Peter Macfarlane rates the Highlander Vulkan Mountain Rucksack 35L as quite at home on the quieter hills of the Southern Highlands.
The Vulkan name – together with flashes of fiery orange across the pack – might speak of volcanoes, but this Highlander pack felt quite at home on the quieter hills of the Southern Highlands.
Peter Macfarlane’s Best in Test and Best Value
It’s a winter-ready daypack with some features for climbers as well as winter walkers.- comfortable
- fully-featured
- price
- heavy
| Quick specs |
|---|
| RRP: $£99.99 (available from Highlander) Weight: 1505g Capacity: 35 litres Materials: 100% nylon ripstop and XTP Reinforce material Pockets: lid with pocket, internal and external zipped pockets, accessible side pockets, attachment points, padded hipbelt with pockets Features: floating detachable lid, multiple attachment points for gear, ice axes and poles, volume and stability adjustment straps, stretch side and front pockets, lid pockets, main compartment access zips, rain cover, hydration bladder compatible, padded harness with hip fin pockets, rope strap Sizes: fixed size, 46cm Unisex highlander-outdoor.com |
It’s a winter-ready daypack with some features for climbers as well as winter walkers. The main compartment has a roll-top closure and a removable lid, allowing you to shed some weight by stripping down the pack. The well-padded and shaped hip belt is also removable for climbing; but it’s well secured, so load bearing isn’t affected. There are climbing gear loops too, which you could remove for a cleaner pack.
The shoulder straps are well padded, and the back system of mesh-covered foam pads is also comfortable. Pack shape and stability are provided by an internal stiffener. The outside has three large mesh pockets, and the side pockets are wearer-accessible large bottle carriers. On the wearer’s left are two vertical zips, which allow access to the inside of the pack without opening it fully. Overtrousers or flask can be pulled out without rain or snow getting inside the pack.
Ice axe carrying capability is excellent, with loops and fastenings placed to hold them secure and safe. The hip belt has two zipped pockets, as does the lid. The lid pockets are big and bright orange inside to help locate items inside, and the lid also has top attachment points. I attached bungee cord to stow wet and dirty crampons, which works very well; but the weight pulls the lid forward and exposes the hydration hose exit. This can let water in, even with the lid fastened back as tight as it can go.
My only other niggle is the high weight – all those features come at a cost, but not at a high price.
How we tested
Peter used the packs for all his outdoor activities through the end of winter 2026, from light loads on trail day walks to long, loaded days on winter Munros. This review was first published in the June 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors.
You can compare this daypack to others in our guide to the best daypacks for hikers.
