Alpinus Zarand II Backpack 35 l - Grey

Very well-made hiking backpack from solid materials. It has many practical pockets and compartments. Increasing the capacity by an additional 10L is a great solution. The set includes a rain cover. The biggest advantage is the well-thought-out back ventilation, which significantly increases comfort of use. I definitely recommend it.

Average build quality. Lots of protruding threads that need to be burned off with a lighter. The materials look solid but have a certain stiffness. Anyone who has had a branded backpack will notice the difference right away. The carrying system—shoulder straps and hip support, as well as the hip belt—do not perform very well. The backpack sits poorly on the hips, so the maximum load is about 10-12 kg, meaning the realistic carrying capacity is 8.5-10.5 kg. Hard, rough shoulder straps pretty much rule out longer hikes in the summer—it's more suitable for 1-2 day trips. The back ventilation suggests it is intended for warmer days. The declared 35 liters was achieved only by multiplying the extreme dimensions of the whole backpack, but in reality, it is only a bit larger than my 20-liter Osprey—I estimate around 22-23 liters. You can squeeze a bit more into the side and front pockets, but the nets there aren’t very flexible (though they look solid). The total capacity is maybe 25 liters. The possibility to attach additional gear is minimal. There are some loops for a cup but I don’t see why anyone would use them. You can try to attach a sleeping mat, but it requires some improvisation. The lid has two pockets; the zipper on the outer pocket opens from the front—I don’t know why, but it’s less convenient because of that. In addition, the zipper is short, so it’s hard to insert your hand. The pockets on the hip belt are very small. The hip belt is enough for a person with a 160 cm waist, the chest strap barely fits a person with a 98 cm chest. The main compartment is accessible from the top and bottom, which is a plus, and it can be divided with a zippered partition. A two-season sleeping bag fits in the bottom without a problem. This backpack is more suitable for trips with overnight stays under a roof, but it also works for one-day mountain hikes. There is no way to attach trekking poles, which is a serious downside and disqualifies the backpack for hiking for many people. At the promotional price (229 PLN, after using points—201 PLN), it is a very good deal, but at the regular price (about 350 PLN), I do not recommend buying it.

I bought the backpack for 229 PLN and after two uses I can say that it is great. Very capacious, made from good material, and the frame does its job. I recommend it.

Great backpack for short trips. I appreciate the mesh back. Plus for the possibility to divide the main compartment and easy access from the bottom. It's just a pity that the hip belt is quite narrow.

The backpack is great. The additional opening at the bottom is very practical. The material, the ability to adjust the straps, the pockets, the fastenings – everything is top notch. The only thing I would change is the length of the pockets on the hip belt—they could be longer, in my opinion, as they are located a bit too far back and are hard to reach. But that might be just a personal preference. Overall, the backpack works excellently. Perfect for both shorter getaways and longer trips. I definitely recommend it.

The backpack is well-made, and given its capacity, it is very spacious. It has all the important features (straps at the bottom and sides, hip belt and chest strap...). Thanks to the frame, it is rigid, but for people above 180 cm tall, the distance between the hip belt and the carrying system is a bit too small.