Every so often someone is brave enough to go back to basic principles and start the design process from scratch. This pack looks unusual, it’s a bit tricky to use but it’s by far the most comfortable pack I have ever worn.

Back of Peak Aspiration main packFiona McClelland

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In third world countries, people carry large loads on their heads. Research suggests that carrying large loads like this is significantly more energy efficient than carrying the same load in a conventional pack. This is because the centre of gravity of your body and load is still in line with your normal centre of gravity. The reason we lean forward with a heavy pack is to try to maintain balance, and this lean makes walking that much harder.

Carrying large loads on your head is not ideal because the centre of gravity is higher, making you top-heavy. The pack is designed by New Zealand tramper Aarn Tate. Aarn’s design moves the centre of gravity of the pack to the natural point for your body. In practical terms it means that your load feels significantly lighter, it’s easier to keep balance and you use less energy walking. I know it’s very subjective, but I reckon my Aarn pack feels around 20% lighter compared to the same mass in my older internal frame pack.

I’m impressed with the pack’s features, but they do increase the complexity of using it. Somewhat like going to an Apple store, when I bought my pack it came with an in-store lesson. This was surprisingly worthwhile. I also watched a few videos on YouTube to learn more. You don’t just pick this baby up and start walking. You get the basics quickly, but it took me a full day and a bit in the bush until I could make all the little adjustments without having to think about it.

Okay, that is all a bunch of broad sweeping statements. So let me give you a bit of context. When doing a short overnight walk for fun, I carry around 8-12 kilograms. If walking for work I add an extra 5-8 kilograms of equipment. Most of my walking is on formed and faint informal tracks, with some off-track walking. Let’s look at the key differences between this pack and more conventional internal frame packs.

Front PocketsYou can spot an Aarn pack from a mile away because of the two goofy looking front pockets attached to the harness. These pockets are nicknamed, sexistly, but somewhat appropriately, “boobs” or “Pamelas”. These pockets have a capacity of six litres each.

The pockets have a small frame that runs diagonally through them, transferring the weight to your hip belt, not your shoulders - very clever. The top of the pockets attach to your harness with a sliding clip just below the sternum.

The instructions recommend that the pockets are where you carry the bulk of your weight, so I use the pockets for water, fuel, electronic stuff and heavier food. This is how the centre of gravity shift is achieved, so you need to completely re-think weight distribution when packing.

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The pockets also have all items needed during the day like maps, snacks and gadgets. The front pockets are really easily accessible whilst walking, very handy. I was surprised to notice that I would usually keep the pack on when I stop for a break.

I had two main worries about the pockets. Firstly, would they impede the view of my step? Secondly, would it be too hot with them against your chest?

View: The front pockets clip together with a gap between them. You can easily look down between the pockets and see your feet. One walk had a scramble down a sheer rock wall. I unclipped the pockets allowing them to pivot back under my arms to give me full view. At the bottom I realised I didn’t need unclip them, but it’s nice to have the option if I need to get close to the cliff.

Heat: I was surprised by the design of the frame in the pockets. The frame has a concave shape that hold the pockets away from your body, allowing for plenty of airflow

and also probably making it comfortable for women. There is some room for adjustment, but I’m unsure how it would work for large-breasted women.

The only annoyance I found with the pack is doing up the straps. The front pockets get in the way when adjusting your hip buckle. There are also an extra two straps connecting the pockets to do and undo when taking your pack on and off. Aarn recommends not doing up the bottom Balance Pocket connector strap. That strap is primarily used when you clip the pockets together as a daypack. Whilst it’s not a great problem I do find it a tad annoying. Having said that I can’t think of a way to solve it and it only impacts a few times a day.

Ohh I almost forgot. The front pockets can unclip easily, which is handy when you need just the main pack for day walks. There’s also a strap with the pockets that turn them into a summit pack, handy if you want to leave the main pack and do a side trip with essential gear.

Top sliding clip of pocket on harnessMatt McClelland

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HarnessThe Aarn website mentions a “Flow” systems, and when looking for a pack I assumed it was marketing spin and just ignored it. When I first put on an Aarn pack on I thought “That’s weird”, in a clever way.

Aarn call it “Natural Movement” and it is a good description. There are various straps and loops on the harness that allows:

your shoulders to move up and down with minimal or no resistance;

you to freely rotate and pivot your hips; and

a shock cord that allows you to bend forward a bit.

These systems and others allow you to walk, climb and move in a more natural way than with a standard pack harness. For example, you can move a shoulder up and your pack does not move at all because your harness straps allow the movement. You avoid all those extra bits of inertia from the pack with all the little movements you make, annoying aspects I had not noticed until they had gone away. This combined with a good centre of gravity means that I will jump from rock to rock with much more confidence and enthusiasm than with my my older pack.

Your back rests against what Aarn calls a “Matrix Mesh”. This is a wide spacer mesh that is extremely porous, provides good padding, about one centimetre thick. Behind this spacer mesh is another gap before the main pack, providing a comfortable back rest and extremely good ventilation. A few hours into a walk my back used to end up wet from sweat, but this system allows sweat to evaporate, keeping me cooler, drier and less stinky.

Air flow on back rest - top of Aarn PackMatt McClelland

Natural upright postureSupplied by Aarn Tate

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