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Deuter Compact EXP 12 Review

A beefy hydration pack that is the most substantial in our test
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Deuter Compact EXP 12 Review
Credit: Deuter
Price:  $135 List
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Manufacturer:   Deuter
By Tara Reddinger-Adams & Jason Cronk  ⋅  May 10, 2021
73
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ease of Drinking - 20% 7.0
  • Ease of Filling - 20% 7.0
  • Comfort - 20% 9.0
  • Storage - 20% 8.0
  • Weight - 10% 2.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Deuter Compact EXP 12 is a do it all hydration pack with numerous features geared toward mountain bike riders who are in for the long haul. With three liters of liquid carrying capacity, one of the largest adjustable cargo volumes of our test packs, and extras like a rain cover and helmet carry, it's easy to see why this is a favorite. This is a do-it-all pack for trail riders, runners, hikers, and even has enough space to function as a respectable general daypack too. If you're looking for reliable comfort and don't mind a few extra ounces, this is one to consider.
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent organization
Supportive
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Large bite valve

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Deuter Compact EXP 12 is made for big days of hiking or mountain biking. This pack has the largest variety of storage pockets that we have ever seen in various shapes and sizes. There are bike-specific features, such as a helmet carry, and more general-purpose extras such as a rain cover and bite valve cover that add value to this pack. The pack supports heavy loads quite well and is comfortable on the back. But, all of the extra features come with a weight penalty as this is the heaviest pack in our line-up.

Performance Comparison


deuter compact exp 12 - this 15 liter pack has tons of storage space both internally and...
This 15 liter pack has tons of storage space both internally and externally.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Ease of Drinking


The Compact EXP 12 comes with Deuter's Streamer 3.0 hydration bladder with a quick connect at the base of the bladder. The large, round silicone bite valve twists open and close and has a cover attached to the hose with a string.

deuter compact exp 12 - the hydration hose routes through the velcro tabs labeled deuter...
The hydration hose routes through the velcro tabs labeled Deuter found on the right and left shoulder straps, meaning you can choose your preferred side for your bite valve.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

The bite valve does require sucking or sipping and has a decent flow rate when it is fully open. However, it was not our testers' favorite, especially when huffing and puffing uphill. One reviewer summed it up well: “The bite valve for the hydration hose is more restrictive than what I'm used to. I tend to chug a few gulps of water rather than slowly sip. The slower water output makes that more challenging when I'm out of breath.”

The plastic bite valve cover is a nice feature that we never gave much thought to until we had one. Before we put our pack on the ground, we would cover the bite valve, which prevented sand and dirt from sticking to it, something we came to appreciate.

deuter compact exp 12 - we never realized that a bite valve cover was handy until we had one.
We never realized that a bite valve cover was handy until we had one.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Ease of Filling


While some work is required, filling up the bladder is relatively easy. The Compact EXP 12 bladder has its own side-loading pocket that unzips the entire length of the pack. Once opened, the Streamer 3-liter bladder is easily accessible and hangs from an orange piece of velcro that threads through the bladder's orange clamp, which is easy to undo but more difficult to thread back through the clamp.

deuter compact exp 12 - we found the hanger handy to hold the bladder by as we filled it.
We found the hanger handy to hold the bladder by as we filled it.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

The Streamer 3-liter bladder is unique in that it has built-in hooks for hanging. The blue bladder is heavy-duty construction and opens its entire width, which makes filling a breeze. The drinking hose attaches securely with a quick-release button at the bottom of the bladder, and the hose can go on the left or right shoulder strap.

Removing the bladder from its compartment takes a bit of care, as you need to unfasten the orange velcro strap and then pull the bladder from the pack. Once the bladder is removed, you can disconnect the quick connect hose. The bladder is held shut by an orange sliding clamp that does not have a leash, so we recommend placing it somewhere where it won't fall and get lost while filling the bladder.

deuter compact exp 12 - side access bladder compartments are becoming more popular and were...
Side access bladder compartments are becoming more popular and were found on many of the packs in our latest round-up.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Comfort


When we put the EXP 12 on, we immediately noticed how supportive the pack felt. Deuter utilizes a dual flat steel frame with stays as the foundation of the pack. The stays are internal and behind the Airstripes mesh back panel, which Deuter claims increases airflow to 80% of the back's surface area. While we didn't measure the exact size of the Airstripes versus our own back's surface area, we can attest to the excellent ventilation the pack provides while riding, hiking, and even spring skiing.

The Compact EXP 12 has a supportive feel that is also partly due to its wide hip belt that wraps the sides of the torso. Adjusting the hip belt is relatively easy, and instead of pulling the belt webbing toward your back to tighten the hip belt, you pull the webbing forward. Even with heavy loads of over 20 pounds, our testers found this pack incredibly supportive and comfortable, making it a great choice for long days with lots of gear.

deuter compact exp 12 - this is a great choice for carrying lots of gear while hiking or...
This is a great choice for carrying lots of gear while hiking or mountain biking.
Credit: Byron Adams

Our shorter tester felt the pack's length was a touch too long on her torso and prefers packs that sit slightly higher on the back. We recommend trying this pack on for size if you have a smaller torso to make sure the fit is comfortable for you.

deuter compact exp 12 - the pack is comfortable, but a bit long on shorter torsos.
The pack is comfortable, but a bit long on shorter torsos.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Storage


Along with its great comfort and easy filling and drinking, the EXP 12 receives top scores for its storage. This pack has a ton of pockets and is a great choice for those who like to be organized. At one point, we even asked ourselves, can you have too many pockets? We'll leave that up to you. At 12 liters, the overall storage volume of this pack lands in the middle of our lineup but has an expandable compartment that increases the volume to 15 liters.

deuter compact exp 12 - there are a lot of storage pockets to keep your things organized.
There are a lot of storage pockets to keep your things organized.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

The front of the pack has a storage compartment with five smaller compartments and an elastic loop. These smaller storage areas are great for multitools, knives, bike pumps, keys, wallets, snacks, and more. The main storage compartment has a yellow zipper and unzips about halfway down the pack. Inside this compartment is an additional stretch pocket and a full-length mesh pocket. The mesh pocket is handy for thinner items such as maps, while we liked the stretch pocket to keep dirty items separate from cleaner items. To increase the storage volume of the main compartment, unzip the zipper that runs the entire perimeter of the pack and voila, an additional three liters of storage.

deuter compact exp 12 - the integrated rain cover works well to repel rain.
The integrated rain cover works well to repel rain.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

At the base of the pack below the light clip is a small zip pocket that holds a helmet carry. This is useful for mountain bikers who would prefer to climb the fire road sans helmet or those who carry a chin bar for rowdy descents. The pack even has an integrated high vis rain cover found in the pocket below the helmet carry. The rain cover has a blue retention strap that secures it to the pack so it does not blow away while you're trying to put it on. We did test the rain cover on a hike and were pleased with its ability to shed water.

deuter compact exp 12 - the helmet carry clips into accessory cord located on the side of...
The helmet carry clips into accessory cord located on the side of the pack.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

The sides of the pack's main body feature two stretch mesh pockets with compression straps. The compression straps are great for making bulky loads lower profile or for securing trekking poles to the pack by placing their handles in the mesh pockets. Another great feature of this pack is zip-close mesh pockets integrated into the hip belt. Our testers love this location for storing quick-access items like lip balm and snacks.

Weight


With many things in the gear world, there are negatives with the positives, and the Deuter Compact EXP 12 is not immune. The pack and bladder together weigh 41.6 ounces (2.6 lbs) on our scale, which is 0.2 pounds more than the next heaviest pack in our lineup.

deuter compact exp 12 - this is a heavy-duty pack with lots of compartments, straps, and...
This is a heavy-duty pack with lots of compartments, straps, and zippers.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

If you're an ounce or even a gram counter, this may be the tipping point for you, pushing you into one of the other packs. A couple of our testers didn't mind the extra weight when compared to the overall comfort and storage features, but keep this in mind when you're making gear comparisons.

Ease of Cleaning


The effort required to clean the Compact EXP 12's hydration bladder is easy with the dedicated hydration sleeve and quick-release drinking hose. As with filling the bladder, we didn't experience any issues with cleaning it and found it quick and easy to dismantle the hydration bladder and shove our hands inside with our favorite cleaning devices.

deuter compact exp 12 - to clean the bladder just slide off the orange clamp and start...
To clean the bladder just slide off the orange clamp and start scrubbing.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Value


The Deuter Compact EXP 12 is a few dollars less than the priciest models in our lineup and does offer one of the best storage organization systems of all of the packs. It is also one of the few packs in our lineup whose hose can be routed on the left or right side of the shoulder strap.

Conclusion


If you're someone who spends a lot of time on the trail riding or hiking and want a large volume hydration pack with plenty of storage pockets, the Deuter Compact EXP 12 may be your pack of choice.

deuter compact exp 12 - mesh side and hip pockets are nice for quick access items.
Mesh side and hip pockets are nice for quick access items.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Tara Reddinger-Adams & Jason Cronk