Add in a big dose of sustainability and some innovative hooks and it looks ideal for the trademark "fast and light" market. We've spent a couple of months putting it through its paces and here's a few of our thoughts.
What Montane say:
This expanded-capacity backpack is made for rugged environments, using recycled materials.
The Montane Trailblazer XT 35L Backpack is built for durability, adaptability and speed. Its recycled, high-performance RAPTOR CROSS 210D fabric is augmented with a PFC-Free DWR to keep your equipment dry. The breathable-foam back panel has been 3D-moulded to provide increased comfort for moving with heavier loads, and works with the COVALENT straps to provide stability. Fast and light missions in the mountains are made more efficient by the modular, easy-to-access storage and secure attachment for an ice axe or walking poles. The new Montane T-Hook system provides lightweight adaptability by allowing you to re-configure your pack on the fly. This highly durable backpack is the ideal companion for challenging walking, hiking and trekking routes, where you might be scrambling over rock or traversing snow and ice. It has the classic daypack capacity of 35L for missions where you need to pack a full loadout of kit, including an emergency warm layer
Features:
- T-Hook Adaptability - Montane T-Hook’s can be relocated for adaptable storage solutions.
- Shaped Harness - COVALENT straps provide stability and comfort.
- Backed-Up Support - Moulded back panel and for stability at pace
- Wand Pockets - Wrap around wand pockets with locking security zips
- External Storage - Ice Axe or Trekking Pole loop and cord lock
- Shoulder Pockets - Shoulder strap storage with mesh gusset for soft flasks or hard bottles
- Adjustable back length - The ZephyAD system enables you to easily adjust the length of your pack
- H2O To Go - Hydration bladder compatible.
- Materials - Main 100% Nylon (recycled); liner 100% Polyester; mesh pockets 80% Nylon (recycled) 20% Elastane; Straps & Hip fins 100% Polyester (recycled)
- Pack Dimensions - H 62 x W 25 x D 20
Trailblazer XT35 on test:
For a 35litre pack the Trailblazer has a lot of features, and a fair bit of innovation. With an RRP of £160 it sits around the middle of the price range for its size so it was interesting to see how it balances the needs of flexibility and durability with light weight - which is the market sector it's aimed at. The first point of not comes in the flexibility with a good adjustable back length system that's easy to use. This is necessary with the pack only coming in a single size. It's a simple, velcro secured system with Small, Medium and Large settings and an intermediate line between each.
Continuing the theme of flexibility the Trailblazer XT35 uses Montane's T-Hook system of a plastic T bar and laser cut loops for the sides of the front panel. I'm not entirely convinced, in practice, by these. Unless you want the compression straps at a very obvious angle rather than horizontal there are far more loops than you'll ever need in the central section down each side, although these loops are also used for pole loops so may be justifiable. Changing the position of the T-bars, however, is no easy job with the rigid plastic being difficult to manoeuvre through the tight loops.
What's also visible in the picture above, along with the T hook, loops and cord loop is the near full length side zips. These allow side access into the pack, making it simple to get at your kit without having to go through the top of the pack.
When it comes to durability the XT 35 has a good solid feel to it with recycled Raptor Cross 210 denier nylon throughout. With Triple Ripstop and DWR Coating (PFC Free, as you'd expect) it should be able to cope with both abrasion on rock and a degree of water. It should be noted, however, that a waterproof cover is an additional extra and is not built in.
With the back length and side compression straps adjusted the fit is finished off by adjusting the shoulder and tension straps and the result is a pack that sits well and has good suspenion. There's limited lateral movement which makes the XT 35 a potential choice for scrambling, with it's abrasion resistance helping, The waist belt is quite adequate with some padding but nothing over the top and it's good to see the zipped pockets on either size being seperate from the waist support. The fastening is quick and simple too. With the shoulder pockets the pack, from the front, does have a bit of a trail vest look, but this fits the fast and light market placing. Also note the odd twin chest straps that have push on clips.
With a single external fastening strap and clip the XT35 has something of an Alpine styling to it, which again points towards the option to use it for scrambling, with a "bivi opening" operated by a simple quick release cord lock. This is complemented by an internal compression strap with single fastening to cinch everything down to fit the single compartment. The lid also sports an external, zipped, pocket, with no internal pocket.
On the outside you also get the two wand pockets, which together with the waistbelt pockets, gives a fair capacity for quick access items, especially if using the shoulderstrap pockets for drinks bottles.
Conclusions:
At1170g the Trailblazer is far from the lightest 35litre pack on the market, but it's still relatively lightweight for the degree of durability provided with the 210 denier nylon fabric, and it's pretty well specified with its back length adjustment, extensive external storage and its side or top entry. Just as importantantly, though, it's a very comfortable carry, even fully loaded, once adjusted to fit. I'm not 100% sure how durable the odd clips on the chest straps will last but overall it feels value for its prce point.
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