Owner: Thomas
Used since: 2013
Tested by: Thomas
Review by: Thomas
Primary Use: Hiking, Canyoning
Review:
Many of our canyoning team members bought actually multiple of these packs when they were on special at Aldi. Backpacks and any material wears out quite fast with Canyoning activities due to the constant wet and dry conditions, abrasions and sometimes heavy weight in the pack due to all the water soaked equipment in there. So we thought that for Canyoning those sub-100$ cheap packs are ideal - if they last 1-2 seasons then thats a good return of investment. While they are comfortable at first (good padding on the back), the lack of comfort of the shoulder straps when carrying heavy loads for the whole day becomes evident fairly quickly. For someone with a sensitive back like myself, packs like these just don't provide the comfort and support when carrying it over a longer period (more than half a day). As such, I would not buy them again for my use. But they are good value for money if you just need a large pack that you don't load up with heavy stuff and just use it on occasional hikes.
Pros:
- Very good price point and great features for a cheap pack like this.
- Comfortable hip belt and lower back padding.
Cons:
- Shoulder straps become very uncomfortable after carrying heavy loads for more than a few hours.
Comment:
Good value for money, however this pack is really only suited for people that want a cheap pack for occasional use and don't have a sensitive back. Not suitable for multi-day hikes where you need to carry heavy loads and still have good comfort and support on your back and shoulders.
Manufacturer Website:
http://www.discountstoresau.com/aldi-catalogue/special-buys-week-29-2013-12.html