silverorange stuff

The first thing about the Fiamma I noticed is its padded and weight bearing hip belt. It has a very comfortable and well padded hip belt more likely to be seen on an alpine pack than a day pack. The belt, like on larger backpacks, is designed to take most of the weight off the shoulders and transfer it to the hips. This lowers your centre of gravity and also allows you to comfortably carry more weight. As I drink water like a fish and I’m sometimes leading a group I appreciate the ability to carry more weight without having to weigh down my shoulders.

Depending on the model you get, standard or long, the Fiamma is a 35 or 38 liter (2136 cubic inches or 2319 cubic inches) pack. The main compartment of the pack is divided into an upper and lower section, the upper section being larger. Both main compartments are accessible from the outside of the pack via graciously sized openings. The lower compartment is protected by a Uretek zipper. The two side pockets, more compartments than pockets, are also protected by Uretek zippers and are large enough to store medium sized water bottles in. I’ve fit 800ml Nalgenes in them. The front pocket (sticks out from the main body of the pack) is quite roomy. I usually story my rain gear in it as it’s easily accessible.

The pack is made of 420 denier-packcloth, the same fabric as the body of my larger backpack. The fabric is tough and can take a beating. The higher wear areas of the pack, particularly the bottom are reinforced with tougher material. I’ve not had any problems with tearing or fraying despite regularly flopping the pack down on some rough granite or gravel.

The pack is one of the most comfortable packs I’ve worn. It carries weight very well. The shoulder straps, like the hip belt, are adequately padded. There are two compression straps on either side to tighten the load and to strap on any longer items, The pack also features hip and shoulder stabilizer straps allowing the wearer to control weight shift and balance however they see fit. The support, according to MEC, is provided by an “internal plastic framesheet, reinforced by a single aluminum stay”. The support is adequate and I’ve not had any problems carrying a fully weighted load.

In my view there is really only one substantial issue with the design. The panel that sits against your back is completely flat. There are no vents and no pads to keep the majority of the bag off your body. This can lead to a very sweaty back. While this isn’t great for walking to work, it’s not a huge deal for me because when I’m hiking my back will sweat no matter what type of pack I’m wearing.

The pack is designed to accommodate those of us who prefer a water hydration system (bladder and hose). The pack has a large mesh pocket located on the inside back. I've used a 2L platypus bladder and it fits well. Directly above the mesh pocket is the hydration hose pass through. Compared to other pass-throughs I’ve used this one isn’t great. It uses a fabric shingle over a hole for protection. The tube can be passed out to the left or the right of the cover/shingle. The hole is quite small. To fit my Platypus hose through I need to remove the mouth piece. That’s not the end of the world but can pose a challenge when doing so with a full bladder of water.

A few other notable features of the pack are:

• Two straps on the bottom of the pack to secure sleeping pads or similarly shaped items
• Handy internal mesh pocket (with zipper) that has a plastic clip inside for your keys
• Bungee/Shock cord area on the front of the pack for strapping on light objects
• A shock cord in the fabric flap running the length of the front zipper. This allows you to tighten the fabric over the zipper to increase weather protection
• Sternum strap with built in whistle

As I mentioned at the start of this review, this is a great day pack, especially if you’re looking to lighten the load off of your shoulders. I have no major issues with the pack and I’m sure I will continue to use it as my primary daypack for years to come.