Get ready for your next adventure
It took us 12,000 miles of hiking to design our perfect backpack: The Prospector (formerly known as The Mo) – a lightweight, fully-featured load hauler, purpose built to support you on your next adventure.
We designed The Prospector to suit the average thru hiker using modern, lightweight gear, with a base weight of up to 10kg/22lbs. We use lightweight, durable materials that are easily able to cope with heavier loads and heavier use. If you are heading out onto rough and overgrown trails like the CDT or Te Araroa, then the Prospector is for you!
With a load capacity of 19kg/42lbs and pack weights starting at just 890g/32oz, The Prospector won't weigh you down.
Weight From 890g / 31.4oz (40L, size M)
Load capacity 19kg / 42lb
Features
Packing Space
Main Pack body
The main body of the pack is completely open, yours to fill as you wish. It is secured with a roll top closure that can be secured vertically for added compression or dry bag style.
Large front pocket
The front pocket can be sewn in either Dyneema Stretch material or Bullet Net, both offer capacious storage. The Dyneema Stretch is better for a cleaner aesthetic and off trail bushwacks (doesn't snag easily) and the Bullet net is better for packing wet gear and improved visibility of items but can snag when bushwacking. The bullet net option will increase the measurable volume of your bag by 5L.
Side pockets
Each pocket can hold 2.5L and are perfectly shaped to carry 2 x 1L smart water style bottles with ease. You can use the elastic drawcord to secure these items whilst walking and, should the elastic ever break or wear out, we have designed it to be easily replaceable.
Load Carrying
S-shaped shoulder straps
Sewn using 10mm foam, durable 210d Robic Extreema face fabric and breathable, soft 3mm spacer mesh
Padded back panel
Uses shaped 8mm closed cell foam. Can be removed when the pack is empty for a 25g weight reduction.
Removable contoured hipbelt
Comes with 4 adjusters that tighten by pulling inwards allowing you to dial in the perfect fit. Can be removed.
Lumbar pad
Made with 10mm EVA foam and 3mm thick spacer mesh.
Sternum strap
Elasticated and height adjustable.
Plastic Frame with removable Alloy stay
Removable frame sheet made of 1mm thick plastic with a sewn-in 12mm / 0.5" alloy bar. The plastic for a medium frame weighs 91g / 3oz, with the alloy weighing 58g / 2oz.
Add More
Shoulder pockets (optional)
Super stretchy and big enough to hold most smartphones, a day’s worth of snacks or a 700ml water bottle. The elastic is fixed and, owing to its clever design, does not need a tensioner.
Front zig-zag elastic (optional)
Removable and designed to be able to store a folded Z-rest or assist with air drying your clothes.
Side elastic with Lineloc (optional)
These are there to secure a trekking pole or tent poles when stored in the side pocket..
Ice Axe loop (optional)
Sewn-in loop to easily connect an ice axe or walking poles.
Specifications
40L
- Weight* 890g / 31.4oz
- Load capacity 19kg / 42lb
- Height fully unrolled 74cm / 29"
- Circumference at base 81.3cm / 32"
- Circumference at top 91cm / 36"
- Main body volume 35L
- Side pockets volume 2 x 2.5L
* Based on Medium Torso Size before additional customisations
50L
- Weight* 910g / 32.1oz
- Load capacity 19kg / 42lbs
- Height fully unrolled 82.5cm / 32.5"
- Circumference at base 86cm / 34"
- Circumference at top 94cm / 37"
- Main body volume 45L
- Side pockets volume 2 x 2.5L
* Based on Medium Torso Size before additional customisations
60L
- Weight* 965g / 33.8oz
- Load capacity 19kg / 42lbs
- Height fully unrolled 91cm / 35"
- Circumference at base 89cm / 35"
- Circumference at top 99cm / 39"
- Main body volume 55L
- Side pockets volume 2 x 2.5L
* Based on Medium Torso Size before additional customisations
Good to know
Can it fit a Bear Can?
BV450 will fit with the base to your back or a BV500 will fit vertically with a little room at the side for a stuffsack.
How long will it take to make?
Making great things takes time! Our lead time lets you know our estimated production time frame, this may change depending on demand, time of year and staff availability.
Up-to-date lead time can be found at the top of every page on our website.
Once you have placed an order, we update you every few weeks to let you know how things are progressing.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on your delivery information.
UK
£3.95 Small Parcel (every small parcel ships on a 2 week lead time)
£7.95 for orders over £140
US
£10 5-10 Days
£25 for orders over £120
Europe
£10 5-10 Days
£25 for orders over £120
The rest of the world
£15 10+ Days
£35 for orders over £120
If you live in a remote location, we may occasionally need to charge a small extra surplus for shipping. This will be calculated when we ship the pack.
Customers outside the UK will not be charged the 20% VAT included in almost all of our prices, but you may be subject to local tax and import duties.
Full details on our shipping page.
Can I check out in another currency?
Yes! Scroll right down to the bottom of the website and on the left you can select your home currency - this will automatically show you the correct VAT free price for overseas delivery.
A quick video run-through of The Prospector
The Prospector
Your Lightweight Load Hauler
Fully featured
The Prospector is packed with features that let you carry everything you'll need. Stretchable pockets, handy loops and fastenings that can all be used to maximise your load, without sacrificing weight.
Designed for distance
Created in our Cumbrian workshop for the needs of the most seasoned thru-hiker, The Prospector cleverly utilises the latest materials to give you the freedom to carry the kit you need, the way you want.
Lightweight design. No compromise.
It took us 12,000 miles of hiking to design our perfect backpack: The Prospector – a lightweight, fully featured load hauler, purpose built to support you on your next adventure.
My family bought me the 60l custom Mo for my 50th birthday, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the level of comfort. I used it for the West Highland Way last month and it did the job perfectly. It took a day or two to get used to the back sitting against me as all my other packs sit an inch or two off my back (ventilation) and a little playing around with the internal frame to get it dialled in, but once I got it right it was great. Even the man with the sore feet in Fort William tried to steal it.
The “MO” has been the perfect pack for me so far. I have the 40L with the extras. (Bullet net, Avo and hip pockets) a pack liner is a must!
I am currently doing a thru hike in New Zealand and have been on trail for over two week.
Would definitely recommend this pack!
I do believe the bullet net is a must for someone who needs a little more space for easy to grab items.
The avocado pocket is bigger then you think I fit a full first aid kit inside with collapsible bowl and cup. Love it!
I bought the pack to have a more lightweight alternative to my other backpack and it fulfills its role absolutely perfect. It's sturdy, lightweight and still has enough pockets (got the hippocket and shoulder pocket) for me to perfectly organize my gear and have the things I might need quick close to me. The shipping process also went super well and while my pack was being produced I got updates so I knew everything was going well. The only problem I had was that the hip belt rubbed off some color on my shirt when I wore it for the first time and a tiny bit the second time. No problems after that and everything was clean again after washing once, so not a big problem just something I noticed.
I'd definitely buy it again and if someone else from Germany is wondering about shipment you don't have to, everything went well.
I ordered two custom The Mo/The Prospector 50L packs—one for my wife and one for myself. The packs were quite comfortable after adjusting the backplate, which took us about 3 hours per pack to get it right. We discovered that when making this adjustment, you need to account for the thickness of the lower hipbelt cushion, which wasn’t mentioned in the instruction video.
The hipbelt pockets were essential for me, as I needed the extra storage for snacks and phone, but they rubbed against my lower arms while hiking. This caused red irritated areas on my lower arms. A potential improvement would be to move them closer to the pack, which could be done by adjusting the attachment points of the hipbelt pockets (during the manufacturing proces). Additionally, angling the upper front parts of the pockets and adding extra attachment points might help position them closer to the body and out of the way of normal arm movements.
On our packs, we added the G-hook, which made opening and closing the Y-strap easier, but it caused some damage to the Y-strap after just 8 days of hiking. Because of this, I’m not sure I would add that feature again if I were to order another pack.
We also added the bottom pocket. Because of the weight I was initially unsure about it, but it turned out to be very useful for storing dirty laundry and garbage. This saved us time since we didn’t have to pack and unpack these items from the main pocket regularly. I highly recommend the bottom pocket—it’s a great feature!
One of our packs has a bullet net, while the other has a Dyneema front pocket. If you're using the pack with just a liner and no pack cover or poncho, I recommend choosing the bullet net, as it dries much faster than the Dyneema front pocket—an important advantage in wet conditions. It’s also good to know that the bottom pocket has a similar issue in wet weather, so keep that in mind when choosing your rain gear. In my opinion, a pack cover doesn’t work well. Instead, I used a Nylofume pack liner (which is very lightweight) along with a poncho that goes over the pack as well for better protection.
Aside from the improvements mentioned above, we found this to be a great pack and one that’s easy to love!"
I wanted to pop you guys a quick note, thanking you for the superb “The Mo” pack you custom made for me in 2022.
Since then, I have used it in multiple trails, but more notably, my recent stint in Sweden as part of the Kungsleden Trail.
It’s held up in the harshest of conditions that I’ve dragged it through and it’s probably my favourite piece of kit. The bag also got so many compliments when I was on the trail!
My next step is to take it on the TMB trail in Spring 2025 – super excited!
