Awesome review! I am Dan's wife, and I may be able to offer some insight into the vertical zipper on the one side pocket. The idea behind that zippered pocket is to store items that you would like to be able to access (or store away) while wearing the pack, without removing the pack altogether. The hip belt pockets do that to a degree, but can't store larger items such as a hiking cap, toque, or gloves. I always start my mornings with a toque and gloves on, and store my baseball cap in that pocket, and then swap them out when it gets warmer. It's not entirely necessary, but certainly nice for quick access to larger items. I hope that helps, and we really appreciate the solid review! Hike on! - T
Thanks for the insight!! Honestly hat and glove storage would be perfect, I always end up using my fleece pockets for that but they're not ideal, so this is great advice. Also, just want to say I was a huge fan of your Great Divide videos, they singularly convinced me to hike that trail one day, and I ended up showing my family just so they would understand why I suddenly became enamored with the trail! I'm flattered and honored you commented, thank you 😊
I took this pack out (with my xmid) to the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming too! I hit up the waterfalls on Big Goose Creek. The quick pocket is one of my favorite features, I put a map, gloves, weed kit, and poncho in it. I can easily look at the map or put gloves on or off without taking the pack off. I put just the bottom of my x-mid into the top of the side pocket and use the compression cords to secure the rest of the tent. This leaves most of the volume of the side pocket to be used for the quick pocket. It's a pretty cool pack, I like it a lot. And it's a great price.
This review and your G4-20 review are really well done. They are the right kind of informative and don't have any needless fluff. I had been wondering which pack you preferred in what situations and I think the information in the video description answers that.
Thank you! I'd like to delve more into "what gear fits what situation" more in videos, but ultimately, I think those opinions belong in other types of videos rather than in these types of straight reviews. I might make some of those in the future. And not to complicate things even more, but I picked up a Dandee 35L at the beginning of winter and have a strong suspicion that it will become my new go-to pack 🙄 My kit keeps shrinking 😅 And I even found the G4-20 a bit large by the end of my late fall adventure with it, so I hope to learn something from venturing into the territory of a pack with only 27L of internal space.
@@TaylorPassofaro First time hearing of the Dandee 35. What got you interested in that pack? Seems similar to a Simple Pack, but I think that about a lot of packs these days lol.
@@Ruckanonymous Honestly, it was about as close to an impulse buy as I've ever done. Although I was a bit primed for it. I've enjoyed watching Darwin's videos a lot, and his Waymark Evlv seemed ridiculously tiny at the time, but also looked fantastic. Fast forward a bit, and after I realized that even the G4-20 was a bit large for my fall adventure on the Superior Trail, I realized that an even lighter weight summer trip would start to border on a bit cumbersome, since these frameless packs really work best when packed tight. Suddenly that Waymark Evlv size didn't seem so outlandish, and I started thinking about whether I should seriously consider looking for an even lower volume pack. At the same time, the MYOG posts on the ULGearTrade subreddit started catching my eye, and I loved the idea of trying out a pack from a one-person shop. Those two ideas slowly started to overlap in my head. And then one afternoon, a few Dandee 35 packs popped up for sale, including one that seemed perfect for me. All black XPac, with turquoise blue side pockets, loops for a hip belt, and a super clean look. I decided to give it a shot. In person, the pack looks fantastic, and after testing it out on a day hike with a full set-up, I'm really excited to try it in the summer.
@@TaylorPassofaro I appreciate the time you took to write this response! I love the ULGearTrade sub and I'm surprised I never saw the sale of these on there. I can understand what you mean about wanting to pack the smaller, ultralight packs very tight. I went through a similar journey as you are with my Granite Gear 60 liter to my ULA Photon. Until I got my Photon, I was worried about how often I was trying out new packs and not able to find the right one. But tring out multiple packs really lets you figure out what you like/don't like and then you can get a semi-custom or custom pack that has everything you're looking for. Can't wait for the review of the Dandee once you've tested it out.
Nice review!...Cool feature on the chest strap you didn't mention... they slide up & down as well for perfect vertical chest placement! And if you want your mesh... just grab a cheapo mesh laundry bag to keep your little stuff safe!
Thank you! You are entirely correct, the chest strap does slide quite well, but I thought that was a standard enough feature on backpacks of this class I didn't mention it 🤷♀️ I was also looking into getting a mesh bag for the back, that's a fantastic idea! I'm going to stick with the stock setup for a bit longer to see if I really miss it though.
Just got this! My base weight is 16lb trying to get it lower but this pack is a gem forsure! I am smaller with a total body weight of 128lb so I really appreciate this Light weight pack! I am going to try and bend the frame a little bit and see if that helps with the ergodynamics, thanks for this video I have takin it out now a couple times and didn’t even realize the little zipper pocket! I am hiking the lone star trail with this so we’ll see how it holds!
I have been up to Lost Twins twice with my family. It is so beautiful there and both times I went there was no one else there. Anyways, small world I suppose. I think you just sold me on this pack!
What is it about the G4-20 that causes you to choose the DD40 sometimes.....I know you mentioned durability but the G4-20 is Robic nylon which I have found to be pretty tuff.....also I have never had any problems with the mesh pocket durability but I tend to be careful with my equipment.....Ive seen through hikers show some picks and small tears but after 2000 miles its still pretty impressive...? I appreciate your insights and reviews...very helpful....!!!
Good question, but unfortunately I don't have a clear answer. I just kinda "feel" what pack calls to me on a particular trip. A lot of it is durability when I'm nervous about things, and although I know robic is strong, I still just like the peace of mind that the DD40 offers sometimes. When I was in the AZ mountains, I didn't want to think about all the sharp things I might brush against and the DD40 was perfect for that. I'll also reach for the DD40 if I want more load hauling capabilities since I found the compression options on the G4-20 were lacking and if it wasn't loaded up tightly it felt all floppy and not as comfortable. However, I also haven't been reaching for the G4-20 that often because of another reason... imgur.com/a/Et91GxB
Did it come that way? Or did you remove the frame and then replace it? I had a tough time as well before it seated properly, so the struggle isn't uncommon. Most backpacking frames are going to be very snug in their holders so this is a common issue, but it it's truly a manufacturing defect you should reach out to Drop.
Thank you! I appreciate it 😊 The blue hat is an REI Hiker Hat that I got a few years ago, but I don't think they make it anymore?? The most comparable one is their Screeline hat, which is kinda similar. www.rei.com/product/168186/rei-co-op-screeline-cap EDIT: I found it! It was called the blast cap. No longer made... www.rei.com/product/110956/rei-co-op-blast-cap
Thank you! I haven't had the chance to test this in heavy rain, however I imagine it would hold up better than most packs with the X-Pac being a bit more waterproof than other fabrics.
Great review bro. Just ordered the Osprey Exos45 and am wondering if I made a mistake. The only thing I’m concerned about is how this pack handles in hotter weather. Hawaii hot. I swear I project more heat than most people and can’t stand a hot sweaty back. What was your experience with that? Thanks 🙏
Thank you! The Exos was actually the very first pack I got but unfortunately I had to give it to my brother because the top of my glutes hit the frame after 2 days of backpacking with it (strange issue, haven't heard of anyone else having it). I can report that the airframe back does help and works well, but as with all packs with suspended mesh back panels, the hip belt didn't have airflow and so even though my back was dry, my hips were not spared. After getting my Crown 2 and being largely fine with a non-suspended panel, I realized that for me, it wasn't a feature I cared about a lot, although I know many people do enjoy them. Onto your original question: How does the DD40 handle hot weather? I found it perfectly fine, but of course it's not going to work as well as an Exos for ventilation. I took it to a local spot backpacking with a few friends in the dead of the humid MN summer and it wasn't as bad as I expected for solid XPac against my back. The frame allows me to periodically cinch the belt tighter and let the pack cantilever away from my back for a bit of a rest, but you can do that on pretty much any pack. I would gladly take it into the summer heat again. That being said, ventilation is one of those things that is a bit more personal preference, there are higher and lower tolerances for something like that so I wouldn't take my words as gospel, even if I wish I could give you a perfect answer.
I'm curious about the interior hydration bladder loop. That is simply for transporting water, correct? As there is no port for a hose for drinking directly from a bladder? I'm aware that ultralight folks prefer bottles, but I'm one of those who drinks much more when I can use a bladder while hiking. However, I'm open to a different option. Just wanted to be sure of the need with this pack.
Good question! It's not obvious in looking at the pack (and I should have mentioned it in the video) but there is a port on the right side for routing a hose. It's really well camouflaged, it's just a flap of fabric next to the line-loc tensioner, but I can confirm it's there. I once used a bladder while hiking, but switched to smartwater bottles for simplicity and weight. I do agree a hose makes it much easier to drink a lot of water, which is why easy to access side pockets are so important.
Breathability is one of those topics that is a bit more subjective and personal. Short answer here: this pack is not breathable. But the longer answer is more nuanced. Technically when you're wearing this pack, you've got a sheet of solid XPac along your back and a soft mesh hip-belt that wraps around your hips. That combination does not let your back breathe as well as something with a trampoline style mesh back, like an Exos, Optic, Arc Blast, or Levity. However, those packs do come with trade-offs, and personally for me, even when I used an exos, the largest issue was that my hips still got sweaty. Even if my back was a bit more dry (it wasn't perfect) the hip belt still lacked ventilation and at the end of the day that meant that the benefit of a ventilated frame didn't matter as much. Granted, I do primarily sweat through my back - the rest of my body is relatively dry when I hike - but my back isn't spared from that, and I found this pack to be completely fine for my body. If you're the type of person that absolutely needs a ventilated frame, look towards the Osprey Levity or Gregory Optic, or the non DCF Arc Blast/Haul as good options in the lightweight range. However, I found myself really freed when I got away from the Exos because I found that my life wasn't significantly worse without a ventilated frame, and it opened up a huge variety of packs for use. If you're curious about what a non ventilated lightweight pack feels like, the DD40 is a good start, but you really do have a lot of options here.
Great Review! I'm 5'10'', do you think this M/L pack would be too large for me? I also watched your Gossamer Gear G4-20 review. How would you compare the DD40and the G4-20?
Thank you! I think the M/L would probably work, but not all 5'10" people have the same torso lengths, so you should probably figure out your torso size before commiting. I'm not sure if I mentioned, but I'm 6'0" and have a 19.5" torso. As for the comparison to the G4-20, they fall into different categories of packs for me, despite having similar volumes. I think I probably enjoy the G4-20 more just because it feels more like "my style" of pack, but I also go on more trips where the G4-20 style is preferred. The nicely maintained north wood trails in MN don't need a ton of ruggedness, nor the frame for water carries. I love how comfortable the hip belt is, that extra zipped pocket is wonderful, and the blue color just feels like me. The DD40 feels more at home in mountains, or in wet conditions where the resiliency of XPac is appreciated, but I'm still not sure how I will end up using both of them in the long term. I suspect both will have a place in my closet. Both packs do well in many environments, and while the DD40 is more versatile, the G4-20 is the one I reach for more often on my style of packs.
Great review. Would you recommend this pack for weights around 30 lbs? Also, I've never had a pack that didn't have some breathable mesh on the panel touching your back. How did you find that aspect?
Thank you! I'd say the upper limit for comfort is 30lbs, as I mentioned briefly in the video, I use this with around 33lb of water bottles for doing stairs in my apartment complex, and after 2 hours, it's still manageable. However, this comfort is highly dependent on how you load up the pack. This isn't something unique to the DD40, all packs are going to be like this. In regards to the back panel, I used to have an Exos a few years ago, and while I appreciated the air frame, I don't miss it at all. My Dandee 35L also doesn't have mesh and it doesn't bother me, and the G4-20 isn't terribly breathable either, yet is my go-to summer pack. This is probably mostly personal preference, but it's worth trying out a non-mesh backed pack to see if it's an issue for you.
Thanks for the review! Do you have any idea how this pack would do with someone 6'1" with a 21" torso length? I recall you saying the pack fit you perfectly but I am just curious if you think it could work for the person described (me) ;)
Hmmm, I think you should fit good enough. At 19.5in my torso feels like it fits perfectly, but I also know I like my torso sizes a little bit oversized, as in, I probably prefer a pack that has a true 20in or 20.5in torso. So if you're like me and want it a bit oversized, look elsewhere, but if you've been okay with wearing the hipbelt a bit higher, 21 is probably doable. Note that Dan officially says the M/L is good up to 20in, so these are just my personal (and possibly optimistic) thoughts.
Are you able to fold/roll the bag when you remove the aluminium stay/frame thingy? Or is there something holding the bag doing so? I would really need a lightweight bag that could be folded to a cycling bag during rides, and this might be my choice of bag if it can do so
@@TaylorPassofaro Cheers! Thank you very much! And thank you for your review since there doesn't seem to be many more in youtube which I find kind of odd. I was first going to order SWD's 40L bag but it had ~5month delivery time :/ This DD40 came in second so I hope it will fulfill my needs :D
@@Combotful Thank you :) SWD makes some top quality packs for sure, they're things of beauty! But yeah, those lead times can be rough. I think Dan really nailed a great balance with this pack, and I think it compares favorably to SWD XPac Packs, with differences being mostly personal preference.
@@TaylorPassofaro Got this bag and god damn it's comfortable! I can carry more weight more comfortably than I was carrying with my old 75L backpack. I mean this bad boy can deal ~15kg without even giving me much of an information that I'm even carrying anything! "Big minus" is that I think the front pocket just has absolutely stupid design and I can't really think what was the idea behind it, it doesn't really fit my needs at all, but it'll do. Wonderful bag nonetheless! Thank you for this review! It was mostly because of you why I bought this bag :)
@@TaylorPassofaro lol. Yea, I’ve thought of it. For now I have a water bottle holder my wife crocheted for my that is pretty helpful. I also have an osprey exos that I usually use for longer trips.
I have a few! Haha, dependings on the adventure I'm going into, I've got different load-outs. But here's my projected Summer 2021 list lighterpack.com/r/3celxm
@@turkeyphant It's a Martin Backpacker! Picked one up late last year after running into a guy with a ukulele on trail and getting mad trail envy 😅 There are few things more peaceful and beautiful than being able to create music in the company of trees. On the clips in this review, I actually broke a string midway through the evening and had to think of what songs I could play without it! Made me feel even more like Kvothe (if you get that reference).
Hahaha that is one of the most flattering things anyone's ever said to me 😅😊 Thank you, I'm about as nerdy as they come but it's less obvious at times. I'm a glasses wearing, spreadsheet enthusiast, wikipedia reading, math geeking, robot building, full-blown mechanical engineering nerd and I've been so all my life 😁
Awesome review! I am Dan's wife, and I may be able to offer some insight into the vertical zipper on the one side pocket. The idea behind that zippered pocket is to store items that you would like to be able to access (or store away) while wearing the pack, without removing the pack altogether. The hip belt pockets do that to a degree, but can't store larger items such as a hiking cap, toque, or gloves. I always start my mornings with a toque and gloves on, and store my baseball cap in that pocket, and then swap them out when it gets warmer. It's not entirely necessary, but certainly nice for quick access to larger items. I hope that helps, and we really appreciate the solid review! Hike on! - T
Nice of you to chime in 🙂
Thanks for the insight!! Honestly hat and glove storage would be perfect, I always end up using my fleece pockets for that but they're not ideal, so this is great advice.
Also, just want to say I was a huge fan of your Great Divide videos, they singularly convinced me to hike that trail one day, and I ended up showing my family just so they would understand why I suddenly became enamored with the trail! I'm flattered and honored you commented, thank you 😊
I love the fact that you guys are out there and listening to the consumers! That being said can I have x mid pro for free pls🙏
@@elizabethmcheffey8699 Thanks Elizabeth! We'll keep you in mind if we start giving away the X-Mid Pro :)
Dang it, your videos are great. Not only is the filming wonderful, but the actual information is useful and rich. Thanks!
Thank you! That's a very nice thing to say 😊 I'll keep trying to make them to that standard!
I agree...one of the best...you actually made me buy the pack...thanks!
I have been eyeing the dd40 for a while, this great review answered all of my lingering questions. Thanks!
Thanks! Glad I was able to help answer some questions, that's what it's all about!
I took this pack out (with my xmid) to the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming too! I hit up the waterfalls on Big Goose Creek.
The quick pocket is one of my favorite features, I put a map, gloves, weed kit, and poncho in it. I can easily look at the map or put gloves on or off without taking the pack off. I put just the bottom of my x-mid into the top of the side pocket and use the compression cords to secure the rest of the tent. This leaves most of the volume of the side pocket to be used for the quick pocket.
It's a pretty cool pack, I like it a lot. And it's a great price.
Very well done review! This is how you do a gear review. Subscribed.
Thank you! That means a lot 😊
This review and your G4-20 review are really well done. They are the right kind of informative and don't have any needless fluff. I had been wondering which pack you preferred in what situations and I think the information in the video description answers that.
Thank you!
I'd like to delve more into "what gear fits what situation" more in videos, but ultimately, I think those opinions belong in other types of videos rather than in these types of straight reviews. I might make some of those in the future. And not to complicate things even more, but I picked up a Dandee 35L at the beginning of winter and have a strong suspicion that it will become my new go-to pack 🙄 My kit keeps shrinking 😅 And I even found the G4-20 a bit large by the end of my late fall adventure with it, so I hope to learn something from venturing into the territory of a pack with only 27L of internal space.
@@TaylorPassofaro First time hearing of the Dandee 35. What got you interested in that pack? Seems similar to a Simple Pack, but I think that about a lot of packs these days lol.
@@Ruckanonymous Honestly, it was about as close to an impulse buy as I've ever done. Although I was a bit primed for it. I've enjoyed watching Darwin's videos a lot, and his Waymark Evlv seemed ridiculously tiny at the time, but also looked fantastic. Fast forward a bit, and after I realized that even the G4-20 was a bit large for my fall adventure on the Superior Trail, I realized that an even lighter weight summer trip would start to border on a bit cumbersome, since these frameless packs really work best when packed tight. Suddenly that Waymark Evlv size didn't seem so outlandish, and I started thinking about whether I should seriously consider looking for an even lower volume pack. At the same time, the MYOG posts on the ULGearTrade subreddit started catching my eye, and I loved the idea of trying out a pack from a one-person shop. Those two ideas slowly started to overlap in my head. And then one afternoon, a few Dandee 35 packs popped up for sale, including one that seemed perfect for me. All black XPac, with turquoise blue side pockets, loops for a hip belt, and a super clean look. I decided to give it a shot. In person, the pack looks fantastic, and after testing it out on a day hike with a full set-up, I'm really excited to try it in the summer.
@@TaylorPassofaro I appreciate the time you took to write this response! I love the ULGearTrade sub and I'm surprised I never saw the sale of these on there. I can understand what you mean about wanting to pack the smaller, ultralight packs very tight. I went through a similar journey as you are with my Granite Gear 60 liter to my ULA Photon. Until I got my Photon, I was worried about how often I was trying out new packs and not able to find the right one. But tring out multiple packs really lets you figure out what you like/don't like and then you can get a semi-custom or custom pack that has everything you're looking for. Can't wait for the review of the Dandee once you've tested it out.
Nice review!...Cool feature on the chest strap you didn't mention... they slide up & down as well for perfect vertical chest placement! And if you want your mesh... just grab a cheapo mesh laundry bag to keep your little stuff safe!
Thank you! You are entirely correct, the chest strap does slide quite well, but I thought that was a standard enough feature on backpacks of this class I didn't mention it 🤷♀️ I was also looking into getting a mesh bag for the back, that's a fantastic idea! I'm going to stick with the stock setup for a bit longer to see if I really miss it though.
Just picked this up and the x-mid 2p. Great reviews for each! Dan got me too!
Haha it's a killer combo, I gotta say!
Superb review! Exactly how a gear review should be done. Subscribed!
superb review! Thank you for the useful information and insight!
Thank you! I appreciate the encouragement, I hope to make more :)
Awesome review and by far the best for this pack. That back/front pouch does indeed seem to occupy the uncanny valley of pouches....🙂
Thanks!!
Just got this! My base weight is 16lb trying to get it lower but this pack is a gem forsure! I am smaller with a total body weight of 128lb so I really appreciate this Light weight pack! I am going to try and bend the frame a little bit and see if that helps with the ergodynamics, thanks for this video I have takin it out now a couple times and didn’t even realize the little zipper pocket! I am hiking the lone star trail with this so we’ll see how it holds!
Good luck!! I hope the pack works out for you! I was also like you with a 16lb base weight about 2 years ago, so I understand the journey 😁
I have been up to Lost Twins twice with my family. It is so beautiful there and both times I went there was no one else there. Anyways, small world I suppose. I think you just sold me on this pack!
Oh that's wonderful! I definitely want to go back there sometime too!
Those cool side pockets in the pouches would work awesome for first aid kit
That's a good idea!
Excellent review! Nice pack too
Very informative review, thank you! :)
What is it about the G4-20 that causes you to choose the DD40 sometimes.....I know you mentioned durability but the G4-20 is Robic nylon which I have found to be pretty tuff.....also I have never had any problems with the mesh pocket durability but I tend to be careful with my equipment.....Ive seen through hikers show some picks and small tears but after 2000 miles its still pretty impressive...? I appreciate your insights and reviews...very helpful....!!!
Good question, but unfortunately I don't have a clear answer. I just kinda "feel" what pack calls to me on a particular trip. A lot of it is durability when I'm nervous about things, and although I know robic is strong, I still just like the peace of mind that the DD40 offers sometimes. When I was in the AZ mountains, I didn't want to think about all the sharp things I might brush against and the DD40 was perfect for that. I'll also reach for the DD40 if I want more load hauling capabilities since I found the compression options on the G4-20 were lacking and if it wasn't loaded up tightly it felt all floppy and not as comfortable.
However, I also haven't been reaching for the G4-20 that often because of another reason... imgur.com/a/Et91GxB
Can't shut the velcro, the frame seems a little taller for it's compartment. Not sure if I am the only one with this problem.
Did it come that way? Or did you remove the frame and then replace it? I had a tough time as well before it seated properly, so the struggle isn't uncommon. Most backpacking frames are going to be very snug in their holders so this is a common issue, but it it's truly a manufacturing defect you should reach out to Drop.
I love your reviews. They're excellent, super detailed. Also, what's that blue hat you're wearing?
Thank you! I appreciate it 😊
The blue hat is an REI Hiker Hat that I got a few years ago, but I don't think they make it anymore?? The most comparable one is their Screeline hat, which is kinda similar.
www.rei.com/product/168186/rei-co-op-screeline-cap
EDIT:
I found it! It was called the blast cap. No longer made...
www.rei.com/product/110956/rei-co-op-blast-cap
Hi Taylor. Thank's for this great review. Have you had the opportunity to test this bag under heavy rain without bag cover or poncho?
Thank you! I haven't had the chance to test this in heavy rain, however I imagine it would hold up better than most packs with the X-Pac being a bit more waterproof than other fabrics.
@@TaylorPassofaro Ok, thankyou Taylor.
Great review bro.
Just ordered the Osprey Exos45 and am wondering if I made a mistake.
The only thing I’m concerned about is how this pack handles in hotter weather.
Hawaii hot.
I swear I project more heat than most people and can’t stand a hot sweaty back. What was your experience with that? Thanks 🙏
Thank you!
The Exos was actually the very first pack I got but unfortunately I had to give it to my brother because the top of my glutes hit the frame after 2 days of backpacking with it (strange issue, haven't heard of anyone else having it). I can report that the airframe back does help and works well, but as with all packs with suspended mesh back panels, the hip belt didn't have airflow and so even though my back was dry, my hips were not spared. After getting my Crown 2 and being largely fine with a non-suspended panel, I realized that for me, it wasn't a feature I cared about a lot, although I know many people do enjoy them.
Onto your original question: How does the DD40 handle hot weather? I found it perfectly fine, but of course it's not going to work as well as an Exos for ventilation. I took it to a local spot backpacking with a few friends in the dead of the humid MN summer and it wasn't as bad as I expected for solid XPac against my back. The frame allows me to periodically cinch the belt tighter and let the pack cantilever away from my back for a bit of a rest, but you can do that on pretty much any pack. I would gladly take it into the summer heat again. That being said, ventilation is one of those things that is a bit more personal preference, there are higher and lower tolerances for something like that so I wouldn't take my words as gospel, even if I wish I could give you a perfect answer.
I'm curious about the interior hydration bladder loop. That is simply for transporting water, correct? As there is no port for a hose for drinking directly from a bladder? I'm aware that ultralight folks prefer bottles, but I'm one of those who drinks much more when I can use a bladder while hiking. However, I'm open to a different option. Just wanted to be sure of the need with this pack.
Good question! It's not obvious in looking at the pack (and I should have mentioned it in the video) but there is a port on the right side for routing a hose. It's really well camouflaged, it's just a flap of fabric next to the line-loc tensioner, but I can confirm it's there. I once used a bladder while hiking, but switched to smartwater bottles for simplicity and weight. I do agree a hose makes it much easier to drink a lot of water, which is why easy to access side pockets are so important.
Nice review! I have looked at that pack several times on the Drop website. May have to get it. Nice video and channel. New follower here. Crow✌️
Well thank you! I appreciate the comments and follow 😊
What’s the blue ball cap,? I like the shape
It's a discontinued REI Hiker Hat. They make a variation of it but I'm sad this version isn't sold anymore. And yeah, I like it too!
One big issue I have ... my back and heat...is there any breathability between the back and pack? Anyone can answer who knows.
Breathability is one of those topics that is a bit more subjective and personal. Short answer here: this pack is not breathable. But the longer answer is more nuanced. Technically when you're wearing this pack, you've got a sheet of solid XPac along your back and a soft mesh hip-belt that wraps around your hips. That combination does not let your back breathe as well as something with a trampoline style mesh back, like an Exos, Optic, Arc Blast, or Levity. However, those packs do come with trade-offs, and personally for me, even when I used an exos, the largest issue was that my hips still got sweaty. Even if my back was a bit more dry (it wasn't perfect) the hip belt still lacked ventilation and at the end of the day that meant that the benefit of a ventilated frame didn't matter as much. Granted, I do primarily sweat through my back - the rest of my body is relatively dry when I hike - but my back isn't spared from that, and I found this pack to be completely fine for my body.
If you're the type of person that absolutely needs a ventilated frame, look towards the Osprey Levity or Gregory Optic, or the non DCF Arc Blast/Haul as good options in the lightweight range. However, I found myself really freed when I got away from the Exos because I found that my life wasn't significantly worse without a ventilated frame, and it opened up a huge variety of packs for use. If you're curious about what a non ventilated lightweight pack feels like, the DD40 is a good start, but you really do have a lot of options here.
Great Review! I'm 5'10'', do you think this M/L pack would be too large for me? I also watched your Gossamer Gear G4-20 review. How would you compare the DD40and the G4-20?
Thank you!
I think the M/L would probably work, but not all 5'10" people have the same torso lengths, so you should probably figure out your torso size before commiting. I'm not sure if I mentioned, but I'm 6'0" and have a 19.5" torso.
As for the comparison to the G4-20, they fall into different categories of packs for me, despite having similar volumes. I think I probably enjoy the G4-20 more just because it feels more like "my style" of pack, but I also go on more trips where the G4-20 style is preferred. The nicely maintained north wood trails in MN don't need a ton of ruggedness, nor the frame for water carries. I love how comfortable the hip belt is, that extra zipped pocket is wonderful, and the blue color just feels like me. The DD40 feels more at home in mountains, or in wet conditions where the resiliency of XPac is appreciated, but I'm still not sure how I will end up using both of them in the long term. I suspect both will have a place in my closet. Both packs do well in many environments, and while the DD40 is more versatile, the G4-20 is the one I reach for more often on my style of packs.
@@TaylorPassofaro Thanks for the detailed answer. I really apprciate it :)
Great review. Would you recommend this pack for weights around 30 lbs? Also, I've never had a pack that didn't have some breathable mesh on the panel touching your back. How did you find that aspect?
Thank you!
I'd say the upper limit for comfort is 30lbs, as I mentioned briefly in the video, I use this with around 33lb of water bottles for doing stairs in my apartment complex, and after 2 hours, it's still manageable. However, this comfort is highly dependent on how you load up the pack. This isn't something unique to the DD40, all packs are going to be like this.
In regards to the back panel, I used to have an Exos a few years ago, and while I appreciated the air frame, I don't miss it at all. My Dandee 35L also doesn't have mesh and it doesn't bother me, and the G4-20 isn't terribly breathable either, yet is my go-to summer pack. This is probably mostly personal preference, but it's worth trying out a non-mesh backed pack to see if it's an issue for you.
Thanks for the review! Do you have any idea how this pack would do with someone 6'1" with a 21" torso length? I recall you saying the pack fit you perfectly but I am just curious if you think it could work for the person described (me) ;)
Hmmm, I think you should fit good enough. At 19.5in my torso feels like it fits perfectly, but I also know I like my torso sizes a little bit oversized, as in, I probably prefer a pack that has a true 20in or 20.5in torso. So if you're like me and want it a bit oversized, look elsewhere, but if you've been okay with wearing the hipbelt a bit higher, 21 is probably doable. Note that Dan officially says the M/L is good up to 20in, so these are just my personal (and possibly optimistic) thoughts.
Are you able to fold/roll the bag when you remove the aluminium stay/frame thingy? Or is there something holding the bag doing so? I would really need a lightweight bag that could be folded to a cycling bag during rides, and this might be my choice of bag if it can do so
You are able to fold/roll the bag. The frame and foam are the only things preventing it, so it sounds like this would be a good fit for that.
@@TaylorPassofaro Cheers! Thank you very much! And thank you for your review since there doesn't seem to be many more in youtube which I find kind of odd.
I was first going to order SWD's 40L bag but it had ~5month delivery time :/ This DD40 came in second so I hope it will fulfill my needs :D
@@Combotful Thank you :)
SWD makes some top quality packs for sure, they're things of beauty! But yeah, those lead times can be rough. I think Dan really nailed a great balance with this pack, and I think it compares favorably to SWD XPac Packs, with differences being mostly personal preference.
@@TaylorPassofaro Got this bag and god damn it's comfortable! I can carry more weight more comfortably than I was carrying with my old 75L backpack. I mean this bad boy can deal ~15kg without even giving me much of an information that I'm even carrying anything!
"Big minus" is that I think the front pocket just has absolutely stupid design and I can't really think what was the idea behind it, it doesn't really fit my needs at all, but it'll do. Wonderful bag nonetheless!
Thank you for this review! It was mostly because of you why I bought this bag :)
Where is this made?
I have a 30 liter pack with no side or rear mesh pockets and it drives me nuts!
I honestly think I'd sew my own on if I had something like that! 😅 Or get huge chest pockets!
@@TaylorPassofaro lol. Yea, I’ve thought of it. For now I have a water bottle holder my wife crocheted for my that is pretty helpful. I also have an osprey exos that I usually use for longer trips.
If Patrick Bateman did gear reviews...
Wait?………Three Minute Hikes????
Do you have a lighterpack?
I have a few! Haha, dependings on the adventure I'm going into, I've got different load-outs. But here's my projected Summer 2021 list
lighterpack.com/r/3celxm
@@TaylorPassofaro Cheers. What's that guitar?
@@turkeyphant It's a Martin Backpacker! Picked one up late last year after running into a guy with a ukulele on trail and getting mad trail envy 😅 There are few things more peaceful and beautiful than being able to create music in the company of trees. On the clips in this review, I actually broke a string midway through the evening and had to think of what songs I could play without it! Made me feel even more like Kvothe (if you get that reference).
Your arms are buff but your face says nerd. Can you comment on that?
Hahaha that is one of the most flattering things anyone's ever said to me 😅😊 Thank you, I'm about as nerdy as they come but it's less obvious at times. I'm a glasses wearing, spreadsheet enthusiast, wikipedia reading, math geeking, robot building, full-blown mechanical engineering nerd and I've been so all my life 😁
@@TaylorPassofaro alright so I'm in school for mechanical engineering as well😶 but I am not a nerd
@@karupt422 Cool. Not every mech e is, but I certainly was/am