DD40 Pack

Concept

The DD40 emphasizes efficiency by providing better access to your gear while on the move, so you can access what you need while still covering miles. That includes a unique side pocket design for quick access to larger items, dual-zippered shoulder strap pockets, and dual hip belt pockets.

Instead of tossing everything you want access to while hiking into crammed hip belt pockets, the DD40 provides a range of features optimized for different types of gear. There are unique side zippered shoulder strap pocketss, which provide secure and convenient storage for small items you want to keep handy (water pills ,chapstick, and sunscreen), sunglasses, and mid-sized phones. Then the hip belt pockets accommodate medium-sized items such as snacks and cameras. Uniquely, the pack goes a step further with the “QuickPocket” which is a uniquely zipper access compartment in the left side pocket that provides easy access to larger items like hats, mitts, wind shirts, the largest phones, maps, big cameras, etc. Previously you had to take off your pack every time you wanted to grab a hat. The unique side pocket works because it’s a dual-layered 3D shape, where the zipper accesses a surprisingly large volume inside the sidewall. The zip is easy to reach while wearing the pack and locks away the contents securely while keeping them dry. There’s also top access to this left side pocket which is taller than the right side, so that you can more securely store fuel bottles, water bottles, etc., compared to the traditional side pocket found on the other side. Use the right side for your water, and the left for everything else. If the bushwacking gets intense, you can even move your water and fuel bottles inside the zippered side pocket for greater security.

Versatility is accomplished through this unique yet intuitive pocket arrangement and also through other design choices like the front pocket design affixed to daisy chains, where large items can be stuffed behind while small items like an InReach are kept more secure than the traditional mesh pocket. You can also remove the front pocket to go lighter or, if you’d rather, use that area to strap items like snowshoes to the daisy chains.

The front pocket setup is also more durable than the traditional mesh pocket, and the shock cord that connects it all together can be easily replaced down the road. The DD40 pack also uses tough VX21 XPack in high wear areas (green) or lighter VX07 fabric in lower wear areas.

The DD40 is a lightweight pack intended for lighter loads, but that doesn’t mean load-carrying ability has been ignored. Preferably, this pack has an aluminum inverted U frame that goes beyond most packs in this niche by providing both vertical and horizontal structure. The frame connects directly to the hip belt wings for good load transfer, and the pack also has load lifters and a wrap-around shoulder strap harness for a good carry.