Cracking, fast-moving
all-rounder that won't take on a life of its own when the going gets
bumpy.
Haglofs Ace L - Tested
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Price:
£50
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Weight: 730 grammes (measured
weight)
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Features:
Lightweight 20-litre backpack made from 210 D polyamide baby
rip-stop fabric, floating harness system, contoured shoulder
straps with perforated foam, air venting 3D mesh in shoulder
straps and back panel, sternum strap with integrated
whistle, stowable stretchy hip-belt with zippered pockets,
Large U-shaped zip opening for access, front stretch pocket
for small items, two internal mesh pockets, elastic cord
stowage and compression system, side pockets with stretch
mesh and shock cord closure, reflective print, hydration
system sleeve and outlet. Also available in small and medium
versions.
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What's It For?
Haglofs describes the Ace series - there are three of them, S, M
and L which measure 5, 12 and 20 litres respectively - as being a
'light slim backpack' for adventure racing and other high adrenaline
activities, with a close to body fit.'
There's no reason why you can't add lightweight walking use to
that list as well, with 20-litres for the large size tested being
quite enough if your kit is reasonably light and compact.
The Techy Bits
What marks the Ace out from other lightweight, fast-mover packs
we've used is the back system, and hip-belt. First the shoulder
straps form a loop at the bottom which means they can move up and
down with your shoulders while the pack itself stays anchored.
Movement has been limited simply using a three-inch loop at the lower
attachment point, so there's no danger of excessive play.
The second cunning point is the waist-belt itself. Unlike
virtually every other pack belt we've used, the both wide side wings
and narrower belt section are stretchy. The idea is that they sit on
your hips and absorb small movements rather than working their way
upwards as you move.
How It Performs
When we tested the Ace's 12-litre brother a couple of years back
we were blown away by how well the pack carried, but it was a little
on the small side for general hill use. The L with its estimated
20-litre capacity is much more versatile and swallows a surprising
amount, though the neat front shock cord cargo come compression
system means partial loading is fine too.
Like the M, where the Ace L really scores is in its symbiotic
union with your body. The pack sits lower than most, keeping weight
low down and reducing your centre of gravity. The stretchy hip-belt
is simply superb, there's just enough give in it to absorb movement,
but not so much that it gives too much.
The end result is that the pack sits comfortably anchored on your
hips even if you're running or biking making for a really
comfortable, stable carry with minimal bounce - it really does move
with your body, which is helped by the mobile shoulder straps, which
mean you can, say, reach up freely without tending to pull the pack
upwards with your arm.
We also liked the mesh pockets on the belt, great for handy access
to frequently used items and snacks and mercifully the low stance of
the pack meant we could use the twin mesh stash pockets on the
hoof.
As with most body-hugging packs, the Ace did feel a tad warm in
hotter weather, particularly under that form-hugging belt. We were
also a little suspicious of the zips after breaking the one on the M
thanks to overloading abuse.
Thankfully the one on the L seems to have been up-rated and coped
just fine. We did however manage to mangle one of the zips on the
outside pockets. They're simply too wimpish for the application and
need beefing up. Finally, the hydration tube outlets are fine with a
straight valve, but if you use a bulky 90-degree bite valve like
Camelbak's Ergo, you may need to pop the valve off in order to thread
the tube through.
We really like the Ace, the combination of that anchored,
stretchy belt, moving shoulder straps and the low-slung stance makes
it comfortable and stable in use. Best of all, it never tries to ride
up your back even if you're running or hunched over a mountain bike.
It really does feel part of you.
It's also perfectly useable for lightweight walking where the only
real downside is that it can - like most form-fitting packs - feel a
little warm in really hot conditions. A cracking, fast-moving
all-rounder that won't take on a life of its own when the going gets
bumpy.
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Effective, close-fitting but unrestrictive back system, nice
detailing.
Tiny pocket zips need beefing up.
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Performance
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Value
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