Backpack? Body package? My freedom Aaron Featherlite on the PCT

In 2025, I hiked 1,500 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Lake Tahoe to Canada. Every few hours, I would meet someone new and the number one question I would get was, «Wow! What kind of pack is that?»

To be fair, my backpack was different. I took the Aaron Featherlite Freedom Pro with 50L capacity in the rear and 10L capacity opposite. Yes. You heard right. Opposite. This meant that I had two pockets suspended over my chest and abdomen, making it look more like a bodypackage that a backpack.

And let me tell you… it changed my hike (for the better!).

Aarn is a New Zealand backpack brand based in Christchurch. Its science-backed design aims to maintain a neutral spinal position while Balancing the weight on both the back and front of the body.. This reduces shoulder and neck pain, relieves pressure on the spine, and produces an overall feeling of lightness. I first met Aarn while walking around Te Araroa. Many people carried these original backpacks and 100% of them said that their Aarn backpack changed their lives. My curiosity peaked.

On the PCT, my Aarn package worked splendidly. It showed minimal signs of wear, fit comfortably on my BV500 Bear, and dried quickly after rain. Most importantly, it dramatically reduced the amount of weight placed on my shoulders and neck, which reduced injuries and made me feel better and stronger.

That said, there was a lot of trial and error when I started using the package. Unlike North American ultralight brands that design packs specifically for hiking in the United States, Aarn is designed for the rugged, wet kiwi bush. That makes it ideal for soggy days or long food transports. But it’s not intuitively designed for other needs of American hikers, such as holding on to trekking poles for snags or carrying large trash bags.

So… I’m writing this blog post to help you better use your Aarn package (or decide if it’s the package for you!). With a little research and proper equipment testing, Aarn can be absolutely the better Backpack for your walk through the United States.

1. Aarn package design and configuration

Like other ultralight brands, Aarn’s Featherlite Freedom Pro It has a large cavity with some smaller side pockets on the outside; The capacity for Size S is 50L and Size M is 55L. Most users will choose to add Aarn Sports balance pocketsthat join the forehead of your backpack and provide an additional 10 to 12 liters of space depending on size. The backpack and pockets also come with removable water-resistant liners that go inside the pack

This is what I love:

• Science-backed design which balances weight between the front and back of your body, reducing shoulder and neck pain while allowing your spine to lengthen naturally.
• thick and hyper adjustable hip belt that fits your natural shape (ladies, you can adjust it for flared hips too!)
• Quick access to snacks and other essentials in the front pockets, minimizing the need to remove the backpack for short stops.
• Water resistant lining which performed exceptionally well in rain and hail storms. My gear never got wet and I didn’t have to worry about putting on a backpack cover every time it rained.
• High load capacity Suitable for transporting food for 5 to 7 days.

A note on setup:

• Is very It is important that you get the backpack to fit your body correctly. Due to the suspension system and thick hip belt, the weight can be placed incorrectly on the lower spine or shoulders if the backpack does not fit perfectly to your shape. Aarn backpacks are hyper-adjustable, so spend some time getting to know your backpack, experimenting with different weights, and using the different straps, laces, and Velcro to find the one that best fits your needs.
• Anecdotally, I’ve heard that it takes people 3-7 days to find the right model. Don’t be afraid to completely loosen all the straps, load them up, and start the adjustment process again. It probably took me 5-6 times to find the right balance. Aaron has good videos. here which will guide you through the setup process.

2. Pack your gear (with a bear can!)

Aaron’s packs are all about balance. Lihat juga bvhfgg15. Generally speaking, you’ll want to put your light stuff in the back and your heavy stuff in the front pockets. If you get this balance wrong, you may feel like your backpack is pushing you too far back or too far forward.

Here’s what I found that worked for me:

• Rear main cavity: sleepwear, clothing, first aid kit, bear canister
• Left rear pocket: 1-2 liters of water
• Right back pocket: poop kit, trash bag
• Center back pocket: camping shoes, bug spray (to keep away from other gear)
• Front pocket 1: toiletries, 1 liter of water, snacks
• Front pocket 2: food, stove, gas bottle.

A note on bear cans: I wore the Aarn Featherlite Freedom in size S and the BV500 can fit comfortably upright in the main cavity. In size M, the BV500 fits both upright and on its side. Was slightly It’s annoying to empty my bear can every morning to put my food in the front pockets, and vice versa at night. With other packs, I keep all my food in my bear can at all times, so I was always paranoid that I’d forgotten a snack somewhere in my pack during the carry. But… for the price of a healthier spine, this is a hassle I was willing to deal with!

My BV500 fits vertically into my Aarn Pack.

3. Weight change over time

But wait! The weight of your backpack changes depending on the amount of food and water you carry, so you should rebalance your backpack each morning. Sometimes I carried 4 days worth of food stuffed in my front pockets. Other days I had very little food, so I put my first aid kit, my gas canister and 2 liters of water in the front.

This was a constant balancing act. Over time, this rebalancing became second nature. Sometimes, I could even tell when I was running out of food and water because of how the weight felt distributed on my body.

4. Example of how I distributed a food reserve for 5 days

Day 1:

• Back (with base weight items): camp stove and gas, 10 tortillas, peanut butter, 1 liter of water
• Front 1 (with toiletries): 5 packages of tuna, 3 ramen, 2 instant potatoes
• Front 2: 10 packets of instant oatmeal, 10 granola bars, 5 instant coffees, 5 hot chocolates

Day 2:

• Back (with base weight items): camp stove and gas, 8 tortillas, peanut butter, 1 liter of water
• Front 1 (with toiletries): 4 packages of tuna, 3 ramen, 1 instant potato
• Front 2: 8 packets of instant oatmeal, 8 granola bars, 4 instant coffees, 4 hot chocolates, 1 liter of water

Day 3:

• Back (with base weight items): camp stove and gas, peanut butter, 1 liter of water
• Front 1 (with toiletries): 3 packages of tuna, 2 ramen, 6 tortillas
• Front 2: 6 packets of instant oatmeal, 6 granola bars, 3 instant coffees, 3 hot chocolates, 1 liter of water

Day 4:

• Back (with base weight items): camp stove and gas, 1 liter of water
• Front 1 (with toiletries): 2 packages of tuna, 1 ramen, 4 tortillas, peanut butter
• Front 2: 4 packets of instant oatmeal, 4 granola bars, 2 instant coffees, 2 hot chocolates, 1 liter of water, peanut butter

Day 5:

• Back (base weight items only)
• Front 1 (with toiletries): 1 package of tuna, 2 tortillas, peanut butter, camp stove and gas
• Front 2: 2 packets of instant oatmeal, 2 granola bars, 1 instant coffee, 1 hot chocolate, 2 liters of water

Carrying 4 days’ worth of food and a bear can through Kings Canyon National Park in California

5. Nobody is perfect… What I didn’t like

If it’s not clear now, I love my backpack Aaron. It’s sturdy, roomy, and fits all my needs (and more) while hiking the PCT.

But no piece of equipment is perfect. Here are some things I didn’t love to help you make a better, more informed decision:

• Short side pockets: This made it difficult to fit a wider water bottle (e.g. Nalgene) into the side pocket (smart water bottles are fine) and caused my side pockets to overflow with junk quite easily.
• Not an easy place to put hiking poles: I usually held my poles or tried to weave them under the top strap while clipping them. This was clumsy and the poles often fell over. Having higher side pockets would have helped keep the poles snug in the pack.
• bear can: As I mentioned above, I had to empty and refill my bear can every day to properly balance my pack. This was a bit annoying and I was always worried that I had forgotten a snack somewhere in my backpack.
• No hip pockets: Because Aarn backpacks have large front pockets, there are no hip belt pockets. I ended up using a small fanny pack where I kept my phone, ID, and other small items that I wanted to have quick and frequent access to. I started with my phone in Aarn’s front pocket, but shoving my phone with all the rest of the equipment scratched the screen.

Overall, I would classify these «inconveniences» as minor inconveniences that did not disrupt my experience on the trail or my satisfaction with the pack.

I really feel very pleased and happy with my Aarn Featherlite Freedom Pro, and you should definitely consider it for your next hike in the United States and beyond!