FEATURES
U Flow
"I have cervical, a slipped vertebrae and suffer way less problems with my neck using your packs due to the Flow systems. I really dread having to resort to another kind that locks my shoulders stiff since these often has caused my traps to go into spasm. Can I also just say how massively I appreciate your invention and very grateful to for making it possible for me to hike and carry again with my neck the way it is. I would never have been able to experience the incredible mountains of the French Alps and Norway without your pack, and it was a really unforgettable and sublime experience."
Alison Moore, Sydney, NSW, Australia
The U Flow systems work! The pack hugs the back closely and moves with the body without the feelings of restriction and discomfort.Stability is much better than with an ordinary pack on.I was skiing down from Cairngorm in a high wind; conditions were icy and darkness was falling – the pack was like a limpet, not swaying or moving at all, yet I had complete freedom of arm and shoulder movement.
Chris Townsend, Equipment Editor TGO Magazine and Author “The Advanced Backpacker”
Shoulder Harness, backpanel and hipbelt
“The wide shoulder straps are comfortable, pliable, and not bulky. Some of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn.”
Ryan Jordan. Review, backpackinglight.com.
"The shoulder straps were gently contouring and I experienced no neck pain, which has been a constant feature of my pack carrying life."
Paddy Pawson, Waipuna Community Trust, Christchurch
"This shoulder harness is the most comfortable I have ever used. As I have a shoulder injury, this makes things much better for me. Thanks for the great design!!"
Gerard Hughes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
"The new On-A backlength adjustment system for the shoulder straps is a real improvement, allowing for compensation in the field for variations in clothing and a truly custom fit."
John Watkins, UK
The mesh back on the harness system is extremely comfortable, and fantastic for keeping the back dry. What a contrast to when I swapped with Jane and wore the Hyperlite up to Satan Saddle -'ugh, soaked back.
The hip belt. Aaah, the hip belt! After 40 years of tramping, I can easily say this is by far The Most Comfortable hip belt I have worn. Awesome design Aarn What an incredible pack you have made for this low weight.
Gaylene Wilkinson, Golden Bay, NZ
The suspension and belt are indeed magnificent. The Pelvic Form belt is incredibly good.One thing I noticed was that not only did the wide Quadro buckle promote diaphragmatic breathing, but the mesh backpanel did as well. Packs that rest right up against the back, I think, impeded rib movement. During diaphragmatic breathing, the ribcage expands, particularly so in the back. With a fully loaded pack pressed against ones back, I think the pressure promotes a spinal extension style of breathing, which we call chest breathing. In conventional packs, the pressure of the buckle on the navel, combined with the pressure of the pack on the back of the ribcage, almost obligates the wearer to chest breathe which is not good.
Joshua Speckman USA
Water resistant Dri-liners
“After two months of meandering around the great mountains and valleys of the West Coast, I really appreciated how dry the Balance Pack interior remained in the wet conditions.”
Paul Kilgour, Takaka, South Island, New Zealand
"Just came out from the Heaphy Track yesterday: in 1 word - AWESOME ! The pack performed way above expectation - the trip was very wet and everything stay dried not a drop of water in the pack. The fit was incredible no sore shoulders or neck which is a first for me on our breaks I would actually just leave the pack on. Balance pockets are great, versatile and handy."
Thejs Pedersen, Timaru, South Island, NZ
Temperature management
"Outstanding and a real strength of the design. I poured gallons of sweat into the pack and it wicked it away magnificently without any of the usual smells my packs emit after time. The 3D Air-mesh is sensational and the design breathes better than anything else. This also positively affected the breathability of my rainwear - i.e. no wet patch at the back. Surprisingly, the Balance Pockets were not hot and allowed breathing and ventilation very well."
Review after carrying up to 50 KG loads in the pack and hauling up to 25kg in a sled, Vinson Massif Expedition, Antartica
John Zeckendorf, Hobart, Tasmania
Balance Pockets
"I noticed a profound difference straight away wearing this pack. In use the Balance Pockets enable you to walk in a more upright position, and with considerably more balance than with a normal pack. Additionally, the load is distributed over the body, so your shoulders don’t get as sore. It all adds up to a less fatigued body, and one that can traverse awkward terrain more confidently."
Mark Watson, Editor, NZ Climber magazine Test Review
"Before using an Aarn pack I wouldn't have thought to complain about poor balance while using a day pack or a lumbar pack on a climb. Once we got on the long boulder fields of St. Helens though, I noticed a major improvement. I was able to move as though I wasn't wearing a pack at all, confidently walking across the tops of boulders whereas before I would have chosen a more conservative route."
Brice Keown,WA, USA
"We walked 75km in the Croajingalong N.P mainly beach walking in a drought. We had 3 dry camps in a row- no good drinking water as all the drinking water springs were bone dry. I was carrying around 20 kg, 4kg of which was water that was just a dead weight, especially when walking on sand. Out of the 6 of us there was no doubt that I was the most comfortable throughout the walk as I had my water in the Balance Pockets and didn't have the weight on my shoulders. One female walker had just purchased a new M***** and had large blisters on her shoulders, (not a good sight)."
Brian Ogilwy, Melbourne, Australia
"I was initially reluctant to wear the Balance Pockets because of the way they looked. The new Compact Pockets have style and they match my Peak Aspiration pack, so I tried them and found:
1. I was able to carry more weight than I usually would, but it felt like I was carrying my usual weight. There was no soreness in the shoulders.
2. When the Balance Pockets were fastened in the recommended X configuration, they sat comfortably and were stable even when clambering over rough terrain.
3. The Pockets were very convenient. Because I carried the items I was likely to use in the Balance Pockets, it meant I didn't need to remove my pack to access those items."
Alison Hamilton, Wellington, NZ
"I honestly couldn't have made this documentary without the Aarn Photo Balance Pockets. I was carrying a 5d Mkiii with a 24-105 lens, a 14mm prime, and tripod and they were all within hands reach at any time. The weight distribution was amazing as well. It's a little unwieldy to get on and off. Otherwise, brilliant."
Andrew Suzuki, Film producer, talking about his latest film, “Beyond The Way”
I usedSports Balance Pockets converted to a daypack for coastal rock scrambling and full day tracks.
I really enjoyed the minimal straps (typically most day packs have unreasonably wide straps) and the ease of customising the fit. The pockets formed snuggly to my torso with a good load on. With a few minor quick adjustments, it was comfortable the entire day. The pocket placement on the back (up high behind the shoulders) allows for great breathability.
The capacity and function of the pockets was quite surprising. I packed entire days supply of gear, foul weather clothing and all the essentials, the stability was outstanding. Accessibility to all the common use items (sun screen, H20, food and hat) was spot on.
When scrambling on rocks the pack stayed in balance and hugged my back without stress. I never felt unsteady or unsure with the load. And the internal dry bag feature was great for keeping some essential items perfectly dry.
Jason Czerwonka, Alaska wilderness guide.
Universal Balance Bags
Testing Balance Bags with a Macpac Vamouse child carrier on a three day tramp in the German Alps - steep country!
The weather was not the best, the first day low cloud, the second and third steady light to moderate rain. The Balance Bags were loaded up with copious amounts of apples (to feed hungry toddler) muesli bars and 2 ½ L of liquids. The weight was quite impressive and I was amazed when first loading up the bag as to how little difference it made to my perceived load- I barely noticed it. I had been skeptical about how the bag would load but found it incredibly simple yet secure. I know I would have been really struggling plugging straight up a steep mountain with the 10 KG in the Balance Bags and on my back. Not only was the extra weight barely noticeable (apart from the effects of gravity), but it did truly allow for a better posture: it’s as though you could stand up straight and more independently of the loads which were cantilevered out from the pelvis in front and behind you. I was surprised that there was no sense of being pulled forward by the weight on the front and that I could barely feel increased pressure in the hip belt, despite the weight transfer.
Specific points:
- The carry handle worked well.
- The ventilation pocket between the mesh and the frame was perfect and so handy for my map.
- The Dri-liner worked perfectly in rigorous rain.
- Both mesh pockets were incredibly useful: the large open one for drink bottles, and the small top one for muesli bars and compass.
- When loading and unloading a child, it is a great advantage that you can put the carrier on first, progressively load the Balance Bags, and then so easily clip them on. Conversely the Balance Bags unclip so quickly before you take off the carrier. So Balance Bags are not a poor cousin to Balance Pockets and the instant attachment is a good feature.
- In summary I am very impressed by this bag: capacity, ease of loading and the revolution of accessibility which would be hard to give up.
Ben Evans, Osteopath, Whangarei, NZ
Until you have actually experienced it, it is impossible to fully understand just how much the addition of Universal Balance Bags to your child carrier will increase your capabilities when hiking with your child on your back. You will be hard pressed to find any other piece of equipment that can give you equal value, literally every step of the way.
The Balance Bags fit on any brand of backpack. They give significantly more space for gear in the child carrier as well as in the other parent’s backpack, plus the ability to carry your gear much more efficiently and to walk longer without getting tired. If you have a child carrier and you want to do hiking trips with your child that go a little further than just a walk in the local city park, please give these Balance Bags a try. Once you’ve tried them, I doubt you would want to stop using them! The idea of not using the Balance Bags anymore feels like the suggestion to stop using using wheels and going back to dragging things across the floor.
Matthias Thies, Christchurch, NZ
I recently tried out the UBBs. I certainly felt more upright and felt my body walked more easily because of the front loading. I never felt any problem with seeing where I was going; the space between the bags is enough to completely eliminate that argument. They are certainly a good option for someone like me who doesn’t want to commit to the whole Balance Pack system, but who wants to try the advantage of a more balanced load. Thank you. Great design!
Malcolm McEwen, NZ
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY...
“My name is Patrick Jackson and I own and operate Changing Gear in Whitehorse Yukon. I recently completed another trip over the Chilkoot Pass and met some Australian hikers who were using your packs. They were kind enough to offer to try them and after 5 days using my pack and then slipping your pack on, it was like heavy boots to silk slippers. I was very impressed and they spoke very highly of the counterbalance system.”
Patrick Jackson, Yukon, Alaska
“Love the products you make! They make hiking manageable for an often-times overloaded professional commercial and landscape photographer.”
John Doogan, Christchurch
“For over 25 years I have been conducting international research on load carriage in military and leisure settings. This has involved a wide range of laboratory and field studies of many types of load carriage systems. Our research identified the principles of load carriage. As far as I am aware Aarn Bodypacks are the first to really put the principles into practice.”
Professor Stephen Legg, Centre for Ergonomics, Occupational Safety and Health, Massey University,
“Aarn Balance Packs are innovative and revolutionary and once you’ve experienced one all other packs will fade into insignificance. During my 45 years of tramping, climbing and hunting I have used many packs including the latest ergonomic designs. My experience with Aarn Balance Packs has changed all my previous perceptions of comfort.If I thought the others were comfortable, the Aarn Balance Pack by comparison is pure luxury.I have never used a more comfortable pack—it fits your body like a glove. The Balance Pockets reduce a considerable amount of strain and are extremely useful for accessing items while on the move. I would thoroughly recommend an Aarn Balance Pack to anyone who wants to experience the pinnacle of tramping or climbing comfort. “
Ray Goldring,NZ Mountain Safety Organization
“The Porche of packs”
Patrick Rottiers,CEO, PRO consulting International, Christchurch, NZ
“It is hard not to be evangelical about a product that works so well. It’s hard not to gloat when you pass someone bent over with a big pack.”
Phil Robinson, New South Wales, Australia
Last year I used a FF for my 2014 thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. The hike went great. I hike with a dog and thus throughout the desert phase of the PCT, it was not uncommon for me to pack 10+ litres of water for long distances. The pack performed perfectly, allowing me to hike with quite heavy loads with ease. I completed my thru-hike of the PCT on October, 20th 2014. Earlier in 2014, I thru-hiked the Florida National Scenic Trail using your Natural Balance Pack. It was the same pack I used for my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013. I take my journeys and the gear I use very seriously. Obviously, I love your packs as I have been using them injury free for over 7000 miles now. You have designed an amazing load carrying system and it has served my needs extremely well. There is much I could write on this subject, but for now I just want to say thank you.
I will be hiking the Continental Divide Trail this year, hoping to earn my Triple Crown.
Brett Hessenius, Austin, Texas, USA
“I think the pack is tremendous! It’s the first pack I’ve had that really does what it is supposed to. I had back surgery six years ago. Part of a disc in my back was removed. I don’t have any back pain with my Aarn pack as I always had with other packs. Backpacking is the love of my life. I have had one of the best known, highly rated and most expensive internal frame packs on the market. This one surpasses that in terms of comfort. There was no discomfort in either the shoulders or the hips.”
Dr. Jan Lemon, Neuropsychologist, Boulder, CO, USA.
“Bodypacks virtually eliminate postural stress on the torso and shoulder girdle. My kinesiological tests on a patient who had back surgery showed no stress induced by using the pack”
Jay Wilson, D.C., USA, Chiropractor and Backpacker
“Last weekend we went up the Croesus Track with my old pack. Within about an hour, I was starting to get my usual pain across the right shoulder blade that I’ve become accustomed to whenever I use traditional backpacks and which I don’t get when I use an Aarn Balance Pack. I began tramping 26 years ago and have gone through 4 backpacks over that period. Your Balance Packs I have found the most comfortable and I can’t understand why anyone who is planning to purchase a pack would buy any other brand.”
Chris Leaver, Vice-President, Peninsula Tramping Club, Christchurch, NZ
“I heard about Aarn packs from a friend who walked the Camino in 2008. I now own 4 Aarn packs. I am a hiker and hike all over the world. I am the coordinator of a hiking group with over 300 members and am a great advocate for Aarn packs. A lot of our members now own Aarn packs and are extremely happy with the performance. Bloody fantastic, would not go to other designs.”
Anne Griffin, Kangaroo Flat, Australia
Recently my husband, Joe and I completed 462 kms. on the northern section of the Bibbulmun Track in W.A. I was carrying my Featherlite Freedom pack and Joe was carrying his Natural Balance pack. I carried about 14 kgs and Joe carried up to 18 kgs.
We are both very experienced walkers but our age is beginning to limit us. (We are 73 and 75) We found walking with our Aarn packs allowed us to walk an average 20 kms a day without sore shoulders, sore backs. We had plenty of energy left over at day's end to set up camp, cook our evening meal and after a good night 's rest be ready for the pleasures of walking the next section.
Other walkers we met were very interested in the design of our packs and I feel that we are proof that you have got your design principles right.
Thank you for your Balance Packs which have enabled us to realise our ambition of becoming "end-to enders" - we have now walked all the way from Perth to Albany A distance of 960 kms over the last 3 years.
Beth and Joe Gilks,WA, Australia.
Thank You, thank you, thank you so much. I just summited Mt. Kilimanjaro on Sept 3rd thanks to your gear.The other trekkers laughed at my Aarn Balance Pack, mainly my Balance Pockets until they saw I could hike with more weight and longer. They stopped laughing when I didn't have sore shoulders or back and they did. I carried my pack everyday. Only one other person, a woman, who carried her pack the whole time. With the Pacer Poles you guys advised me to buy, my arms didn't hurt, neither did my hands like the other trekkers did. The guides told me I looked strange and I told them whatever it takes. Only 1/2 of our group got to the top, I was the third one to summit of the 7 who made it. A huge thank you!!!
Jude Brown,Melbourne, Australia
I’m on the Te Araroa trail. I love my balance pockets and after 830km - still no sore shoulders/neck etc. Often I don’t bother to take my Bodypack off when having a break because everything is easier to access when it’s on. Great having camera, food, water etc so close to hand.
I have regular massages at home & always my massage therapist finds aches & pains in my neck & shoulders - whether I have been tramping or not. I had a massage en route having walked 500kms - plenty of aches & pains in my legs & feet but NOTHING in my neck & shoulders - awesome. I think its often easy not to notice what is not happening (i.e. no discomfort) - but reading of & talking to other trampers & their rubs & aches I know its BLOODY AWESOME that I have none associated with my pack.
Wendy Hare,NZ
I always quite enjoyed going tramping but my pack always felt like such a weight on my back and shoulders that I wasn't that keen on multi-day tramping. I had tried various brands of packs but they all felt the same to me.
We both agree that after 8 years of intensive use, we are thrilled with our Aarn packs. The packs make carrying weight comfortable and weight of the pack centers through your body - you can almost forget you have a pack on your back compared with other packs we have had in the past.
The convenience of the balance pockets in front to access gear/food while walking and the inner waterproof pack liner are brilliant features too.
This pack has revolutionised my tramping. I have tramped further and higher than I ever thought possible and much of that has to do with the Aarn packs I am using."
Helena & Stuart Gane, Auckland, NZ
I thought that the shoulder–pain associated with carrying a heavy pack was an inevitable by-product of trampling- a necessary evil in order to enjoy the outdoors. Even with good packs my shoulders would hurt. Putting more weight on the hips did not help because I still had to hold the pack forward. I have no shoulder pain on my multi-day tramps with an Aarn Pack, despite carrying my normal weights of 18-20 kg. Great design and great attention to detail!
Stefan Meyer, Nelson, NZ
The ability to eliminate forward lean felt like a significant energy saver over the course of a day. As an ice speed skater for over 40 years, I am used to an acute forward lean position while maintaining an arch in the lower back - the speed skating position enabling power and energy efficiency when skating. I was thus not expecting the saving to be significant in my case; the reduced fatigue must have been attributable to the upright stance that can be achieved.
The other significant saving was the elimination of soreness in the shoulders caused by the rearwards pull of our previous packs. I used to relieve this pressure by holding the straps forwards with my hands for periods, but this cannot be done when using walking poles. The Balance Pockets eliminated this strain and soreness so the Aarn packs worked better with walking poles.
On steep descents with a maze of slippery, muddy tree roots and rocks the balance pockets did not obscure my vision for any foot placements and they noticeably reduced the potential for twisting torsional stresses from the load I was carrying as the centre of gravity was near the vertical axis of my body structure. I usually use a “counterbalanced” or “angulated” body position (skiing terminology) for descending difficult steep slopes when walking just as I turn on skis. A well-balanced moving body position is crucial and I felt more confident in my Aarn Balance Pack than I had with previous heavily loaded packs.
Mike Day, Christchurch, NZ
I doubt I will ever purchase another pack, unless you come up with a better one! Your innovation and attention to detail has redefined what a pack can be.
Sally Stockdale, Queenstown , NZ
I love what you do and have heard that you are always tweaking, trying new things, trying to attain perfection, never resting on your laurels, which I think is fantastic. I wish more folk were like that.
Rick Whelan,Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
I’m taking my old Featherlite Freedom for one final outing. I have just purchased a new Aarn Bodypack as a 78th birthday present to myself, and I’m sure that with any other pack I’d be sitting watching TV by now. As it is, I’m confident enough about my future to invest in a new pack to replace my very weary old one – probably pass it on to a grandchild.
Richard Rayner,Wanganui, NZ