Exped Lightning 60 review: Lots of loops for gear-heavy adventures

At £185, the Exped Lightning 60 is not excessively expensive, and will prove a good investment for some wild campers and hillwalkers. It has quite a minimalist, pared-back approach, without unnecessary features, and a reasonably lightweight build at 1,220g (43.03oz).

For some, this backpacking pack will strike a nice balance, particularly considering the sizeable 60L capacity. Entry to the pack is from the top only, where you get a lidless, rolltop closure design, and the overall pack shape is pretty standard, if not slightly on the wider, fatter side of the spectrum.

You don’t get an oversized mesh stash pocket or shoulder strap pockets, which is a shame, but you do get two side water bottle pockets, a top zippered valuables pocket and zippered pockets on each hipbelt fin.

However, the real polarising feature will be the back system - with your back only touching two parts of the pack (the base lumbar pad and the shoulder harness’s padded top). Of course, comfort is a very subjective thing and what works for one backpacker, won’t for another, and vice-versa.

Personally I found this back system a bit “lumpy”, but it did improve a little over time – perhaps it’s an acquired taste? You might love it, however. It’s all subjective, as I say.

Back system: panel, frame and harness

One man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure – and that’s kind of true when it comes to outdoor gear. I might absolutely love a product, but you might hate it. The kit I treasure fondly might be utter rubbish for you.

Why? Because everything is subjective, partly depending on your personal philosophy and approach to the outdoors (are you fast and athletic or slow and considered?) and partly depending on the shape, size and quirks of your own body.

When it comes to hiking backpacks, what moulds to your back might stick out awkwardly for me, or vice-versa, and what feels comfortable and sleek to me might disagree with the intricate contours of your body shape.

With that said, I’d personally describe the carrying experience of the Exped Lightning 60 as a little underwhelming. I didn’t find it the comfiest, that’s for sure, and overall I felt like the carrying experience was a bit awkward. I got more used to it over time, and perhaps it’s an acquired taste that improves with time – but on initial impressions it wasn’t my favourite.

I found the hipbelt good enough, but the carrying style – with your back only touching two parts of the back system (the lumbar pad at the base and the padded frame of the shoulder harness at the top) – felt a bit “lumpy”. Of course, this might just be me (and I am used to quite straight-backed, close-to-the-body carrying systems), so you may think differently.

One positive of the back system is that, other than at the two contact points, there is an air gap between your back and the backpack, which significantly improves ventilation and helps to prevent your back getting too sweaty.

For the gear geeks out there, the back system consists of a long, vertically-orientated aluminium stay down the spine of the pack, as well as a small horizontal strut at the top of the stay, thus forming a T-shaped frame. The shoulder harness and hipbelt have an almost “floating” suspension style.

Back length and sizing

The Exped Lightning 60 has a back system that is adjustable between 41cm and 58cm, so you can micro-adjust the fit to your own torso length. This can be a little tricky to adjust at first, but you should get to grips with the system soon enough.

This is how it works: The shoulder harness slides up and down the vertical length of the aluminium stay, and is then held in place by tightening the adjuster straps underneath the Velcro of the lumbar pad. While a tad fiddly, this system enables fine-tuned adjustability to your body shape.

Both men's and women's versions of the Exped Lightning 60 are available, so it’s worth remembering that there are two different packs with different sizing and shapes tailored to both men and women.

Volume, shape and weight

The Exped Lightning 60 has, as the name explains, a 60L capacity, which for many is an ideal volume for overnight camps and multi-day hiking expeditions. Its shape is quite standard for a backpacking backpack, with nothing out of the ordinary or unusual – the width, depth and height are all quite “normal”.

Although, if I had to say, I’d possibly describe the shape as slightly on the wider (rather than taller) side of the spectrum for a 60L pack – this works well enough, however. Exped states official dimensions of 75x34x27cm.

In terms of weight, the Lightning 60 clocks in at 1,220g, which is mid-range performance: neither ultralight, nor excessively heavy. For most this weight will strike a nice balance; but ultralighters will find it too heavy.

Other options in Exped’s Lightning range include a 45L version, and two women’s specific backpacks in 45L and 60L sizes.

Features: lid, straps, pockets and weather protection

This pack errs of the side of minimalism, rather than being fully-featured with all of the bells and whistles. Personally I quite like this approach – often backpacks have too much going on, and it’s all a bit over-engineered, but not with the Lightning 60.

I did find the lack of a front stash pocket a bit annoying – I like a big, stretchy, mesh pocket for stowing on-the-go items like snacks or an extra layer. But I never felt like its absence was a deal-breaker, either.

There are no pockets on the shoulder straps and the pack is lidless too. Instead the top of the pack has rolltop closure, with a zippered valuables pocket included.

In terms of the features that are present, you get the usual stretchy side pockets for water bottles, loads of criss-crossing webbing straps and toggles for gear attachment (including ice axe and trekking poles), hydration bladder compatibility and good-sized zippered pockets on each hipbelt fin.

Perhaps the best external feature of the pack is the sheer number of straps, including daisy chain loops, side zig-zag compression straps and webbing straps. Whatever you want to do, in terms of storing foam sleeping mats, tent poles, cooking equipment or anything else, you’ve got a myriad of options with this pack.

The Lightning 60 is mostly made from a 210-denier ripstop nylon, with a PU coating, DWR and a1,500mm hydrostatic head rating. This fabric feels pretty tough, thick and robust, and should be able to cope fine with extensive use and inclement weather.

Verdict

A pared-back, minimalist style 60L backpacking pack with some nice features – but the carrying experience will polarise opinion.

For something less hardcore, check out our roundup of the best hiking daypacks.

About the author

He writes regular features and route guides for Trail and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years. James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells.

James reviews every type of outdoor kit for Trail and is a real authority on everything you need for wild camping and packing light for a multi-day walk.