This is a review of the Klättermusen Arvaker backpack…
“Arvaker´s frame can cope with really big backpacks and the ergonomic harness system is comfortable even when carrying great weights. The cord loops on the front make it easy to attach extra equipment and accessories, such as side pockets, to the backpack. The clever roll opening means that the backpack can actually hold slightly more than its size implies. Arvaker can be easily adjusted to your back length and your hip circumference. The Butterfly Bridge™ construction guarantees that the weight is placed in the right position on your shoulders. Arvaker is made from 100% recycled nylon. “
That is what Klättermusen is saying about this backpack.
I have the 50 liter version of the pack and for me that’s a great size because the pack can be used during multi-day hiking trips and can also work as a bigger pack for everyday use. At the moment the 50 liter version is not offered for sale by Klättermusen. Only 40 and 60 liter versions are available.
The first time I saw the Arvaker backpack my reaction was: “What is that?!” The crazy design and the weird-looking shoulder straps made me think that this was nothing for me. After some time I started to getting used to the design when surfing the web so one day I bought it, when I found the pack for a good price in my hometown.
One of the first tests I did in my apartment was to pack the Arvaker full of stuff to test the Butterfly Bridge™ construction to see if it really worked. I have to admit that I was not expecting any miracles. Surprisingly though the pack could handle the 20+ kg very well! I could immediately feel that the waist belt was something for me.
I can, with very good comfort, easily carry 15-20 kg in this pack! Great! During a one week hiking trip in the mountains with 17 kg on my back I could really feel the Butterfly-system working. I had absolutely no pain in the shoulders or hips. Instead I could feel that the pressure from the shoulder straps had been mostly on my collarbone. So the design of the straps and the belt seems to work very good, at least on me.
Many of Klättermusens backpacks uses roll-opening of the main compartment. In my world that is a fail safe, durable and quick way of opening a backpack. Only one move to get a full opening of the pack! On the downside you don’t have any top lid to quickly put stuff under. I think it’s important to point out that it’s possible to open the roll-opening fully even if you have a tent attached on the top of the backpack (Hilleberg Nammatj 3GT in the photos). The opening is secured with two small hooks on either side of the backpack. When I am using the sidepockets I use the top hooks so the opening of the side pockets is available without having to unhook the strap for the main opening. When using the lower hooks you can compress the backpack very good.
On the inside you can find the small pocket for you special valuables
The tent is placed on what Klättermusen calls the “tent shelf” on top of the backpack. It works great with bigger tents such as the Hilleberg Nammatj 3GT but of course also for smaller tents, jackets, sleeping mats or whatever you want to put there. The strings on the “tent shelf” and the other attachment strings are inelastic.
I bought four extra pockets from Klättermusen to my Arvaker. One pair of the 6 liter side pockets, the 12 liter roll-top side pocket and the small hipbelt pocket. The 6 liter side pockets can easily hold a lightweight Gore-Tex jacket and pant or a big water bottle/thermos. The side pockets have very robust zippers going from the top and 2/3 down to the bottom.
The 12 liter roll-top side pocket is perfect for storing a smaller sleeping mat or something else you want to have quick access to. It’s a great place for my Exped Multimat! The pocket can quickly be removed from the pack by unsnapping four clasps. You can choose if you want to have the pockets straps behind the pocket or over it. I prefer to have the straps over the pocket to be able to compress and tighten up the pack.
My hipbelt pocket is fastened on my hipbelt. Of course you can place somewhere else using the attachment points. The pocket is perfect for my Nikon Coolpix P7000! If you have a larger camera, I think there will be difficulties. The pocket is a little bit padded which is nice if you carry a camera or maybe trying to stop the heat getting to your chocolate bars…
Since the pockets are made to fit all the Klättermusen backpacks it is not super simple to get pockets to fit perfectly. But I think that Klättermusen has found a pretty good system without having attachment points all over the pack (which would have increased the weight a lot). On the 6 liter side pocket I hade to put “one up, one down” (see photo below) because the attactment point was at an angle and the side pocket was straight.
My backpack is an early version of the Arvaker so I had some problems with the locking mechanism for the top straps. I contacted Klättermusen about this issue and they sent me new shoulder straps with new top straps directly! Great service! That’s the only problem I have had with the pack so far. Now some more photos of the Butterfly carrying system…
More Butterfly photos… Check out the locking block for the top straps and the hipbelts clever quick release buckle.
At the back there is a pocket for a small water bladder and there is a top pocket which is very hard to use if the pack is fully packed. The buttom of the pack is reinforced with some kind of kevlar material. Feels super-durable!
According to Klättermusen the backpack is made of recyclable material. The material is made by a Korean company named Hyosung and it feels very durable! The material is waterproof but you will have some small drops of water penetrating the pack in heavy rain. Probably through the seams. If you pack in waterproof bags there is absolutely no need for a rain cover with this backpack.
So… Klättermusen Arvaker is a great pack for 15-20 kg on multi-day hikes! Klättermusen needs to send a manual for the Butterfly system so you don’t have to experiment for two days before you get it right. A manual for attaching the pockets would be nice too!
Overall a great pack that, I think, has the material to last a lifetime!
If you want the specs… Click here
Let me know what you think about my first review! Please leave a comment!
stuffspot 
Nice review, good pictures and great information
Thanks a lot for this review! There aren’t many reviews about this backpack, so it’s a very welcome artikel you made!
I still have a few questions: Is this backpack enough for long mountain trekkings with tent, or is this more something you should use for hut-to-hut hikes? And is it worth the money compared to more standard-type backpacks (Macpack, Arc’Teryx, Bach, … you name them)?
If you buy the 60l version and maybe some extra pockets I think it is possible to hike for at least a week, if you are hiking with friends. If you are going by yourself you will have to pack smart…
About the price… The backpack feels very rugged and the quality seems to be very good. Maybe you can find more fancy details and other “ninja-features” on a Arcteryx pack but the KM Arvaker definitely has a more rugged feel than the Arcteryx or other similar packs. I have no good answer to the question about the price.
Thanks for the reply!
As far as what I can see from the pictures, the Arvaker looks very ergonomic. It looks like the overall packing weight has a more higher position, in contrast to the classic internal frame backpack. As you allready mentioned, it feels very comfortable. I think this is a major advantage!
Something I’m not usually fond of are all those little adjustment ropes, fancy looking thingies, and the metal-hook-in-little-rope attatchment system for additional pockets. But do you think these things are justified and do have a functionnality?
And something else: would you recommend this backpack also for more rough and off-trail hikes?
The attachment system works. It works great if you want to attach lighter stuff like a cheap sleeping pad following the back of the backpack. The attachment system on top of the bag is a great place to put a tent. The pockets are sitting OK on the pack. It could have been better, but still very good.
The pack can handle off-trail hikes.
Hi!
Great review. Is the material water resistant in any way? Would it be possible to use in light rain atleast, without using any rain cover for the backpack?
In my world the material is water proof. I have used it in very heavy rains. In heavy rains small drops of water will come in through the seems. I you pack in water proof bags you have no problems.
I have the Arvaker 60 L myself for over a year now and in my eyes it is the best Bagpack I ever had!
If you only carry the necessary things for a tour it will be big enough for a week hike.
with waterproof bags you won’t have any problems in wet conditions, even if the seems aren’t taped.
I packed it several times different, but now I have a really good system, so that I am able to pull out quick, what will be needed quickly.
Nice review, if there were more people like you, it would be more easier to get informations about those products!
Greetings from Germany
Really nice Review! Good Pictures, nice Writing and essential information. Thanks for the information and work that Went into making it!
Nice review!
Could I know where did it be made?
It’s “Made in Sweden” 😃
That’s great!
I’m not sure the new packs still made in Sweden or not as I saw some of them were made in Vietnam.
Oh sorry! I thought you asked where the review was made.
I can’t check on the pack right now but I am pretty sure it is made in Asia.
Best review of this pack on the entire internet!
Thank you so much for this. I wasn’t certain about the pack but you’ve convinced me now.
I’m getting a 60l version with side pockets. That will def. be enough for 10day hikes in Norway.
Thank you for the review, you did a good job, very rich in detail 🙂
I bought the GUNGNER 2.0, 50 l olive.
bevor i had the fjällräven kajka 65, to many cords, zippers(who needs a zippered sleepingbag entry!?) Optical a chaos and he did not fit me( im 173 m tall) to big and to heavy.
I wanted a pack that fits me, is durable, has no bright color( planty of times i needed to hide my pack in underbrush for taking a relaxed walk in the city or the spot) and minimal features because of weight, this gunger pack helps not to look like the tourist, the rich guy from the west, you are looking more like a traveller, because thats what i wanne be, i want to be a part of the environment, not the canary bird in the taiga;)
the big test is coming soon but first little tests let me be full of hope.
Gunger is made in vietnam:/
Next time i will take care about this fact and buy stuff from europe,for example
SAVOTTA Packs made in Finnland, looks interesting.
LAUFBURSCHE packs are handcraftet in Germany.
PARAMO Clothing… taking care really nice about environment!
sorry for my english:)