Not Your Average Rucksack: The High-Functioning & User-Friendly 'Mammut Ducan 24' Lightweight Backpack

Perhaps the key to backpack comfort is the ability to carry it effortlessly. For this, it's crucial that the backpack appears neat when worn. While weight is important, a simple light backpack that requires constant lifting for accessing items can feel cumbersome and lead to fatigue. Also, a backpack that makes your back sweat can cause stress.
 
The backpack 'Mammut Ducan 24' maintains a compact and lightweight design, despite its authentic mountain style. It's suitable for city use, and the stress of lifting is reduced as frequently used items can be placed within reach. Additionally, the design minimizes sweaty back. In an interview, current CEO of Mammut Sports Group Japan, Shota Utsugi, detailed the conveniences of using Ducan 24.

The Design Achieves Both Load Control & Ventilation, Ensuring a Cool & Comfortable Fit

Looking around the city, many people use backpacks of about 20 to 30 liters capacity on a daily basis. In this range, the comfort of wearing a backpack depends more on its fit against the body than its size. If it's too tight or too loose, it causes stress. The 'Ducan 24' is of an appropriate size, with a capacity of 24 liters.
 
"You'll understand once you wear it. The range of adjustment for both shoulder harness and hip belt is considerably broad. Hence, both too tight and too loose scenarios are rarely encountered. Despite its size – just perfect for day hiking or urban use – the use of a 'CONTACT STREAM TM' system equally distributes the load to the upper body, preventing the back from sweating."

Since the start of the new year, following the news about the earthquake in Noto, I began carrying minimum disaster-preparedness items in my backpack. Among the various 20 to 30 liter capacity backpacks that I tried, the 'Ducan 24' felt the most stable and light, even when carrying the same disaster preparedness items and work necessities. Its compact size doesn't feel bulky, the load is well-distributed, and there's no sweaty back to deal with.
 
"The perceived weight doesn't depend solely on the weight of the backpack. With a full-framed structure and a mesh back, weighing only 910g, the Ducan 24 is considered lightweight. This is thanks to advancements in material technology. Incidentally, the Ducan series also includes a 30 liter capacity product, which weighs under 1kg at just 920g and is also lightweight."

No matter how comfortable the backpack is to wear, if you need to frequently access your belongings, you would need to remove the backpack or swing it to your front. The 'Ducan 24' has an integrated mesh pocket on its left and right shoulder harness, as well as a zipped pocket on the left side of the hip belt. There's also a drawstring on the right side to secure small items, allowing you to keep the backpack on while active.

"The shoulder harness pocket can fit a smartphone. You can also keep your pass case, coin purse, key case, or snacks in it. The hip belt pocket has a fabric upper part and a mesh lower part. Its stretchability and presence of a zipper makes it suitable to carry your most frequently used items."
 
The drawstring on the hip belt is primarily used for storing a folded trekking pole. You can also hook a folded umbrella, hat, gloves, sunglasses, or packable clothing, making it convenient for temporary storage of small items. The side pockets of the main body of the backpack open towards the back. Hence, when the backpack is worn and a hand is passed around the waist, items like a bottle can be easily accessed.