Exped Womens Blaze 60 Rucksack

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UOG TOP PICK – Granite Gear Blaze 60 Rucksack – it is still a lightweight pack despite the fact that it is hardwearing and built to carry heavier loads. It is comfortable and full featured which makes the low weight even more impressive.

The new Women’s Blaze 60 is no minimalist pack, it’s brimming with features. It still manages to weigh under 1400g including the lid which is considerably less than most fully featured packs with a recommended carry limit of over 22kg.

Granite Gear says

The Blaze 60 is built to go the distance, comfortably and tailored to you. The A.C. frame let’s you lock in your fit precisely to your torso size. The frame, in combination with the patent-pending fully adjustable Re-Fit hip belt and the molded foam back panel, lets the pack comfortably carry up to 50 lbs. The custom fabric is an innovative technology that makes this our most durable pack to date. In the high-impact and high-abraison areas, we’re using a Granite Gear exclusive 210D Robic nylon UHMWPE triple ripstop. The lid, which is fully removable to cut grams, can be converted to an optional chest pack to carry on your front to keep even more contents at the ready. A tall vertical hidden zipper now allows you to access to main compartment quickly, especially to get to those contents at bottom of pack.

Our Verdict

Granite Gear’s Womens Blaze 60 Rucksack Rucksack has been updated and improved with several new features plus a few taken from Granite Gear’s successful Crown 2. The main body uses a tough 100D ripstop nylon fabric which is also extremely water resistant. On likely wear areas a 210D triple weave ripstop nylon is also used. There are loads of external pockets to choose from – 2 side pockets, 2 hip belt pockets, top lid pocket and a stretch stuff pocket making packing and organising much easier.

This pack does everything I could want from a multi-day rucksack plus a few more things I hadn’t even thought of. The Blaze 60 is a supremely comfortable rucksack to carry for long days. When you load it up with extra food or water, you can feel the additional weight but with no impact on the comfort. Granite Gear give a recommended carry limit of over 22kg and I’ll never get anywhere near that but reckon the Blaze would definitely be capable of coping. It does mean that with a lighter load it feels amazing.

If you value comfort as your top priority but still want a lightweight pack capable of carrying a heavier load on long trips or in Winter then the Blaze 60 is a superb option.

The other classic rucksack from Granite Gear is the Crown3 and most people looking at the Blaze will probably look at the Crown3 as well. The headline difference is that the Blaze is designed to carry heavier loads than the Crown so it has a stiffer and more padded harness, the weight penalty for this extra facility is around 230g, so not insignificant. For a full look at the differences between these packs follow this link.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

• UOG review – Granite Gear Blaze 60 Rucksack
• Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice 2019

Features

• All new A.C. (Air Current) Frame with 50lb. (22.7 kg) load rating
• Specific Adjustment points to lock in your exact torso size.
• Dual density shoulder harness with load-lifter straps, removable sternum strap and whistle buckle for safety.
• Re-Fit fully adjustable dual density hip belt (from 26 – 42 in on Blaze 60 & from 24 – 40 in on Women’s Fit Blaze 60)
• Dual large hip belt pockets with DWR treated zippers that fit plus-sized smartphones with room to spare
• Cinch-and-roll closure with crossing webbing straps to compress and secure the pack’s contents
• Removable lid compartment with DWR treated zipper that converts to optional chest pack to carry on your front
• Hydration port & Internal hydration sleeve
• Large fabric side pockets with reinforced bottom panels and cinch closure
• Tall stretch woven front pocket
• Hidden zipper access to main compartment for quick access to contents at bottom of pack
• Three-tier side and front compression straps system.
• 100D Robic High-tenacity nylon with Barrier DWR main body
• Exclusive 210 D Robic nylon UHMWPE triple ripstop (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene)

Specifications

Short

• Weight: 1326g (without lid), 1404g (with the lid)
• Torso length: 15-18 inches/ 38-46 cm
• Litres: 60
• 22.7kg load rating

Regular

• Weight: 1374g (without lid), 1454g (with the lid)
• Torso length: 18-21 inches/ 46-53.5 cm
• Litres: 60
• 22.7kg load rating

Help & advice:

• The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Ultralight Rucksack
• Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Rucksack
• Crown 2 vs Blaze