The Atom Packs “The Mo” 50L is a fantastically crafted inner body backpack made throughout the pond in England. Weighing 32.1 oz (910g) and made with waterproof Ecopak EPX200, it’s a roll-top backpack that’s loaded with options and pockets that can attraction to most thru-hikers and hill walkers. I’ve been significantly impressed with that pack’s body and suspension system, which is able to carrying surprisingly heavy hundreds with nice consolation and ease. For those who’re searching for a extremely useful backpack that has a singular edge to it, try Atom Packs, “The Mo.” Additionally they present no-hassle transport to the USA.
Specs at a Look
- Mannequin: Inventory Pre-Constructed; additionally obtainable as a customized pack
- Quantity: 45L in principal physique + 2.5L in all sides pockets + 5L in entrance mesh pocket (not counted in whole)
- Weight: 32.1 oz (910g) (torso medium, hipbelt medium)
- Weight Examined: 33.6 oz(953g) (torso medium, hipbelt xl)
- Gender: Unisex
- Torso Lengths Obtainable: 15-17″, 17-19″, 19″-21″, 21-23″
- Pockets: 6
- Shoulder Straps: S-shaped
- Body: Plastic framesheet and heart aluminum keep
- Load Lifters: Sure
- Hydration Appropriate: Sure
- Materials: Physique-Ecopak EPX200; Aspect pockets -Robic Extrema; Mesh – Dyneema Mesh
- Seam-taped: No
- Mfg Really useful Base Weight: 22 lbs (10kg)
- Mfg Max Really useful Load: 42 lbs (19kg)
Backpack Storage and Group
The Mo 50 is an ordinary, however fashionable roll-top pack, that appears actually cool in black Ecopak with orange highlights. I by no means thought I’d like a black backpack earlier than, however this pack is gorgeous. The inside is white, nonetheless, so you may truly see what’s inside.
Whereas the pack material is waterproof, the seams should not sealed, so I’d nonetheless suggest lining the within with a plastic bag. The primary compartment is hydration suitable with a hose port over every shoulder strap. There’s an inner strap and hook inside to hold a reservoir, however no inner pocket to carry it in place.
The Mo has two aspect water bottle pockets that may match two SmartWater bottles or two 1L Nalgene bottles aspect by aspect. The bottles are reachable when carrying the pack. The aspect pockets have an elastic twine/cordlock combo to safe the bottles alongside the highest and drain holes within the backside to take away moisture. The pockets are made with “Robic Extrema”, which is simply Robic nylon with Excessive-Density Polyethylene Fibers (HDPE) fibers working by it and is simple to patch with Tenacious Tape for those who gap it.
The ends of the roll-top might be buckled to the perimeters of the pack with lengthy webbing straps or collectively on prime of the primary compartment. If buckled on prime, you may loop the aspect webbing straps across the entrance of the pack for added compression or to connect gear like snowshoes or a foam pad. The highest of the roll-top has two plastic snaps to carry the highest closed earlier than rolling.
The Mo additionally has a backside stretch pocket on the bottom of the pack, which has actually simply develop into a well-liked characteristic on backpacks previously two years. Many individuals use it to stash a day’s price of snacks and meals, or hats and gloves, to allow them to be reached whilst you’re strolling withing having to cease. One finish of the pocket is totally open, whereas the opposite has a small trash gap the place you may stuff sweet and snack wrappers for disposal later.
I actually like this backside stretch pocket as a result of I don’t wish to take meals breaks once I hike, however I’m additionally not excellent at snacking to maintain my power up and depend on willpower as a substitute. However I can stash fairly a little bit of meals into this backside pocket and pull it with out stopping, which I’ve actually come to understand the extra I exploit the pack. Outdated canines can be taught new tips.
The underside stretch pocket is made with the identical Dyneema mesh discovered on the entrance pocket, however I can’t say how lengthy it should final for those who put your pack on the bottom. That’s normally the very best abrasion level on a backpack and all materials break down there ultimately. Whereas Dyneema fibers are robust, the Dyneema mesh is primarily nylon 6.6 which isn’t significantly abrasion resistant for this software. Ask me about it in a yr or two, as a result of I’ll most likely nonetheless be utilizing this pack then.
The entrance stretch pocket can maintain 5L of things however shouldn’t be included within the 50L quantity of the remainder of the backpack. It has sufficient stretch although that you may get a 1L cookpot into the pocket when the pack is packed tight. There are additionally seven material loops sewn into the seams of the entrance pocket which Atom has threaded with elastic twine. I’ve left it in place for illustration, however I normally take away cords like them as quickly as I get a pack that has them. I hike off-trail quite a bit and also you don’t need elastic cords hanging off a pack for that type of factor.
Backpack Body and Suspension
The factor that makes The Mo backpack “sing” is the body, the hip belt, and the truth that the pack is barely slim (10.5″ huge by my measure) like a climbing backpack. All that makes it tremendous snug to hold, with a hipbelt that doesn’t slip and a body able to a most carry of 42 lbs (says Atom Packs). I believe that’s fairly shut though you’ll have a tough time becoming that a lot heavy gear or water into or onto the pack. I’ve carried as much as 33 lbs with it on lengthy water carries and felt that I might have carried much more weight if crucial.
The Mo body is a formed plastic sheet with a middle aluminum keep which comes pre-bent however might be bent and modified for those who want one thing a bit of totally different. Each terminate within the heart of the pack, behind a modest lumbar pad on the hip belt. Each body elements are detachable, however there’s little purpose to. As well as, the again of the pack behind the shoulder straps is padded with 8mm closed cell foam and coated with 500D textured nylon, which has a softshell look and feels good in opposition to your again.
The hip belt has a single heart buckle with two tiers of webbing straps so you may tighten it to match the form of your hips, enabling a personalized match for each women and men. The hip belt is 4″ huge, backed with spacer mesh, and evenly padded, with a modest lumbar pad within the again which helps preserve the pack in place on the hip girdle. The hip belt is replaceable for those who want a special measurement and is held in place by velcro behind the lumbar pad.
The Mo doesn’t include hip belt pockets, however Atom Packs sells them as an elective add-on. They slip over the hip belt and are held in place by back and front webbing loops. The pocket that got here with my pack is made with waterproof Ecopak and has a water-proof zipper, however the ones listed on the market on the web site are solely made with Robic Extrema. I’d inquire if you’d like one with waterproof material.
The shoulder straps are S-shaped, in order that they’ll work for women and men, curving across the delicate bits They’re additionally ightly padded and backed with spacer mesh. Each straps have daisy chains sewn on the entrance, however they’re each coated with sewn-on and non-removable stretch mesh pockets sized for a Smartphone or snack bars. Regardless of this, you may nonetheless entry the daisy chains below them and transfer the sternum strap up or down.
I wasn’t initially thrilled with these pockets, as a result of I like including my very own accent pockets that I transfer between my backpacks. However I bought used to those on The Mo fairly rapidly and located I appreciated them. The elastic mesh they’re made with holds onto your telephone even for those who bend over, however doesn’t present any moisture safety in rain. The pockets are an possibility on the customized 50L Mo, so you may decide to not have them added to the pack for those who’re prepared to attend for a customized pack to be made.
Exterior Attachment Factors and Compression
I’ve touched on numerous the exterior attachment factors already together with the webbing loops and elastic twine surrounding the entrance stretch pocket, the shoulder strap daisy chains, and hip belt attachment loops. The Mo additionally has a prime Y strap which is nice for securing a foam pad or bear canister to the highest of the primary compartment. There’s additionally an ice axe loop and a bungee twine to safe the shaft.
Along with the highest compression supplied by the roll prime’s aspect straps, The Mo comes with elastic cords and rope locks alongside the perimeters of the pack. However they actually don’t present any compression functionality, even when they’re changed by static twine. The twine is solely not thick sufficient to compress the pack. Their actual perform is to safe objects, like trekking poles or a Tenkara rod to the aspect of the pack in order that they don’t fall off.
You’ll be able to take away the elastic twine, after all, and slide webbing straps with gatekeeper clips by the webbing loops that anchor the cords if you’d like simpler compression plus an attachment level. However actually, I’ve by no means understood why ultralight and light-weight pack producers decide to make use of aspect cords as a substitute of webbing, when doing so removes any compression profit.
Comparable Light-weight Backpacks
Suggestion
Atom Pack’s “The Mo” is out there as a inventory mannequin with a set of ordinary options or as a customized construct together with your alternative of colours and different choices. I believe the inventory all-black mannequin, reviewed right here, is gorgeous, not simply in its look but additionally functionally. The pack carries splendidly due largely to its distinctive body and slim dimensions, its extremely adjustable hip belt, and simply accessible pockets that are reachable whilst you’re in movement. I actually can’t consider any backpack that I at present personal and would moderately carry than The Mo 50. It’s an distinctive light-weight backpack that may maintain its personal with average hundreds and put a smile in your face. Extremely really useful!
Disclosure: Atom packs donated a backpack for overview.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, check, and price the most effective merchandise. We solely earn cash if you buy a product by our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free mountaineering guides.
