I used the Deuter Aircontact Core 50 + 10 pack for men in my recent winter hiking tour with all the bulky stuff for outdoor sleeping, and I was able to pack and carry everything with ease. Here you have my report about the pack and its performance.
Key features & benefits
- Two access points.
- Expandable design.
- Bottom compartment.
- Rain cover included.
- Adjustable torso length.
- Excellent hip belt and lumbar padding.
Below you can see how I rate this pack against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
Deuter Aircontact Core 50 + 10 Pack for men
Pros
- Adjustable torso length.
- Great hip belt.
- Rain cover.
- Recycled materials.
- Strong suspension.
- Quality craftsmanship.
Cons
- Not very light.
Places to buy:
What is in the name
There are two important things here. I would first say something about the word Core. This is about the new series of backpacks that Deuter launched recently, together with their Ultra and X series.
I have discussed them in my Deuter Aircontact Core vs Deuter Aircontact Ultra backpacks comparison and Deuter Aircontact X vs Deuter Aircontact Core comparison.
I see the Core placed in between the other two series regarding performance and features. So this Aircontact Core 50 + 10 has plenty of features, but still fewer that the X packs.
Expandable design & access points
This is a classic top-loading pack with a floating and removable lid, and with an expandable collar. This is behind the number +10 in the official name.
The meaning is that the collar can be expanded to add 10 liters of volume when you need it. From the pictures below you realize that the pack remains in its beautiful shape even when the collar is expanded.
For this reason i) the lid is floating, to accommodate such extra load, ii) you have two separate cinch cords in the collar, and, iii) there is an extra top compression strap.
Some of these details are shown in the picture below from my tour. As you realize, the pack was not really full in spite of all the outdoor sleeping items that I carried.
Having such extendable design adds to versatility of the pack. You can use it with various loads in various seasons, and even on the same tour you may have more load (food and water, toilet paper, etc.) when you start the tour. So you may start with expanded volume, and reduce it later as the stuff in the pack reduces in time.
But the pack also has a separate large zippered bottom compartment with an inner zippered divider, see the picture:
This divider can be open completely if you want, but when closed nothing can get from the upper main compartment into it. I wish to point out this because many other expensive packs on the market have just an inner shelf with toggles.
The bottom compartment is large enough, I was able to easily put inside my Crua Graphene sleeping bag, which I was carrying without its compression stuff sack to reduce the weight.
The pack is hydration compatible, with an inner sleeve and a port behind the harness:
Note also that it comes with a rain cover included with its stuff sack:
Suspension system
The Deuter Aircontact Core packs are designed to stay close to the body. This implies a number of features that include a very interesting back panel padding and mesh which you can see in the picture below. This mesh is completely unique.
Between the two padding zones you can see a channel that doubles as a ventilation chimney and also accommodates the torso adjustability system.
They describe this as the VariSlide system, it is very efficient and easy to use continuous design, so you can have any length in the given range for a perfect fit. When you release the orange lock, you can move the harness up or down to your desired length.
The pack is comfortable to carry thanks to its movable and ergonomically shaped Active Fit shoulder straps with soft-edge finishes, which they call the VariFlex system. The meaning is that the straps are with a pivoting type connection to the pack, so they adjust automatically to the body of a user.
From my experience, the shoulder harness straps are a bit narrow and hard, but indeed they are nicely padded. When I compare them with my another pack presented in a separate review, the Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 pack, I find the Osprey’s harness more comfortable.
But the best part is the lumbar padding and the hip belt design, see the picture below. The padding here is massive and very comfortable; this is designed so that you carry your load with ease.
This all is supported with two massive metal stays behind the harness, they transfer the load to the hip belt. You can see them in the pictures as two orange pieces behind the harness.
You have the usual load lifter straps that work perfect, and a sliding type adjustable sternum strap.
Pockets
There are 6 pockets in total and they include:
- One large zippered pocket in the lid.
- Dual zippered hip belt pockets, see one below. The material here is stretchy, and the pockets are not particularly large, they are smaller than in the mentioned Osprey’s pack.
- Dual side stretch mesh pockets with dual top and side access are on the sides of the pack. They are not particularly deep, but good enough.
- One large stretch mesh pocket is on the front, see it below. In my tour this was the pocket where I kept my rain jacket. I would love to have a buckle here, to secure items that I carry in this pocket.
All zippered pockets are with good pull loops on zippers so you can use them even with gloves.
Attachment options and straps
There are plenty of them, you have already seen the top compression strap, and others include the following:
- Four attachment loops on the lid, see one in the picture above.
- Dual straps are on the sides, and they are removable. The picture below shows how I was using them to fix my tripod stored in the side pocket:
- On the shoulder harness there is an attachment point for glasses, the picture below, and I can tell you it is very useful.
- There are also several attachment loops on the shoulder harness, you can see them in the picture below.
- There are four attachment loops on the front-bottom area, see the picture below.
- You have dual bottom loops for trekking poles or ice axes, see the picture below, and they are paired with dual bungie cords higher on the top. Observe that here you also have one pair of extra loops where you attach bottom straps.
- From the picture above you see that it has no bottom straps, but no worry, the side straps are removable and you can use them here when you want to carry something attached to the bottom. This is shown in the picture below, and now you can see how one pair of the previously mentioned loops is used for the straps attachment. But I would rather have such straps permanently in place, this is not an ultralight pack in any case.
Please see more in my video:
Materials
They use recycled materials here and they are bluesign approved. The fabric is a combination of a 500D nylon on the bottom and 235D in the rest. Observe several different colors that are available.
The fabric is extremely durable and abrasion-resistant. They are also free from PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Deuter uses durable water-repellent finishes (DWR) that are environmentally sound and harmless to human and animal health.
Who is it for
Regarding gender, this is a pack for men, but they have a version for women with the letters SL in the name, the Deuter Aircontact Core 45+10 SL and also Deuter Aircontact Core 55+10 SL.
Regarding best use, capacity, and carry load, you have 3051+610 cubic inches (50+10 L) of volume, plus numerous options for gear attachment from outside.
I was carrying all the stuff for winter sleeping in the tent, and I did not even use any of the attachment options, all my stuff was in the pack.
I had around 11-12 kg of weight, dependent on the water, and I was carrying it all with ease. Note that the official maximum is 44 lb (20 kg), and I have no doubt that this pack can handle it.
So, this backpack can be used for overnight or multi-day hiking and backpacking tours in any season. The rain cover is an extra bonus in the case of rain.
Observe that this series currently has no less than 8 backpacks (4+4, for men and women), so if this volume is not really for you, there are plenty other options available.
Regarding the weight, the pack is not particularly light with its 4.76 lb (2.16 kg). However, you have seen its massive padding and all other details like the zippered inner divider etc.
Everything here is strong and well-made, just see those two orange stays below and the strong carry handle.
Regarding the price, Deuter may not look like a brand for those that are on a budget. But think twice. I have one of their packs that is 21 years old and it is still in a perfect state after many mountains I climbed with it. These packs are built to last.
Specifications
- Volume: 3051+610 in³ (50+10 l).
- Weight: 4.76 lb (2.16 kg).
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 30.7 x 12.2 x 10.2 in (78 x 31 x 26 cm).
- Carry load: up to 44 lb (20 kg).
- Back length: 16.5-24.4 in (42-62 cm).
- Body height: 67-80.7 in (170-205 cm).
- Warranty: 2 years.
Final thoughts
In the conclusion of this Deuter Aircontact Core 50 + 10 pack review, what you have here is a backpack designed for a medium load, and from my own first-hand experience I am convinced you will carry it comfortably.
The hip belt padding, the torso length adjustability, and expandable collar are the best features of this pack. But you have plenty more, like practical and numerous attachment options, a bonus rain cover, and a dual access with a true bottom compartment with a zippered divider.
The pack is suitable for hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers. I have included it in my list of the best backpacking packs for men. Fully recommended.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
For more options, please check under the category Large Packs. Note that I have separate texts with detailed comparison of this pack with the Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 pack and with the Deuter Futura Air Trek.
Bookmark this site and come again, this will keep you informed because I add texts here regularly. Let me know if you have questions or comments, there is a comment box below. Have a nice day.
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