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Kit review: Berghaus Vapour 20 rucksack

Written by Fiona April 19 2013

The Berghaus Vapour 20 rucksack is part of a new Vapour Light range and aimed at adventure racers, day and multi-day. Equally it would serve well for all kinds of off-road running and day walks. There are a couple of USPs. The first is the rucksack’s compression frame, which Berghaus claim makes it very easy to balance out the weight of the pack by

Berghaus Vapour 20 rucsack on review

Berghaus Vapour 20 rucsack on review

easy expansion or compression of the rucksack. The second is the horizontal loaded water bottle for easy access without requirement for taking the rucksack off to reach the bottle.

What Berghaus say about the Vapour 20 rucksack

Stay fast, light and comfortable on your next trail run while keeping all your essentials at hand with the Vapour Light 20 Daysack. Weight (approx.): 594g and bottle is included.

Features include:

  • Comfortable, stable back system with airflow channel
  • Removable nylon hoop frame for load support
  • HALO side compression for improved compression efficiency
  • Height adjustable chest strap
  • Removable inner back pad/sit mat
  • Roll top lid
  • Hydration system compatible
  • Side mesh pockets
  • Speed access bottle pocket (bottle included)
  • Front bungee system
  • Elasticated hipbelt

What I think about the Berghaus Vapour 20 rucksack

First impressions are a lightweight daypack with lots of great features. One of the main problems when running with a pack is that you need to have it well balanced. The outside compression system does allow you to compress the rucksack to suit whatever you’re carrying. I like this. Even if you’re carrying very little you can neatly compress the pack to feel perfectly balanced.

The pack fits well once you’ve adjusted all the straps and as a slim female I found the pack suited my size. I am not sure the chest strap would be so good for a woman with a larger chest though. The pack was also a good fit for the G-Force, who is a medium-sized guy.

The rigid back frame keeps everything in place while you’re on the move and the back allowed for most sweat to wick away, although I have experienced better back systems for sweat wicking.

The roll top lid makes access easy but don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a waterproof pack. It’s not! You would need to pack everything in plastic bags inside on a wet day.

The features that I really like are the mat that acts as a soft back for the rucksack and can also be removed for sitting on when stopping on the hills. The horizontal removable water bottle is a brilliant idea, too. Usually it requires a great deal of flexibility to remove a bottle for a side pocket, or else you need to ask a friend. The bottle removal on this rucksack does require two hands (one to push and one to pull) but it can be removed without needing to take the rucksack off.

also like the colour. My pack is green. I know colour doesn’t really matter but it it’s a good colour then that’s a bonus.

What I’m not so sure about

The compression system includes two metal rods kept on the outside. I wonder how long these will last without rusting or discolouring if used in the usual wet Scottish weather. This is just an observation as it happened to mine yet.

The horizontal bottle needs to be kept firmly in place while in the rucksack and this requires a tight fabric set up. This means that removing and replacing the bottle can be quite hard work. It is possible but it’s not as easy as you might imagine. Still, on balance, I like the set up.

There is an additional place for a water bladder. This sits right at the back of the pack and could bulge out into the back system if you fill it too much. I don’t use hydration bladders too often because I don’t like the sloshing around feeling on my back but it’s worth considering my point.

The details: Price is £60. See  www.berghaus.com for stockists.

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