LiteAF Featherweight Fanny Pack Overview

Backside Line

Properly, the identify of this fanny pack speaks for itself. The LiteAF Featherweight is a minimalist fanny pack and is without doubt one of the lightest choices available on the market. Light-weight fanny packs can generally be a bugger. So we examined this little beast, and it earned a spot on our information to the most effective fanny packs for offering environment friendly storage with out weighing you down. Its compact dimension retains necessities accessible and out of the way in which, making it good for fast hikes or path runs.

The entrance stretch pouch is a standout characteristic, permitting for fast entry to gadgets like your cellphone. Regardless of its skinny materials, which barely reduces sturdiness, the pack stays extremely light-weight and practical.

This pack shines for many who prioritize simplicity and comfort. LiteAF presents various straps that seamlessly combine into bigger ultralight packs with out hipbelts. Although its lack of sturdy sturdiness means it’s worthwhile to deal with it fastidiously, its well-thought-out design and practicality make it a terrific addition to any ultralight backpacking equipment.

How We Examined

The Featherweight was used on a number of day-long hikes across the Boise foothills in climate starting from sunny to mild rain and snow. It was additionally connected to a bigger backpack on lengthy backcountry ski excursions. Focused abrasion testing on the material was carried out with 160-grit sandpaper. Weatherproofing was evaluated after a rain simulation and temporary submersion.

Consolation

The Featherweight’s standout characteristic is the spectacular adjustability of its customary strap, which ranges from 15” to 55”. This offers a flexible match, accommodating all kinds of physique sizes. The strap is straightforward to regulate and suits snugly towards the physique with out using up throughout hikes, making certain a safe match regardless of what number of miles you cowl. The 1” strap is sensible for a 1.5L pack, with flared webbing anchors providing some assist for lighter hundreds.

Although the pack excels in adjustability and accessibility, consolation isn’t its strongest go well with. Its minimalist design eliminates padding to avoid wasting weight, which may trigger the skinny strap to dig into your waist when carrying heavier hundreds on longer hikes. Whereas it’s not probably the most comfort-forward possibility for prolonged treks, it’s ideally suited for these on the lookout for a sensible option to maintain necessities and snacks simply accessible on the path with out added bulk.

Sturdiness

Along with the EPLX model we examined, LiteAF additionally presents the Featherweight in Dyneema and Ultra200 materials, each recognized for his or her light-weight and sturdy properties. EPLX stands out for its waterproof capabilities and resistance to UV degradation, making it a strong alternative for extended out of doors use.

The development of the pack is clear and well-finished, with no free threads or unfinished seams. LiteAF stands behind their merchandise, and presents a one-year guarantee in addition to in-house repairs.

Whereas the Featherweight excels in ultralight design, it’s not probably the most sturdy pack on our checklist. Throughout our abrasion take a look at, it was the one pack that confirmed damaged threads and suffered a pinhole. The material additionally retained some staining regardless of scrubbing with cleaning soap and water.

For these prioritizing weight over rugged sturdiness, the Featherweight offers a terrific resolution, however for extra sturdiness in harsh circumstances, think about the Ultra200 model.

Options

The Featherweight impresses with its totally taped seams and waterproof zipper, providing wonderful weatherproofing. It saved contents dry throughout each a simulated rain take a look at and temporary submersion, sustaining its integrity even after sustaining a pinhole.

One other standout characteristic is the non-obligatory removable straps, permitting you to connect the pack to a bigger backpack whereas sustaining an adjustable match. This makes the Featherweight a terrific accent for packs that lack a conventional hipbelt, offering a handy storage resolution with out the added bulk.

Nonetheless, it’s essential to notice that the Featherweight isn’t universally suitable with all backpacks. When you plan to combine it into your setup, you’ll want to verify compatibility together with your particular pack or plan on utilizing the usual waist belt.

The Sliqclips, whereas practical, could be tough to open and shut, particularly in chilly climate. Moreover, each strap choices lack keepers to safe extra slack, which is usually a minor inconvenience throughout lengthy hikes.

Group

Designed to be an ultralight pack that cuts again on frills to avoid wasting weight, the Featherweight presents simply sufficient group to maintain necessities accessible. It encompasses a principal compartment with twin zipper pulls, a stretch entrance pocket, and a slim inside divider to separate your ID, financial institution playing cards, cellphone, and snacks. These sensible pockets be sure that your most essential gadgets keep safe and straightforward to succeed in whereas climbing.

Given the pack’s minimalist design and compact dimension, the group choices are practical with out extra. Nonetheless, the inner pocket is open on the prime and lacks stretch, so cumbersome or heavy gadgets can shift into the primary compartment. The shortage of construction additionally makes it more durable to open the pack with one hand and requires two fingers to shut it securely.

Regardless of these small drawbacks, the Featherweight is well-suited for ultralight hikers who prioritize simplicity and weight financial savings on lengthy trails.

Ought to You Purchase the LiteAF Featherweight?

Backpackers looking for further storage for packs missing a waist belt ought to think about the Featherweight. With its unbelievable weight-to-capacity ratio, it’s onerous to discover a lighter fanny pack. The attachment fashion is a bit area of interest and differs from different pack-compatible bum luggage, so that you’ll want to substantiate it can work together with your equipment earlier than making a purchase order. Taped seams and waterproof supplies make the Featherweight an excellent stick with it wet hikes or trekking into unknown circumstances. 

If you understand you’re powerful on gear, think about one among LiteAF’s Dyneema or Ultraweave fashions relatively than the EPLX, as we discovered this to be much less sturdy than different materials on our checklist. Designed with path use in thoughts, the minimalist group and outdoorsy look is probably not the most effective or most inexpensive alternative for consumers in search of an on a regular basis carry or a extra informal fanny pack.

What Different Fanny Packs Ought to You Think about?

Possibly you need one thing a bit extra sturdy? Try another light-weight choices beneath from our fanny pack gear information:

ThruPacks Summit Bum Overview: Backpackers in search of further storage that simply integrates with their setup ought to think about the Summit Bum by ThruPacks. Its padded loop accommodates straps as much as 2” large, becoming most backpack types. Regardless of offering a further liter of storage, it provides minimal weight and price, making it a sensible possibility for a lot of.

Excessive Tail Designs – The Ultralight Overview: For ultralight hikers preferring a hard and fast waist belt, the Ultralight from Excessive Tail Designs is a best choice. It provides 1L of storage with solely 2 ounces to your base weight. Dyneema building offers sturdiness and weatherproofing, whereas Excessive Tail’s distinctive prints provide quite a lot of fashion choices.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Overview: The Versa by Hyperlite Mountain Gear presents a number of snug put on choices and options, together with padding, further storage, and a 2.5L capability. Weighing simply over 4oz, it stays light-weight, however its further options include the next price ticket, making it a premium alternative for backpackers in search of versatility.