Mountainsmith Spirit 12 Backpack - Review

Founded in Colorado back in 1979, Mountainsmith has been making ski and hiking gear long before they entered the mountain bike market with their smaller suspended packs. So far their line up of bike-related products only includes a few items, one of them being the Spirit 12 pack that's reviewed below. The $69.95 USD Spirit 12 sports, you guessed it, twelve litres of volume, and it weighs 1lb 9oz.







Materials and Construction

The Spirit 12 is made with a Duramax Nylon that should make it tough enough for plenty of use without any issues, but the bag is also still light enough to not be a burden. Both compartments feature 210d RipStop Nylon fabric, while the back and bottom of the pack are made from the more abrasion resistant 420d fabric, and the ventilation canopy is a padded mesh 'V' with a small but adequate lumbar pad at the bottom. Zippers are from YKK, with a dual slider used for the large compartment, but only a single slider for the smaller pocket. Stitching appears to be durable, with bar tacking at critical areas to keep things together over years of abuse.




There is also a basic internal frame made from thin, flexible plastic and a one inch wide aluminium flat bar, all of which can be accessed through a Velcro flap in the main compartment, and the long aluminium spine can be tweaked to fit the rider and ensure the canopy shape. Two side stretch pockets can accommodate a water bottle or small amour as well, making for a convenient place to stash some extra gear. A six-point shock chord retention system is centered on the back for larger armour or other gear, but it doesn’t fit helmets easily, while a small lower flap will hold a rear flasher for commuting duties. The fabric and zippers appear water resistant, but the Spirit 12 does not include a rain cover.





Fit and Function

What do we need from a backpack? It has to be able to carry the gear we need while out in the bush, but it also must do that without feeling like there's a small child hanging onto our back. With the straps pulled tight the pack stayed put for the most part, with minimal shifting around on rough, technical trails or rowdy descents, so it doesn't really have that small child feel to it. Both the fit and the adjustability mean you can tinker with it until it feels just right, and it didn't take long to get it sitting on my back in a comfortable way. One fit foible is the extra-long and very yellow chest band that got dirty fast and tended to pull awkwardly on the shoulder straps when it was done up snug - not ideal. The canopy suspension keeps lumpy gear off the rider's back and did provide ventilation better than some other packs tested. However, the aluminium one inch wide bar has a tendency to take on a shape of it own and needed to be re-bent occasionally. It's also worth noting that the bag's RipStop Nylon fabric gives it a pretty robust feel, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spirt 12 last years and years as a rider's go-to bag for big rides.




There's room for everything that you'd need for all-day affairs, with there being no trouble stuffing in any tools you might require, tubes, clothes and food with room to spare. There's no excuse to not be prepared when using the Spirit 12. A large pocket in the main compartment will fit a three litre bladder (not included), and there's openings on both right and left shoulders to route the hose, just in case you're not an ambidextrous sipper. The stretchy pocket on the right shoulder strap is handy for gels or an energy bar (or a small bag of gummy bears), although I wouldn't recommend putting your phone or a small camera in there as I wouldn't be surprised if it fell out at some point. Internally, the smaller compartment has two quick-access mesh pockets, and the longer pocket will hold a small pump up to ten inches long. There isn't a zippered pocket to be found inside, although a small plastic hook can be you used to snap your key ring onto. And while not everyone rides with a cell phone, a pocket with a soft liner that's placed in a crash-friendly location would be nice to see.




Pinkbike's Take

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