Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 SL - Women's Review

The Aircontact Core is a heavy backpack designed to keep backpackers organized on the trail. With three entry points into the main pocket and a plethora of zippers and webbing, the weight of the pack crept up with good reason. For a lower price than many other super-hauler backpacks, this pack is the one for you if you like knowing where all your gear is at all times.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Part of the reason that the Aircontact Core weighs nearly 5 pounds is because of its plush back panel. The chunky lumbar pad is soft enough to feel pillowy and is constructed to oppose the natural curvature of your spine.

The back panel splits to accommodate the spine and provide fantastic breathability before coming together near the cervical vertebrae. The cushion of the back panel is needed, as the frame Aircontact is strong and rigid. The strength of the Y-shaped frame aids in the comfortable distribution of weight. The perforated cushioning on the hip belt is a welcome attribute because when this heavy pack is correctly adjusted to fit your frame, the weight is largely concentrated on your hips.

The load-lifting straps are helpful and functional, ultimately preventing much of the weight from resting on the wearer's shoulders — as they should. The narrower profile of this pack creates a slightly smaller base of support for the bulk of the weight, which makes heavy loads feel more imposing on our small tester's hips. We grew to greatly appreciate the external webbing of the Aircontact because of its ability to help compress the pack's load. We cinched the horizontal and vertical straps to tamp down the weight of the load, which aided in the overall function of this pack's suspension system. The cylinder shape prevented the pack from feeling like one side was riding heavier than the other, which was another bonus we noted when assessing the prowess of the suspension system.

Ease of Use

While rookie backpackers might initially be overwhelmed by the sheer number of pockets on the Aircontact Core, they are versatile enough to accommodate a wide variety of packing styles.

The large main compartment offers three entry points, through the top via a drawstring, through the front via a J-shaped zipper, and towards the bottom of the pack's body. The bottom zipper provides specific entry to the sleeping bag compartment, though this compartment can easily be eradicated by unzipping the interior panel to create one main chamber that is even bigger.

Three mesh pouches adorn the exterior of the Aircontact, one on either side and one on the superficial edge of the main compartment. We love stashing our dirty clothes in these stretchy mesh pockets since it helps preserve whatever cleanliness remains across our other gear. The wearer's right mesh pocket includes a vertical slit that acts as a water bottle holster, making it easy to grab a bottle while you hike. The mesh hip belt pockets don't provide much protection from the elements, but they are large enough to stash phones, maps, snacks, sunscreen, and the like.

The capacity of the brain on the Aircontact is exceptional. It holds far more gear than we anticipated in its two pockets. The upper exterior pocket expands to store quick-access items. While the fabric of the brain isn't particularly stretchy, it can hold a lot while maintaining its shape. We loved that this pack never felt lopsided beneath a hefty load. The underside pocket of the Aircontact's brain doesn't boast quite as impressive of a volume but makes a safe cache for car keys or other items that need to be securely stored. The more understated organizational systems of the Aircontact are the loops and straps that provide plenty of storage options outside of the pack's pockets. There are multiple loops for sunglasses and other items on the shoulder straps and a trekking pole-specific storage system on the back of the pack.

Weight

At 4.9 pounds, the Aircontact Core is one of the heaviest packs we've tested. However, just because it is the heaviest doesn't mean it scored the worst in this metric. Because the Aircontact has such a large capacity, its calculated volume-to-weight ratio is better than some other backpacking backpacks for women on the market.

Ruggedly-built backpacks with lots of pockets and straps weigh more, so it is up to you to decide if you want an ultralight pack or an organizationally-focused backpack. The lush padding of the back panel and hip belt add to the heavy weight of the Aircontact Core and its comfort when fully loaded. Since this is a backpack made for superhauling and has a huge capacity, it is not a surprise that it weighs more than most.

Adjustability

The Aircontact is easily adjusted on the fly via Deuter's Varislide torso adjustment system. Instead of simply offering a few set size options, the mechanisms can freely slide and be set to exactly where you want them to be.

While the torso height of the Aircontact is easy to adjust for comfort and correct sizing, the downfall is that this pack only comes in one size. Passed back and forth between a tester who is 5'2" and one who is 5'10", both found the Aircontact to be equally comfortable when directly compared to other backpacks for women, though the smaller of the two often felt dwarfed by the height of the pack. Because the Aircontact's shape is thinner and taller than some, the height can feel imposing and overpowering on small frames. Other super hauling packs that we tested rely on a shorter, wider pack size, which tends to suit the "average" woman's center of gravity better. Because of the height of the pack, we do not wholeheartedly recommend this backpack to smaller-than-average people, as it is better suited for larger wearers.

If you are a larger person who wants a slightly larger capacity, the men's version of this pack offers 5L more packing space and can more easily accommodate larger people. In most of the important ways, the men's version of this backpack is nearly identical to the women's, making it the obvious choice if you want to "size up" but have your heart set on this specific backpack.

Should You Buy the Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 SL??

If organization is paramount to you on the trails, this is absolutely a worthwhile backpack to consider. It is well-featured and provides pockets aplenty without pigeon-holing itself into one rigid packing system. The price tag of the Aircontact is lower than many, making it a durable beast of a backpack that is available for less than others with the same features.

What Other Women's Backpacks Should You Consider?

The most obvious alternative is another favorite for all-out hauling, the Gregory Deva 60. The suspension system is slightly better constructed, and the padding of the hip belt is extendable, providing extra cushion for a wider range of body shapes. The Osprey Renn 65 offers a less intrusive trampoline back panel if you aren't sure about the bulk of the padding on the Aircontact. If you don't foresee yourself toting epically heavy loads into the backcountry, check out the REI Flash 55, a much lighter pack that offers plenty of volume without overdoing it.