QUECHUA FORCLAZ 20L AIR HIKING BACKPACK REVIEW

While I was searching to update my backpacking gear, and I was looking for a half-day to one day backpacking solution, I came across the Quechua Forclaz 20l Air. This is a price winning backpack with a ventilated back. The product’s capacity to enhance air circulation to limit warmth and moisture.

The Forclaz Air 20 is made for comfort. The back panel is spaced about 3cm from your back by a polyester mesh with 6 foam spacing blocks. This allows air to circulate and keeps your back from getting all sweaty.

There is a hip belt which comfortably puts most of the weight on your hips rather than on your shoulders, which is important when you’re carrying a heavily loaded pack for more than an hour. Also, there is the “Air Vent” technology which it provided great feeling even if the backpack is fully stuffed with heavy load.

The backpack is very easy to access. It’s a top loader backpack and there is a single compartment with an expandable inner material. In addition there is a small lid-pocket that allows you to carry small items such as sunglasses, a scarf, a GPS unit or even a headlamp.

Something I do not like from this backpack is the way the closure system. There side strips (in orange colour) and those strips go in a zig-zag way towards the backpack lid. Although it is an interesting concept in reality is not very functional. Especially if you are carrying items, such as a bottle of water in the mesh side pockets. This means, that in order to remove the bottle of water (or other items), you have to un-clip the buckles that close the backpack. As you can imagine this is very unhandy while you are hiking. See photo bellow:

This backpack has an internal “hidden” pocket with a zip in order to store valuable items such as wallet, ID or car keys.

The Forclaz 20l Air, has also two trekking pole loops where you can accommodate diagonally one or two trekking poles. See photo bellow:

FEATURES

Volume: 21.5 litres
Weight: 740 g
Full pack dimensions: H 55 x W 28 x D 23
Pockets: 1 outer
1 inside backpack
2 mesh Side pockets

COMPOSITION

Main fabric : 100.0% Polyester (PES)
Inner fabric : 100.0% Polyester (PES)
Outer fabric : 100.0% Polyester (PES)

Bottom Line: This is a good backpack for a maximum one day activity in spring/summer time. I would not recommend this backpack for serious one day winter hiking unless weather conditions are great and therefore there is no precipitation risk. For the price I purchased the backpack (10 euro in discount), the Forclaz 20l has served me greatly on various training one day hikes.