First reaction when you put it on?
It fits well. It moulded to my body straight away.
How do you like the design?
It comes in a shade of pink. So it won my heart instantly.
What about the materials and build quality?
The build quality is excellent – like all the other Rab products I've been lucky enough to own.
And what do you think of the weight?
A good compromise between classic hiking kit and ultralight gear, which isn't as tough or long-lasting.
Kika chose the Rab Exion 45 ND. ND stands for Narrow Dimension – meaning a narrower fit for women or smaller-framed men. Here too, the back system is height adjustable, within a range of 43–48 cm.
From Japan through Australia to New Zealand. Kika and Filip are "on the road", Kerouac-style. "It proved its worth most on multi-day trips, because my sleeping gear fits in comfortably and there's still some room left for food. And chocolate!" Kika notes that the pack adapts nicely to the size of the load – all you need to do is play with the straps to make it comfortable to carry with any load.
After all, the height of the back system can be adjusted to suit just about anyone. "But above all it's well padded and it never dug in. Even the narrower women's shoulder straps are nicely padded and breathable at the same time," says Kika, adding that the wide hip belt "literally takes the weight off your shoulders. Another big plus is the load-lifter straps, which help balance the load – and that makes a huge difference out on the trail."
Rab Exion is a versatile pack for day hikes and multi-day treks alike. It all depends on the size you choose. You can pick anything from the smallest 35-litre single-compartment pack up to a two-compartment 65-litre one.
The Rab Exion isn't a fully ultralight pack. "But what it loses on weight, it makes up for in toughness. It carries a fairly heavy load without me having to worry about it," says Kika. "So far it has survived every kind of weather nature has thrown at me on our whirlwind trip around the world. And apart from a few marks I'll have to wash off, even air travel didn't leave a mark on it."
With its integrated rain cover, the pack held up even when it was bucketing down. "The fabric itself doesn't let water through easily. And when I combined it with a dry bag inside, I wasn't worried in the slightest that my clothes or sleeping bag would get wet."
In the 45-litre size Kika chose, the Rab Exion weighs 1.55 kg. It's made of tough fabric with a water-repellent finish, and the harness includes a 3.5mm aluminium frame that keeps the pack stable on your body and spreads the weight of the load.
In the 45-litre size, the Rab Exion has one main compartment – with a hydration sleeve, of course, which, as Kika says, is "compulsory kit for all my packs. And you can get into the main compartment not just the traditional way from the top, but also from the front via a zip, so I never had to rummage around much to find what I needed."
"A big plus is the roomy mesh pocket on the front," Kika continues. "That's where I usually stash my jacket and a fleece. Or a foam sit pad, which is essential for little breaks on a hike." Kika also made good use of the trekking pole loops and the side compression straps, which she used to shrink the pack when it wasn't completely full. "And I also like the big hip-belt pockets, which fit my phone and a quick snack."
As well as the top opening, the pack also has a large U-shaped front zip opening. On the front there's also a stretch pocket for gear you need close to hand. The pack is ready for easy attachment of poles or an ice axe. And the integrated rain cover has its own special pocket.
