Our founder, Akira Natsume, leads the conversation with staff from our Yamatomichi Kamakura store.

Beyoncé　For me, it starts with the thinking behind the pack. When I hiked the PCT, I wanted to carry something made by people I trusted.

I’m drawn to brands that are open about both the strengths and weaknesses of their products. That tells me a lot about the people making the gear.

Maehara　I think a good backpack also depends on the person using it. I once had a large Gregory pack with a substantial frame and hipbelt, but my shoulders always hurt. Looking back, I was simply carrying more than it was designed for.

Last year I used the THREE constantly, and eventually I felt like I really understood it. With ultralight gear especially, knowing how a pack is meant to work—and whether it suits you—makes a big difference.

ーSo fit still matters?

Maehara　Definitely. Some shoulder straps simply don’t suit my body. A good match comes from both the design of the pack and how you use it.

Oji　I like a simple backpack. Something you can just throw on, give the straps a few quick pulls, and it feels right. I don’t want to spend time fine-tuning every adjustment just to get comfortable.

I also think it helps to understand how the pack is designed to sit and carry. Before coming to Yamatomichi, I never really thought about that.

Yuhi　I feel the same way about how a backpack is organized. I want to be able to use it without thinking too much.

A shirt goes here, trekking poles there, a bottle in the side pocket. Everything has a natural place, so I’m not stopping to figure out where things should go.

For me, a good backpack keeps your head clear.

George　If something feels off, I like being able to make a small adjustment and immediately feel the difference. That responsiveness is what makes a backpack satisfying to use.

Ayumi　For me, a good backpack is one that gets me excited the moment I see it. I like looking at packs in different stores, and sometimes a certain shape or detail just grabs me right away.

It might be something like, “That would make it really easy to carry a rope,” or, “That looks perfect for attaching climbing gear.” Those little design details are what make a backpack feel exciting to me.

Yuko　I’ve used a lot of backpacks over the years, and I realized that even when I bought a pack because I thought, “It would be nice to have this feature,” I often never really used it.

So little by little, I started stripping things away. In the end, what suits me best is a very simple backpack—something that carries well without asking me to think too much about it.

Looking back, I’m not sure whether the other packs didn’t fit me, whether I was carrying too much, or whether I just didn’t know how to use them properly. But discovering ultralight hiking changed the way I thought about gear.

The more I simplified things, the more freedom I felt. For me, the best backpack is one that stays close, carries comfortably, and lets me focus on the hike.

ーWhich backpack do you use most right now, and when do you switch?

Maehara　Lately I’ve been using the THREE a lot. It’s tough, roomy, and easy to pack without having to think too much about it.

If I want to go really light, I’ll use something smaller. Between the MINI and MINI2, I personally prefer the MINI2 because I like the mesh pocket.

For someone newer to ultralight hiking, though, I often recommend the MINI. The zippered front pocket makes it easier to keep the weight close to your back and avoid overpacking the front.

Beyoncé　For trips of three days or more, I usually take the THREE.

Recently, though, I’ve been using the MINI more. I used to prefer the MINI2, and the large mesh pocket is really useful, but things can get messy pretty quickly.

Yuko　I’ve also started using the THREE more in cooler seasons. I like that it stands upright when I’m packing and gives me enough room that I’m not fighting to squeeze everything inside.

ーDo you still use the ONE?

Yuko　Mostly only in winter these days. My set-up has become even more minimal and the MINI2 or THREE is enough for most trips.

Yuhi　I’m similar. I use the THREE on longer trips when I want more room and less fuss. If I’m alone and moving fast, I usually choose the MINI2.

George　I’m actually a MINI fan. I love the clean front pocket. I’ve used it for so long that it’s become the pack I naturally reach for.

Ayumi　For me, it’s the MINI2. By ultralight standards, the front mesh pocket is basically a suitcase.

I take it climbing a lot, and when it’s time to move to the next route, I can just throw my shoes and everything else into the mesh pocket and go. It swallows almost anything.

Oji　Recently, I’ve started thinking of the MINI as a really good option in the 20-liter range. Both the MINI and MINI2 can be compressed down quite a lot with the side straps, but the big advantage of the MINI is its comfortable padded shoulder straps—something many 20 L packs, especially trail-running packs, tend to sacrifice.

A little trick I like is lining the inside with a UL Pad. It gives the pack more structure and helps everything compress more evenly.

Oji　I mostly use the THREE in the snow. The side compression straps wrap around the front, which makes it easy to secure snowshoes or other bulky gear to the outside of the pack.

I use the ONE for long-distance hiking, when I want more room for food and a little extra capacity for the unexpected.

Maehara　The THREE also works well for air travel. With the roll top compressed, even the L size can get close to typical carry-on dimensions. I’ll often roll a sleeping pad inside and slide my trekking poles through the middle to help protect them.

Oji　The MINI2 can work too, but a fully stuffed front mesh pocket gets bulky quickly. Keeping softer items there makes the pack easier to compress when you need to fit it into a carry-on sizer.