Grivel Rocker Rucksack Review

 

For rock climbers it’s simple: October is Rock-tober! And Grivel’s Rocker Rucksack gets you and all your gear to the crag, no hassle with strapping things to the outside, no danger of not being able to find anything when you arrive. This pack is huge, has loads of organisational space, is tough and a comfortable carry on long hikes.

The Rocker is a suitcase style backpack best aimed at the sport climbing market. It has a large 45l capacity and will happily swallow everything you need for a day at the crag including an 80m rope. One gripe I have with a lot of standard climbing and mountaineering backpacks is they just don’t have the capacity or ease of access to carry everything I need inside the backpack when I go sport climbing so I’m usually left with a secondary rope bag perched on top or throttling me round my neck. Not so with the Rocker; everything goes inside.

For reference, on a day’s sport climbing the Rocker will easily hold:

• 80 metre rope
• 20 quickdraws
• Gri-gri
• Chalk bag and spare chalk, skin file, finger tape, superglue
• Rock shoes x 2pairs
• 2 litres of water
• Food and snacks
• Guidebook
• Belay Glasses
• Duvet jacket, hat and gloves, and other spare clothes (sorts/trousers etc)
• Camera

 

None of these things need to be stored on the outside of the bag and there are numerous organisational pockets and a rope tarp to ensure everything has a place inside the bag. Access is via a suitcase style zip which runs around the back panel and essentially creates a huge flap to open and close the pack, so you can clearly see everything inside too. It has a suitcase style handle and with dimensions of 57cm x 35cm x 20cm you might just get away with it as carry on luggage on an Easy-Jet flight. Then again you might not! This a tough and burly pack (weight is 2.13kg) which is built to protect your gear and to last the rigours of being thrown down on the ground at rocky dusty cliff bases.

Carrying wise, the padded back with Air Mesh feels comfortable, supportive and breathable on long, hot walk ins and the waist belt with zipped pockets and adjustable chest strap help distribute the load and keep it steady.

Features:

• Full zip access
• Separate rope bag
• Adjustable waist & chest straps
• Breathable Air Mesh back panel
• Robust panel for all-weather use
• Internal compartments for kit separation
• Waist belt pockets
• Stretch mesh side pockets
• Daisy chain for external kit carry
• Heavy duty grab handles
• Volume: 45L

 

All in all, I’ve been seriously impressed with this offering from Grivel. Its not a pack for mountaineers and alpinists and not one to wear when you’re actually climbing, but for getting all your stuff to the crag, it’s just the job. No need to have anything strapped to the outside, or be throttled by a rope bag shoulder strap. The sun is shining outside, my Rocker is packed and ready for Rocktober! A great piece of kit.

Find out more and purchase at the Grivel website

RRP: £95.00

 

 

 

Kevin Avery is an Aspirant IFMGA Mountain Guide. He is available for guiding in the Alps, UK and further afield. Contact him via the website: http://www.truenorthalpine.com