A day on Yr Wyddfa asks you to carry spare layers, a waterproof, food, water, a map and compass and a torch. The pack to carry them in is the Deuter Futura 27.
Deuter prints its back length, includes a rain cover and fits it with padded hip fins. Four other packs follow for a women’s fit, a larger size or a lighter load.
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The five packs, at a glance:
- Deuter Futura 27, 27 litres, back length 44 to 54 cm, rain cover included
- Deuter Futura 25 SL, 25 litres, women’s fit, back length 38 to 48 cm
- Gregory Juno 30, 30 litres, women’s fit, one torso size
- Osprey Talon 22, 22 litres, men’s fit, hip belt with two zipped pockets
- Osprey Tempest Velocity 20, 20 litres, women’s fit, adjustable torso length
| Your day out | What to carry |
|---|---|
| You want a printed back length, hip fins and a rain cover in the box | Deuter Futura 27 |
| You want a women specific fit with a shorter back length | Deuter Futura 25 SL |
| You want a women's fit and the largest volume of the five | Gregory Juno 30 |
| You want a men's fit with a hip belt and two zipped hip pockets | Osprey Talon 22 |
| You move light and fast and want a torso length you can adjust | Osprey Tempest Velocity 20 |
Deuter Futura 27
You want a pack whose back length is printed, with a rain cover included
Deuter Futura 27 Walking Rucksack 27 litres, back length 44 to 54 cmPadded hip fins with two pockets, rain cover included Read the full specification on Amazon Deuter lists a back length of 44 to 54 cm, for a body height of 170 to 195 cm. The pack weighs 1250 g and the hip fins are padded and carry two pockets.
The printed back length is the reason it leads. The fit is a number you can check against the maker’s range before you order.
Deuter also lists room for a drinking reservoir of up to 3 litres, and an ice axe and pole attachment on one side. A rain cover is included.
Best for: a walker whose body height falls inside Deuter’s 170 to 195 cm range.
Deuter Futura 25 SL
You have a shorter back and want a women specific fit
Deuter Futura 25 SL Women's Rucksack 25 litres, back length 38 to 48 cmWomen specific fit, rain cover included Read the full specification on Amazon Deuter lists 25 litres and 1210 g. The back length is 38 to 48 cm, for a body height of 158 to 178 cm. The fit is women specific and designed for smaller physiques.
Deuter says the SL carrying system is somewhat shorter than its standard packs, because on average women have shorter backs than men.
The hip fins are padded with pockets for items you want within reach. A rain cover is included.
Best for: a walker with a shorter back who wants a women specific fit.
Gregory Juno 30
You want a women's fit and the most volume of the five
Gregory Juno 30 Women's Day Rucksack 30 litres, 0.93 kgPadded hip belt with large zippered pockets, rain cover included Read the full specification on Amazon Gregory lists 30 litres at 0.93 kg, with a padded hip belt cut for a women’s fit and large zippered pockets. The shoulder harness is women specific, and it has a trekking pole attachment.
The Juno 30 comes in one torso size, so there is no back length to choose between. A rain cover is included. The internal sleeve takes a drinking reservoir, but the reservoir is not included.
Best for: a walker who wants a women’s fit and a 30 litre pack.
Osprey Talon 22
You want a men's fit with a hip belt and zipped hip pockets
Osprey Talon 22 Men's Hiking Pack 22 litres, men's fit, S/M sizeHip belt with two zippered pockets Read the full specification on Amazon The Amazon listing sells this as the 22 litre men’s hiking backpack with a hip belt, in the S/M size. It has two zippered hip belt pockets and a light attachment.
It has a hip belt and dual-zippered access to the main compartment. It gives no torso range, weight or rain cover, so check Osprey’s size chart for the S/M range before you order.
A separate Deuter cover for 20 to 35 litre packs comes further down.
Best for: a walker who wants a men’s fit in a 22 litre pack.
Osprey Tempest Velocity 20
You move light and fast and want an adjustable torso length
Osprey Tempest Velocity 20 Women's Pack 20 litres, women's fit, XS/S sizeUp to four inches of torso adjustment Read the full specification on Amazon The Amazon listing describes a multi-sport pack with a running-vest style harness that takes soft flasks.
It lists up to four inches of torso adjustment, a top cinch closure and a zippered pocket on the right side of the hip belt.
The listing is for the XS/S size.
Choose it only if you walk light and fast and carry little. Other walkers should start with the larger packs above.
Best for: a light, fast walker who wants a torso length that adjusts.
What a day on Snowdon needs to carry
The Eryri National Park Authority, which runs the national park, says getting caught in rain without waterproof layers can be very dangerous on Yr Wyddfa. It also tells walkers to carry extra layers.
The summit can be much colder than the start of the path.
For the rest, the Authority lists a map and compass, enough food and drink, a charged phone, a torch and a small first aid kit. Its safety page adds a whistle.
AdventureSmart, a safety campaign whose pages cover hill walking and other outdoor activities, publishes a UK wide kit list. It adds spare warm clothing, spare socks and a survival bag.
It also names a rucksack that is well fitted, adjusted correctly and comfortable.
Ordnance Survey, Britain’s national mapping agency, says a 20 to 35 litre backpack is likely to be enough for a long day hike. It says this depends on the season and the pack size of your gear.
That is OS guidance for day hikes in general, not a Snowdon rule. All five packs here fall inside it.
Back length and hip belt
Fit details for each pack:
- Deuter Futura 27: back length 44 to 54 cm, body height 170 to 195 cm.
- Deuter Futura 25 SL: back length 38 to 48 cm, body height 158 to 178 cm.
- Gregory Juno 30: torso length in one size.
- Osprey Tempest Velocity 20: up to four inches of torso adjustment, according to the Amazon listing.
- Osprey Talon 22: no torso range on the listing.
Only the two Deuter packs give a back length in centimetres.
All five have a hip belt. The two Deuter packs list padded hip fins with pockets.
The Gregory has a padded hip belt with large zippered pockets. The Talon listing shows two zippered hip belt pockets, and the Tempest Velocity listing one on the right side.
Rain covers and liners
Three of the five packs come with a cover: both Futura packs and the Juno 30. The Amazon listings for the two Osprey packs do not mention one.
For those two, Deuter’s rain cover for 20 to 35 litre packs is made for that size range. Both Osprey packs fall inside it.
The cover weighs 85 g, with reflective detailing and a drawcord.
OS also suggests a pack liner if rain is a serious possibility, and dry bags to keep kit dry. AdventureSmart names a dry bag for your phone and charger.
What fits in 20 and 30 litres
The kit list from the Authority and AdventureSmart, set beside the litre sizes:
- Clothing: waterproof jacket, waterproof over-trousers, extra layers, hat and gloves, spare socks.
- Navigation and safety: map and compass, torch, whistle, first aid kit, survival bag.
- Food and drink: water, a flask of hot drink, high energy snacks.
- Phone: charged, with a portable charger, in a dry bag.
The sizes run 20 L (Tempest Velocity), 22 L (Talon), 25 L (Futura 25 SL), 27 L (Futura 27) and 30 L (Juno). OS says your pack should be roomy enough for your kit but not bursting at the seams.
When you do not need a new rucksack
The bag you already own may be enough. If it takes the kit list above, you do not need to buy another.
It should also be, in AdventureSmart’s words, well fitted, adjusted correctly and comfortable. A bag that cannot carry that list comfortably is the one to replace.
The kit for a day walking in Snowdonia is set out item by item on its own page.
We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.
Which fit goes with which back
Women’s fit: the Deuter Futura 25 SL, with a back length of 38 to 48 cm, the Gregory Juno 30 in one torso size, and the Osprey Tempest Velocity 20.
Men’s fit: the Osprey Talon 22.
Deuter’s standard fit with a printed back length: the Deuter Futura 27, at 44 to 54 cm.
Adjustable torso length: the Osprey Tempest Velocity 20, up to four inches per its listing.
