Naturehike 65L Backpack

Naturehike has fielded their version of a lightweight backpack featuring an internal frame, roll-top, oversized rear mesh pocket, and large side pouches. This style of backpack has become very popular with backpackers and trekkers due to its low weight and load carrying versatility.

Naturehike offers these backpacks in a 60+5 Liter version (reviewed here) and a 40+5 Liter version. This pack and other Naturehike products can be found on Amazon.

The backpack is designed as a unisex pack, although one seller specifically listed the pack, "for men". Most sites do not list a targeted gender.

Bottom Line Up Front

Unfortunately there are some design issues with this backpack that prevent us from recommending it. These issues compromise the comfort and carry-ability of the pack. More details later on in the review.

While this pack can certainly be carried by beginners, we recommend at least a novice experience level. These minimalist style packs require some knowhow to properly load and distribute weight without the aid of dedicated compartments or multiple access points. However, there is little else in its features, materials, or construction that would require high levels of know-how or outdoor experience.

As for the overall impression, the Naturehike 65+5 Backpack falls below expectations. This is primarily due to the design issues mentioned earlier. Specific details can be found in the Quality paragraph below.

Materials and Measurements

This Naturehike backpack comes in two colors: gray (as shown) and blue. It is primarily constructed from 420 Denier Nylon, mesh pockets, various plastic buckles and cord locks, and paracord style compression straps.

The roll-top opening allows the pack to adjust its overall size based on the size of load you are carrying. For this review we took measurements when the pack was filled to its max capacity (as full as we could get it and still securely roll it closed).

This pack has a long torso length, so short hikers may want to think twice. Remember to measure yourself to ensure a proper fit. The torso length is not adjustable on this pack.

Features

The hipbelt is removeable and includes a zipper enclosed pocket on each side. While you can squeeze a cellphone into the pocket, the fit is tight and you'll be hard pressed to fit much else.

The hipbelt can be adjusted from either the plastic ladder lock buckles on the hip pads or on both sides of the plastic side quick release buckle in the center.

The roll-top is secured in two ways. First, after the top is rolled, plastic adjustable side quick release buckles attach to webbing straps on each side of the pack. These not only keep the top rolled, but allow you to tighten and compress the pack vertically.

The second top closure comes in the form of two paracord style straps that extend from the front, over the top, and attach at the back of the pack. These attachments are adjustable and quick release.

One of the packs best features is the oversized mesh pocket on the back of the backpack. This style of pocket is very popular and versatile. It will readily fit your pair of stream crossing shoes or sandals, your trowel and toilet paper, and your rain soaked tent fly or jacket. Whatever its use, it is spacious and easy to access.

The mesh shoulder strap pocket is really too small to be of much use. It is not deep enough to securely fit a phone, can of bear spray, or a normal sized water bottle. You could use it to store headphones/ear buds, a folded map and compass, a compact camera, or some snacks.

The two mesh side pockets are topped with expandable elastic and easily accept a Nalgene sized water bottle. The paracord style compression strap adjustments and quick release buckles also terminate just above the side pockets.

The pack integrates a designated hydration hose port but does not have a dedicated pocket for a hydration bladder.

The backpack's 420 Denier Nylon is water resistant, but is not impregnated or coated to be water repellent. Instead Naturehike includes a rain cover that fits in a dedicated zipper pocket on the bottom of the pack.

Cost

This pack is affordable. At the time of this review we purchased our Naturehike 65+5 backpack for $89.99 USD on Amazon.

Weight

The Naturehike 65+5 Backpack can certainly be categorized as a lightweight pack with a total overall weight of 2.6 pounds / 41.1 ounces / 1167.2 grams.

The weight savings come primarily from the minimalist design that reduces excess straps, pockets, and zippers. Its roll-top design also eliminates the need for a pack lid. It utilizes a sturdy interior aluminum frame for structure and improved load carrying.

The pack has only one removable component, the rain cover, which contributes 3.0 ounces or 85.7 grams to the overall weight of the pack.

Quality

For us, quality is measured by evaluating design, materials, and construction.

First is design. Many parts of the pack were well designed. It integrates a lot of features that we are starting to see in popular lines of packs. The serious design flaw in this backpack is in the shoulder straps. The straps are well made and adequately cushioned, but they are positioned too close together. They attach to the pack in such a way that the shoulder straps do not naturally contour with your shoulders. The result is an immediate feeling of uncomfortable pressure on your shoulders, close to your neck (trapezius muscles) coming from from the inside edge of the shoulder strap. We had multiple testers of all sizes and genders try on and carry this pack and each one found the shoulder straps uncomfortable.

Below you can see the size of the gap created above the shoulder where the shoulder straps should be making contact. Instead, only a small part of the should strap makes contact high up on the shoulder, near the neck. This becomes uncomfortable very quickly when under load.

As mentioned before, this backpack's torso length is designed for taller hikers. While not uncommon or unexpected, it is too bad that the torso length isn't adjustable.

Naturehike selected quality materials for this pack and it has a good handle and feel to it. The nylon fabric, pocket mesh, and hardware all work well together and function as designed. In fact, we were very impressed with the choices of fasteners and toggles on the pack. They are easy to adjust and most come with a quick release function.

The backpack's construction quality is good. There are no raw or frayed edges and all of the joints and seams look solid. Single stitching was most often used throughout, with some double stitching in a few key areas. Shoulder straps, hip belt, sternum strap, and haul loop are all well made.

Performance

The Naturehike 65+5 backpack struggled in the performance criteria. It is marketed as a "60+5 Liter" or "60/65 Liter" pack, but when we tested the carrying capacity, we tested it at 46 Liters in the main compartment and an additional 10 Liters in the large mesh and side pockets. Normally backpacks are only marketed by what they carry in their main compartments and not outside pockets, but this is not really enforced. The bottom line is that this pack doesn't quite stand up to its 65 Liter advertised capacity.

Additionally, due to the poor design quality of the shoulder straps discussed earlier, the overall performance of the pack suffered. A backpack has to be able to carry loads comfortably for long periods of time. While the pack's size would allow for it to carry enough equipment and provisions for a multi-day trip, the should strap design seriously limits comfort and carrying time. During field testing the pack became seriously uncomfortable after only 30 minutes.

The backpack's nylon fabric has a tight weave and scored a 95 out of a possible 100 during water resistance testing. It will be able to repel light moisture, but will require its rain cover for anything sustained.

We tested the waterproofness of the included rain cover and found that it remained waterproof to 23,900 mmwg. This is a very adequate waterproof rate for a pack cover.

Durability

The backpack's 420 Denier Nylon is very sturdy. During abrasion testing it took an average of 19,485 passes on our abrasion tester to meet failure criteria. This fabric will hold up to a lot of abuse.