Review: THULE Versant 60 Backpacks that should be chosen by active travelers, from city tours to long-term traverses

Recently, as tourists from overseas are becoming a daily sight, it is no longer uncommon to see foreign tourists carrying huge backpacks.

Large, vertical backpacks of over 50L, which have been used for mountain climbing and other purposes for a long time, are now commonly used for travel and leisure purposes due to their storage capacity and high transport performance. If the range of users expands in this way, more detailed consideration and ingenuity will be required to match this. In fact, it can be said that large outdoor backpacks in recent years have evolved in that direction.

today , as it was originally the world's leading brand of car carriers and travel bags, and has skillfully adopted these modern needs and developed it to cover a wide range of activities, from travel and leisure to full-scale mountain climbing . After traveling with this pack several times, I was able to enjoy the high level of perfection, packed with advanced features unique to this brand, just like the models I've introduced in the editorial department. I'll start a review right away.

table of contents

• Features of THULE Versant 60
  • Adjustable rear and hip belt size
  • Excellent cushioning thanks to abundant pads around the waist
  • Easy storage and stunningly easy access to luggage
  • Top lid that can be detached and also becomes a sling pack
  • Efficient and convenient rain cover
  • Things to be bothered
• summary
• Test Results & Specifications Table

Features of THULE Versant 60

Item appearance

First, let's take a quick look at the appearance. Compared to the Alpine pack, it has a sturdy shape and a slightly lower center of gravity. Looking at the design as a mountain climbing pack, it doesn't make any claim to the messy attachments that are found in Alpine packs, and it gives a clean impression that it doesn't feel uncomfortable in the city. However, there are all the minimum straps needed for trekking, and the good balance in this area is impressive. Although the weight is not particularly light compared to other models in the same class, a weight of less than 2kg at 60L can be said to be below average lightness. The fact that the body fabric is slightly thinner with 100D (denier) nylon is probably the effect.

Of the 50, 60, and 70L capacity variations, the 60L we tried this time. The perfect amount is 3-5 nights if it's snowless season, and 1-2 nights if it's snowless.

Adjustable rear and hip belt size

As if there was no era in which there was a "Size adjustment to the backpack? What's that?", Versant allows you to easily adjust the length of the back to the length of the hip belt.

It is true that many large backpacks these days have a back adjustment function, but in most cases, hip belts are only available in the S/M/L size when fitting before purchasing, and there are still very few models that can be adjusted on a regular basis. With this pack, you can put your luggage in and fit perfectly into your body without worrying about it even while walking. The adjustment method is extremely easy to adjust by simply opening the Velcro on both the back and hips and sliding it to adjust the length.

Excellent cushioning thanks to abundant pads around the waist

If you adjust everything to the right size for you, the Versant's carrying comfort is just a simple word. The abundant padding on the waist gives a firm and easy load on the lower body. At first glance, the thickness of the cushion makes you worry, but when you tighten it, it's more comfortable than you think. It is wide and has a fairly rigidity, providing even greater support for the transfer of load to the lower back. However, breathability is just average.

The shoulder pads are made of high density foam, slightly thinner, and are hollowed out for breathability. The width is relatively narrow and is an S-shaped shape that fits easily from the shoulders to the sides. It's not too bothersome as long as you have a strong load on your lower back, but it may be a bit harsh if you carry a considerable amount of weight for a long time.

Easy storage and stunningly easy access to luggage

the THULE I have tried , I am always impressed by the high quality of the zippers, straps and attachments for storage and compression, and the consideration that they can reach the itchy areas.

For example, a drawcord to tighten the main compartment. Normally, there are two actions: "Loosen and open" but you can easily open it with just one action, pulling the tag and the other end (photo below). Many brands have recently adopted it, but this specification has been adopted quite early on.

The front has a wide open zipper that opens in an inverted U-shaped shape, allowing you to put and take the contents in and out without opening the canopy. Its usability is like using a panel-loading backpack. This ease of use will be extremely useful in hotels you travel to rather than mountain climbing.

There is also a large mesh pocket made of stretch fabric on the front, allowing you to store tools you want to take out immediately, such as winter clothing, food and maps.

The water bottle pockets on both sides are slanted rather than upright, making them convenient for pulling out the bottle while walking. The width can be expanded with a zipper, so even a fairly thick bottle can be stored, but be careful with long, thin bottles, as long, thin bottles may fall out from the side pockets. Also, the tilt of the pocket makes it a little difficult to attach long objects like tent poles to the sides, which is a difference from serious mountain use.

The loops that secure the trekking poles and ice axes are standard usable and are on both sides.

One of the hip belt pockets is equipped with the familiar THULE's unique attachment system, the VersaClick System. This is a storage adapter that allows you to replace parts according to your needs, and is equipped with a completely waterproof and shock-resistant pocket as standard. It is ideal for storing electronic devices such as smartphones. Unfortunately, my 5.9-inch smartphone is no longer in this size. I mainly use batteries to replace the camera. It seems that iPhones are also on the rise in larger screens, so we're looking for an update as soon as possible.

In addition to this attachment, other accessories such as camera bags and water bottle holders are available , and can be replaced by purchasing them separately.

Top lid that can be detached and also becomes a sling pack

Another notable feature of Versant is the top lid (canopy) that can be removed and used as a sub bag. It's a top lid with two wide open pockets, which is usually just ordinary,

From here, remove the top lid and attach the strap to its place and quickly transform into a shoulder sling pack. The fact that the sling pack-shaped design is chosen rather than a solid backpack that is carried on a so-called attack backpack, makes it seem more conscious of walking around town. However, when I walked with a plastic bottle, a rain jacket, and a wallet, I found that the shoulders were quite cushioned and the straps were secured around the waist so that it didn't hang around, making it very comfortable. It is comfortable to use for short, temporary scattering rather than for long periods of use.

Efficient and convenient rain cover

The rain cover that comes standard is stored in a pocket at the bottom. This bottom part is waterproof, so the rain cover covers only the part above this point, and the cover can be firmly fixed to the side loop.

The bottom part is not covered with a rain cover, which is surprisingly advantageous, which I didn't usually notice. For example, the cover is less likely to be scratched and scratched when you lower the backpack to the ground, and the side pocket where the bottle is stored can be easily accessed with the cover attached.

Things to be bothered

Slightly lacks stability against lateral vibration

The back of the Versant is reinforced with an aluminum wire frame and a resin plate. The part where the rear frame and hip belt are connected is concentrated only on the center of the waist. For example, when I swing my body with the pack on my back, the pack felt a bit more likely to shake around the center of my waist. I think it would have been more stable if there were straps to secure the hip belt from the left and right sides of the pack, like in the Guidepost of the same brand (photo below), but personally, that was a bit disappointing.

Although it is not a concern when traveling or walking normally, Versant's hip belt fixing does not have a side fixing strap as shown in the photo, making it slightly more likely to shake.

Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?

This is ◎

• Adjustable back and hip belt size to fit a wide range of body types
• Excellent cushioning thanks to abundant pads around the waist
• Easy storage and stunningly easy access to luggage
• Top lid that can be detached and also becomes a sling pack
• Efficient and convenient rain cover

I'm curious about this

• Slightly lacks stability against lateral vibration

The THULE Versant is a premium backpack designed for new backpackers who want to enjoy a wide range of adventures, rather than mastering the traditional full-scale mountain traverse. It has the distinctive characteristics of being able to fit people of all sizes, such as greedy travelers who want to use it for a wide range of purposes, from outdoor activities to backpacking trips overseas.

On the other hand, for hard-conscious climbers and long-distance through-hikers, its versatility may seem rather unheard. Of course, this does not mean that ski tours are not possible during the harsh winter, but it is certainly true that there are more suitable models.

If you're not satisfied with walking through the city of a major country, and want to sway through unpaved roads, break into the forest, pass through the wilderness, and engrave the scenery you can only get there in your timeline, Versant is a pretty sure-fire choice. If you are traversing like a regular mountain trail, it will fit perfectly even when climbing. The high quality of the detailed details makes users feel a luxurious, premium feel that is worth the price, and personally I thought it was no less than Gregory

Versant 60L

THULE

35,424 yen

1.88kg

Main Specifications and ratings