Review: THULE Guidepost 75L The heavier the more comfortable it becomes, and the three traits of robustness, comfortable, stylish, and a satisfying companion

It's like a museum. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the THULE brand is the THULE booth I saw at the outdoor gear exhibition "Outdoor Retailer" held in North America in the summer of 2015, when I still had little knowledge or experience of the brand. A wall full of colorful backpacks suddenly appeared amongst the rugged mountain gear. The sophisticated space was so sophisticated that I hesitated to enter, and it's still burned into my memory

Quote: Carryology

To be honest, when I first saw the scene, I knew nothing about this brand and only had the impression that it was a "unique item." I thought it was the type that prioritized appearance over comfort. But now in 2017, I suddenly realized that THULE products were all around me, from everyday business bags to travel bags and, of course, backpacks for hiking, in every corner of my life. Needless to say, my preconceived notion that it was "just for fashion" was a complete misunderstanding

As mentioned in a previous daypack review, Sweden-based THULE is a global company boasting the world's top market share for car racks and carriers. It's a relatively new brand, having only entered the outdoor field in 2015, so it may not be widely known in Japan. However, it already offers a wide lineup that rivals established brands, and has been steadily gaining presence around the world in recent years as a serious outdoor backpack manufacturer

the Guidepost 75L a backpack in the lineup designed for carrying the heaviest loads over long distances and long periods of time. Its sophisticated design belies its exceptional stability and functionality, making it a model that rivals the large backpacks of established brands. Let's take a quick look at this model.

General features

This large backpack features a back system that efficiently transfers weight to the hips, a "Transhub suspension system" and a "reinforced hip belt," and a pivoting hip belt that follows the body's movements while walking, ensuring a comfortable carrying experience even with a heavy load. Flexible adjustments, including selectable hip belt sizes, a 15cm adjustment mechanism for back length, and a "QuickFit shoulder harness" with three adjustable shoulder strap widths, ensure a perfect fit for all body types and ensure a comfortable walk. It offers ample storage, including a variety of pockets of various sizes and a removable top lid that transforms into a 28L sub-pack for summit climbing. The hip belt is also compatible with VersaClick accessories, allowing for customization with a variety of attachments to suit different needs (a weatherproof roll-top pocket is standard; others are sold separately) 

Recommended points

• The heavier the load, the more stable the back system becomes
• Easy and quick back adjustment system
• Multifunctional and easy-to-use storage and attachments

Points that interest me

• Firmness of the lower back pad (if possible, add a cushion to make it thicker)
• The side straps are not aligned vertically, making it difficult to insert long items (this can be resolved with careful packing)

Guidepost 75L

THULE

45,144 yen

2,885g (measured with hip belt size M, VersaClick Rolltop Safezone Pocket, and rain cover)

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed review

The heavier the load, the more stable the back system becomes

For this review, I hiked a regular mountain trail carrying 10-20kg of luggage, and what I learned was that this pack is truly "strong."

The exceptionally stiff hip belt is directly connected to the support, enveloping the hip bones and firmly securing them, ensuring that the weight is transferred completely to the hips, no matter how heavy the load. Furthermore, the hip belt's "pivot mechanism" rotates slightly as the hips sway from side to side while walking, preventing the backpack from wobbling, providing excellent stability as long as you're walking straight and not making acrobatic movements. While this pivot mechanism would be ideal if the left and right hip belts moved independently, it would provide even greater stability, but considering that this would likely have meant the pack wouldn't be as stiff, I guess it's unavoidable

The hip belt is one of the most durable of any large backpack I've ever encountered. It doesn't wear out no matter how heavy it is

The straps from the back to the shoulders are ergonomically designed to flow smoothly under the armpits, fitting snugly to the contours of the body. The padding is flexible and breathable, but at first glance it feels a little hard. However, this is also the result of considering heavy loads, and conversely, it is not too soft so that it will get worn out (slip) when carrying heavy loads. If you are really bothered by this, you can make it perfect by adding thicker padding yourself, especially around the back of the tailbone where the weight is applied

The back pad is cushioned to fit the necessary areas along the lines of the body. The top edge of the hip belt, which touches the top of the tailbone, can be a bit of a concern, so it's a good idea to use a pad to cover that area

The backpack is long and narrow, and the center of gravity is a little high, so the weight just sits on your body. It puts less strain on your shoulders and makes it really easy to carry

Because the body is positioned higher than the hip belt, the weight is well distributed across the lower back (top of the tailbone)

Robic ripstop nylon is soft to the touch, durable, and lightweight, allowing the bag to be approximately 10% lighter than the previous model while maintaining its high durability

The tightly woven Robic ripstop nylon is lightweight and durable

Easy and quick back adjustment system

The heavier your load, the more important the fit of the backpack becomes. Nowadays, it's not uncommon for the back length to be adjustable, and this model also allows you to adjust the shoulder width to fit your body, from S/M/L. This model is by no means the first, but there aren't many manufacturers that go this far. Some overseas brands often have models with wider shoulders, so this is very much appreciated for Japanese people

The shoulder strap can be adjusted to three shoulder widths: S/M/L. Adjustment is easy, just slide it

You might think that your body shape doesn't change that easily, so once you get it right, you won't need to adjust the fit, but from experience, the fit is always slightly different each time you wear it. It's great if you can quickly adjust the back in those situations, but it's a bit disappointing if it takes too much effort. This model is the former. You can instantly adjust the back length by simply peeling off the Velcro on the strap and sliding it. Unlike other models, adjusting the shoulder width and back length is extremely easy

The back length can be easily adjusted by simply sliding the Velcro strap, which can be easily peeled off and secured in place

Multifunctional and easy-to-use storage and attachments

Main storage

As you'd expect from a large backpack designed for travel, it also has plenty of convenient storage features. The main compartment is small at the bottom and gets larger towards the top, with a fairly large opening. It can be opened and closed with a single touch by simply pulling the loop on the cord lock

When the door is closed (left), simply pull the loop attached to the cord lock to fully open the entrance without any stress

The main compartment can also be accessed via a large zipper that opens from the left side, allowing you to quickly access your belongings no matter where you pack them

Being able to access the main storage from the side makes it convenient for organizing luggage inside a tent, etc

Top lid (canopy)

Another thing worth mentioning is the top lid. It's huge and has a wide opening, making it easy to use and making you want to put lots of small items inside

The top lid pocket is large enough to provide ample space, so you don't end up overloading it

Furthermore, something slipped out of the inside pocket: a 28L summit sub-pack that can be assembled. This is no longer uncommon in large, high-quality backpacks these days, but it's still handy to have one

By removing the top lid and transforming it, it becomes a summit pack, convenient for summit attacks

The sleeve for storing hydration is located on the back side of the main compartment, just like the standard model, and the opening of the tube is positioned in the center so that it can be easily swung from either the left or right side

Hydration sleeve inside the main compartment

Exterior pocket attachment

There are two pockets on the exterior front. The pocket on the left in the photo below is about A4 size and is convenient for storing small items and thin luggage. The rain cover is also stored here. Meanwhile, the pocket on the right in the photo below is a large pocket that can be opened at the top and side, making it easy to store bulky items that you need to access quickly, such as outerwear or winter clothing

There are two pockets on the front that can be accessed from either side. A rain cover, which was not available on the previous model, is now included as standard

There are two side pockets, one on each side. Both are angled, so if you put a bottle in them, you can easily take it out while walking. The right pocket in particular can be unzipped to fit even a large bottle securely to the back

The right side pocket is large and deep enough to hold even a thick bottle

The side straps can hold long items such as trekking poles. However, as you can see in the photo, the top and bottom straps are not aligned vertically, and the bottom pocket is only angled, so it is difficult to store long, flat items such as tent poles on the sides, so care must be taken

The side straps are arranged diagonally, which is convenient for storing poles, but on the other hand, it makes it difficult to attach long items with a large diameter

Customizable storage "VersaClick system"

On the left side of the hip belt is THULE's unique attachment system, the VersaClick system, which allows you to choose and add the storage you need from a variety of attachments (sold separately). Being able to change your equipment to suit your purpose really stimulates your sense of adventure. Honestly, I love this kind of system

The Guidepost series comes standard with the "Rolltop Safezone Pocket," which is completely waterproof and shockproof and allows you to safely store electronic devices. There are also such as versatile pouches, holsters for SLR cameras, and hooks for storing trekking poles while standing, allowing you to create a pack that suits your needs and preferences.

The "VersaClick system" is an attachment that allows you to change equipment to suit your needs

Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?

The Guidepost series is a highly refined, large pack that was carefully designed with the essentials of those who walk long distances carrying heavy loads in mind, and is packed with them in a well-balanced way. It's true that it's not the lightest backpack in its class, and it may be packed with features that some people won't need, but it's not unnecessarily heavy, and the refined design manages to streamline many of its features. The balance is excellent.

With its stable carrying comfort even with a heavy load, durable construction, and versatile storage options, this pack will be the perfect companion for hikers on long-term mountain hikes of three nights or more. Its sophisticated Scandinavian design will also be a great addition to your backpacking or overseas trips. In that sense, it's the perfect fit for any student in a mountaineering club who participates in long-term mountain hikes and solo trips abroad. I wish I hadn't found this pack when I was a student

On the other hand, judging from the high center of gravity and the placement of the attachment pockets, it seems to be designed for gentle walking, and is not as versatile as it should be for activities such as variation routes, stream climbing, winter mountain climbing, etc. (Though it's not impossible.) In that respect, despite being a European brand, it is a backpack that is extremely oriented towards through-hiking, and is a model that mountain enthusiasts of that type should definitely consider

Guidepost 75L

THULE

45,144 yen

2,885g (measured with hip belt size M, VersaClick Rolltop Safezone Pocket, and rain cover)

We also recommend this article about backpacks

• How to choose a mountain climbing backpack that won't make a mistake and 10 recommended for beginners
• 10 lightweight backpacks recommended for those who are about to start fast packing
• From day hiking to everyday use, 10 latest recommended daypacks [Classic & unique]
• Comparison review: Comparing the best introductory backpacks for those just starting to climb
• Comparison review: Comparing lightweight backpacks perfect for light mountain hiking and fast packing

   

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