Berghaus Freeflow II 20 Reviews - Product Reviews

Berghaus Freeflow II 20

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Berghaus Freeflow II 20
More about Berghaus

Average Rating: 3 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 6
RRP: £36
Year: 2005

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Description: - New technical airflow back system to promote circulation of air around the back when on the move.

REVIEWS

1 to 6 of 6 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.

Craig Wakefield

Posted: 16/07/07

'EXCELLENT DAYSACK'

Strengths:
Comfortable, keeps your back reasonbly dry, secure, hardwearing

Weaknesses:
The arched back system does reduce capacity slightly.

Overall:
Excellent day sack i use for hiking, running and mountain biking. Fits my 2 ltr camelbak, plus food and jacket. Does whats its supposed to!

Performance		80%
Reliability		80%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

80%

Steve Wall

Posted: 08/08/06

'COMFORTABLE DAYSACK FOR THE SUMMER'

Strengths:
Back system keeps me cool;
Perfect size for a summer day in the hills;
Mesh pocket is ideal for my windproof;
Takes a 2 litre bladder without any snags.

Weaknesses:
Curved back makes it awkward to get at stuff in the bottom of the main compartment;
I keep forgetting to zip up the pocket on the back;
Could really do with another pocket on the other side for my flask of tea.

Overall:
My other pack is a 35 litre walkabout, and when I am out on my own in the summer it's nowhere near full. This pack is the perfect size for when I am carrying only my lightweight waterproofs and not the full on Gore-tex XCR. I've personally found the back system to be completely comfortable, even on a ten hour walk over the top of the Ben Lawers group. It also takes my 2 litre Platypus bladder without any problems. The only real downside is that the back system makes the main compartment a funny shape, which then makes it difficult to get stuff in and out of the bottom of the main compartment. However, it's also the shape that makes this a nice, cool daysack on the back, so I don't see that there's any getting away from it.

Performance		80%
Reliability		80%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

73%

J Sharp

Posted: 07/04/05

'A STEP DOWN IN DESIGN QUALITY COMPARED WITH ORIGINAL.'

Strengths:
Addition of inside pocket good for keeping valuables. Slightly improved capacity may be welcomed by some.

Weaknesses:
The beauty of the Freeflow 20 was its simple design. For starters, the back system was more no-nonsense than the current mess of rods and moulded plastic, and was much more comfortable when used for cycling - the Freeflow 20 II cuts into your lower back when leaning over. The materials of the old design also feel more heavy duty - my bag lasted for a good 2.5 years of every-day use. The inclusion of a rain cover is also a waste of weight and money - the original seemed to have completely adequate rain protection. The swapping of the rear pocket to a side-zip means that it must be closed to prevent the contents falling out, whilst the old upward facing pocket could be left open, for example to place d-locks in. The three colour schemes for the new design suggest generic cheap 'karrimor', whilst the dark colouring (grey) of the old design hid dirt very well. The inclusion of an even more bulky ice axe holder system is a completely unnecessary change - who is going to use this bag for climbing in cold conditions given that it is designed for maximum back ventilation!?! The new mesh pocket also seems a bad idea - it may just end up snagging on branches.

Overall:
The old design was far superior. The thought going into the design of this update was obviously misdirected - the result is mediocre.

Performance		60%
Reliability		40%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

53%

Ben Manwaring

Posted: 29/06/05

'UNCOMFORTABLE AND DISAPPOINTING'

Strengths:
-Back system very breathable

Weaknesses:
-Uncomfortable back system
-Small hydration pocket
-General construction

Overall:
I bought this pack for full rrp (£40) with high hopes. I loaded the pack up in the shop and it felt very comfortable. However after a couple of uses, I noticed that the back system pushed against my lower back, causing uncomfortable back pain on longer walks. About a month later, this was again reported in a review in 'Trail' magazine. I also found the hydration pocket on the small side, its a real struggle to fit even a 1.5L Camelback into. I found the inside of the bag became easily damaged and began to fray after only a couple of uses. I do not recommend this sack. I have bought Lowe Alpine sacks ever since, and have found them of vastly superior quality.

Performance		40%
Reliability		40%
Value		40%

Overall Rating

40%

Scott C

Posted: 10/09/05

'HELPS TO KEEP YOU COOL'

Strengths:
Back system helps to keep you cool.
Hydration kit opening, holder, and loop.
Mesh side pockets handy, and the stuff thats put in it doesn't fall out.
The back system only seems to add a small amount of weight to the pack.
Looks good.
Zip up pocket in lid for small items.

Weaknesses:
Back pad started to show wear quite soon after starting to use it.
Rain cover collects water which soaks the bottom of the pack.
Freeflow back system makes the pack bulky, and to bulky for packing inside a larger pack.
Colour shows dirt.
Expensive for what it does.
Back pad may wear harder than normal on clothes due to it being covered in a fairly ruff material.
The zip on the main compartment is a little awkward to use due to the back system.
The bowed shape of the main compartment due to the back system.
The back system due to it only helping to cool your back, so it does maybe add unnecessary bulk, and weight to the pack.

Overall:
I sweat a lot when I'm walking in hot weather so anything that helps to keep me cool is a bonus. And the back system does work. Weather its worth there being plastic parts being added to a daysack I'm not sure. They make the pack bulky for its size, and appear like they should be heavy.

The rain cover is useless as rain collects in it and soaks the bottom of the pack. For £40 you'd expect it to work.

I do like the pack still though, but I also half think that the back system is an unnecessary gimmick. So I probably wont be getting another one, unless I move to a hotter, dryer country!

Performance		60%
Reliability		60%
Value		40%

Overall Rating

53%

Lloyd Cresswell

Posted: 23/10/05

'REMEMBER - IT'S A ONLY A "DAY" SACK'

Strengths:
Back system, will take a 2 litre bladder, looks ok.

Weaknesses:
The zip up valuables pouch is positioned such that if the main compartment is more than slightly open when you access the pouch any heavy items cause the flap to drop down so all items fall out, so it's only safe to access when both hands are free.
Space is limited by curved back.
It can give you a sore lower back.

Overall:
Remember it's only a "DAY" sack. I recently spent an 8 hour day in Snowdonian with the sack stuffed full and my back did ache a little at the day's end, but I do suffer from the odd bad back and being 6'3" I can't expect a perfect fit from a small sack.
I can't agree with other testers re' the lack of bladder space, I can get a 2 litre Source bladder in without too much of a squeeze.

Performance		60%
Reliability		60%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

60%

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