Peter Macfarlane takes the Vango Mitra Air 30L on test in the Scottish hills of his home. Read his verdict.
The Vango Mitra Air 30L is a neat-looking pack and hides its 30-litre capacity in a very clean silhouette.
Peter Macfarlane’s verdict
A comfortable and well-featured pack that is streamlined with a clen silhouette.- comfort
- features
- price
- lid pockets
| Quick specs |
|---|
| RRP: £72.50 (available from Cotswold Outdoor) Weight: 1165g Capacity: 30 litres Materials: 250D Shadow Ripstop fabric, recycled blend, steel-framed mesh back Pockets: mesh side and front pockets, inner and outer lid pockets, hip fin stash pockets, Features: axe and poles attachment, compression straps, mesh back with air gap, hydration bladder compatible, rain cover Sizes: one Unisex vango.co.uk |
The main compartment has a single drawcord closure and is curved in shape because of the air gap back system. This means packing takes slightly more thought. Also inside is a bladder sleeve with a hanging loop and hose exit. On the front is a large stretch mesh stuff pocket with big stretch mesh pockets on each side. These will take a 750ml bottle securely, and I can easily get the bottle in and out while wearing the pack. There are side compression straps placed high up, which are effective when the pack is part loaded and useful for securing poles. There’s a single, simple ice axe loop and clip which works fine.
The back system is a mesh pane, which sat neatly on my back. A steel wire frame holds the pack off the mesh to allow air to circulate and help keep your back cooler and dry which functions as designed. The harness is low profile but well padded, and it’s shaped for comfort. The hip belt also has Lycra bound mesh stuff pockets. The hip belt and shoulder straps both have cinch adjustments. While the hip belt cinches can help stability, the top ones are attached to the pack so close to the strap attachment points that they’re essentially superfluous. The lid has a single buckle closure which I like, and two pockets which I don’t as they’re far too small. The inner pocket has some gusseting to allow for expansion, but anything in the outer pocket just takes up that space anyway. It compromises an otherwise excellent pack, and I just started carrying my usual lid pocket kit in small stuff sacks inside the Mitra.
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.
