The Brize 25 is available in some new colors this season, like the silver/grey Neptune shown above. The design of the pack remains the same as the version we tested.
February 2019Arc'teryx makes products that are generally highly acclaimed. They have a history of excellent construction and simple design. The Brize 25 meets these expectations, but most daypack consumers are looking for more sophistication and more features in their pack. For the fan of simplicity, the Brize is worth consideration.
Solid construction and careful design are the Brize's strong points. Other packs edge ahead overall with more features and better ventilation comfort.
The Arc'Teryx Brize is your basic hiking rucksack. This is especially true when considering comfort. The shoulder straps feature gentle contouring and generous padding. The waist belt is minimalist. The back panel is subtly vented with mesh and molded foam. It is this back panel that sets the others apart. All of the more comfortable backpacks we have reviewed have better venting in the back panel than the Brize. They accomplish this with suspended-mesh panels, which allow superior airflow. For carrying daypack loads, up to 25 pounds or so, the Brize suffers only for the lack of a padded waist belt.
For as simple as the Brize is, we wish it were lighter. It weighs more than a number of the more featured packs. The weight comes from the thick shoulder pads and burly fabric. The fabric will last a long, long time, but you'll be carrying around extra ounces that whole time.
In this case, the Brize 25's simplicity is a virtue. Simple packs are more versatile. If you use your daypack for only day hiking, you want carefully arranged pockets, sophisticated ventilation, and various strapping points. If you will also use this pack for rock climbing, travel, or day-to-day use, simplicity is better. In all these other areas, extra pockets and super rigid ventilated back panels are liabilities. The simple, flexible construction of the Brize makes it more suitable for other activities. For this, it does well.
Again, the simplicity of the Brize edges it ahead here. The one main compartment, complemented by two simple zipper pouches, is easy to figure out. Of course, when you are used to them, having multiple pockets and straps enhance your usage. Our one gripe about the ease of use of the Brize is in the narrow main compartment. For this volume, the pack is particularly tall and narrow. The distance from the front to the back of the pack seems very low. This makes it carry close to your body, but getting stuff in and out is compromised.
This bag will last you a long time. Our experience with this pack, other products from Arc'teryx, and our experience with packs made of this weight of fabric suggests a great deal of durability. Our test regimen does not allow us to test every product to failure, but we are confident in our ability to extrapolate durability from the prodigious usage we do execute.
Arc'teryx equipment is not cheap. At this price point, in our daypack review, you have access to packs that have more features and greater comfort attributes. That said, there are no packs in our test that will last as long as the Brize. When it comes to dollars per use, the Brize is a great value.
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