Bacpacks
Product 2025
Woman, Man
A mixed review for this ski touring backpack – the best features sit alongside technical flaws that need fixing. It’s rare to be disappointed by an Arc’teryx product…
Where to begin? Testers were mostly puzzled by the compartment dedicated to safety gear. It opens on the side of the pack, via a zipper that runs beneath the ski-carry straps. Even though skis are usually not strapped to the bag when providing emergency aid, the access to the shovel/probe compartment is neither easy nor quick. Sure, the zipper is fitted with a yellow pull cord to help locate it faster. But retrieving the shovel—and especially the probe—is impossible without opening the bag entirely. When every second counts, that’s not ideal… Especially since, as we’ll see later, opening the bag isn’t the quickest task either.
The Arc’teryx Micon 32 comes with a tangle of loose straps that flap in the wind and end up being downright annoying—like the excess lengths on the waist belt. Why not include elastic loops to keep them in place?
It’s clear that the Arc’teryx Micon 32 aims for minimalism—its light weight is definitely a plus. But the comfort of the shoulder straps and back panel could be improved. That said, the hip belt provides excellent support.
Side ski-carrying is, unsurprisingly, tricky and time-consuming to set up, especially with cold fingers. Diagonal carry is the only option we found truly usable.
Now, yes—the build quality is exceptional: precise construction, premium materials, and a seamless design. We also appreciated the near-complete waterproofing, thanks to high-quality waterproof zips and ultra-durable fabrics.
The shape of the Arc’teryx Micon 32 tends to form a V, a look that’s accentuated by the top flap—especially when the pack isn’t fully loaded. The chosen top closure, a canyon-style roll-top lid, is great for waterproofing but less so for ease of access. You need to unclip it on both sides before rolling it open.
We really liked its excellent waterproofing and lightweight design. But the access to the safety compartment needs to be rethought.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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