Gear Review | Mammut Ultralight RAS 3.0

If you manage to pack this volume properly so that nothing pinches and you have everything you need for the trip, the magical thing happens: it simply disappears... The backpack is so light that you simply don't notice it any more.

Does it really work? What's the catch? For whom is such a slimmed-down backpack of interest? We answer these questions in our test.

First impression

Unsurprisingly, the first thought is: light. The second: where does all my stuff go?

The orange Cordura material and the zips are pleasant to the touch. The fasteners glide smoothly and are robust. The material loops on the outside are easy to reach. Unfortunately, there is no helmet holder, although there are eyelets for this. The lightly reinforced shoulder straps initially seem a little soft, but due to the low overall weight, even when packed, this proves to be a misconception in the field.

As with all RAS 3.0 backpacks, the fixed release handle is stowed in the shoulder strap and is height-adjustable. However, the Ultralight does not offer the option of changing the side of the handle. Unlike backpacks with an additional back compartment, the Mammut Ultralight only has a back compartment, just like its predecessors. This certainly takes some getting used to at first and is not always particularly practical.

Overall, however, the initial handling is fun, everything seems to work mammut-like well.

Test report

The mountaineering attachments are all there and work very well. The straps are of course also very narrow, but it works. Even attaching a splitboard in a diagonal mount in steep terrain works without any problems and even with the additional weight the backpack is not uncomfortable, on the contrary. The lightweight shoulder straps hold everything together well. The feeling of carrying the bootpack with a splitboard on the back is very nice. The splitboard is close to the body, which gives you a good centre of gravity.

The naturally very thin material should perhaps be prophylactically taped or otherwise protected if skis are carried frequently, as ski edges and binding pins are quickly punctured. The back compartment requires maximum concentration when opening it on steeper terrain to avoid leaving part of the contents to gravity. To open the backpack in the backcountry, it almost always has to be placed on the ground. On days with snowfall, snow quickly accumulates in the backpack and the warm jacket, for example, gets damp if you don't open the flap straight away.

On the subject of equipment, it should also be mentioned that the pack sack consists of only one compartment, the carbon bottle is open inside and the avalanche transceiver equipment does not disappear into a specially accessible compartment.

There is also an ice axe loop. During the test period, I undertook a longer day tour in the Alps with an ice axe and crampons and normal day pack. Here I had to take the 10-litre more voluminous "Light" pack, the Ultralight no longer works for me at this point.

The Mammut Ultralight RAS 3.0 is a good addition for ski tourers, splitboarders and freeriders who would like to take a lightweight airbag with them for a short tour or a day of variations, but can and want to reduce the other equipment to the bare essentials. The Airbag System 3.0 is compatible with all other backpacks in the RAS category and is easy to replace.

With regard to the topic of avalanche management with children on ski tours, which was recently discussed on PowderGuide, the backpack could be interesting for the younger generation due to its size and weight. However, the ski tour with the children should still be planned in maximum safe terrain.

As a stand-alone ski touring backpack, the Ultralight is probably not enough, as you can't quite manage with the space available for larger undertakings and multi-day tours anyway.

Conclusion

My first mission was on the aforementioned avalanche transceiver tour. I received sceptical looks from my companion and the comment: "Er, Tobi, what's that? My first aid kit is bigger than your whole backpack!" I was accordingly excited to start using this lightweight miracle. Over the course of the test, however, I was able to come to terms with the backpack very well and am now very happy to take it with me. Because as I said, if you know what you need and can deal with the aforementioned technical deficits of the backpack, you get a fully-fledged airbag, a fully-fledged ski touring backpack and a fully-fledged, relaxed upper back before the descent.

Advantages & disadvantages

+ super light

+ RAS 3.0 compatible

+ All necessary functions available

+ Beautiful, bright colour for added safety

+ comfortable to wear

- Little space

- must be reasonably full, otherwise too wobbly

- somewhat cumbersome back compartment

- Expensive as a supplementary rucksack

Information on

RRP € 570,-

• Mammut Airbag System 3.0

• Weight 1510g

• 20L capacity

• 150L airbag volume

• Side compression straps

• Rear, full zip access to the main compartment

• Pickaxe / pole holder

• Drinking system compatible

• Diagonal ski attachment

• Removable back padding can be used as a seat cushion

Here is the link to the Mammut website with further information.

The backpack was provided to PowderGuide by the manufacturer free of charge for testing. Find out how we tested it in our test statement.