ashenUltralight, speed hiking backpackers assemble. The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 is totally designed to cater your needs. Personally, speed is not something that I look for in a backpack because for me the hike needs to be relaxed. But there are plenty of folks out there who prefer to get through the trail quickly and efficiently. To do this, you need a backpack that is lightweight, efficient and functional. Now the Zerk 40 isn’t the lightest weight 40L backpack in the market, but most agree that it’s hard to beat the efficient functionality of the Zerk 40. Here are the specs at a glance.
Mountainsmith Zerk 40 Specs
- 40 liters capacity
- Weighs 28oz, Dimensions: 18.5″ x 11.75″ x 5.75″
- Material combination: 100d Nylon HT w/ 200d Spectra Double R/S TPU, atilon foam (back panel), 210g stretch mesh, EVA & PE foam
- Webbing compression strap and a centered attachment point
- 9 exterior pockets
- Side compression straps
- Removable bear & gear canister straps with multiple attachment points
- 1.5′ removable waist belt
You could call this the highlight of the specs. There is much more to this backpack than the ones listed above. Co-designed with The Real Hiking Viking, a renowned thru-hiker that shone the Mountainsmith name in the outdoor gear industry. As Mountainsmith states, the ZERK 40 pack stands alone as the ideal combination of weight, durability, comfort, and accessibility.
Mountainsmith Zerk 40 Design and Build Quality
On with the Mountainsmith Zerk 40 review. A priority point in a backpacking buying guide is the build quality and the suspension. Let us start off with the material. 100D nylon is sufficient for a backpack to be categorized as thicker and durable. Although, there are backpacks which are 450D or 600D. Ripstop TPU fabric makes it more durable, abrasion resistant and waterproof. Nothing unusual. Typical outdoor gear materials used here. The foam material too is a great choice as EVA is higher in density, durable, and springs back to shape against pressure.
The important component of the backpack which are the shoulder straps are well designed for purpose. The strap surface area is larger to reduce the pressure over the chest, shoulders and upper back. The design is such that it holds the pack close to your torso. Highly advantageous when you are running. Both the straps have two mesh pockets layered on top of the other. Super convenient to stuff your power bank, map, snacks etc. Pocket placement is a separate topic with this pack.
The sternum strap should be adjusted such that the flared part of the shoulder straps are away from your underarms. So you tighten it lightly so as to not hinder your arm movements. The mesh back panel and atilon foam work together to reduce condensation and maximize breathability. The waist belt is removable through the gatekeeper clips. Also, it is not for weight balancing, just optimum pack placement.
Pocket Placement
The outstanding feature of the Mountainsmith Zerk 40. We already spoke of the shoulder strap pockets for ease of accessibility and optimum efficiency. There are exterior pockets on the sides and they are capable of housing 2 water bottles, an empty water bag and some other items on one side. The space is sufficient to include all these. There is also a massive stretch mesh front pocket for easy access to gear and stashing anything that didn’t quite fit inside. A perfect item placement would be, snacks, electronics and map on the shoulder strap pockets and water bottles, minor accessories on the side pockets. We can safely say that these pockets are more than capable of holding any hiker’s entire arsenal.
Zerk 40 Internal Organization
An extended capacity of 40 L is ample to store all of your stuff needed for a hazel free hike to accommodate any climate. You can neatly organize a sleeping bag, small tent (1-2 person), and pad, as well as extra clothing and layers. There is still space left for crockery, first aid kit, camping lantern and navigation tools. Not to mention the pockets outside that can also be used to host minor items. Now this arrangement isn’t unique just to Mountainsmith.
However, external storage placement and how they are organized is what makes this backpack stand apart from the rest that have hipbelt pockets. You never have to open up your main compartment while on the trail. The main compartment closes with a roll top secured by webbing straps to the sides of the pack above the side pockets. This is pretty conventional for most 40L backpacks. The bag has no separate hydration pocket but the center hose port is between the shoulder straps with a hook inside to hang your bladder.
Customer Feedback
The overall rating is a 5 star for this pack as it has won the hearts of many outdoor enthusiasts. Common positive feedback includes the lightweight, strap design and of course the one and only super convenient pocket placement and design. Jen who bought this online claims that this pack is the best of both worlds. He goes on to state how easily accessible everything is and 40L internal main roll top pocket refrains you from overpacking for thru hikes or section hikes as long as you maintain weight below 30lbs. He used this backpack to hike the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 3 days covering 20+miles.
The only additional he needed was a fanny pack to hold his phone, battery bank, first aid, DCF wallet, headlamp and some other stuff. He also comments that the backpack even gave him more versatility to boulder hop when hiking the FHT. Mark Swisher who is another user of this claims that although most experts state that the hip belt does not help in weight distribution, it did for him. Will who is another happy client, says he used this pack on the Rae lakes loop accounting for roughly 40 miles of usage and he loves how easy it was to get his bottles when he needed them.
This is something reassuring to him as it was never the same with prior packs. So with all this said, are there any downsides? Well, there was one minor drawback according to Mark which is on hot days, he says his back was soaked. This could have been due to reduced airflow. Corey has a major complaint claiming that this pack is not for the slim built as the shoulder straps are too wide. However, no other user claims that wide shoulder straps were an issue. Generally narrow ones are the pain causing culprits. Therefore this complaint is a bit odd. So what is our final conclusion? This pack is indeed the best of both worlds and judging by its fan base, you are definitely in for a great piece of outdoor gear.
