Haglöfs have quite a bit of revamping coming to the pack range. The Intense packs are all discontinued, which I have mixed feelings about as I like them, and are replaced with a wider range of new models bearing the Gram name.
Above and below is the Gram 25, 550g of classic-looking multisport pack. The single buckle lid format is a good move, simple, quick and flexible for packing and stowing kit on the move.
There’s big and easily accessible side bottle pockets, a bungee for external storage, big zipped pockets on the hip fins, lid pocket, external hydration sleeve, reverse-pull waist belt, whistle-buckled chest strap and a back system with ventilation and padding which is surprising for the weight.
The hip fins and shoulder straps are low profile with light padding which should mold to your shape nicely.
You’ll see some bits and pieces attached to the shoulder straps of the Gram packs, there are Haglöfs’ new pack accessories, The Gram bottle Holder, Gram Pouch Large and Gram Pouch Small. The attachement os good, very secure, usability looks good and the bottle pocket is about the best I’ve seen, it’s something I use a lot.
This is the Gram Comp 25, a stripped down and lighter (425g) version of the black pack at the top. The fabric is a lighter, but most of the features remain intact. I can get my hand into the bottle pocket no problem and you can see the compression flap that extends up from the pocket, it’ll keep the pack neat when cinched in but the bottle pocket has a separate bungee so it remains usuable.
The back system is simplified and has no hydration sleeve which is fine by me, but most importantly for me is the back length, it’s a 25 litre pack that fits me properly.
Haglöfs don’t shrink the back length with a smaller capacity, something that happens a lot out there, often leaving me with 20 litre pack with the waist belt that chaffes my nipples.
Good look at the bottle pocket and one of the pouches below.
The Gram 7 is a zipped entry pack with a bungee to take the strain off the zip and hold your gear or bike helmet too. It’s 450g and feels like a tough wee bugger, it’s well speced too, hydration sleeve, proper back system and harness and plenty of internal and external pockets.
That’s the Gram 15 below, similar to the7 above, but with the side bottle pockets of the 25 litre packs and it comes in at 520g. All that packs by the Comp come in blue or black options, they all have reflective detailing sprinkled about them
That’s the Gram 3 above and the Gram 1 below. The 220g 3 is pre-curved which is such an obvious thing to do with a bumbag to get a better fit and make it easier to pack proiperly, but it’s not something I’ve used bore in years of bumbag disappointment. There’s one big comparttmet, two pockets and a bungee for your cagoule.
The Gram 1 is a lightweight delight, 180g with a wide stretchy velcro waistband, angled bottle pocket, two little pockets and looks perfect for a quick blast on the bike or a run on the trails.
The Gram range looks good to me.
Haglöfs have canned the LIM packs and the new Krios looks like the nearest replacement to me. 40L and 28L at 1200g and 1050g isn’t outstanding, but the harness they’ve put on here is worth the weight if you’ve got the 40L pack full for a trip.
The double-entry stretch side pockets are fantastc and one difference to the LIM is that the velcro back adjustment now has markings on it, the old plain style was a nightmare to0 reset after someone had borrowed it and changed it. There’s a womens equivalent called the Lethe Q.
Gus looks pleased with the Roc Rescue. Euro MRT types have been taking to these, basically a load-carrying version of the Roc mountain packs. It’s hard as nails, has easy access with that zip-away from panel and has velcroed pouches attached inside so you can always get to the hip flask of brandy or chocolate buttons instantly.
I’ll never need one, but it looks cool so I want one.
The Zolo 60 and Zolo Q50 are new backpacking sacks, big and beefy at just over 2kg each with a nicely padded and well-shaped harness to match. The shot above shows the side pockets which are nicely quirky, both packs have a stretch mesh pocket on one side and a zipped pocket on the other, security and quick access on the move.
The back system is adjustable, the big central section velcroes off and the shoulders can be moved up and down, that applies to mens and wummins versions.
Here, imagine giving the DofE kids these things instead of the one size fits all canvas covered scaffolding they usually get issued with.
love your house!
I’m liking the look of the Gram range. Is 25 the largest they do? I’m looking out for a new 40ish pack for winter overnighters, my old LA Snowpeak isn’t the lightest thing around and my Berghaus Arete is a teeny bit too small.
Loving the look of the Roc Rescue. Like you say, don’t need one, but WANT one!
Don’t usually get too excited about gear, but liking look of the zolo q50. Mhhhhh!
Ah new Haglöfs stuff. You just melt. The colors, lines, the design.
Hmm… At least I used to. I do love my Endurance pack, buhhuu.. They aren’t That light, however, they will probably hold up for a good pack lifetime. Worst part though, I just can’t help feeling exhausted by the “this years new range of … ” Sometimes it seems they’re just making a new pack to have a new pack, ditching all they’ve learned and doing it all over again. Just something that crossed my mind.
Still, I do love their design. Mm… Will probably make one of my own though. Girlfriend just promised I’d get to order more fabrics & accessories in september when it’s my birthday. She’s the best. :)
sandstrom.dj, quite agree about the new model thing with haglofs. My Nube down jacket is ace, the lim that came after was flashier in colour but inferior down, a few grammes more, then the replacement was even heavier.
It’s hard to keep up with Haglofs at times.
You know all this switching might almost be helpful in an odd way? Ok rubbish for anything needing near term replacement!
But for the stuff that’ll last 10+ years? (the majority) Then you sort of get a decent chance of randomly hitting something you really like at some stage :)
Ahem! I am classified as a ‘DofE Kid’ and have proudly worn my Berghaus Bioflex 75 on Bronze and Silver! Admittedly the others wore scaffolding, though…
Interesting comments folks.
The Haglofs pack range really needed work, it’s been helluva patchy and I’m kinda excited about the Gram range, formats and features I like with some tweaks from experience wired into them.
That brings me to another good point, regular updates and changes. That’s usually down to new season etc, but some of what’s happening at Haglofs is due to the brand going global and influences, especially from the UK, starting to shape some of the range.
I hope they keep a balance as this process continues though, morphing the brand into a bland middle of the road giant that pleases everyone and shifts big product numbers is something we’ve seen destroy respected names too many times.
How the recession affects all this we’ll see. The far east is the big market for outdoor brands now so it’s probable we won’t see development slow down much. But, more of that in my trade show write-ups, coming soon.
Panavia, best equipped DofE kid out there, you should have got marks off for having it too easy by having good gear :o)
A shame they canned the intense range i think they were superb i love my ACE M and use it all the time, year round (with some savvy packing).
The ethos of the Intese kit is still there, the packs are labelled Intense are some of the lighter kit will be advertised under the same banner, but the Intense clothing will look normal now and just be lighter versions which is what they shouild have done all along, some of the baselayer redesigns put folk off (told them so :o)).
We’ve Trekking Light now though.
Nice photos and info. The packs look neat and good to see some smaller packs with a decent back length.
I must confess to a little disppointment from two perspectives: the loss of the LIMs (I’ll have to treat mine with care) and lack of bucket/stretch pocket of the back of the packs. For me this has become a must-have feature, to stuff muddy overtrousers and anything else needing quick access; the OMM MSC is fine, but bungee cord is just a pain to use and obviously won’t hold loose items.
Do the new packs seem a little more ‘mainstream’? I guess there will soon be some good offers on the old Intense packs and LIMs out there for anyone after one of those.
All good points there. I think there’ll be further developments of the Grams, different carrying options, capacities and the like, the shops have been liking them so they say, so they should be sticking around
Mainstream is right I think, taking the classic format and giving it a makeover. It’s what they all do and it’s amazing how many different directions the manufacturers go in.