Lightweight Rucksacks: A Delicate Balance
We are often asked if we can make lightweight rucksacks. The answer is yes, we can and we do. However, our stance on the matter remains rooted in practicality.
We often find that after discussing a customer’s specific needs, they opt for one of our standard rucksacks. They aren’t that heavy to begin with, and they offer a level of longevity that lightweight alternatives simply cannot match.
The Potato Sack
In our view, the simplest way to lower the weight of a pack is to remove features. Taken to the extreme, you end up with a potato sack with shoulder straps. While this results in a very light rucksack, it rarely remains functional in the field.
Many people believe that simply switching to a lighter fabric is the secret to a lightweight pack. While fabric choice does have an effect, it isn’t as significant as most imagine. Removing features—zips, extra webbing, and buckles—is where the real weight is saved. For example, on our Verte, there is 17.25m of 25mm webbing alone; reducing this offers considerable weight savings, but often at the expense of practicality.
The Reality of UV and Abrasion
Unlike a tent or a sleeping bag, your rucksack is exposed to UV light every moment you are outdoors. UV exposure weakens fabric over time, and this degradation is far more aggressive on lighter materials.
By using 1000D texturised nylon for the main body of our standard range, we can achieve a “bombproof” Alpine rucksack that remains reasonably lightweight (1–1.5kg).
Our Lightweight Versions
For those whose projects require further weight reduction and who are willing to sacrifice longevity, we have developed specific lightweight sacs.
We can reduce a 35L Alpine rucksack to a stripped weight of around 700g while keeping it practical, and offer such as an off the shelf product.
We can even get a 45L sack below 500g, but at this stage, we are talking about specialized gear for specific projects where the user accepts the limitations of the kit.
A Note on Energy
Lastly, consider the physical cost. Carrying a load in a rucksack that has been stripped of its load-control features or uses thinner foams can actually cost you more energy than the weight you’ve saved.
It is a delicate balance. We now offer these lightweight options for those who truly need them, but for the average user, we still recommend our standard weight for the simple reason that it is built to last.