So pleased with my backpack. Walked Yorkshire Wolds Way this week over 5/6 days carrying my own gear and hardly realised I was carrying more than a regular day pack. So comfortable and well balanced and easy to find where I’d stored things . So pleased I purchased an Atom Pack

This pack is phenomenally put together. The construction and materials selection is top notch. I especially appreciate the durability of the stretch mesh rear and bottom panels. I bought this pack as a mule for hiking with my two daughters. I usually carry a 40L pack for 4-6 day trips and needed something with more volume for hiking with the kids as I end up carrying much of the food for everyone, plus an MLD Supermid and the necessary safety gear for hiking with young children. While this pack in 60L swallows a LOT of gear, it is not exceptionally comfortable once it has swallowed that gear. I would say the upper comfort level for this pack is probably around 14kg max. I loaded this up on its maiden voyage with 18.5kg and I really struggled with it. I have a SWD Movement in 40L, an Osprey Exos in 48, and an Osprey Mutant 38 which are all much more comfortable carrying above 12-14KG.

The hip belt on this pack is simply not great. It is too stiff for a non-contoured hip belt. My Mutant has a much firmer belt, but it is contoured, my Movement has a non contoured belt like the prospector, but it is much softer. Both of these solutions work well, however a firm, non contoured belt like this pack has is uncomfortable, at least for me. I can easily load my Mutant with 45lbs of climbing and technical gear for all day comfort, and its belt is hard as a rock. Additionally, the shoulder straps are slightly on the firm side, though I think with a couple hundred miles, they will break in sufficiently. Finally, because this is a very narrow pack, the shoulder straps are sewn close together and where they connect to the pack lower is also close together. This combined with relatively short straps has the strap adjusters digging into the rib cage.

For reference I am 5'7" 140lbs, athletic build with square shoulders and an 18.5" torso. I ordered a LARGE because I like the load lifters above the tops of my shoulders, and I place my hip belt slightly low. Despite ordering a large and my small stature, I found the shoulder straps too short, too narrowly placed on the pack frame upper and lacking sufficient length and/or contour to keep the adjusters out of my ribcage.

I really want to love this pack as it is extremely well made, however so far it is not the load hauler I needed. It will probably remain in my pack rotation for winter trips where I am carrying lots of light voluminous gear for warmth, as the pack is very weather resistant, huge inside and moderately comfortable at lighter weights.

Overall, I don't regret the purchase. Its a VERY nice pack, however I will probably be looking for something else for hauling my kids gear with me until they get a little older (or at least a littler bigger!).

If you are looking for a pack to carry 15+kg, and have an athletic build with broad shoulders, I would try to find someone with one of these to test comfort before ordering. Note: I did order another larger hip belt to see if a little more wrap makes this pack more tolerable. Fingers crossed!!

Great pack, backed by great service - I purchased the pack based on the pack being both UK designed & manufactured. Just waiting for Tom & the team from Atompacks to start designing & manufacturing thru hike quilts as well :)

Buying am Atom Packs backpack was a fantastic experience. The website was intuitive and the sales staff were extremely helpful. I was kept up-to-date on my order and when it arrived I was over the moon! It's a sturdy, durable and extremely light pack. I have used it on a few lengthy treks and it is so comfortable, it fits everything in and yet I barely notice that I am wearing it. A++

Having just returned from a week in the Peak District, I'm really pleased with how the pack felt. It loaded well, was a pleasure to carry, and didn't have any niggles I'd normally expect with a new pack.

I'm not normally a fan of carrying kit on the outside of a pack, but the elasticated mesh kept everything tight and rattle (and snag) free. The base pocket was perfect for keeping a windproof in for easy access.

The shoulder straps were supremely comfortable, as was the waist band, and the webbing had enough texture so that it didn't need constantly readjusting as some other lightweight packs seem to.

So far, very impressed.