Montane Trailblazer LT 28 waterproof backpack | Tester Reviewed

The first thing we thought when we picked up the Montane Trailblazer 28 was ‘wow, this is light’. So light, in fact, that on first impressions we didn’t think it could possibly match up to its competitors on the waterproof backpack scene.

When you get your hands on an incredibly lightweight bit of outdoor kit, it’s sometimes too easy to focus on its limitations rather than its strengths. Is it too flimsy to handle mountain terrain? Can fabric this thin really protect everything inside the pack? Is it going to fall to bits after a few months?

But those questions do the Trailblazer range a disservice, because what Montane have created here is a hiking pack that ticks so many boxes for lightweight devotees. The side-clipping roll-top closure is clever, the waterproofing seems good, the comfort is impressive, and the capacity of this 28-litre version is plenty big enough for long days on the trail.

So how did it perform when we tested it? Read on for our full review…

Waterproofing

A lot of work has gone into the construction of the Montane Trailblazer 28, and as a result its waterproofing credentials are good. The outer material is 40-denier siiconised ripstop nylon, which has a TPU coating to create that solid waterproof barrier.

Most of the seams are folded, bonded and taped to minimise stitching, which is so often a weakness point on packs like this. We’ve used the Trailblazer more for hiking and hillwalking than trail running so far, and it’s performed just as we’d have hoped in the rain.

We had a bit of a result for testing purposes, when a big storm hit the UK and we were able to leave this pack fully loaded pack in torrential for 9 hours to see what it’s made of. We were half expecting it to feel saturated inside and out at the end of the day, but that wasn’t the case at all. The beading on the outside of the pack was very impressive for such a thin fabric, and the contents were bone dry.

Comfort

When fully loaded, the comfort levels of the Montane Trailblazer 28 are good. The hipbelt harness is deep and lightly padded with a mesh backing, so it hugs your body and absorbs some of the weight you’re carrying.

That same mesh from the harness extends up into the back panel and shoulder straps, which are both also lightly padded, to create a bit of airflow and breathability when it’s flush against your body. The fact the pack is so lightweight means there’s no rigidity at all, so you can hardly even tell you’re wearing it, especially if the contents aren’t too heavy.

There are a couple of catches though. The stripped-back nature of the design means there’s very little in the way adjustability. You can tighten and loosen the shoulders and the hipbelt, but in general the Trailblazer 28 either fits your body shape or it doesn’t. Our tester is 6ft 1ins tall and it was hard to keep the pack high on the shoulders while also getting the hipbelt in the right place.

The other thing worth considering is that when the pack isn’t fully loaded, it can sag a little. Because the back panel isn’t very stiff, you almost need to fill up the bag to keep its shape, which also impacts how comfortable it is to wear.

Features

There are quite a few features to shout about with the Trailblazer 28. Firstly, for such a lightweight waterproof pack, we love the fact it has a proper waist harness. And even more, we love the fact both hip fins have zipped pockets for stashing things like phones or energy-boosting snacks.

There’s an external bungee cord system which runs down the front of the pack and allows you to lash items to the outside – useful for things like waterproofs and extra layers. There are also two really nice sized mesh stretchy pockets on the sides that are plenty big enough for bottles, maps, gloves, hats and anything else you want quick access to.

The roll-top closure works well – the advice from Montane is to roll it over three times before clipping and tensioning down the side of the pack. There’s also a hydration bladder sleeve sandwiched between the Trailblazer’s main chamber and the back panel, with elasticated loops on each shoulder strap which you can feed the tube through to keep it tidy.

One other interesting quirk of the Trailblazer is that Montane have given it two elasticated chest straps, with the idea being that it creates better weight distribution from the pack. They feel a little bit fiddly to us, but also unquestionably make the pack feel more snug, stable and secure around your torso. Which becomes more important if you’re running with a fully loaded backpack.

Capacity

The official capacity of the Montane Trailblazer 28 is, unsurprisingly, 28 litres. The simplicity of the design means there are few obstructions like inner compartments or over-complicated openings and technical back panels, which are the kind of pack features that often reduce internal space.

So the Trailblazer is a nice and roomy pack, and there are so many size options in the range (from 8L all the way to 44L) that you can pretty much pick the one that suits you and your style of activity best. Plus, the good-sized external stretch pockets and bungee cords mean you can stash a few items on the outside if needed.

Durability

We have to be a little careful not to speculate here, because we haven’t used the Trailblazer for long enough or on challenging enough terrain to fully know the strengths of limitations of it durability. But it does feel slightly flimsier than the other waterproof packs we’ve tested.

Whart we can say, though, is that the 40D ripstop nylon used for the main bulk of the pack is good. This is a fabric designed to be strong and very hard to tear at the lightest weight possible, so the technology in the pack is very impressive.

Beyond the material, the buckles and bungees on the outside of the pack are small, thin and very lightweight, so it’s important to know what you’re buying here. If your plan is to run or generally just travel fast and light, the Montane Trailblazer will probably be right up your street. But if you’re looking for something to drag through jungles or across rugged mountain terrain, you should probably look more towards a pack like the Osprey Transporter WP 30 or the Ortlieb Atrack 35.

Price and competition

Priced at £130 on Montane’s website, the Trailblazer sits in the middle ground of waterproof backpacks in terms of value. Of all the similar packs we’ve tested, this one stands alone in terms of its design and use case so it’s quite hard to compare it like for like in terms of value.

Perhaps the Exped Typhoon 25(at around half the price) is a fairly close match because it’s also very lightweight, but that does feel more like a general purpose waterproof pack, while the Trailblazer feels far more aimed at runners.

Verdict

If you’re a trail runner or fast packer looking for a comfortable and lightweight waterproof pack to carry all your essential kit, the Monate Trailblazer could well be perfect. It’s loaded with impressive technology and available in a huge range of sizes to suit every type of trip.