Pack a sleeping bag, a sleeping mat, a stove, clothes and all the other bits and bobs for a night under the stars. Into a 38-litre pack, no problem. Nothing remarkable there. “But it weighs less than a kilo,” adds Domča – and a mere 865 grams is something you really notice. “It's great to save some grams right at the base of your kit.”
The Rab Syclon XP is more of an ultralight pack than a classic trekking one. “I really love the design,” says Domča, adding that it's even one of the best-looking packs she's ever carried. “There's nothing on it that bothers me visually or feels unnecessary,” she says, giving it points for simplicity and functionality.
“I also like the original triangular pockets,” Domča goes on, describing a feature that's about more than looks. “The pockets are practical and fit the overall concept of the pack.”
The Rab Syclon XP is an (un)typical ultralight. The 30-litre version weighs just 810 grams and is fully waterproof. It comes in men's and women's versions, the latter with a narrower build and a shorter back panel. Domča tested the 38-litre pack, weighing 865 grams.
At first, though, there were doubts. “The first time I put it on, I wasn't sure it fitted as well as I'd expected,” explains Domča – at first glance it felt a little different from the packs she was used to. “But once I'd packed it properly, adjusted it and set off, the doubts quickly vanished.”
“When I walk, it doesn't press anywhere, doesn't get in the way, it feels natural,” Domča continues. In the end she felt the pack had become part of her movement rather than holding it back. “I think a big part of that is distributing the load properly. When the pack is loaded well, it fits really nicely.”
And it earned a valuable privilege. “I've got so used to it that it'll probably become my main trekking pack,” says Domča – it's exactly as comfortable and functional as she expects a pack for multi-day trips to be. “And it carries much better than I thought after first trying it on.”
The AEROFIT™ back panel, made of springy, breathable mesh, draws hot air away from your sweaty back and lets fresh air in. And thanks to a running-vest-style harness, the Rab Syclon XP stays put even when you move fast over gnarly terrain.
In fact, the back panel is probably what Domča praises most. “I don't like it when a pack lies flat against my back, because then I sweat a lot more,” she says, so the springy mesh system suits her perfectly.
Another part of the harness scored points too. “The hip belt with roomy pockets is a big plus. At last I've got enough space for my phone, snack bars and other little things I want close at hand,” says Domča – properly sized pockets are something she's often missed on other packs. And the shoulder straps? “They keep the pack stable even when walking briskly or on tougher terrain. ”
The Rab Syclon XP is a fully waterproof pack that meets the IPX4 standard. Waterproof fabric with taped seams keeps your stuff dry even in heavy rain. So you don't need a rain cover or dry bags – which would ultimately be extra weight.
Let's state one more crucial thing: the Rab Syclon is waterproof. “On my trips it coped with light rain and wind without any trouble and everything inside stayed dry,” Domča stresses – in this respect it really works.
However, there was one annoyance. “I found a small hole in the pack, which surprised me and disappointed me a bit,” Domča recalls the flaw, though she can't remember when or where it happened.
“I get that it's a very light pack. And low weight usually comes at the price of finer materials,” Domča concedes – in this category it can be a trade-off. “And given the terrain I use it in, I see it more as the price of active use than as a serious problem.”
The Rab Syclon XP is made from high-tenacity nylon with Spectra® Ripstop fibres. These fibres form a fine grid that stops damage from spreading. So if a scar appears, like in our test, the grid won't let it spread any further.
One big main compartment. No separate sections. “Some people might find it too simple – just one small zipped pocket inside,” Domča describes the layout, which personally suits her fine. “Because I organise my gear in dry bags.”
“What I sometimes miss is side access to the main compartment,” Domča points out what is, in her view, probably the only organisational shortcoming. “On the other hand, a side zip would mean more material, more weight and maybe another spot where the pack could wear out. So in the context of the ultralight philosophy, I understand why the maker went another way.”
“But I think the two chest pockets are absolutely brilliant. They fit my phone and other things I want close at hand,” she says, back to the positives, and also praises the two large side pockets, which take a bottle or a sit mat. “And I mustn't forget the front mesh pocket. There's surprisingly much room in it and it's great for wet clothes, a jacket or things I need to pull out often.”
The roll-top opening lets you expand or shrink the pack to fit your load. The zipped back pocket can hold a hydration bladder or keep wet clothes apart from dry ones. And trekking poles attach easily to the front of the pack.
And Domča's best moment with this Rab pack? “My friend and I both bought the same one without ever talking about it. So when we set off on a trek, we looked like twins,” she smiles, adding that they both took it as proof that when two people with the same passion reach for the same gear, there must be something to it.
“It's nice to have people around you who – just like you – appreciate good, functional gear. And it's even better when you agree on it by pure chance,” says Domča, wrapping up this ultralight session.
