The Atom Packs “The Mo” 50L is a fantastically crafted inner body backpack made throughout the pond in England. Weighing 32.1 oz (910g) and made with waterproof Ecopak EPX200, it’s a roll-top backpack that’s loaded with options and pockets that may enchantment to most thru-hikers and hill walkers. I’ve been notably impressed with that pack’s body and suspension system, which is able to carrying surprisingly heavy masses with nice consolation and ease. If you’re searching for a extremely useful backpack that has a singular edge to it, take a look at Atom Packs, “The Mo.” They additionally present no-hassle delivery to the USA.
Specs at a Glance
- Model: Stock Pre-Built; additionally out there as a customized pack
- Volume: 45L in major physique + 2.5L in all sides pockets + 5L in entrance mesh pocket (not counted in complete)
- Weight: 32.1 oz (910g) (torso medium, hipbelt medium)
- Weight Tested: 33.6 oz(953g) (torso medium, hipbelt xl)
- Gender: Unisex
- Torso Lengths Available: 15-17″, 17-19″, 19″-21″, 21-23″
- Pockets: 6
- Shoulder Straps: S-shaped
- Frame: Plastic framesheet and middle aluminum keep
- Load Lifters: Yes
- Hydration Compatible: Yes
- Material: Body-Ecopak EPX200; Side pockets -Robic Extrema; Mesh – Dyneema Mesh
- Seam-taped: No
- Mfg Recommended Base Weight: 22 lbs (10kg)
- Mfg Max Recommended Load: 42 lbs (19kg)
Backpack Storage and Organization
The Mo 50 is an ordinary, however fashionable roll-top pack, that appears actually cool in black Ecopak with orange highlights. I by no means thought I’d like a black backpack earlier than, however this pack is beautiful. The inside is white, nevertheless, so you’ll be able to truly see what’s inside.
While the pack cloth is waterproof, the seams are usually not sealed, so I’d nonetheless suggest lining the within with a plastic bag. The major compartment is hydration suitable with a hose port over every shoulder strap. There is an inner strap and hook inside to hold a reservoir, however no inner pocket to carry it in place.
The Mo has two aspect water bottle pockets that may match two SmartWater bottles or two 1L Nalgene bottles aspect by aspect. The bottles are reachable when sporting the pack. The aspect pockets have an elastic twine/cordlock combo to safe the bottles alongside the highest and drain holes within the backside to take away moisture. The pockets are made with “Robic Extrema”, which is simply Robic nylon with High-Density Polyethylene Fibers (HDPE) fibers working by means of it and is straightforward to patch with Tenacious Tape should you gap it.
The ends of the roll-top will be buckled to the edges of the pack with lengthy webbing straps or collectively on high of the principle compartment. If buckled on high, you’ll be able to loop the aspect webbing straps across the entrance of the pack for added compression or to connect gear like snowshoes or a foam pad. The high of the roll-top has two plastic snaps to carry the highest closed earlier than rolling.
The Mo additionally has a backside stretch pocket on the bottom of the pack, which has actually simply develop into a preferred characteristic on backpacks prior to now two years. Many folks use it to stash a day’s value of snacks and meals, or hats and gloves, to allow them to be reached when you’re strolling withing having to cease. One finish of the pocket is totally open, whereas the opposite has a small trash gap the place you’ll be able to stuff sweet and snack wrappers for disposal later.
I actually like this backside stretch pocket as a result of I don’t prefer to take meals breaks after I hike, however I’m additionally not superb at snacking to maintain my power up and depend on willpower as a substitute. But I can stash fairly a little bit of meals into this backside pocket and pull it with out stopping, which I’ve actually come to understand the extra I exploit the pack. Old canines can be taught new tips.
The backside stretch pocket is made with the identical Dyneema mesh discovered on the entrance pocket, however I can’t say how lengthy it would final should you put your pack on the bottom. That’s often the very best abrasion level on a backpack and all materials break down there finally. While Dyneema fibers are robust, the Dyneema mesh is primarily nylon 6.6 which isn’t notably abrasion resistant for this utility. Ask me about it in a yr or two, as a result of I’ll most likely nonetheless be utilizing this pack then.
The entrance stretch pocket can maintain 5L of things however shouldn’t be included within the 50L quantity of the remainder of the backpack. It has sufficient stretch although that you would be able to get a 1L cookpot into the pocket when the pack is packed tight. There are additionally seven cloth loops sewn into the seams of the entrance pocket which Atom has threaded with elastic twine. I’ve left it in place for illustration, however I often take away cords like them as quickly as I get a pack that has them. I hike off-trail loads and also you don’t need elastic cords hanging off a pack for that type of factor.
Backpack Frame and Suspension
The factor that makes The Mo backpack “sing” is the body, the hip belt, and the truth that the pack is barely slender (10.5″ extensive by my measure) like a climbing backpack. All that makes it tremendous snug to hold, with a hipbelt that doesn’t slip and a body able to a most carry of 42 lbs (says Atom Packs). I feel that’s fairly shut though you’ll have a tough time becoming that a lot heavy gear or water into or onto the pack. I’ve carried as much as 33 lbs with it on lengthy water carries and felt that I may have carried much more weight if crucial.
The Mo body is a formed plastic sheet with a middle aluminum keep which comes pre-bent however will be bent and modified should you want one thing a bit totally different. Both terminate within the middle of the pack, behind a modest lumbar pad on the hip belt. Both body elements are detachable, however there’s little motive to. In addition, the again of the pack behind the shoulder straps is padded with 8mm closed cell foam and lined with 500D textured nylon, which has a softshell look and feels good towards your again.
The hip belt has a single middle buckle with two tiers of webbing straps so you’ll be able to tighten it to match the form of your hips, enabling a personalized match for each women and men. The hip belt is 4″ extensive, backed with spacer mesh, and calmly padded, with a modest lumbar pad within the again which helps hold the pack in place on the hip girdle. The hip belt is replaceable should you want a distinct measurement and is held in place by velcro behind the lumbar pad.
The Mo doesn’t include hip belt pockets, however Atom Packs sells them as an non-compulsory add-on. They slip over the hip belt and are held in place by back and front webbing loops. The pocket that got here with my pack is made with waterproof Ecopak and has a water-proof zipper, however the ones listed on the market on the web site are solely made with Robic Extrema. I’d inquire if you need one with waterproof cloth.
The shoulder straps are S-shaped, in order that they’ll work for women and men, curving across the delicate bits They’re additionally ightly padded and backed with spacer mesh. Both straps have daisy chains sewn on the entrance, however they’re each lined with sewn-on and non-removable stretch mesh pockets sized for a Smartphone or snack bars. Despite this, you’ll be able to nonetheless entry the daisy chains underneath them and transfer the sternum strap up or down.
I wasn’t initially thrilled with these pockets, as a result of I like including my very own accent pockets that I transfer between my backpacks. But I obtained used to those on The Mo fairly shortly and located I preferred them. The elastic mesh they’re made with holds onto your telephone even should you bend over, however doesn’t present any moisture safety in rain. The pockets are an possibility on the customized 50L Mo, so you’ll be able to decide to not have them added to the pack should you’re keen to attend for a customized pack to be made.
External Attachment Points and Compression
I’ve touched on plenty of the exterior attachment factors already together with the webbing loops and elastic twine surrounding the entrance stretch pocket, the shoulder strap daisy chains, and hip belt attachment loops. The Mo additionally has a high Y strap which is nice for securing a foam pad or bear canister to the highest of the principle compartment. There’s additionally an ice axe loop and a bungee twine to safe the shaft.
In addition to the highest compression offered by the roll high’s aspect straps, The Mo comes with elastic cords and rope locks alongside the edges of the pack. But they actually don’t present any compression functionality, even when they’re changed by static twine. The twine is solely not thick sufficient to compress the pack. Their actual perform is to safe objects, like trekking poles or a Tenkara rod to the aspect of the pack in order that they don’t fall off.
You can take away the elastic twine, in fact, and slide webbing straps with gatekeeper clips by means of the webbing loops that anchor the cords if you need more practical compression plus an attachment level. But actually, I’ve by no means understood why ultralight and light-weight pack producers decide to make use of aspect cords as a substitute of webbing, when doing so removes any compression profit.
Comparable Lightweight Backpacks
Recommendation
Atom Pack’s “The Mo” is out there as a inventory mannequin with a set of normal options or as a customized construct along with your alternative of colours and different choices. I feel the inventory all-black mannequin, reviewed right here, is beautiful, not simply in its look but additionally functionally. The pack carries splendidly due largely to its distinctive body and slender dimensions, its extremely adjustable hip belt, and simply accessible pockets that are reachable when you’re in movement. I actually can’t consider any backpack that I at the moment personal and would moderately carry than The Mo 50. It is an distinctive light-weight backpack that may maintain its personal with average masses and put a smile in your face. Highly beneficial!
Disclosure: Atom packs donated a backpack for assessment.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, check, and fee the perfect merchandise. We solely earn cash if you buy a product by means of our affiliate hyperlinks. Help us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free mountain climbing guides.