A-hiking
we shall go.
If
you're planning some outdoor adventures this summer, the only thing
that is more certain than rain is the fact that you'll need some
stuff – lots of stuff. To ensure that all your essential kit is
safe, dry, and within easy reach, our Swedish mates at Thule have put
together the perfect day hiking pack. We test the Thule Stir 35L
Hiking Pack.
Bigger
than your average commuting backpack, but smaller than a full-blown
camping carrier, the Thule Stir 35L Hiking Pack has been designed for
a full day outside. With a capacity of 35 litres you get enough space
for clothing, shoes, some grub, your all-important gadgets, hiking gear, and maybe
also a tent clipped to the outside. We were sent the darker coloured
version (apparently called 'Dark Shadow' – nice!), made from a dark
grey elastin coated nylon with a contrast bright green draw-string
opener, but there is also a pretty bright red version up for grabs
too.
Speaking
of the draw-string opener... the first thing we noticed about the
Thule Stir 35L Hiking Pack was not the general size, or the
adjustable back straps, but rather the way in which one opens and
closes the main compartment. It all seems rather flimsy and
insubstantial at first glance; especially for a pack designed to be
used in all weather. However, that simple cord-drawn closer is
actually pretty clever, as once sealed up it folds over itself and
uses a metal clip to stay shut. It then becomes splash proof while
also being super quick to reopen, should you need to do so in a hurry
(“Quick! The waterproofs!”).
Thusly
sealed, your Thule Stir 35L Hiking Pack will protect the internal
contents from splashes and light rain, while to hold off against a
torrential downpour you'll need the rain cover. Uniquely, the cover,
which deploys from a compartment toward the base of the bag, does not
stretch over the entire pack. The bottom section is left 'exposed',
which at first was also rather strange to see. However, the bottom
section of the Thule Stir 35L Hiking Pack is completely waterproof.
This means you can set it down in a puddle and be confident your
sarnies aren't getting a muddy soaking.
The
main hold can also be accessed via a side zip pocket, allowing you to
grab things lower down in the bag without disturbing the things on
top (and potentially getting them wet if it's raining), while there
is a whole other button-fastening 'shove-it' pocket on the front,
good for maps and coats and other stuff. On each side of the pack you
'll find a bottle pocket, a small mesh compartment on the inside, and
smaller handy pockets on the hip belt and one on a shoulder strap.
The
straps are pretty cool as the whole system of getting the bag affixed
to your back is adjustable. First off, the hip straps can be removed,
being as they are attached with large sections of Velcro. The sternum
strap can also be taken off, helping to reduce the number of straps
and ties which could get in the way if you're using the Thule Stir
35L Hiking Pack around town one day. But - and this is a real benefit
to those of us planning long and arduous hikes while wearing the bag
- the entire torso section can be lowered or raised by up to 10 cm –
again using big patches of Velcro. Not only does this mean you can
fit the pack to your size and shape much better than simply fiddling
with the strap adjusters, but you can also use it to raise or lower
the pack on your back, letting you find your ideal comfort spot.
Once
adjusted, the Thule Stir 35L Hiking Pack is exceptionally comfortable
to wear, even with a full load. Like we said, at first we were a
little lacking in confidence when it came to the top draw-string
fastener, but once we used it and lived with it for a few adventures,
we realised it is actually pretty genius. Heavy rain is what the
separate rain cover is for, but for day-to-day hiking it performed
excellently, and let us – in mere seconds – open up the entire
main section to quickly get what we needed. And hey, it's a damn
sight better looking than most other hiking packs! Clever Swedes.
Around
£80
Visit
www.thule.com/en/gb
