Selecting and Reviewing My Backpack (Deuter Quantum 55+10)

Getting a good backpack you will be happy with is probably the most important thing you can do before traveling. Last year I did a one year trip in Central America using the Osprey Porter 46 backpack (click to read my review). That pack turned out to be just a bit too small (though I managed with it) and, more importantly, lacked a good harness for carrying comfort. So, I was on the lookout for a new pack for my next trip.

If any of you are searching now, or have searched in the past, for a good travel backpack, you know it is a chore and a process filled with second-guessing and doubts. These challenges are compounded by the fact that a lot of the choices you want to consider just aren’t easily found wherever you happen to live (in my case, the United States). And, even if one you like is available on the Internet, you won’t have the option of trying it on and testing it for comfort before deciding. Furthermore, different descriptions are used by different retailers. For example, are you looking for a hiking vs. a travel backpack, an internal frame backpack, a weekend vs. an extended travel backpack, large vs. small, etc.

I recommend that, before beginning to search for that perfect pack, you have a good idea of what it will look like in terms of features and size. For example, I wanted a travel (extended trip) pack taking into consideration the following features:

• Size
  The golden rule of long-term travel is pack light! Having traveled with a 46L pack for a year, I knew that I needed just a bit more space, but not a lot more. So, I was shooting for 55-65L bag. Of course, these numbers are somewhat squishy in that some designs naturally seem to accommodate more than their volume rating and others are the opposite.
• Front Panel Loading
  A great many high quality backpacks are designed for hiking and have only top loading access. The natural issue with a top loading pack is that you often have to take out most of the contents to get what you really need. In contrast, a front loading pack (usually with zippers that open around 2/3 of the pack) are more practical. These days many packs offer both.
• Lockable Zippers / Security
  After staying in some dodgy hotels and hostels and after several instances of needing to leave a pack unguarded or only semi-guarded, I have come to appreciate that the mere ability to lock a pack, while certainly far from 100% effective, certainly can help to deter theft (or at least give you some small piece of mind). While you can, and should, purchase a lock and cable to secure your pack, that won’t be of much value if you can’t equally secure the contents inside the pack. Typically this is accomplished by have two zippers with loops which can be locked together. Another security option I have seen with a few backpack models is one or more internal security pockets.
• Internal Frame
  My Osprey Porter 46 had no frame but the back and sides were designed smartly to make it not much of an issue. Still, the pack was uncomfortable to carry for long periods of time so an internal frame was in order for my next purchase. I gather that external frames, which are heavier, are for very serious outdoor hiking and climbing and therefore I did not consider that as an option.
• Adjustable Harness or Suspension System
  The harness or suspension system is the apparatus which allows you to carry your bag on your back. Given the variety of potential customers’ sizes, it is impractical for manufacturers to make customized packs that are affordable. Some try offering a few sizes (e.g., small, medium, large), but a much better suspension design will allow for a more precise range of sizes. Generally speaking, what you need to know is your torso size, and to a lesser extent, your hip size. Two good sources for understanding how best to “fit” a pack, both from US retailer REI, are Backpacks: Finding Your Torso and Hip Size and Backpacks: Adjusting the Fit. Each includes a useful short video.
• Padded Hip Belt and Should Straps
  Along with being adjustable, a good suspension should include a padded hip belt and padded shoulder straps. My Osprey had both a hip belt and should straps, and one could argue that the shoulder straps were at least modestly padded, but no one could argue that the hip belt was. Since you should be carrying most of your pack’s weight on your hips, this is an important issue. The tradeoff, in the case of the Osprey, allowed for the ability to hide or stow away the harness.
• Other Harness/Suspension Considerations
  A sternum strap helps bring the weight of the pack forward by connecting the two shoulder straps over your chest, which in turn saves you from excessive shoulder pain. Load-lifter straps and belt stabilizers help balance the load of your pack.
• Back Design
  Some packs offer contoured, padded or air frame backs. Generally the goal is better comfort and less sweat. I’m not sure how well these concepts really work, so I focused mostly on a good suspension system.
• Compression Straps
  I don’t consider these terribly necessary since traveling long-term generally implies a fairly full pack, but for other travel purposes they have their value.
• Attachable Daypack
  This is a contentious issue in some online discussions of backpacks. Some consider it a waste of time, space, money, etc. Some think it is absolutely essential. I am in the middle, but generally was thinking a detachable day pack would be preferable. Of course, the size must be suitable. Too small and it is useless and too large you’d be better off simply buying a larger pack.
• Easy Access and/or Removable Compartment
  A compartment separate from the main one is useful for storing a toiletries pack and small nick-knacks that I want to access quickly without getting into the main pack. I haven’t used a removable compartment before, but I have seen some packs offer it and it seems an interesting concept.
• Rain/Transport cover
  Travel on buses where you have to either store your pack below in dirty compartments or above, subject to the elements and you will quickly realize the need for a rain/protective cover. Ideally the pack should include this but if not, one can be purchased separately. Some covers merely protect the outer shell from rain while others are capable of completely enclosing the pack so it can be more easily checked as luggage.
• External Sleeping Bag Straps
  I am not traveling with a sleeping bag, but when I get further south in my travels (e.g., Patagonia) that will likely change so having straps to attach a sleeping bag is a useful feature.
• Extra Pockets
  Having some side pockets to hold a water bottle, flip flops, etc. is really useful. Luckily most packs include these, though some include only two and some are too small to fit a larger water bottle. Many also include small pockets in the hip belt, which can also be quite useful.
• Women’s Version Available
  For you ladies, keep in mind that most good manufacturers have woman’s models available which are in theory designed to better fit the female body.

Packs I Researched and/or Considered

Below I will list backpacks I researched and/or wanted to consider during my selection process. As mentioned earlier, some simply are not available for purchase where I live, but I will list these anyway for those of you with access to retailers selling them. You may also find the Gap Year Escape’s Top 10 Gap Year Travel Backpacks useful for creating your own list of packs to consider.

Packs Unavailable Where I Live

All of the following packs seemed promising in some way when I was conducting my research. Unfortunately, none were readily available for purchase in the U.S.

• Berghaus Jalan 60
  I have read many good reviews of this specific pack.
• Quechua
  I have seen many Europeans (mostly French) traveling with some nice looking Quechua packs.
• Macpack
• Karrimor
• Black Wolf Cedar Breaks packs
  I saw an Australian couple wearing these packs and they looked really nice
• Lowe Alpine Travel Trekker Pro

Packs Available to Me

• Since my Osprey was so well constructed, I also seriously considered the Osprey Waypoint 65, which addressed my concerns with the Porter 46 and which I had seen in use by a few other travelers. The common complaint I had heard from those with an older model was the odd shape and size of the detachable daypack and the quality of the suspension system, both of which appear to have been addressed in the latest model. Osprey doesn’t include a rain cover, but one is available for purchase.
• Eagle Creek’s Voyage 65L Travel Pack and Travel Gear Thrive 65L Bag
• Gregory Z65 Backpack
• North Face Backtrack 50 Travel Pack
• Caribee Dakar 65/75
• REI’s Ridgeline 65
• Kelty Coyote 4750 Pack (though a bit bigger than I was looking for).

My Choice: Deuter

I had met a few Europeans (mostly Germans) traveling with Deuter bags and they all were happy with them, so that was high on my list when I began investigating options. Even though some of the others I investigate above seemed quite good and were available, many weren’t available locally for me to investigate in person. In the end, I was pretty much evenly impressed and open to both the Osprey and Deuter. To try a different brand, I went with the Deuter Quantum 55+10. So, here is my review of the bag after 5+ months of use.

Features

• Vari-Quick adjustable shoulder harness
• Load-bearing aluminum frame and anatomically formed hip belt to make carrying heavy loads comfortable
• Integrated, Detachable Transport/Rain Cover, which Converts to Transport Duffel for Protection During Travel and includes a name tag holder
• Sleek, quickly buckled on or off daypack can be expanded with EXP zippered bellows for longer day trips
• Side water bottle pockets
• Hip belt pocket
• Top/Lid, bottom, and large front panel access
• Divided main compartment with zip liner
• Contoured, padded shoulder straps with 3D AirMesh
• Made of ripstop-polytex / duratex
• Three grab handles
• Gear attachment rings and a daisy chain attachment system
• A lined internal pocket for hydration compatibility

Specifications

Pictures

Deuter-Quantum-transport-cover-front

Deuter-Quantum-transport-cover-back

Deuter-Quantum-front-open

Deuter-Quantum-daypack-expanded

Deuter-Quantum-daypack

Deuter-Quantum-back

Deuter-Quantum

My Thoughts on The Pack

Overall I have been happy with my choice, though I don’t think it is the perfect backpack and I occasionally wonder if the Osprey would have been a better choice. Below I list specific thoughts on the pack.

• It is much more comfortable to wear than my old Osprey and seems to have good balance, though not quite as good when the daypack is attached.
• I wasn’t sure if I really wanted a pack that is both top and front loading and now I am sure I prefer one with only front loading. In the case of this pack, I would sacrifice the “+10” to do away with the top loader, mainly to increase lockability and usability. Having said that, I have occasionally taken advantage of the extra storage provided by the top loading feature.
• Overall the quality of materials is good, but unlike the even nicer materials used by my Osprey, the Deuter is prone to becoming dirty and/or stained much more easily. Also, the zippers don’t work nearly as well as the Osprey, though they are high quality and do work with a bit more effort. Undoubtedly they would work much better with the pack less full but the Osprey’s zippers worked great regardless of how stuffed it was.
• I have actually put the detachable daypack to quite a bit of use. I also travel with a slightly larger day pack that I keep with me on the bus, use for overnight or 2-3 day trips, etc., but for going around town the included daypack is great. I also love the fact that it is expandable. I usually don’t need to expand it, but occasionally I do and it is a nice feature. It is also really easy to attach and detach from the main pack. I have seen others that zip on and I imagine that is a very secure system, but with five buckles, I feel the Deuter is quite secure and probably easier than trying to line up zippers.
• I wish the pack was a bit wider. It was designed to be slim on purpose to avoid getting caught when moving in tight spaces, but there is room to accomplish that goal and still make it a tiny bit wider. I also wish the pack were just a bit deeper.
• The transport cover is nice but a bit loose fitting; it can be tightened up, but only to a point, which still leaves it a bit loose. This is no doubt due to the fact that it is a full transport cover rather than just a rain cover, which is actually a great feature.
• The pack could use bigger (longer or deeper) pockets and, since it is a fairly tall pack, why not add one more pocket on each side?
• Both the zippered access panels are lockable and the divider between the two compartments can also be locked. In fact, I leave the divider and the bottom compartment locked which provides a nice little secure area. Locking the main compartment is of little value since you can’t lock the top loading access area.
• The grab handle on the back above the shoulder straps is great for lifting the pack and preparing to put it on.

Conclusion

If I had to do it again, would I select the Deuter? Possibly not. But, that doesn’t mean I am at all confident which pack really would be my ideal choice. I think I would try the Osprey but even then I might wonder if another pack was even better.

Another Review

When I was doing my research it was actually hard to find much information on the Deuter Quantum. I saw this review and found it helpful, so I include it here as well.

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