The Atom Packs “The Mo” 50L is a superbly 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 may 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. If you’re in search of a extremely purposeful backpack that has a novel edge to it, try Atom Packs, “The Mo.” They additionally present no-hassle transport to the USA.
Specs at a Glance
- Model: Stock Pre-Built; additionally accessible as a customized pack
- Volume: 45L in major physique + 2.5L in either side pockets + 5L in entrance mesh pocket (not counted in whole)
- Weight: 32.1 oz (910g) (torso medium, hipbelt medium)
- Weight Tested: 33.6 oz(953g) (torso medium, hipbelt xl)
- Gender: Unisex
- Torso Lengths Available: 15-17″, 17-19″, 19″-21″, 21-23″
- Pockets: 6
- Shoulder Straps: S-shaped
- Frame: Plastic framesheet and middle aluminum keep
- Load Lifters: Yes
- Hydration Compatible: Yes
- Material: Body-Ecopak EPX200; Side pockets -Robic Extrema; Mesh – Dyneema Mesh
- Seam-taped: No
- Mfg Recommended Base Weight: 22 lbs (10kg)
- Mfg Max Recommended Load: 42 lbs (19kg)
Backpack Storage and Organization
The Mo 50 is a regular, however trendy 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 beautiful. The inside is white, nevertheless, so you may truly see what’s inside.
While the pack material is waterproof, the seams will not be sealed, so I’d nonetheless suggest lining the within with a plastic bag. The major compartment is hydration suitable with a hose port over every shoulder strap. There is an inner strap and hook inside to hold a reservoir, however no inner pocket to carry it in place.
The Mo has two facet water bottle pockets that may match two SmartWater bottles or two 1L Nalgene bottles facet by facet. The bottles are reachable when sporting the pack. The facet 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 High-Density Polyethylene Fibers (HDPE) fibers working by means of it and is simple to patch with Tenacious Tape if you happen to gap it.
The ends of the roll-top could be buckled to the edges of the pack with lengthy webbing straps or collectively on high of the principle compartment. If buckled on high, you may loop the facet webbing straps across the entrance of the pack for added compression or to connect gear like snowshoes or a foam pad. The high 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 turn out to be a well-liked characteristic on backpacks previously two years. Many individuals use it to stash a day’s value of snacks and meals, or hats and gloves, to allow them to be reached when 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 prefer to take meals breaks once I hike, however I’m additionally not excellent at snacking to maintain my vitality up and depend on willpower as a substitute. But 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 take advantage of the pack. Old canines can study new tips.
The backside stretch pocket is made with the identical Dyneema mesh discovered on the entrance pocket, however I can’t say how lengthy it should final if you happen to put your pack on the bottom. That’s normally the very best abrasion level on a backpack and all materials break down there ultimately. While Dyneema fibers are robust, the Dyneema mesh is primarily nylon 6.6 which isn’t significantly abrasion resistant for this utility. Ask me about it in a 12 months 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 just isn’t included within the 50L quantity of the remainder of the backpack. It has sufficient stretch although you can 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 rather a lot and also you don’t need elastic cords hanging off a pack for that type of factor.
Backpack Frame 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″ large 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 feel 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 needed.
The Mo body is a formed plastic sheet with a middle aluminum keep which comes pre-bent however could be bent and modified if you happen to want one thing slightly totally different. Both terminate within the middle of the pack, behind a modest lumbar pad on the hip belt. Both body parts are detachable, however there’s little purpose to. In addition, the again of the pack behind the shoulder straps is padded with 8mm closed cell foam and lined with 500D textured nylon, which has a softshell look and feels good towards your again.
The hip belt has a single middle 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″ large, backed with spacer mesh, and frivolously padded, with a modest lumbar pad within the again which helps maintain the pack in place on the hip girdle. The hip belt is replaceable if you happen to want a special dimension 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 need 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. Both straps have daisy chains sewn on the entrance, however they’re each lined with sewn-on and non-removable stretch mesh pockets sized for a Smartphone or snack bars. Despite 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. But I bought used to those on The Mo fairly shortly and located I preferred them. The elastic mesh they’re made with holds onto your cellphone even if you happen to bend over, however doesn’t present any moisture safety in rain. The pockets are an possibility on the customized 50L Mo, so you may choose to not have them added to the pack if you happen to’re keen to attend for a customized pack to be made.
External Attachment Points and Compression
I’ve touched on quite a lot of 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 high Y strap which is sweet for securing a foam pad or bear canister to the highest of the principle compartment. There’s additionally an ice axe loop and a bungee twine to safe the shaft.
In addition to the highest compression offered by the roll high’s facet straps, The Mo comes with elastic cords and rope locks alongside the edges of the pack. But they actually don’t present any compression functionality, even when they’re changed by static twine. The twine is just not thick sufficient to compress the pack. Their actual perform is to safe objects, like trekking poles or a Tenkara rod to the facet of the pack in order that they don’t fall off.
You can take away the elastic twine, after all, and slide webbing straps with gatekeeper clips by means of the webbing loops that anchor the cords if you need simpler compression plus an attachment level. But actually, I’ve by no means understood why ultralight and light-weight pack producers choose to make use of facet cords as a substitute of webbing, when doing so removes any compression profit.
Comparable Lightweight Backpacks
Recommendation
Atom Pack’s “The Mo” is out there as a inventory mannequin with a set of ordinary options or as a customized construct along with your alternative of colours and different choices. I feel the inventory all-black mannequin, reviewed right here, is beautiful, not simply in its look but in addition 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 when you’re in movement. I actually can’t consider any backpack that I presently personal and would fairly carry than The Mo 50. It is an distinctive light-weight backpack that may maintain its personal with reasonable hundreds and put a smile in your face. Highly beneficial!
Disclosure: Atom packs donated a backpack for evaluate.
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