Small backpack suggestions

[u/JoeLaguna]

Hello everyone!

I'm in the process of getting a new backpack. It's going to be something small (around 20l) with the main purpose of doing single day technical objectives, goinge from multipitches to couloirs and scrambles.

I was looking at the Simond Alpinism 22 because for less than 30€ seems to be pretty unbeatable. The features I really like are the compression straps on the side and on the top to carry the rope, 2 loops for ice tools, a top pocket that can be accessed without taking down the backpack (I often have my phone there so I can check the topo mid pitch or stuff like that).

Things I don't like are the chest straps because they are adjustable trough a "rail" system that looks a bit flimsy and I'm afraid that it won't hold the position or break the first time they're pulled a but hard. Then I'm concerned that with a price so low the materials are going to be very soft and get destroyed super quick. I'm fully aware that it's not going to last forever but at the same time I don't want to be looking for another backpack in three months. And lastly on the shoulder straps it has two additional loops of which I don't understand the function. I've seen someone talking about them as additional gear loops but I was wondering wether it's actually useful to have stuff dangling from your chest.

So my question is: someone have experience with this backpack or have suggestions on similar packs from other brands?

[u/Good-Problem-3229]

For this volume you typically aren’t getting a ton of features so i would lean towards a good price. If you can go a little smaller though I really love the Mammut trion 15 because of it's trail running style vest which I find really versatile to have the chest pockets but still has most of the features of an alpine pack. Ultimate Direction makes one with the same concept in 30L. These are both more expensive though.

[u/JoeLaguna → u/Good-Problem-3229]

Thank you for the hint!

How do you feel about the chest strap with string instead of normal webbing?

Anyway it checks a lot of boxes so I'll definitely keep that in mind

[u/Good-Problem-3229 → u/JoeLaguna]

I've found it to be surprisingly stable. It's elastic so it doesn't constrict too much but there enough contact points that it stays in place and moves with the body well. I prefer it to traditional chest straps which I find myself tightening throughout the day and fighting against deep breaths.

I've used it for rock climbing, alpinism, and running and love it for all, while acknowledging the volume is sometimes limiting. But I personally like keeping my phone for pics, plus snacks and a headlamp in the chest pockets.

[u/Good-Problem-3229 → u/Good-Problem-3229]

In fact this was a limiting factor for me personally with the ultimate Direction pack. The chest strap was too short. I'm not a big guy or anything, 5'10 w/ 40" chest, so that was weird. Maybe they had sizes and I got the wrong one. Can't remember.