I have tested two packs from the outdoors brand Kathmandu. One is a female-specific Valorous 55-litre pack and the other is a slightly larger Valorous Unisex 58l pack.
Kathmandu Valorous Women’s 55l pack
Features include:
Weight: 1640g (S/M)
Volume: 55 litres
Main fabric contains durable recycled nylon
Lightweight Crossflow AirXF+ suspended harness back system
Ergonomic hip belt in a female-specific fit
Ventilated shoulder straps
Water-repellent finish
J-shaped side access zip
Wide, U-shaped lower opening with a two-way zip
Removable top lid
Hydration bladder sleeve with a clip and single exit port
Multipurpose compression straps
Front attachment point and an adjustable toggle
Multiple pockets
Sizes: S/M, M/L
Price: £220
See: Kathmandu Valorous Women’s 55l pack
My thoughts: Kathmandu Valorous Women’s 55l pack
The Valorous is sold in two sizes. I am around 172cm tall and a size UK10. I tried both the S/M and the M/L but neither fits me perfectly. The S/M is too short in length – even with the back system fully extended – but the hip-belt fits well.
The The M/L is long enough but the hip-belt is too large for me and can’t be tightened enough to give a secure fit.
The shoulder straps on both packs fit comfortably and there is a sternum strap for extra support, although this feature might not suit all women, especially if you have a larger chest. There is an upper height limit on where you locate the sternum strap and I wonder if this will be high enough for larger chested ladies.
The back system is great. The metal and mesh frame sits away from the back so as to minimise sweat. The shoulder straps and hip-belt are nicely padded and this makes the pack really easy to like when fully loaded. The weight of the pack, even when full, feels well balanced, too.
The fabric looks and feels to be of high quality and it’s a bonus that it includes recycled materials as a nod towards being more environmentally friendly. The pack is water-resistant and does not have a waterproof cover. If you are worried about things getting wet you should pack them inside in drybags or buy a separate rain cover. Other planet friendly credentials include B Corp certification and bluesign approval. It is difficult to assess how “green” a product is unless you can follow the entire manufacture process from start to finish and, obviously, this is not easy for me to do.
I find that 55 litres is just about perfect for an multi-day hiking trip. It’s enough room to fit in tent, sleeping bag, inflatable mattress, cooking system, clothes, food and water, plus other bits and pieces, such as head torch, powerbank etc.
If I have any more volume, I end up with a pack that is too heavy because I overload it. If I have a smaller rucksack, it feels like too much of a tight squeeze with kit.
The zips and access to the pack are great. The main, larger compartment can be accessed from the top, as well as a long J-shaped side zip. I find this longer zip makes it easy to find kit in the largest area of the pack.
You can remove the top lid if you want thanks to easy slide clip, although I have never found a reason to. I like the top lid because it has a large zipped compartment. Removing the top lid reduces the weight and bulk of the pack but then water could get in the top of the rucksack.
There is also a lower compartment that has a divider if you want to keep it in, or you can remove it. I like this area for stuffing my sleeping bag and mattress.
The external mesh pockets are fairly generous with lots of stretch. There is also an innovative narrow stretch pocket on one shoulder strap. It is useful for adding a couple of snack bars or a compass etc.
The large zipped hip pockets, one on each side, are superb. They are roomy enough to take a large iPhone or a variety of items that you want easy access to.
There is plenty of adjustment potential for compressing the pack if you do not have it fully laden. I also realy like the size of and shape of the zip pulls.
This is a well designed and well made pack that will suit women, so long as you are the right size for the S/M or M/L. My advice is to try before you buy.
Kathmandu Valorous Unisex 58l pack
This is a very similar pack but with three litres more volume and a more unisex fit. The pack is a little heavier and costs £15 more at £235. There is a S/M and a M/L. While the length of the S/M suits me, the hip-belt and shoulder straps are too large.
This is a pack that will suit a larger framed male or female. It includes all the same features, so my review above is very similar.