Futura 30 SL

The Deuter Futura 30 SL is a women's hiking pack big enough for a long day or a hut night, with the ventilated mesh back the Futura is known for. A gap between you and the load means a cooler back on every climb, and a harness cut for women's shoulders and hips means it sits where it should.

Who it's for

Women who walk long days and want room to spare. Deuter rate it five out of five for hiking, and the 6-10 kg recommended load suits a big summit day on Mount Barney or a full lap of the Grand Canyon track in the Blue Mountains. It suits smaller-framed walkers of any gender too.

Capacity, and what actually fits

30 litres holds a 3 L hydration bladder, a rain shell, a down jacket, lunch, a first aid kit and a camera. A separate bottom compartment, split off by a zip-out divider, keeps a sleeping bag or wet layers apart from the rest. The pack measures 63 x 30 x 20 cm, and side compression straps cinch it down when it is half full.

How it carries

A flexi spring steel frame tensions the back mesh away from you, and the mesh runs down into the lumbar area for airflow and a softer, wrapping fit. ActiveFit shoulder straps pivot with your stride, padded hip fins with Pull-Forward adjustment pull weight onto your hips, and the shoulder straps and hip fins share one continuous piece of padding, so there is no seam to rub. Stabiliser straps and a one-handed sternum buckle finish it off.

Fitting it

SL is Deuter's women's fit: a shorter back and a harness shaped for women. The Futura 30 SL fits back lengths of 38-48 cm, which Deuter match to walkers about 158-178 cm tall. Load it with a few kilos, tighten the hip fins on your hip bones first, then the shoulder straps and stabilisers.

Access and organisation

The main compartment loads from the top under a drawcord and lid, with a pocket on top of the lid and another inside it. A mesh front pocket takes a wet shell, two stretch side pockets carry bottles, and hip fin pockets keep snacks and a phone in reach. Inside there is a wet compartment, a key clip and a glasses stow loop, and outside an ice axe and pole attachment.

• Top-loading main compartment with drawcord and lid
• Separate bottom compartment with zip-out divider
• Lid pockets inside and out; mesh front pocket; stretch side pockets; hip fin pockets
• Hydration compatible, up to 3 L
• Rain cover included
• Ice axe and pole attachment, glasses stow, key clip, SOS label
• Mesh helmet holder sold separately

Weight

1330 g empty. The steel frame and suspended mesh add weight over a frameless pack, and they are why 8 kg rides steady and your back stays cooler on a humid climb. For lighter loads and quicker days, the AC Lite 28 SL in our range weighs 950 g.

Looking after it

The fabric is recycled 210D polyamide X-Grid with a DWR finish made without intentionally added PFAS, and the pack is bluepass and Green Button certified. Deuter cover it with a 2-year warranty.