24 May Thule: AllTrail 35L

I met Thule personally a few years ago, when I bought a box for the transport of bags and luggage (Pacific 700 model) to be used in trips to winter resorts: a lightweight, functional and quick to assemble accessory.

I therefore faced with great interest the test of the Thule AllTrail 35-liter backpack, in the shade Garden Green, but also available in the Obsidian and Mykonos variants. The Obsidian and Monarch models differ not only in their tonality, but also in their shapes and sizes, suitable for the specific feminine fit.

The appearance of the backpack is very pleasant, there are eyelets for fixing materials to the outside that do not affect the overall compactness and linearity, characteristics that can also be found in other models observed in the catalog.

The first action was to adapt the fit of the model to the morphology of the body, adjusting the position of the wide belt on the sides, then that of the shoulder straps and load lifting straps. The adjustments take place intuitively and without difficulty.

During the second test, which lasted longer than the first and was accompanied in part by the rain, I was able to appreciate the excellent level of padding on the shoulder straps.

The fabrics used promote air circulation and breathability at the level of the lumbar belt. These fabrics, combined with the geometries adopted in the construction phase, make the belt one of the strong points of the model, which increases overall comfort.

The weights to be transported are unloaded comfortably on the hips, lightening the shoulders. The lateral compression straps, together with the strap on the breastbone, ensure further stabilization of the load.

The structure is designed for the insertion of a water bag (not included) and for fixing the barrel on the shoulder straps.

On the back rests a panel that has the characteristic not only to be ventilated, but also to be adjustable. In fact, the easy lifting of the hook and loop fastener allows it to slide from top to bottom up to 10 centimeters, to obtain the most suitable size.

Access to the transported material can take place either from the large upper opening, provided with a useful long travel of the zip, or from a front opening pocket (Shove-it PocketTM).

The AllTrail 35 model has two external mesh side pockets (for water bottle or other) to which another is added with a smaller zipper on the right side of the ventral band.

The left side of this band has the Thule VersaClick Pole Holder plate, a characteristic element of this backpack. The purpose is to hook and fix the telescopic poles. The idea is interesting, however, on the basis of the different minimum dimensions of the telescopic pole models currently offered by the market (from less than 40 cm and up to over 70 cm) this is not the most comfortable position for everyone. You can therefore also resort to the classic rear vertical transport by means of resealable velcro loops.

The Thule VersaClick plate is interchangeable and offers, with extreme simplicity, the possibility to hook other accessories, offered for sale separately: bag for small objects, bottle cages, protective cases of different sizes for binoculars, cameras and cameras.

Curiosity: for those who are passionate about landscape photography and for the purposes of wildlife observation, the color of the tested model allows it to fit into the natural environment, camouflaging itself in an appropriate way.

The backpack is also equipped with an integrated rain cover, accessible from a pocket on the lower part of the model. Effectiveness of the roof tested in the pouring rain.

The Thule AllTrail 35 is a model that responds accordingly to the transport needs of material for walks of one or at most two days.

The positive judgment on the functionality of the backpack refers to both the design and the type of materials chosen, as well as the technical solutions adopted by Thule. The motto of the Swedish company “Bring your life” is therefore successfully applied to the ever-evolving sector of hiking backpacks.

Technical data

Material: 420D Dobby Poly, Ripstop 330D Polyester
Dimensions: 32 x 30 x 61 cm
Weight: 1.26 kg
Also available in the 45-liter version, proposed with different models for men and women.

More info on the Thule website.

Ruggero Bontempi