Lara Dunn recommends the Helly Hansen Women’s Relay Backpack with RECCO® for its rugged comfort. Read more.
One of the most noticeable things about the Helly Hansen Women’s Relay Backpack RECCO® at first look is its size. This is most definitely not a simple daypack for a short summer trundle.
Lara Dunn recommends
This is a seriously well-built, nicely featured and confidence-inspiring pack, offering oodles of comfort out on the hill.- rugged
- comfortable
- well-featured
- versatile
- expensive
- quite heavy
| Quick specs |
|---|
| RRP: $245 / £210 (available from Helly Hansen) Weight: 1503g Materials: 420D nylon oxford (100% polyamide) with PU coating Back system: comfort back system Pockets: trekking pole/ice axe loops, side mesh pockets, zipped hipbelt pockets, interior and exterior zipped lid pockets (with RECCO® reflector), expandable front stuff pocket, internal hydration sleeve Features: women’s specific fit, dual compression straps, under-lid compression strap, spindrift collar, accessory daisy chain, sternum strap with integral whistle Sizes: one Men’s version? Nearest equivalent Resistor Backpack RECCO® 45l hellyhansen.com |
It excels as a roomy and extraordinarily well-featured pack for winter mountain adventures or year-round backpacking trips. There is plenty of space both internally and externally in the form of loops and pockets, meaning everything can stay organised and in its place for easy access. The build quality is impressive, with plush cushioning in both the shoulder straps and in the generous hip fins that cup the hips securely but comfortably, giving good support and stability. The EVA foam back system is cushioned, too, but perforated to allow for airflow. All-day wear is no issue at all, with all that cushioning and contouring managing even the heaviest load, and it remained beautifully stable too.
It’s far from being a barely-there pack – but the levels of comfort and fit make light work of heavier loads, and more than make up for a bit of extra weight in their own right. With its RECCO® reflector attached to the lid – and its various external pockets and loops – this pack is spot on for those heading into the mountains with ice and snow in mind. The pole/axe loops are sturdy, and go beyond the usual elasticated loops that sometimes feature on summer orientated packs. Zip pulls are glove-friendly loops rather than fiddly tabs. The spindrift collar at the top is a nice touch, protecting the contents a little more by preventing snow from blowing in.
Yes, it’s heavier than many packs and it’s expensive too; but this is a seriously well-built, nicely featured and confidence-inspiring pack, offering oodles of comfort out on the hill.
How Lara tested
Lara used the packs through winter and spring on a variety of hikes in the Malvern Hills, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. She is 5’5” tall with a relatively short back length in relation to her height. These reviews were first published in the June issue of The Great Outdoors. You can compare it to other in our guide to the best daypacks for hiking.
