Lightweight & Cool: The User-Friendliness of the 'deuter' Backpack 'SPEEDLITE25'

Founded in 1898 in Germany, the prestigious 'deuter', now in its 125th year, is known for backpacks that feature excellent breathability at the back, making them easy to move around in. The 'SPEEDLITE25', which enhances functionalities while reducing weight rationally, is the brand's lightest backpack model (710g) with a versatile capacity of 25L.
 
In order to understand the balance of weight and functionality achieved by the 'SPEEDLITE25', we visited Hideaki Kanemaki of Iwatani-Primus Corporation, which handles 'deuter' products in Japan.

The slim, vertically long design appears stable, and it indeed feels light when held. Given its compact depth of 19cm, it surprisingly has a 25L capacity that can accommodate equipment for day hikes or overnight trips. My first impression is that it would also be suitable for urban use.
 
'While it was originally designed for speed hiking, it is a multi-use bag with a focus on lightness and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Lightness is something many users currently seek. For 'deuter', lightness is not about the mere weight of the bag, but also about the perceived weight when actually worn and moved in."
 
While aiming to reduce the weight of the backpack itself, we do not want to sacrifice ease of use. Rather, we pursue enhanced functionality. This is at the heart of 'deuter's product development ethos, according to Kanemaki.

Having a Lightweight Plastic Frame Ensures the Rigidity of the Backpack & Makes it Easier on the Body

"If you only pursue the lightness of the body, you can simply reduce parts and increasingly thin out the fabric. However, doing so would compromise the stability of the backpack when worn and may make it feel heavier. If the bag shakes when walking fast, jogging, or going downhill, it becomes unsettling. This can lead to discomfort in strange parts of the body or cause fatigue."
 
To avoid this, it is essential to have a frame that ensures the rigidity of the backpack. But if the frame itself is heavy, it destroys the lightweight property.

"In this 'SPEEDLITE25', the lightweight and resilient DelrinⓇ frame from Dupont is used, which not only ensures the rigidity of the backpack but also reduces physical exhaustion by stabilizing the backpack. Without reducing parts, the backpack is made lighter and steadier, facilitating speedy actions. This is what 'deuter' strives for in its product-making."
 
Comparatively, a supermarket plastic bag is overwhelmingly lighter than a fabric tote bag, but it doesn't keep contents stable. When carrying two or three 2L PET bottles, the burden on the hand is heavy and it hurts. A well-made tote bag, on the other hand, provides stability and the handle design is less likely to hurt your fingers. The same can be said for backpacks.
 
"While ensuring rigidity, we have also made the fabric lighter. The fabric used in the current 'SPEEDLITE25' is mainly 140 denier[1]. The previous model was 210 denier. The difference makes it thinner and lighter. The fabric used in backpacks for trail running, for instance, is 70 denier. As the 'SPEEDLITE25' is not intended for running, the choice of 140 denier fabric is the best balance between rigidity and strength."