Testers and test conditions
At 1.79, I have a normal build and a fairly normal weight. I am a splitboard enthusiast from the Black Forest, but I can enjoy a single turn and am not necessarily looking for the big lines or famous mountains. Because of my family with two little girls I am not always travelling in the Alps, but I take every breath of powder in the Black Forest with me and live in the best starting point (Dreisamtal). Here in the Black Forest, I'm always looking for new lines and opportunities and I'm happy about every new meadow I find.
In the Alps, I'm more interested in the small, fine north-facing slopes and steep couloirs in very safe conditions with the chance of powder. I may also use ice axes and crampons from time to time, but I'm not that keen on climbing. I am also a trainer C ski mountaineer in the DAV-Freiburg section.
The backpack was tested in the Black Forest. Mostly on half-day splitboard tours between 500 and 900 m ascent with frequent rebuilding or skinning up and down, but also during a two-day avalanche transceiver course (which I led myself and therefore had to carry a lot with me), at the bootpack on the steepest slopes of the area up to a spring hike with sports equipment, on New Year's Day, many opportunities were found to use the backpack in different situations. As I'm a splitboarder with hard boots myself, I always had to have a binding attached to the backpack, which demands a little more of the material than on pure ski tours.
Ski tourers and freeriders who like to pack generously and want to carry all safety-relevant equipment such as a first aid kit, bivy sack, a second pair of warm gloves, insulating jacket, any repair material, fur wax, snack tin and teapot, etc., will quickly reach the limits of the 20 litre volume. The backpack was packed to the absolute limit once during the test, but with squeezing and frequent repacking, it was surprisingly large in the end. Nota bene, the tea bottle then hangs outside on the carabiner. However, it doesn't feel very comfortable to carry at maximum capacity. The back section, which is only padded with a seat cushion, literally invites any hard object to press against the back.
Interestingly, the low weight still helps you to accept the pressure, but certainly not for hour-long climbs or long descents.
To use the backpack for touring, the user should be an advanced ski tourer or freerider and know exactly what they need or want to take with them on the day for the specific activity.
After a few days, I have developed a feeling for what fits well in which place and how I can create a homogeneous back section. When the backpack is about 90% full, it really comes into its own. Nothing pinches, the pack sack is sufficiently full so that nothing wobbles around and the straps on the outside are under tension. The backpack then hugs the back quite well. On these tours, I found myself thinking that over long distances I didn't even realise I was still wearing a backpack... and that with an airbag on my back. Unbelievable.
