be honest, there may be differences of likes and dislikes.
However, once you start walking with your back on, you will soon realize that the discomfort is just a tiny thing. This is because more than anything else, the ease of walking, comfort and stability of Active Spine Technology awaits you as never before.
For example, I use trekking poles all the time, so I try to use my upper body as much as possible to walk in order to minimize damage to my lower body, but is it okay to raise and lower the shoulders so smoothly to control the pole? That's how little resistance came. Moreover, despite the up and down movement of the arm, the backpack is hardly moving and hasn't wavered.
Needless to say, this is thanks to the rear system. When one shoulder is raised, the shoulder strap of the raised shoulder is raised as it follows the movement of the shoulder, while the hip belt maintains its horizontal position without being dragged by the movement of the upper body.
Also, when you go down quickly, the impact of each step is strong, and as you gain speed, the force of your backpack swings from side to side will increase. However, even at that time, the backpack moved up and down, allowing me to run down in a strangely smooth manner. Regardless of the intensity of the back, it feels like the shock is uniformly received across the entire back, and there is no "shaking" feeling that you can feel with a normal backpack. It never puts any strain on the part of the harness, such as the shoulder strap, back, or hips, and it always maintains a stable position.
A wide variety of storage and attachments designed for practicality
Roll top type main storage
The main storage is a roll-top type, which has become quite common these days. Not only is it easy to open and close, but it also has the advantage that you can adjust the capacity from 28 liters to 35 liters by folding it around. The buckle can be fastened on top or on the side.
There is a zipper at the entrance to the main storage, making it easy to use.
Direct access that can be accessed from the front
When it comes to hiking backpacks, many people would prefer to have a large pocket on the outside that can store food, winter clothing, rain gear, etc. This model does not have any such external pockets on the front, but instead has a nearly fully open zipper, which is unusual for this capacity, making it easy to access the luggage inside. The zipper is made by YKK, large and sturdy, and the pull handle is sturdy. Perhaps to maintain a clean appearance, the back is also used.
Incidentally, the entire backpack is covered with compression cords, so even if it's a small amount of luggage, you can compress the entire package firmly by simply pulling one place on the top of the cord. No matter what size it has, it has been designed to ensure that this backpack does not lose its appealing stability, which is the appeal of it.
Top zipper pocket suitable for storing small items
The top of the backpack has a narrow entrance that makes it difficult to put in and take it out, but it has a zipper pocket where you can hold valuables such as wallets, keys, cards, and smartphones, making it safe to organize small items.
Water-repellent pocket that can be installed in your preferred location
A slightly interesting idea that was unlikely to happen is that it comes standard with a water-repellent sub-pocket that can be attached to various positions on the backpack. It's very practical because you can set it in your favorite place.
However, since the bag has almost no gussets, it can hold maps, compasses, smartphones, and handkerchiefs, and the capacity is as small as I'd expect for its size, so I hope that the next model will be improved if possible. However, in reality, you can install a pouch or something you already have here instead, so in that sense it's worth customizing and I'm happy even if it's just like this.
The included water-repellent pocket has a right hip belt, shoulder strap and mounting loop on the top of the main storage, so you can attach it to your desired position.
Shoulder mesh pockets on both sides
The shoulder harness has mesh pockets on the left and right. In the past, it was only available in vest-shaped backpacks for trail running, but over the past few years it has become available in many lightweight backpacks.
Personally, I would like to set a drink here, but unfortunately, bottles and flasks with a capacity of over 500ml are slightly unstable shallow, and a 355ml soft flask is just right (left and middle of the photo below). Also, if you use a smartphone instead of a bottle, you can store it stably (right on the photo below). By the way, it is compatible with not only hydration but also with hydration.
Side and hip belt pockets perfect for bottles and behavioural eating
The left and right side mesh pockets can securely store 1 liter Nalgene bottles, and there is an entrance at an angle so you can take them in and out while walking (left of the photo below). There is also a strap for fixing it, so you can secure it with a certain amount of long items.
There is also a slightly larger mesh zipper pocket on the left of the hip belt, allowing you to store your smartphone, handkerchief, and other foods (right of the photo below).
Pole attachments for each approach and action
In addition to the normal left and right front positions (left of the bottom photo), the trekking pole attachment can be attached to the right side of the hip belt like a samurai (right of the bottom photo). I'm truly grateful for the cunning and easy-going ability that allows me to do almost anything while walking without having to take my backpack down.
Bottom attachment that can hold small items
I think this is more than enough storage space, but the best part is the bottom attachment located at the bottom of the pack. Adjustable length elastic drawcords allow you to secure a variety of items. Unfortunately, as it is a rubber band, there are difficulties in fixing force, and although it could be fixed to a summer sleeping bag, it was wobble and dangerous with full-size sleeping pads. This is the only place I don't have the stability.
The included rain cover is securely stored at the bottom. It's really very stable.
Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?
The high-tech rear system prevents lateral movements from heavy loads or moving at high speeds, providing a stable and comfortable feel, as well as a number of detailed gimmicks that meet the many (sometimes greedy) demands required for fast packing and speed hiking, including packing to support during activities, are of course not only for a normal, leisurely hiking trip, but it can be said to be a backpack that matches the latest, lighter, more lighter climbing style. Although the filling here and there is a sweet finish, none of them are fatal and can be covered by your own ingenuity.
The capacity is 28-35 liters, and is the perfect size for fast packing for a day trip or one night. A 50-60 liter model, which is a little larger, will allow for even longer travel. The perfect time for the hot summer. Spring 2020 is still a time of year for mountain lovers to bear it, but once this night comes, this backpack is the perfect place to welcome the new morning.
