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Gear Review | Mammut Light Short Removable Airbag 3.0 Backpack 28L

Lightweight airbag backpack with high wearing comfort

by Benjamin Eggert 12/01/2020
The Mammut Light Short Removable Airbag 3.0 backpack is the ideal companion for ski touring and freeriding. There is more than enough storage space for one-day ski tours and it is also suitable for multi-day ski tours. For a quick run, the backpack can be compressed using the side straps and is easy on the back muscles thanks to its very low weight. So there's no excuse to leave your avalanche backpack at home!

Airbag system

This avalanche backpack is equipped with the Removable Airbag System 3.0. As with all avalanche backpacks I know, the balloon is in a signal colour so that it is easily visible from a distance. The release handle is connected to the clip-on unit on the pressure cartridge via a steel cable and can be used for countless releases. After a deployment, only the pressure cartridge needs to be replaced and the airbag system can be used again. The airbag system should be restored by a specialist dealer or with the help of the operating instructions, a short version of which can be found on a slip of paper sewn into the backpack. The height of the deployment handle can be adjusted so that the position on the left shoulder strap can be customised. The entire airbag system is very light and can be removed from the backpack. It is stowed at the top of the main compartment of the backpack to save space. The total weight of the airbag unit with carbon cartridge is just 1010g. The pressurised cartridge is not included in the scope of delivery. A carbon cartridge filled with nitrogen weighs 320 g and is therefore significantly lighter than a steel cartridge (500 g when full). I had a carbon cartridge in the test and was grateful for the weight saving on one or two occasions. True to the motto: carbon instead of condition! I would definitely recommend the carbon version to keep the total weight on your back down.

But you can fit a lot in here

It goes without saying that every avalanche backpack should include other avalanche equipment: the avalanche transceiver should always be on your body and never in the backpack. The Mammut Light backpack has a separate front pocket with sufficient space for a probe and shovel. In an emergency, the emergency equipment is quickly to hand. Some important safety instructions are printed on the inside of the main compartment.

The main compartment offers space for everything you usually need on a ski tour: ski skins, crampons, drinks bottle, food, a change of clothes, ski tour maps, Swiss army knife, first aid kit, bivouac sack. A hydration bladder can also be stowed in the main compartment. The drinking tube is fed through the opening provided for this purpose on the upper back section and attached to the shoulder strap. This means that the hydration supply is accessible at all times without having to take off the backpack, which is certainly an advantage in rough terrain.

The main compartment has a full-length zip so that the front can be opened wide. This provides very good accessibility to the material! There is another pocket on the front of the backpack. This is ideal for stowing ski goggles. There is also a small pocket on the hip belt for everything that needs to be quickly to hand. Not much fits in here, but there is enough space for a muesli bar, lighter, buff and thin gloves. Mammut claims a total volume of 28 litres. In my opinion, this is more than enough for a normal day tour or multi-day tour with an overnight stay in a hut.

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Plenty is attachable on the outside

If there is not enough storage space, the backpack offers additional fastening options. The ski helmet can be attached to the outside of the backpack using the top strap. The ice axe is attached to the side using a loop and Velcro fastener. The side straps are ideal for attaching skis. Either attach both skis on one side or, for better weight distribution, one ski on the left and one on the right. The ski tips can be perfectly connected to the PowderGuide strap for more stability. Both straps are recommended for attaching your snowboard.

When any backpack is fully loaded, it is advisable to stow the heavy stuff as close to your body as possible. This way, the weight won't pull so heavily on the backpack and consequently on your back.

Once your equipment is well stowed in and on your rucksack, it's time to buckle down and start marching. This is where the high carrying comfort of the Mammut light really comes into its own!

Wearing comfort

The low total weight of the empty backpack of 2140 g (incl. airbag unit and carbon cartridge) makes it very comfortable to carry. The adjustable chest, hip and shoulder straps ensure that the backpack can be optimally adapted to your back. Thanks to the thermoformed back section and the padded shoulder and hip straps, the backpack feels very comfortable to wear. The good carrying comfort is supported by 2 aluminium bars in the back section. This means that the weight of the fully packed backpack is largely transferred directly to the hip belt, so that not all of the weight rests on the shoulders. Even when fully loaded, I always had the feeling that most of the weight was supported on the hips and didn't put too much strain on the shoulders. When the ascent was steep, my legs were always the first to take the strain. Like all avalanche airbags I know, the Mammut Light also has a leg loop. The purpose of this leg loop is to prevent the backpack with the inflated balloon from being pulled over your head by the force of the avalanche in the event of an avalanche. The backpack could be torn away from your body or you could be strangled by the chest strap. The leg loop prevents this. The leg loop should therefore always be worn on the ascent and during the descent. There is no reason not to use the leg loop as it is hardly noticeable!

As the "Short" model tested is the slightly shorter version of the Mammut Light backpack, I was initially sceptical about its size. At 1.83 m tall and weighing 75 kg, the backpack feels very comfortable to carry and fits on my back. According to the manufacturer, the carrying system is specially adapted to the female anatomy. This makes it the first choice for most women. The longer version is 4 cm longer and offers 2 litres more storage space. Certainly the right choice for the longer freeriders among us.

Conclusion

As the name suggests, the Mammut Light impresses with its very low weight. Despite its low weight, no compromises have been made in terms of carrying comfort. The thermoformed back section and the padded shoulder and hip straps make the backpack feel even lighter on the back.

This backpack is also a real space miracle and fits everything you need for a day ski tour. Skis and ice axes can be easily attached with the straps provided in case the tour takes you up a steep incline.

Overall, the backpack has a very high-quality finish and offers everything an avalanche or ski touring backpack should have!

Advantages & disadvantages

+ very low weight
+ removable airbag system
+ plenty of storage space
+ comfortable lap and shoulder straps
- no special home holder

Details

RRP: 630 Euro / 800 Chf (Short 28 L and 30 L versions)

Carbon cartridge 140 Euro / 170 chf

Height 57 cm, width 28 cm, length 25 cm

Volume with airbag system and carbon cartridge: 28 litres

Weight with airbag system and carbon cartridge: 2140 g

Weight without Aribag: 1130 g

Cartridge not included in the scope of delivery

Removable airbag system

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

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

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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