Mammut Ducan 24 review: a lightweight backpack for fast hiking

A lightweight, durable daypack, the Mammut Ducan 24 has the best engineered shoulder straps in the business and superior heat venting

Mammut Ducan 24
(Image: © Mammut)

Advnture Verdict

For hikers who want to go fast and light, the Mammut Ducan 24 is the ideal no-compromise pack.

Pros

  • +

    Lightweight

  • +

    Great stability and fit

  • +

    Smart shoulder strap/chest strap design

Cons

  • -

    Streamlined designed leaves out outer pockets and extensive outer pack storage options

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First impressions

The Mammut Ducan 24 daypack wins high marks for its shoulder strap system. It uses an elastic, padded material that merges comfortably with the chest strap – something many other daypacks seem to incorporate as an afterthought.

The shoulder straps also include a snug, elastic pocket built in that is actually big enough to hold a smartphone. This logical feat of engineering remains absent on many daypacks. Rounding out the well-thought out strap design is the superior venting of the back panel.

Combined with the Mammut Ducan 24’s gossamer weight, the efficient venting makes this the perfect pack for hikers who put out a lot of heat or prefer to explore in hot temperatures.

Specifications

RRP: $130 (US) / £100 (UK)
Weight: 32oz / 907g
Volume: 24L
Compatibility: Day hiking, mountain hiking, warm-weather hikes
Colors: Black / Granit / Sapphire / Sunlight

On the trail

Despite its light weight, the Mammut Ducan 24 carries moderate loads quite comfortably. Under heavier loads, the pack will sit lower on the hips but nonetheless stays in place without much trouble. The rain cover is integrated into the pack but is detachable for those who want to shave a few more ounces off.

Even when jogging, the pack stayed nicely cinched against the back and the venting system performed as advertised. A lack of outer pockets is a slight nit-pick. Because it uses a thinner Polyamide/Polyester blend to save weight, the skin of the Ducan isn't quite as tough as thicker denier nylon packs, but the saved weight is worth it.

The best-selling author of five Colorado mountain hiking guidebooks, including Best Summit Hikes in Colorado, James’ work has been published in National Geographic, Backpacker, Outside, Discover Magazine, and many more. He's climbed in Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, Japan, and Antarctica. James lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife Sheila and their two rescue collies, Mystic and Fremont. As of 2021, he's only had one of his tents trampled by a moose.