The Ultimate Trio: Lightweight, Comfy, and Tough! Millet's "Parmelan 25" Redefines the Art of Effortless Hiking

Even as hiking styles evolve, the core demands for a backpack remain the same: it must be lightweight, comfortable, and durable.

The "Parmelan 25" from the French brand Millet is a backpack that meets these needs head-on. While prioritizing lightness, its design minimizes stress from the moment you put it on, reflecting the deep expertise Millet has cultivated as a premier alpine brand.

What is the driving force behind the effortless steps this backpack provides? Let's uncover the answer with Shuhei Shirako, a backpack product planner in the Brand Management Department at Millet Mountain Group Japan K.K.

A New Vision for Backpacks Born from Diverse Hiking Styles

In recent years, the ways people enjoy the mountains have expanded dramatically. In addition to classic mountaineering, like tackling Japan's 100 Famous Mountains or traversing the Alps, mountain activities have become much more diverse, including low-mountain hiking, long-distance trails, and trail running. As a result, the performance required of backpacks is also becoming more specialized.

"Millet has an iconic backpack series called SAAS FEE. However, with the recent explosion in how people enjoy the mountains, we felt that this single series couldn't meet every need. So, we went back to the drawing board to reconsider what makes the 'ideal backpack.'"

The answer we arrived at was to balance lightness with Millet's signature comfort and durability. By stripping away superfluous structures while maintaining a comfortable fit that reduces fatigue even on long treks, we began developing the Parmelan 25 as a new option for the next generation of hikers.

Structural and Material Innovations: Achieving Both Lightness and Strength

In developing this model, Millet tackled the classic challenge of ensuring strength while reducing weight. Typically, the lighter a backpack gets, the more fragile it becomes; the stronger you make it, the heavier it gets. The Parmelan 25 addresses this dilemma through a dual approach of innovative structural design and material selection.

"To make it as light as possible, we meticulously stripped down the components. We removed the top lid and rain cover and swapped the traditional webbing compression straps for strings. This not only cuts weight but also offers another benefit: the increased range of motion allows the pack to flexibly adapt to varying load sizes."

The secret to the Parmelan 25's ability to be both lightweight and durable lies in its unique hybrid fabric, which combines 100D nylon with 200D UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene).

For a backpack, 100D nylon is an extremely fine thread. It's lighter than polyester and more durable at the same thickness. However, its strength is only about half that of a typical 200D fabric, so we needed a way to compensate for this weakness.

"That's where we brought in UHMWPE thread, which is stronger and lighter than nylon. By weaving these threads in a grid pattern, we enhance the ripstop effect, which significantly boosts its resistance to abrasion and tearing."

A Unique Fitting System that Transforms Lightness into Walking Comfort

The second challenge was a classic trade-off: the lighter the pack, the worse the fit. Lightweight backpacks often sacrifice a stable, comfortable carry due to their simplified construction. Millet's ingenious solution is a unique fitting system. It features a movable string connecting the main pack body to the shoulder harness, allowing for micro-adjustments to the top pull-strap position.

"Just a slight tweak to the top pull-strap position—tailored to the user's body type, shoulder width, and pack load—dramatically changes the load balance and fit on your back. Once you dial in the perfect setting, the stress on your shoulders melts away, creating a feel of lightness from the very first step."

Putting it on, you'll notice it feels agile yet incredibly stable, encouraging a natural, forward-moving stride. It’s a sensation you just don’t get with traditional lightweight backpacks.

Thanks to this collection of clever design choices, users get the best of all worlds: the walkability that comes from lightness and perfect load balance, plus the peace of mind that comes from high durability.

Intuitive Usability and a Design Tailored for Modern Hiking

Ease of use was a top priority for the Parmelan 25. For beginner hikers especially, how easy a backpack is to handle can make or break the enjoyment of a trip. That's why it was built on a simple framework with a thoroughly intuitive design.

"We chose a roll-top closure because it keeps rain out while also cutting down on parts, which helps with weight reduction. Plus, being able to access your gear through the front zipper, not just the top, is a huge advantage for users who haven’t yet mastered the art of packing."

A New Niche: Where Brand Heritage Meets Agile Hiking

For years, Millet's backpack lineup, exemplified by the iconic SAAS FEE, has been dominated by serious mountaineering models built to carry heavy loads with stability. But recently, a more agile style of enjoying the mountains has gained popularity, creating a demand for a new option that sits somewhere between a full-fledged alpine pack and a simple daypack.

The Parmelan 25 perfectly fills that gap. It's also poised to act as a bridge, connecting a new generation of beginner and younger hikers to the historic Millet brand.

Designed to conform to the user's back and to the culture of modern hiking, the Parmelan 25 is the new standard Millet is introducing for the next generation.