I wanted a pack for one or two nights – not a huge rucksack. And the Rab Exion 35ND was exactly what I'd hoped for. I took it twice on a multi-day traverse of the Javorníky hills, but the key experience was a trip to Triglav.
The weather wasn't on our side at first. It drizzled, with fog closing in around us. I risked it without a rain cover and found out that this pack can handle persistent drizzle. Everything inside stayed dry. And when it cleared up, I tested the back ventilation for a change. It passed that too. Outside it was like the Sahara, I was sweating, but under the pack it felt pleasant.
I used to take a snowboard backpack on weekend treks and had a feeling it wasn't ideal. Now I can see why. I could sort and organise everything neatly into the many little pockets, and I always knew straight away where to reach for what. And with the back system I could walk comfortably even for several days, when it felt like the pack was part of my body.
Bluish turquoise – a choice for women who want a bit of colour. Yet the colours are muted, not garish. Other features, like the pockets on the pack, are subtle too; they don't interfere with the unified design or spoil the overall understated look.
Brilliantly – as long as you adjust it properly. Of course, it isn't a pack for bouncing and running about the hills – but even at a brisker pace it sat perfectly. It adapted to every step and didn't give me any extra worries.
The pack is also really light. Sure, it doesn't match the weight of ultralight packs, but even so it's comfortable and doesn't drag you down. That was great especially on multi-day hikes, because that's where you feel every extra gram.
The Rab Exion pack weighs 1,440 grams in the 35-litre size. It comes in 35, 45, 55 and 65 litres. You can choose a men's version or a women's version with a narrower and shorter back, in five different colours.
The back panel is so breathable that a sweaty back is definitely not something you'll be fretting about on a trip. The hip belt then puts the icing on the cake. It held the pack to my body so well that we were one body – one soul.
The hip belt pockets fitted all the little things I needed to have to hand. And the pockets aren't so bulky that they get in the way when you move.
The V-TRAX™ carry system with an aluminium frame is height-adjustable from 53 to 58 cm in the men's version and 43 to 48 cm in the women's version.
Nothing has been overlooked, and in persistent drizzle not a single drop got inside. Of course, the pack isn't fully waterproof, but it handled light rain without any problems. And when it really started pouring, I pulled the built-in rain cover out of the bottom pocket.
Even contact with rock didn't leave any marks or scuffs on the surface of the pack. So even after all my trips it's still as good as new. The quality is as high as it gets.
Pockets and loops for sorting all your things are essential, even on a multi-day pack. And the Rab Exion 35ND has plenty of everything. I really liked the key loop in the inner pocket – you don't have to worry about your keys falling out somewhere.
Another great feature is the external mesh. A simple, elegant solution that's also handy for carrying a climbing helmet. And when I didn't have a helmet with me, I put a fleece or jacket in the mesh whenever I wanted one of them to hand.
Thanks to the side zips, I could fish out anything even from the bottom of the pack without messing up everything above it.
You can very easily attach trekking poles to the outside of the pack – using elastic tip holders and bungee tie-offs. You can also fix a walking ice axe to the fabric loop and, say, a sleeping mat under the compression straps.
I easily packed gear for four days into it – and still had some room left. In winter it would be different, of course, but in summer the Rab Exion 35ND, with a bit of restraint, is suitable even for multi-day treks. If you're looking for something versatile and know you're not planning proper long-distance expeditions, a pack this size is a good choice.
I liked the whistle built into the chest strap buckle. And also that the side compression straps let you adjust the size of the pack so your gear doesn't rattle around inside. That meant I could use it for short outings, full-day hikes and multi-day trips like the ones I did in the Julian Alps or in my native Javorníky.
