Montane Medusa 32 (2014)

The Montane Medusa 32 is the serious hillwalker’s pack of choice. Thoughtfully designed and robust, its fabric certainly feels more substantial than many other packs in our test, though this does impact slightly on weight. The back system is a chunk of foam that sits into the groove of your back well, though those who prefer the airy feel of a suspended back system probably won’t like it. It’s well-featured too, with a zipped pocket beneath the fixed lid, plastic grab handles on the cords, two useful wand pockets, a single zipped pocket in the hipbelt (there’s a gear loop on the other side; another pocket would be of more use), a nifty axe/pole attachment system and side compression straps. Added to this is a reinforced bottom and a hydration tube clip on the shoulder strap. The narrow fit, tough fabric and the gear loops suggest it is on the fence between walkers and climbers; be this as it may the sack is more than decent enough for both. 

Specifications

Capacity 32 litres

Weight 970g

Internal compartments 1

External zipped pockets 2

Wand pockets 2

Rain cover no

Back lengths one size

Women’s version no

Website www.montane.co.uk

Verdict

The Montane Medusa 32 is a versatile sack for the walker, scrambler or climber, and outstanding value for its feature set. It won Trail’s ‘Best in Test’ award.

Review by Simon Ingram

First published in Trail magazine March 2014