TreeLineBackpacker

The Apex 25 from Mountain Smith is a lightweight pack that is designed for long haul hiking where preparedness, organization and comfort are all high priority. This is my review.

The Apex 25 is a light weight 25 Liter day hiking backpack. It features two primary compartments, one with a hydration sleeve and a mesh pocket and another that includes a second mesh zippered pocket. There is a small zippered felt lined sunglasses pocket tucked between the two main compartments, all accessible via the top of the pack. There are two stretchy quick stash pockets situated on the outside of the pack, removable /stashable hip belts, and connection points for trekking poles. The pack is built around a full panel plastic frame, layered up with EVA foam back panels and pads, molded to create cooling air channels for added support and breathability. The fabrics are a combination of high quality 210d ripstop nylon, 420d nylon, and 210d nylon, with tougher, higher denier fabrics being placed in high stress and wear areas. The pack can carry up to 30 pounds, weighs 2.4 lbs., and retails for $129.

What I liked

My favorite thing about this pack is the excellent level or organization it provides. The main compartment provides a large opening that easily holds layers, foot, cooking equipment or other moderately sized items, but also houses a hydration sleeve pocket with an anti-sag clip and a zippered mesh pocket with a padded exterior. The secondary storage compartment is smaller, great for snacks, headlamps, books or binoculars, but also hides another zippered mesh pocket. The zippered, felt-lines pocket is for sunglasses specifically, but can double as a convenient key pouch if not used otherwise. Externally, there are handy daisy chain loops running down the pack for attaching things like wet water shoes, boonie hats and the like. Basically, there is a pocket for everything, making it extremely easy to stay organized.

Getting to the gear stashed inside is generally quite easy thanks to the double zippered main compartment and top loading approach. Basically everything can be reached from the top, without having to flip down any lids or undo any cinch compartments. Traditional water bottle pockets are cast aside in favor of larger, stretchy mesh stash pockets that transition into nylon fabric holding cells. The brilliance here is that these compartments still hold small or large water bottles just fine, but also stretch out enough to hold a thick puffy jacket, or wet rain layer. The usefulness of this cannot be understated. I quite liked the ability to just shove wet gear into the exterior, without having to mix it with the dry equipment inside and the space they provide makes this possible.

Comfort of the Apex 25 is very good. The shoulder pads are thick, cushy foam that is molded in a way that gently wraps around the collar bone, shoulders and chest, without creating pressure or binding points. The padded back panel is stiff and holds its shape, but still can flex and move with the body of the wearer. Eva padding is placed strategically across the spine, running horizontally from one side to the next. A thicker padding panel is used against the shoulder blades to provide extra protection from gear inside the pack, while a gap in the padding provides an air space for the lumbar. The rigidity and thickness of the pack easily allows it to accommodate its listed 30 pound weight limit, but beyond that pressure will accumulate on the shoulders due to the lack of hip support. The pack does include load straps, which helps to alleviate shoulder strain, but doesn’t extend far enough above the shoulders to move the weight off of them, but at this size and weight that is fine. As long as the 30 pound weight limit is followed, this is a very comfortable pack that holds up to long, rough treks with no discomfort in my experience.

Back ventilation is good, but not amazing. The back panel is shaped in a way that allows even a gentle breeze to flow through the channels, evacuating hot and humid air fairly quickly. Even on sweaty days when the panel could get damp from sweat, it dries quickly and doesn’t absorb enough moisture to feel wet or soggy. I never felt hot, but did find some heat could build up if I was hiking with a puffy jacket that filled in the vent channels.

Build quality overall is excellent thanks largely to careful material choice and precision manufacturing. Higher denier panels are used on the bottom of the pack and in areas that support weight or could be subjected to tear pressure. Lighter weight fabrics are used in low stress areas to shed weight, but even those materials are rugged and hold up great to friction and pressure. The stitching is consistent and devoid of any noticeable frays, the zippers feel fantastic when they slide, and even the zipper pulls are thick and feel rugged in the hand. It’s a pack that feels like it could last a decade.

I really enjoyed the center mounted trekking pole attachment that is paired with the daisy chain lashings. These run down the back of the pack and provide a lot of utility and connection points. I’ve often found side mounted trekking pole connections to be less than idea as they can get hung on on trees, bushes and even have caught my boots in certain climbing situations. The center mount seems to prevent most of this. I’m surprised it isn’t more common.

What I didn’t like

While the two main compartments are spacious and well organized, items that are stashed in the bottom of these areas can be a little bit of a pain to get to. For example, I like to stash my survival equipment in the bottom of the compartment closest to my back to keep the weight near my spine, but getting to those requires me sliding my arm in all the way to my elbow. If I’m storing small items like knives inside, it can be a little bit fussy to dig given the relatively narrow opening. Luckily, the zippers open up wide and even partially wrap around the perimeter of the pack, allowing it to open wide, which helps considerably. It’s a minor complaint but something I have run into.

Overall

The Apex 25 is a great day hiking pack. It provides ample storage for long distance day hikes, providing enough space for food, hydration, preparedness essentials and layering. The Stiff yet flexible frame and robust padding delivers plenty of comfort for heavy loads and long days, without being heavy or overbearing. Organization is great and the build quality is similarly impressive with its combination of high quality fabrics and stitching. The top loading compartments are generally convenient, but digging to the bottom of the bag can be a little frustrating in certain situations. Overall, it’s a light, attractive pack that should last many years, despite having a relatively low price point for the quality. This makes it easy to recommend.

Highly Recommended

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