Gossamer Gear Trailblazer 3 Waist Pack

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Montane Trailblazer 3 is a compact, minimalist waist pack for fast mountain adventures. It features durable recycled fabrics and a T-Hook system for customisation. The pack also has a comfortable thermoformed back panel and shaped shoulder straps. It is ideal for carrying essential items on shorter missions.

Montane says: 

Evolving our innovative trailblazer packs to be more adaptable and with less environmental impact for ultimate versatility when moving quickly through the mountains.

The Montane Trailblazer 3L Waist Pack is the perfect size pack for fast and light missions where you need the bare essentials, but you still want to carry walking poles. The durable design has been updated with RAPTOR CROSS LITE 70D recycled fabric that has a PFC-Free DWR coating to keep your valuables dry.

The Trailblazer 3L Waist Pack is built to adapt to your adventure with the new Montane T-Hook system and the easy-to-access storage options, while the highly breathable air mesh back panel and secure straps add comfort for long days on the trail.

This durable waistpack is the ultimate companion for fast-paced mountain missions, including walking, hiking and fastpacking.

We’ve taken the durable triple ripstop base fabric of our original Trailblazer and built the entire XT pack out of it, giving you 210 denier durable Nylon protection on every face of the pack. The Raptor Cross 210D Nylon is recycled, has Triple Ripstop and a PFC-Free DWR Coating – it provides reliable abrasion resistance against rock and ice.

The Montane T-Hook system is a custom design that allows fixing points to be relocated on the pack, and is now seen across the Trailblazer range. The T-Hooks are secured through laser-cut holes to either side of the front panel and have been tested in the mountains to provide maximum adaptability with the minimum weight.

Our Verdict

The Montane Trailblazer 3 is a minimalist yet highly functional waist pack designed for fast and light mountain adventures. At just 3 litres, it is compact enough to carry only the essentials when moving quickly over trails or off-trail.

One of the standout features is Montane’s use of durable, recycled fabrics that minimise environmental impact without sacrificing performance. The main body is made from a tough 70D recycled ripstop nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating to shed moisture. Despite being ultra-light at 182g, the construction feels bombproof.

The pack is optimised for versatility with Montane’s modular T-Hook system, which allows repositioning lashing points on the front panel. This enables customising attachments like trekking poles or extra gear. The layout of the pockets is also well thought out, with sizeable stretchy side pockets, an organisational sleeve, and easy access to the main compartment.

Carrying comfort is excellent thanks to the thermoformed back panel with air mesh padding that wraps securely around your waist. The shaped shoulder straps and buckle allow a stable, bounce-free fit when running or scrambling.

While small, the 3L volume is sufficient for carrying lightweight essentials like an insulating layer, food, basic safety gear, and a bit more on shorter missions.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS – Durable recycled Nylon fabrics throughout the packs ensure reduced environmental impact without compromise
• MODULAR ADAPTABLE DESIGN – Montane T-Hook works alongside laser cut holes either side of front panel to offer adaptable easy to reach storage solutions
• IMPROVED VERSATILITY – Improved pockets configuration throughout offers more versatile easy access storage, allowing more variety of carry to be stowed securely
• IMPROVED STABILITY – Gender specific moulded back panel and shaped front straps add stability and comfort when picking up the pace
• Padded, highly breathable air mesh back panel with wrap around fit and central waist buckle
• Two large easy access stretch mesh hip fin pockets
• Main pocket with internal organisation sleeve and key clip
• Bonded front panel and modular T-hook system – can be used to attach poles, bungee system

Specifications

• Weight: 182g
• Capacity: 3L

Material & Construction

• Main – Raptor Cross Lite 70D 100% Nylon (recycled) with durable UTS Polyurethane Composite coating and a PFC-Free DWR Coating
• Lining – Halo 200D 100% Polyester with PFC-Free DWR Coating
• Mesh Pockets – Power Mesh 80% Nylon (recycled) 20% Elastane mesh
• Shoulder Straps & Hip fins – Contact Air Mesh Plus 100% Polyester (recycled)

Help & advice:

• The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Ultralight Rucksack
• Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Rucksack
• About Montane
• Recycled Content in Outdoor Gear
• Why is ‘PFC Free’ Important?