Meet the reviewer
Kathmandu Valorous Pack 38L: first impressions
When you're splurging on a hiking backpack, ideally you want one that can be used for many different adventures and different durations of trips, otherwise you simply end up with far too many backpacks. In this backpack, New Zealand brand Kathmandu has prioritized the increasing desire for a versatile approach to hauling gear.
Made from tough, recycled ripstop nylon, this pack is well-built for adventure. An easy-access main compartment with U-shaped opening holds everything you need for an epic day hike or a light backpacking trip. Roomy, stretchy side pockets hold water bottles of all sizes, but you can use them for rolled up towels and your camping stove since the pack is also hydration bladder compatible.
There's another stretchy pocket on the front for gear, though it's not quite big enough for a helmet. Add to all that the main lid, which has two zipped pockets to keep smaller gear like your headlamp and wallet both safe and close to hand, and zipped pockets on the hip belt that are large enough for your phone, plus another one on the shoulder strap.
• List price: $179 / £145
• Gender specification: Unisex
• Sizes: One size
• Weight (S/M): 2.7 lb / 1.24 kg
• Volume: Available in 20, 28, 38, 48, 55 and 58 liter
• Materials: Recycled nylon with PFC-free DWR
• Colors: Red earth, Bell bird, Steel blue
• Best use: Hiking, backpacking
One of the most compelling features of this pack is that the top lid is removable if you don't need it, and can be used as a fanny pack or cross-chest bag which makes this pack great for active travel on planes and trains.
It only has one gear loop so it's not the most technical pack if you're carrying ice axes. It also only comes in one size, but the sternum strap is easy to slide up and down and the straps are all widely adjustable, meaning this seems to work well on a variety of bodies.
Whether it's loaded up or half empty, compression straps cinch all your gear in place for a stable ride when you're scrambling, and the padded, ventilated back panel sits slightly off your back for comfort on sweaty hikes. There's no integrated rain cover included, but it's treated with DWR as most packs are and it comes at a friendly price for such useful pack.
Kathmandu Valorous Pack 38L: in the field
I'm just getting to know the New Zealand brand Kathmandu, having tested out their Heli R Hooded Down jacket last winter and recently I was invited on a press trip with them where I got to test some more of their gear in the Lake District. I loaded this backpack up for a forest bathing session and hike and since then I've taken it away for a five-day family holiday in the country and brought it on another hiking and rucking trip in the Lake District.
Here’s how it performed:
Sizing, fit and comfort
This pack only comes in one size, and I am a 5'4" reasonably slender human which means that some packs are a little large on me. This one, however, is very adjustable so I can fit it perfectly and slide the sternum strap up to get it out of the way.
I know that a one-size-fits-all pack can't possibly fit all bodies, but the good thing about testing this out on a press trip is that I got to see it used on about a dozen other bodies, all different from mine, and in general the feedback was good.
It's been comfortable to carry, with the design holding the load close to my body for balance, but the back panel designed for a little gap to allow for airflow, which I'm sure I'll appreciate with warmer weather on the horizon.
Storage and fastenings
Storage abounds in this backpack, and yet it's not too big to be used as a daypack. In fact, when I used it as a daypack on its first outing, I was thrilled to see that the compression straps helped to reduce the volume so my stuff wasn't bouncing around, and the top lid removes completely if it's getting in the way.
The removable top lid is my favorite feature on this pack and I don't know why more brands don't do this. As I've complained ad nauseum, some packs like the Montane Azote 32 just don't work if they're not stuffed tot he gills, and the top lid ends up hanging down, swinging around and pulling you off balance. With the Valorous, you can just remove the whole thing if you want. It's a little tricky to figure out how to remove it the first time, but fortunately I was with someone from Kathmandu who showed me how to slide the plastic clips out.
For my family holiday, I managed to pack the main compartment with hiking boots, my laptop and clothes and toiletries for five days, using the side pockets for my yoga mat water bottle. I removed the top lid and wore it as a cross-chest bag on the train with my wallet, phone and book inside. It's not perfect, and you do need to be careful to keep valuables in the mesh pocket since stuff can tumble out when you unzip, but it's still a great idea and I'm sure they'll perfect it in time.
I usually take my Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor for backpacking trips where I'm carrying all my camping gear, which is a little bigger than this one, but this pack would work for a backpacking trip where you're traveling light.
Unlike some newer packs I've tested, the fastenings are all straightforward buckles and zips, so there was no learning curve with this pack.
Durability and other features
The recycled ripstop is really tough and this bag is definitely built to withstand some adventures. The zips are equipped with loops which I learned when I went on the website are to help secure your belongings, presumably with a padlock, but they also make the pockets easy to open without straining the zips.
Besides the removable lid, the features are standard. Only one gear loop, so it's not the best choice for technical mountaineering, but it is hydration bladder compatible. It doesn't have a built-in hiking whistle or integrated rain cover, but is treated with DWR.
Kathmandu Valorous Pack 38L: the bottom line
This backpack is robust, thoughtfully designed and versatile enough to be used for day hikes, city breaks and lightweight backpacking adventures. It's not the most technical bag, but it comes at a good price and we think it's a good buy. If it's a technical pack you seek, check out the Berghaus MTN Guide 45+ for all the gear loops your mountaineering heart desires.
