Small Pack for Large, Quick Adventures: MEC Serratus Tempo UL 25 Overview

The alpine air was crisp because the morning solar began to mirror from the peaks surrounding the craggy drainage. It had already been an extended day. It began earlier than dawn, pedaling via the darkness from my home to the trailhead. Then a fast transition to path working to the bottom of an obscure ridge scramble deep in Colorado’s Gore Vary.

The MEC Serratus UL 25 was made for this; a companion for large day multisport adventures. The sort of adventures that require greater than a working vest however one thing that strikes higher than a typical mountain climbing daypack.

And thrive it did. It scrambled, ran, bounded, and biked in concord with my physique day after day via an eclectic mixture of adventures in Colorado’s mountains.

In brief: MEC’s new Serratus UL 25 is a quick little backpack. It’s a stellar companion for large days within the backcountry — the extra phases, the higher. MEC primarily expanded the vary and capability of a working vest by including a easy, ultralight 25L roll-top backpack on again. Except for just a few gripes with the outer pockets, the pack does an admirable job and has stored me transferring each longer and deeper into the backcountry than a working vest may.

MEC Serratus Tempo UL 25 Overview

Quantity

The Serratus UL 25 is aimed squarely at mega-days and possibly an evening or two within the backcountry if you happen to’ve bought your ultralight camp system dialed. However actually it thrives within the multisport, many-mile adventure-seeking realm.

For a typical peak or ridge scramble in Colorado, my pack must accommodate at minimal heat garments, rain safety, a first-aid package, water, snacks, and a helmet. Relying on the target, I’ll usually throw in an ultralight rappel wire, minimalist harness, some anchor materials, and typically a pair of strategy sneakers.

That package rapidly maxes out even the largest working vest in my arsenal, the Black Diamond Distance 15. The Serratus UL 25 is an ideal match, nonetheless — the quantity was spot on, and I didn’t must strap something to the surface. The roll-top closure provides just a little additional quantity to get all of it in, too.

Design and Goal: Fastpacking, Fasthiking

Fastpacking, or velocity ultralight backpacking, is a rising sub-segment of already area of interest ultralight backpacking. It’s rising proper alongside a basic development of parents transferring quicker, farther, and lighter within the backcountry thanks partially to leaps ahead in gear design over the past decade.

When the Serratus UL 25 confirmed up at my home, I used to be flummoxed. No manner was I going to have the ability to match all of my backpacking gear into 25 L, even with my ultralight StormLoft Down Quilt sleeping bag and compact Big Agnes Seedhouse tent. I quickly realized that I may, roughly, however didn’t must — the Serratus additionally is available in a 40L version for prolonged journeys.

The Serratus UL 25 wouldn’t be my first alternative for multiple in a single day, and even then I’d desire a excessive likelihood of nice climate.

Versatility is the place the 25L backpack excels. It capabilities nice as a mountain climbing day pack for people that like to maneuver quick and light-weight. The primary consideration for these customers is the shortage of hip help — all the load rides in your shoulders, so packing mild is important.

Talking of sunshine, the Serratus UL 25 is mild — 479 g, to be precise. With an already mild 70-denier TPU-coated nylon and spectra physique materials, I’m undecided how a lot lighter it may get with out sacrificing sturdiness. The designers at MEC did an excellent job of reducing the pack right down to its truest essence.

On condition that the pack is someplace between a working vest and a fastpack, some people is likely to be tempted to snag this as a full-time working vest and occasional daypack.

I examined it again and again as a easy working vest by cinching down the aspect compression straps. It cinches down all proper, however it’s simply overkill and floppy for this function. It really works, however it wouldn’t be my first alternative as a standalone path runner.

Serratus Pack Match

Whereas the general match was fairly nice, I needed to regulate the decrease shoulder straps to dial within the pressure incessantly on the transfer. With out it completely hugging my physique, the journey was bouncier than I’d like. That’s the explanation that many different fastpacks, together with the 40L model of the Serratus, make use of a stabilizing hip belt.

A tiny little bit of elasticity would go a good distance for mitigating the bounce issue right here. However once more, I discovered that I may sufficiently handle the bounce with attentive match adjustment.

The sternum straps present versatile safety. They’ll transfer up or down the within of the shoulder straps to accommodate a wide range of physique sorts, which is helpful on condition that the pack is available in a single measurement (the 40 L is available in two sizes).

I sometimes put on a big within the higher physique and the match was spot on. My spouse is a measurement small, and the vest was simply too huge for her to put on comfortably. The aspect adjustment straps and sternum straps all bottomed out earlier than it was tight sufficient to make working possible.

With the match dialed in, I didn’t have any points with chafing. That’s spectacular given the quantity of weight within the pack, and rubbing on contact factors for hours on finish.

The shoulder straps are effectively designed and do an awesome job of distributing weight, all whereas sustaining breathability. As soon as I had it on and adjusted, the pack disappeared into the background. That’s precisely what a pack like this could do.

Pockets

Making an attempt to power my 500mL Hydro Flasks into the holsters on the shoulder straps was not my favourite expertise with this pack.

I ultimately bought them in there, however undoubtedly took just a few water squirts to the face within the course of. The pockets are slim, they don’t cinch on the high, and I needed to take my snacks out of the pockets under to get my bottles in.

Happily, every one has a small bungee keeper loop that holds the bottles securely as soon as they’re in there. I by no means had one bounce out, even whereas leaning ahead on chattery gravel rides.

The pockets in entrance of and under the flask pockets did a greater job than anticipated at holding my snacks locked in.

I’ll admit I used to be skeptical — they don’t have cinch closures on the high both. I used to be positive that I’d be hemorrhaging snacks all through my adventures. However having the bottle full (or full of air as I drained the water) supplied sufficient pressure on the pockets to maintain issues in there.

If, for some cause, you aren’t working with bottles, you’ll lose that safety.

The massive exterior web pocket was helpful. Although the fishnet-like mesh doesn’t stretch in any respect, it accommodates an honest quantity of substances. I stashed sunscreen and my light-weight shell again there, and by no means had something bounce out.

This pocket doesn’t have an impartial cinch closure both. The closure is built-in into the aspect compression strap, which is slick, however pointless.

A less complicated resolution could be pockets just like the The Out of doors Vitals Skyline Fastpack’s Ultramesh which are each deep and safe, without having to be mounted. Because it stands, the safety comes from the strain pushing out from the contents of the pack. A much less full pack means a much less safe outer pocket.

There’s one pocket on this pack that I’m thrilled with — the little zippered safety pocket proper behind the haul strap that sits behind the consumer’s head. All packs ought to have one.

That is the place I stashed my headlamp, Garmin inReach Mini, keys, sun shades throughout pre-dawn, and my telephone after I didn’t have it within the pocket of my compression shorts. It’s fastened to the again panel so it carries effectively and the contents don’t bounce round.

MEC Serratus Versus the Competitors

The aforementioned Out of doors Vitals Skyline is one other fastpack I’ve examined lately and appreciated lots. It’s an excellent comparability to the Serratus 25. Each packs carry and transfer exceptionally effectively over lengthy distances.

I discovered the Serratus 25 to be a extra versatile measurement. It capabilities higher as a fast-and-light daypack and for less complicated aims requiring much less gear. It transitioned between sports activities like gravel driving and fundamental path working extra seamlessly as a result of it rides decrease and nearer to your again. Plus, it calls for much less gear quantity to offer it construction. It’s nearer to an enormous working vest than the Skyline, which is nearer to a quick backpack.

The Skyline is my choose for precise fastpacking, although. Its quantity is good for just a few days within the backcountry with a lightweight package, it’s bought a extra supportive again panel, and the pockets are plentiful and distinctive entrance to again.

MEC Serratus Tempo UL 25: Conclusion

It’s powerful to not have an excellent time whereas sporting MEC’s new Serratus UL 25 pack. Once I put it on, it meant there’s an enormous journey on faucet.

And the extra phases, the higher! It will probably transition seamlessly. It will probably additionally fastpack for an evening or two in good climate if you happen to’re good at packing mild. Or gradual it down and take this factor for a hike.

So far as packs on this class go, it’s one of the vital versatile.

Large quick days within the mountains, bike-to-hikes, run-to-climbs, and every other combo you provide you with are on the menu if you’re rolling with the Serratus UL 25. Simply be aware of what you place within the pockets.