OMM Phantom 25 Rucksack

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OMM’s Phantom 25 pairs a decent vest harness with an excellent waist belt arrangement to create an incredibly stable pack for mountain marathoners and runners.

OMM says: 

The ultimate VestPack for adventures racing. Stabilised around your spine our unique 7 point harness connects the pack with the runners spine via a top yoke harness to provide the most stable carry possible. The yoke harness also frees the shoulders allowing a more energy efficient running action. Dual V-shaped anchors hug the waist to provide a secure fit and control bounce swing when on uneven ground.

Our Verdict

Haven’t used this yet so I can’t confirm if OMM’s Phantom 25 Rucksack is as comfortable and stable as OMM state, however I can understand what they’ve done with the harness system and it looks pretty good. For example the hip belt fins are massive and there are two carbon fibre staves at either side of the rucksack which give it stability and key into the hip belt. Add in the shoulder yoke and the twin shoulder straps that flare out at the bottom to make maximum contact with the body and you have something that has ‘stability’ written all over it. The only question mark is the central suspension point and whether this will allow the pack to swing from side to side, I think thats where the staves come in and I don’t think it will be a problem.

Feature-wise the Phantom 25 is stacked with well-sized useable pockets and places to put stuff, the backpanel is a pocket for a foam sleeve which gives added stiffness to the pack and protects you from the pack contents digging in. There’s a conventional lid with a small pocket. I would have liked to have seen a bit more material around the top of the main compartment, it has a drawcord around the top rim but no additional collar to protect the contents, if the Phantom is packed to the brim your kit could be vulnerable.

OMM have a slightly different way of doing things than other rucksack brands, their compression systems and carry features seem overly complex to me leaving the pack quite ‘busy’, but if you are familiar with OMM stuff you’ll probably know this and perhaps appreciate how well things are thought out.

My instinct tells me that the Phantom 25 will carry well and given its lowly weight it’s a great running pack for fast-packing adventures, mountain marathons (no suprise there) or long and fast days in changeable conditions when you need to carry a bit more gear.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Adjustable back-length inc aluminium peg
• Carbon Fibre stays
• EVA padded shoulder vest harness
• Large rear mesh pocket
• Two front bottle pockets
• Two zipped belt pockets
• Duomat sleepmat /back-system
• Reflective detailing
• Hydration bladder compatible
• Front mesh pouches for essentials
• LeanWeight Chassis
• 3D Mesh harness back-system
• Double ended YKK AquaGuard Zips

Specifications

• Weight: 692g
• Capacity: 25 litres
• Back length: 46cm – 54cm
• Material: CORDURA / 30D Nylon

Help & advice:

• The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Ultralight Rucksack
• Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Rucksack