One Planet Grampian Pack

Melbourne-made outdoor brand One Planet’s slogan is simple: Make it good. Make it work. Make it last. The 38L Grampian pack—one of the newest additions to One Planet’s extensive lineup—embodies all aspects of this ethos: tip-top quality, functionality and durability. And while it primarily caters to daywalkers, it’s a trusty steed for most outdoor pursuits; at a stretch, it can even accommodate adventures spanning multiple days. (Yes, we pushed these limits!)

Starting with the exterior, the water-resistant Diamondloc fabric—paired with the double-layered base, double-stitched seams, strong nylon buckles, and large YKK zips—means the Grampian can withstand a beating. The Exact-fit Mid harness, available in S, M and L sizes, is damn comfy (for a pack that’s on the smaller side, the padding is remarkable), and it’s straightforward to optimise comfort and load-carrying with the various adjustments. While not super-duper spacious, there are also two external front pockets: A larger though slim one with two-way zips (good for stashing a small jacket, sunscreen etc), and a smaller one ideal for keys or a phone. There are also sufficient straps and tie points for those wanting to attach odd bits and pieces to the outside of the pack.

Accessed via a roll-top entry, the internal design is long and slender, and at 38L, I was interested to see how much I could jam in there. Quite a bit, as it turned out. Over a three-day walk, I could fit in a surprising amount of wintry clothing, plus a quilt, and plenty of food (admittedly, my wife picked up some slack with her 60L pack). On Day Two’s daywalk, the Grampian had more than ample volume for the two of us.

There are a few minor things to consider, though. I found that storing my large-diameter 1.5L Nalgenes in the Grampian’s external water-bottle pockets was uncomfortable, as the narrow design tended to push the bottles into my side; using slimmer water bottles or a water bladder—for which there’s an internal pocket—avoids this issue. And if, like me, you love hip-belt pockets, these are an add-on attachment costing $26.25 extra (per pocket) when bundled with the pack.

The Grampian is no-nonsense, comfy and tough, and it’ll certainly last.

If you liked this piece, you should subscribe to the print mag. Only a fraction of the great stories we run in the mag make it to our website; if you want to read them, head to subscribe.wild.com.au.