#4: Choosing the Right Backpack
#4: Choosing the Right Backpack
Each month, PRODUCT FOCUS takes a closer look at our products and how our staff actually use them in the mountains.
With several backpacks that can seem quite similar at first, choosing between them isn’t always simple. Capacity, fit, packing style, trip length, and how much you carry can all change what works best.
For this roundtable, our founder, Akira Natsume, sits down with the Kyoto team to talk about the backpacks they use most, how they choose between them, and what they look for in a good pack.
By comparing those different approaches, we hope these conversations offer a few ideas for finding the backpack that works for you.
Staff profiles
Akira Natsume | Yamatomichi Founder
Started Yamatomichi with his wife in 2011. He continues to explore what a new kind of manufacturer can be.
Ryo Kubota | Yamatomichi Kyoto Staff
A father of two who loves Shiga. He enjoys traveling with less and once spent 24 days walking the Shiga Round Trail. He also runs the YouTube channel Miso Shiru Egao.
Ayana Nagai | Yamatomichi Kyoto Staff
A backpacker since her student days, she has hiked overseas trails including the John Muir Trail and through Patagonia in Chile. She also enjoys trail running.
Mabu Mabuchi | Yamatomichi Kyoto Staff
A former professional musician who found his way back to the mountains he grew up with. He has been practicing ultralight hiking since 2023.
Andy Ando | Yamatomichi Kyoto Staff
Primarily a runner and trail runner, he is still learning his way into ultralight hiking.
Choosing Between the MINI, MINI2, THREE and ONE
Our founder, Akira Natsume, leads the conversation with staff from our Yamatomichi Kyoto store.
ーWhich backpack do you use the most?
Ayana For hiking, I use the MINI2 most, but overall it’s probably the MINI. I commute with it every day and use it for day hikes too.
For overnight trips, I usually take the MINI2. I move up to the THREE when colder-weather gear, a helmet, microspikes, or several days of food start taking up more space. For snow trips, it’s usually the THREE or ONE.
ーWhy do you switch between the MINI and MINI2?
Ayana The MINI works better for everyday use, while for hiking I prefer the MINI2 because the front mesh pocket is so easy to access. I can throw in my headlamp, rainwear, and other small things and grab them without opening the main compartment.
Ayana using the MINI2 in the Northern Alps in 2024.
Andy I use the MINI2 most, even in the rain. The front mesh pocket drains and dries quickly, and it gives me easy access to things like rainwear.
Once my load gets above around 7 kg, I switch to the THREE. I’m not particularly strong through the shoulders, so being able to distribute some of the weight to my hips makes a big difference, especially on steep climbs.
ーWhen do you use the ONE?
Andy For longer trips without resupply. Whether I choose the ONE or THREE depends on the season and how much I’m carrying.
Andy using the THREE in the Central Alps in 2024.
Ryo Recently, the MINI has become the pack I use most. More than anything, it just fits my body well.
Before joining the company, I used a Size L MINI2, but once I tried an M, the fit really clicked. The back length and shoulder straps simply suit me better.
I use the MINI for everything from daily life to day hikes and overnight trips. I also like that the smaller zippered front pocket keeps me from throwing too much into the front and pulling the weight away from my back.
And honestly, I just like the way it looks.
Ryo with his favorite MINI on Mt. Fuji in 2026.
ーWhen do you switch to the THREE?
Ryo Basically when everything stops fitting in the MINI. From around mid-October at 2,500–3,000 m, my sleeping bag gets bulkier and I carry more insulation, so the extra space becomes useful.
If everything still fits in the MINI, though, I’d rather take the smaller pack. It feels more agile and leaves more room around my hips.
The ONE comes in when I need significantly more capacity, like when I’m carrying extra gear for my kids or want more hip support.
Ryo using the ONE on Mt. Kuju in winter 2023.
Mabu I use the MINI2 and THREE most, with the MINI2 getting more use overall.
I often sleep in a hammock, and the MINI2 works really well for that. I can hang it beside me and grab things easily from the front mesh pocket.
For longer trips or rougher weather, I prefer the THREE. I used it on a seven-day hike in the Northern Japanese Alps through plenty of rain and strong wind, and I liked how easy it was to pack and keep moving.
Mabu hiking in the Northern Alps with the THREE in 2025.
Ryo I agree. The THREE stands up on its own, so it’s easy to see inside and pack quickly.
The structured fabric also helps keep everything in place when the pack is filled close to the top.
The THREE stands on its own and holds its wide opening, making it easy to pack.
Mabu I actually like having a little extra room in the THREE. It makes packing easier, and I don’t mind carrying a pack that isn’t completely full.
Ryo I’m the opposite. If everything fits in the MINI, I’d rather take the smaller pack. I like the more compact feel and the extra freedom around my hips.
Ayana So it really comes down to whether you value extra room or a smaller, more agile pack.
Ryo Exactly. The THREE is great when you need the space or want to shift more weight onto your hips.
What makes a good backpack?
ーOne last question: what makes a good backpack for you?
Ayana Something I can use almost instinctively. I want it to move with me and keep what I need within easy reach.
Mabu I want a pack that doesn’t get in the way of how my body wants to move. Something simple enough that I can carry it naturally and almost forget it’s there.
Ryo Looks matter to me too. A good backpack is one that makes me want to use it. The MINI gives me both: I like how it looks, and it fits and carries well.
Ayana and the MINI in the Northern Alps in 2023.
Ayana That’s interesting because I barely think about how a backpack looks.
Ryo For me, that feeling matters. Even if one pack might suit someone’s use better on paper, if they’re excited about another one, I think that counts for a lot.
Andy For me, access matters most. I want to reach what I need without taking the pack off.
ーSo a good backpack is one you barely have to think about while you’re moving?
Andy Exactly. If everything is where I need it, I can just keep walking.
When function makes the pack feel like part of you
Andy with the MINI Custom Edition in the Northern Alps in 2024.
Series: PRODUCT FOCUS Roundtable
