The MINI2 is a slightly modified MINI, optimized for overnight ultralight hiking and fastpacking, and though lightweight, comfortably carries everything you need for one to two overnight stays.

Made in Toyooka, Japan

Capacity:
Size M 25L-35L/1525-2135 cu in
Size L 28L-38L/1708-2318 cu in

Weight:
Size M 340g/0.749lb(Without Accessories)
Size L 380g/0.837lb(Without Accessories)

Body Material:
Skylite 52g/㎡
70D Silicone Coated Ripstop Nylon 88g/㎡
Front & Side Pocket Material:
Hard Mesh

Bottom Material:
X-Pac VX21 203g/㎡
Back Panel Material:
3D Mesh/200D HT Oxford Nylon 144g/㎡

Accessories:
Minimalist Pad(45 x 90 x 0.5cm/43g)
Hip Belt

Size:
UNISEX | M / L

On designing the MINI2, we decided to modify the original MINI’s front pocket to mesh. The front pocket is very important since the MINI2 is lidless, as is the case with most ultralight packs. The front pocket is used for storing small items, rainwear, and snacks. At times, even your tent, tarp, or groundsheet may end up here.

Suppose you wake up in the morning to find it raining, pack up all your gear inside the tent, or under the tarp. You are almost ready to leave, but what do you do with the tent you are in? With our MINI2, you just tuck the tent in the front pocket after packing up everything else inside and are ready to go. Backpacks with the capacity of 25-35 liters rarely have such a large front pocket that can store items as big as a tent, but the MINI2 is equipped with a high capacity front pocket similar to that of our THREE backpack that allows for just this. Normal mesh fabric tends to tear easily and are difficult to repair if torn, so we used a stronger and slightly heavier hard mesh on MINI2’s pockets to keep you from worrying out on the trail.

The MINI2 is designed to carry up to around eight kilograms of total weight and comfortably distribute the load in the upper back part of your torso, as well as around your chest without relying on your waist to support the weight. This frees your waist from the load and makes it easy for you to comfortably walk around the often steep mountain trails in Japan.

The MINI2 has a long tubular roll-top and large-volume front and side pockets with a capacity total of over 30 liters. You can be creative and use the top strap, bungee cords and bottom attachment loops to carry even more.

The Yamatomichi Minimalist Pad (45 x 90 x 0.5cm / 43g) is folded in four and inserted as the back panel instead of an internal frame. Although a harder pad is better for a heavier load, the Minimalist Pad is designed to properly work when the pack weight is 8 kg or less. The Minimalist Pad is removable and can be used as a sleeping pad or a supplementary pad.

We have a full line-up of optional parts and items that enhance MINI2’s function and capacity.
Choose and use them to maximize the MINI2’s capability according to your needs.

Several years ago, the standard volume of backpacks for ultralight hiking was around 35-45 liters. However, gear is increasingly getting lighter and more compact, allowing for overnight hikes with much smaller packs. Many traditional hikers might still be skeptical about overnight hiking with a small 25-35 liters backpack like the MINI2, we wanted to share a couple of gear list examples for overnight stays with the MINI2.

For this fastpacking trip, Akira traversed from the Oyashirazu coast of the Sea of Japan to Hirayu, passing through the Northern Alps. He traveled extremely lightly this time, carrying only the bare essentials with a base weight of only 2.2 kg and just under 5 kg in total pack weight. With the MINI2, he was able to keep going for six days without any problems.

The below is what ultralight hiker Yusuke Kurosawa brings when he is hiking the Japanese Alps in the summer or lower-lying mountains in the spring or autumn. By eliminating items you really don’t need, you will find the MINI2 more than large enough for overnight hiking.

The standard fabrics used for ultralight backpacks tend to be lightweight, water-resistant, and durable with a certain thickness such as Cuben fiber (dyneema composite fabric) and X-Pac that we also use.

Though all of these are excellent materials, we imagined something else when we thought of creating a genuinely ultralight Yamatomich backpack. We wanted to go back to basics to the first homemade silnylon packs sewed in someone’s garage back in the mid-90s when ultralight hiking was just taking off.

Back then, my first impression on seeing the ultralight backpacks made of ridiculously thin fabric from the US was “Can I really go hiking with this? It looks almost like a garbage bag!” But these innovative packs were also at the core of the appeal of ultralight hiking for me.

In terms of overall functionality, Skylite is inferior to X-Pac or Cuben hybrid, though having a wonderfully shiny and silky texture that reminds one of silnylon. That being said, I choose this paper-thin fabric to express the nostalgia of the 1990s, wanting to share the excitement I felt at that time with a new generation of young hikers who might think “Can I go hiking with this?”. My answer is clear, “Yes, this is just right!”

As a rough guide, we recommend the L size for people over 175cm, but there are people 170cm tall and the L is perfect for them. We recommend trying before buying.

*The MINI2 is made to be ultralight, so we value weight over durability. Please bear in mind that the MINI may be damaged when used under severe conditions such as rock climbing.

*Please be careful when you pack any pointed items such as forks, chopsticks, stoves, and tent pegs as they may damage the fabric.

• Do not machine-wash. Hand-wash only.
• Submerge the product in lukewarm water with a correct amount of neutral detergent, and hand-wash it.
• Do not bleach. Do not use fabric softner.
• Remove any optional parts such as pads before washing.
• Wash off any noticeable stains or smudges with a washing brush or soft sponge.
• Rinse well so that no detergent remains.
• Drain the backpack with the mouth down. Keep dry in a shade.
• Store in a cool, dark, dry place.
• Do not iron.