Montane Switch 20 Daypack

Product Information

Built To Send have created a surprisingly simple piece of equipment, but one made from the highest quality materials, and with a level of care and deliberation that sets it apart" says Toby Archer. The Raptor Dynamic fabric is tough, strong abrasion resistant and side compression straps help the load to be shared out evenly across your back whilst you are walking. With the Azote 32 my big issue as that the back system feels too minimal for the size of pack, with no frame sheet or wire to add shape and support. This only tends to matter when I want to use the hip belt to take a bit of weight, a situation that begins to arise with a larger daypack such as the Azote 32.

Worse is that the pack also feels saggy on the shoulders, tending to slump backwards - an effect that naturally seems more marked when the back length is extended, though Pegs noticed it at a shorter length too. Twin compression straps are provided too, and if you're lugging something bulky like a camera tripod (how did you think I got the gear selfies? With no firmness at the top of the back, just soft foam, the lid has a tendency to droop forwards if you're storing anything remotely heavy there. However the weight seems fine for the all-round use for which it was designed; it's not a running or a climbing specialist after all.Available in both a male and a female version, in two sizes apiece, and with an adjustable back length, its key feature is its versatility.

CONTACT Air Mesh Plus panels placed on the shoulder straps, hip fins and back pad will provide much-needed ventilation. Using simple but sturdy Velcro pads, the back length can be quickly altered from Small to Large, a range of about 10cm. Thanks, in my view, to this sloppy interface between shoulder straps and weight, the centre of gravity is far back, and the load feels poorly balanced.In the larger size 32 version, the latter is a deal breaker for me, though other users - probably a fair bit smaller than me - might get on with it. There may be exceptions, but in general by the time you get up around this sort of capacity it can be good to have some structure within the back of a pack. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.