Review: Mountain Hardwear Summit Rocket 30 Will an excellent attack backpack also handle fast packing?
written by Outdoor Gearzine Editorial Department
We carry the minimum amount of equipment on our back, and aim for the summit, an attack backpack. Especially used when climbing from the final camp to the top, what is required is a stoic look, with its lightness, minimal functionality and comfort. Even Ultra Light (UL) Hike has many tools that are functional and comfortable to use in truncated areas, and although the purposes are different, the requirements are very similar.
Are the tools released as attack backpacks suitable for UL hiking and fast packing? we chose Mountain Hardwear Summit Rocket 30 , out of the many attack backpacks an attack backpack developed for Woolly Steck, who specializes in Alpine speed climbs I actually used this attack backpack and reviewed it to see if it is lightweight and suitable for UL hiking, which is also considered to be a lighter and long distance.
table of contents
Summit Rocket 30 's rough features
The Summit Rocket 30 is a lightweight attack pack that, as the name suggests, was developed for Woolley Steck, a specialist in Alpine speed climbs, and allows you to climb quickly to the summit like a rocket. In order to reduce the weight, the shape, which has been eliminated without any waste, is reminiscent of a rocket. Despite being thoroughly lightweight, this highly complete model maintains minimal comfort and necessary functions, showing extremely ingenuity. Because its lightweight, durability and minimal functionality, it not only has the attack backpack and alpine climbing, but also has the potential to be a backpack for UL hikers who are particular about being lightweight and walking for a long time.
Recommended points
- Both lightweight and durable
- Moderate fit of back and shoulder
- Minimum required but sufficient functionality
Points that interest me
- To be able to run with high stability (walking), you have to cut down a lot of luggage.
Item appearance
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | Specifications and ratings |
|---|---|
| Official capacity (main unit) | 30L |
| Official weight | 511g |
| Actual measured weight | 524g (including 70g of the rear panel, 24g cord) Minimum weight 430g |
| material |
|
| Top lid pocket | |
| Comfort | ★★★☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storageability | ★★★☆☆ |
| comprehensive evaluation | ★★★★☆ |
Detailed review
Both lightweight and durable
When you first hold it in, you'll be surprised at how light it is. Thanks to the 30L volume and solid construction, it feels lighter than it looks.
The main material is 100 denier ripstop nylon. The inside is coated with silicone so it is not waterproof, but it's fine if it's just light rain.
The bottoms and front parts, which require durability, are made of ripstop material made of HardWear X-Ply, to prevent scratches from rocks and other problems, to improve durability.
Each material is not made from lightweight materials to reduce weight, but rather uses thick 100D thread as the main material, meaning that it also places emphasis on durability.
Moderate fit of back and shoulder
While it combines both lightweight and durable, it is also not extremely comfortable when carrying it on your back, but it is ensured. The back panel is thin, but it is crimped with cushions that ensure a certain degree of ventilation.
In addition, a hard, wavy plastic plate called a hard wave frame sheet is attached to the inside, improving the stability of the back.
The shoulder area also uses the same thin cushion as the back panel, so it's fine to carry it on a day as long as it weighs the capacity of the backpack.
There are no pads on the waist strap, so only a thin strap. The waist area is fixed to reduce shaking and improve stability.
When there are fewer luggage, tighten the straps on the side to give you more compression, which can reduce shaking.
Other efforts are made to improve stability, such as making the body smaller as you go down, allowing the center of gravity to be kept higher.
Minimum required but sufficient functionality
There is only one pocket on the top lid. However, the capacity is large and you can store everything you need while taking action, such as food and clothing in bad weather.
It also supports hydration, and has a dedicated hole on the back. However, there is no place to put the hydration bag inside or a hook to hang it, so you need to take some effort when using it. It may be safer to remove the plastic board on the back and put it in.
There are daisy chains (one left and right) and four rubber straps on the front, and daisy chains (one left and right) on the bottom of the sides, so it can be used in a variety of ways if you think about fixing poles or other things.
There is a hook inside the backpack, and if you hang it, the entire backpack opens in a balanced way, making it very convenient to dry when it gets wet.
The weight is extremely light, with a manufacturer value of 511g and an actual measured value of 524g. Moreover, by removing the plastic plate (70g) and the compression strap (12g x 2 = 24g), it is even lighter than the early 400g.
Remove the plastic plate on the back to roll up and make it compact.
Impressions of actually using it
As expected, it feels very light when carried. It's reassuring that the backpack itself is light in weight. However, not only does it actually weigh light, but it also has a high fit on the back and shoulders, making it very lighter than its weight.
Although there is some cushioning on the shoulders, the thinner fits well. The plastic plate fits better on the back, but the plastic plate fits even more smoothly. This is because the plastic plate is wavy, so its forward and backward movement remains flexible, but it is likely because it has high lateral rigidity and does not bending, and it follows the movement.
The center of gravity is higher than the waist, so you will mostly carry it on your shoulders. However, thanks to the high center of gravity, it provides high stability when moving quickly, and is secured with a strap on the waist, so there is almost no lateral shaking. The more luggage you have, the more stable you feel, than the less you carry, but since it has a compression function, if you narrow it down at least, it will be somewhat stable.
One thing that concerns is that when loads are applied, it is not suitable for use. When the contents become heavy, the thin shoulder straps gradually become damaged over time, and since the straps and other lightweight materials are used, you may be worried about their durability. As an approximate guideline, it is likely to be around 10kg. It should be used as a backpack for UL hiking.
Summary: Recommended for people like this
As you might expect, it's very simple and has the bare minimum of functionality, so you might not be surprised at how easy it is to use. However, this lightweight, durable, and fit is more than expected, so I felt it would be suitable for people who are used to speed hiking or fast packing to use it while cutting down their luggage. On the other hand, if you are new to fast packing or if you are forced to weigh more than one night or two days, you may need to have a certain amount of experience and determination.
However, although UL Hike backpacks of the same size, weight and durability tend to be relatively expensive, the Summit Rocket 30 has a very high cost performance. This is a backpack that is very suitable for UL hiking, even with the many attack backpacks. This model is perfect for hikers who are looking for a lightweight backpack that can walk for a long time, but is priced at a price.
