Dave Roberts has been grabbing day walks where he can over the last few months, and brings us his Montane Halogen 25 pack review.
What is it?The Montane Halogen pack provides 25 litres in capacity, which makes it as expected a day pack. With an ice axe attachment system as well as claiming to be made of light but tough RAPTOR Geo fabric, which will withstand snow, ice and rock, this pack is touted as an all season day pack.
What they say:
The Montane Halogen 25 is a lightweight, extremely tough and amazingly versatile mountain day pack for technical multi-activity enthusiasts.
Dave’s Montane Halogen 25 pack Review was based on the black colour version, with a redwood also available. There is also a version available for the ladies, the Montane Women’s Oxygen 24, which from what we can see sport almost the exact same features, but comes in black or Saskatoon berry. Which we assume is a similar hue to the Canadian city’s namesake.
What and who is it good for?Â
The Montane Halogen 25 is an ideal pack for day walks, and we think would make a good pack for those who are looking for an all round pack as it wouldn’t look out of place on the commute home and yet is technical enough for the most demanding hill walks. We used the pack all over Snowdonia and the Berwyn hills for which it was perfectly suited. It hasn’t snowed for us to test the winter capabilities in anger, but for us it would be slightly on the small size for full on winter conditions.
What’s the main features?
Chest straps are particularly notable as Montane dispose of the usual clip and uses the Montane ‘Click and Go’ chest harness that boasts single hand operation. Initially, this certainly needed both hands and even then it was often difficult to undo. However, once we got used to how the clip is opened it really is easier and more convenient than a regular chest strap. Some more standard features are the usual hydration compatibility, something we’ve found very useful for stowing a battery pack in and feeding the charging cable out of the outlet.
There’s a comprehensive Buddy pocket on the front where you can keep key and other valuables as well as the now standard waist pack pockets. The 25 litre capacity is ideal over the summer, and would be suitable for most walkers. We found that it was a bit on the small side once we added our photography kit, something that isn’t helped by the zip closure. This makes the pack much tidier in appearance and packing, but totally unforgiving if you want to force that extra bit of kit in!
The side Baguette pocket does partially make up for this as you can fit in a few extras in there. We did find them a bit narrow for our widemouth Hydroflask, but fits narrower bottles perfectly. It’s also the ideal place to keep that spare windproof or a pair of gloves. There’s also a handy handle on the top of the pack, making it easy to carry about when not on the back.
There’s a Montane ZephyrFX back system which is comfortable enough, and while it may ventilate your back, there’s invariably some sweaty back syndrome to put up as we find that these systems minimise rather than eliminates the issue.
Constructed from 210 Denier nylon RAPTOR Geo fabric the pack feels tough and well made. It’s been dragged and pulled over rocks and floors over the past few months and it’s certainly proven itself to be a pack that we wouldn’t need to mollycoddle
The Montane Halogen 25 has served me well over the summer, quietly doing it’s job. While we’d go for a larger pack than 25 litres in order to accommodate camera kit (a full frame DSLR and a lens or two), this pack is more than sufficient for most hill walkers and is a tidy little pack.
Tech Specs
FULL FEATURE LIST CONSTRUCTION Constructed from 210 Denier nylon RAPTOR Geo fabric in the main body which is tough yet exceptionally lightweight. Featuring a superb DWR and abrasion resistance 420 Denier nylon RAPTOR Endurance durable base panels prevents abrasion against rock surfaces Shell friendly ‘Contact Open Mesh’ back panel for fantastic ventilation Shoulder straps and hip fins feature ‘Contact Air Mesh Plus’ for all day comfort and a quick dry time Super lightweight HALO lining fabric offers additional protection to contents PATTERNING AND DESIGN Minimal seams increase strength and reduce weight BACK SYSTEM Montane ZephyrFX back system combines a stiff structure with a soft, comfortable moulded back pad covered in shell friendly ‘Contact Open Mesh’ for a close, secure fit whilst also providing fantastic ventilation through the uniquely design moulded air gaps and channels HARNESS CONFIGURATION Perforated shoulder straps for excellent ventilation and comfort with a central strap spine for structural integrity Top tension shoulder straps allow the pack weight to be pulled close to the body and control the pack stability Articulated, load carrying hip fins for increased comfort and stability on the move Integrated waist belt and cinch strap adjustment pulls the pack closer to the user in one easy movement Double tension waist belt for extra stability and pack weight equalisation Montane ‘Click and Go’ chest harness with single hand operation, off centre clip prevents bulky buckles over the sternum and increases comfort with its low profile Unique elasticated chest strap allows for unrestricted breathing during exertion LOADING AND CLOSURE CONFIGURATION Large double zippered side and top opening entry point to main pack body for excellent access to contents Features external storm flap for increases protection POCKET CONFIGURATION Large Montane ‘Buddy pocket’ for front access whilst on the move with GRANITE STRETCH side panels allowing for overloading and expandable storage. Featuring external storm flap for increases protection Innovative Montane ‘Baguette pocket’ combine stretch bucket side pockets for external storage of water bottles, hats, gloves with stretch sleeve panels able to secure longer items such as collapsible poles, tall water bottles, rolled up jackets neatly to the sides of the pack Internal security pocket Hip fin pockets for storing and accessing items whilst on the move COMPRESSION Top single hand side compression straps offer effective compression and help provide additional stability Bottom single hand side compression straps secure the load and can be positioned under or over the stretch bucket side pockets TOOL ATTACHMENT POINTS Stowable dual walking pole attachment point at base of pack Stowable ‘Tool Anchor’ ice axe attachment at base of pack with the ‘Alpine Safe’ sleeve allows for fast, safe and secure axe attachment Integrated pole/axe attachment and top compression webbing straps for firm lock down of poles/axes during dynamic body movement and for effective storage when not in use FURTHER FEATURES Front and back 180˚grab handles Internal H2O pocket H2O tube opening and arm harness tube attachment point Internal key clip Front ‘Dusk Till Dawn’ reflectivity Bungee compatible (not supplied)
Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader.
Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.
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