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Fast, tidy handling from a pack built around balance and body movement
Aarn Packs says:
A lightweight yet comfortable hiking backpack ready to follow you in all your adventures, from a day walk to multi-day hikes.
Fastpacking, ultralight adventures, Camino, adventure racing, day walk... the Pace Magic would follow you anywhere! With its lightweight frame, free-movement shoulder harness and dual-adjust hip belt, the Pace magic is made so you can move fast through the mountains without forgetting comfort, balance and body movement. And for the extra Aarn touch, we’ve added some built-in balance pockets on the hip belt so you can easily access all your snacks and important pieces of kit.
Our Verdict
The Pace Magic 40 is a unique option. It is a lightweight, highly customisable framed pack with a large amount of front storage that keeps essentials immediately accessible. Aarn is well known in New Zealand for designs focused on load balance rather than simple load transfer, and the Pace Magic 40 brings that approach into a compact fast fast-moving format. It feels different from a standard rucksack because the harness, hip belt and front storage work together to keep weight close and well distributed across the body. The frame and suspended mesh back create a stable structure that allows plenty of airflow and helps reduce sweat buildup.
The first thing that stands out is how adjustable the fit is. The U Flow shoulder harness moves freely with the upper body, and the hip belt has separate top and bottom tension adjustments, which makes it straightforward to fine-tune how the pack wraps the hips. It adapts well to a range of body sizes.
Storage layout is the bag's selling point. The 1.5 litre hip belt pockets and the two 750ml chest pockets create a large amount of accessible space at the front of the body. I can keep food, soft flasks, a phone, a battery pack and small clothing items within reach while walking. Unusually, the hip belt pockets sit directly at the front rather than off to the sides, with the rest of the pack adjusting around them, which keeps this storage clearly positioned and easy to use. The pack stays balanced when these pockets are loaded; the weight at the front offsets the load in the main compartment, distributing it more evenly across the core.
The main 40-litre compartment, the side pockets, and the front mesh panel offer enough capacity for long day walks or fast-and-light overnight kits. I would have preferred the water bottle pocket to use the same stretch fabric as the front pocket, as a bit of give makes access easier. The roll top closes securely and compresses neatly.
This pack may not suit everyone. It is a unique approach to load transfer, but if you need extensive on-the-go storage, such as filmmakers, photographers, wildlife spotters or backpackers who like a place for everything, and everything in its place, it could be an excellent fit.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
U-Flow Shoulder Harness:
- U-Flow top and bottom webbing allow free movement of the shoulders while ensuring optimal pack stability, reducing the buildup of fatigue and increasing your balance.
- Breathable stretch 3D mesh that auto-moulds to the natural slope of your shoulders.
- Built-in water bottle or soft flasks mesh pockets.
Lightweight Auto-Form Hip Belt:
- Dual-adjustment hip belt tensioning system allows you to adjust the top and bottom straps separately so you can fine-tune the hip belt fit.
- The breathable 3D mesh hugs your hips closely for extra comfort.
- Built-in 1.5L hip belt pockets.
Active X-Frame back panel:
- Creates a slim back-hugging shape.
- Maintains an air gap for back ventilation keeping you cool and dry.
- Suspended air mesh back panel auto-moulds to your back shape.
- The flex panel allows the bottom of the pack to follow the movement of your hips, reducing strain on your body and the accumulation of fatigue.
Additional features
- Roll-top lid.
- One large front mesh pocket and two side pockets.
- Two 750ml mesh pockets on the shoulder straps.
- Two 1.5L built-in balance pockets on the hip belt.
- One top zipped pocket with key hook.
- Front compression drawcord to secure some extra gear and compress your pack down.
- Two trekking pole attachments.
- One ice axe attachment.
- Chest strap height can be adjusted.
- Bladder attachment loop and tube exit.
- Possibility to add some Lasso locs (not included) for extra storage on the outside of the pack.
Specifications
- Weight: 850g
- Dimension: W 27cm x D 20cm x H 66cm / W 10.6in x D 7.8in x H 26in
- Litres: 40L in the main body, 2 x 1.5L in hip belt pockets, 2 x 750ml in front mesh pockets
- Comfort Load: 12kg / 25lbs
- Max Load: 13.5kg / 30lbs
- Back length: 42 - 56cm / 16in - 22in
- Hip Belt: 75 - 117cm / 29.5 - 46in
Material & Construction
- Main: 100D Robic
- Bottom: 210D Duramax
- Front pocket: Mesh Darlington 240g
