The Decathlon Quechua MH500 22L daypack is an ultralight roll-top pack that includes aspect zipper entry, shoulder strap pockets, and an exterior bladder pocket, making it simple to make use of on the path, for journey, and even for work. It’s the backpack I deliver to the talks I give to newbie hikers who need to know what they need to carry for day hikes, as a result of it has the proper capability and simply the correct pockets to remain organized. It even features a rain cowl.
- Sort: Roll-top, together with side-zipper entry
- Pockets: 7 + an exterior bladder pocket
- Hydration Prepared: Sure
- Rain cowl: Included
- Gender: Unisex
- Measurement: One dimension (I’m 5’11 with an 18.5″ torso size and the pack matches me nicely)
- Weight: 2 klbs; 1 lb 14 oz with out raincover
- Supplies: Polyester
The Quechua MH500 is a rolltop backpack with a big foremost compartment that’s simple to stuff with gear. Whereas rolltops are good for saving weight, particularly on bigger in a single day backpacks, they’re much less appropriate for day mountaineering or frequent gear entry as a result of you must mainly dump or unload the complete contents on the bottom to search out something. The MH500 addresses this drawback head-on by offering dimension zipper entry to the primary compartment, so you may attain in and discover what you want with out unloading all the pieces. It’s a superb function that I want bigger capability backpacking packs within the 50-60L vary would undertake extra extensively. It’s really a typical function on monster 70L+ looking roll-tops for simply this purpose.
The pack’s quite a few pockets are the place the MH500 actually shines, a function hardly ever discovered on most roll-top packs.
- There’s a big zippered pocket on the entrance of the pack that’s good for storing maps, your lunch, or journey paperwork.
- An exterior hydration pocket to carry a water bladder, making it handy to insert and refill
- Two aspect bottle pockets sized for tall, skinny bottles, however not 1L Nalgene bottles.
- Two shoulder strap pockets, giant sufficient to carry sun shades in a protecting case or a cellphone.
- A zippered key and valuables pocket behind the shoulder straps.
- A rain cowl pocket on the base of the pack.
The MH500’s again panel is semi-rigid, offering the bag with a secure form that facilitates simple packing and retrieval. It avoids the floppy really feel frequent in ultralight packs however doesn’t tip into overly stiff or heavy territory. The froth-and-mesh again design does a stable job of maintaining the pack from sticking to your shirt on sizzling days.
The harness is a spotlight at this worth. The shoulder straps are contoured and well-cushioned, with additional daisy chain attachment factors, and have a breathable mesh that helps restrict sizzling spots. The sternum strap slides easily and stays in place. There’s a light-weight mesh hip belt, not a load-bearing one such as you’d discover on 30L+ packs, however adequate to stabilize the bag when scrambling. For many day-hike hundreds (8–12 kilos), the carry feels safe and could be very comfy for day-long hikes.
The pack’s construct high quality is great. The material is a midweight polyester with a dense ripstop weave that resists abrasion from rocks and tree bark. Zippers are easy and haven’t misaligned or caught, even when the pack is stuffed. Decathlon’s stitching is clear in stress areas: the shoulder strap joins, high seize deal with, and aspect pocket edges present strengthened bartacks.
The pack comes with a water-resistant pack cowl stowed in a pocket on the base of the pack. If not wanted, you may depart it at house and save 2 oz of substances weight.
Consolation throughout longer days relies on load and torso size. The pack isn’t adjustable in torso peak, so it’s one-size-fits-all. In the event you’re on both finish of the peak spectrum, the shoulder curve may not land completely, and the hip belt will experience extra as a stabilizer than a weight-transfer instrument. That stated, the pack carries greatest when saved beneath roughly 10–12 kilos. Heavier hundreds begin to push the bounds of the padding and the semi-rigid again panel
Who should purchase it:
- Day hikers who carry necessities: water, meals, layers, and necessities.
- Vacationers who desire a gentle, structured bag for metropolis walks and quick excursions.
- Finances-conscious patrons who nonetheless care about match, perform, and sturdiness.
Who ought to skip it:
- Photographers or gear-heavy hikers needing strong hip assist and extra inner safety.
- Scorching-weather hikers who prioritize most airflow and like suspended mesh frames.
- Individuals who desire a laptop computer or pill for day by day commute use.
Recommendatiion
The Decathlon Quechua MH500 22L is a well-designed, reasonably priced daypack that will get the fundamentals proper with comfy carry for modest hundreds, sensible group for mountaineering necessities, and a sturdy construct that handles common use. Worth is the place the MH500 actually shines. Decathlon’s pricing undercuts comparable packs from main manufacturers whereas providing considerate design and high-quality supplies. For brand new hikers or anybody upgrading from a generic backpack, the MH500 feels purpose-built: hydration compatibility, trekking pole attachments, hidden zippered pockets, and a secure carry. Skilled hikers in search of a dependable daypack that doesn’t break the financial institution will discover it a sensible purchase as nicely.
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Disclosure: Decathlon donated a pack for assessment.
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