3F UL Gear – Qidian Pro – the mountaineer

12. December 2024 ·Backpacks· 4 Min. Lesezeit

The 3F UL Gear Qidian Pro is an ultralight trekking backpack weighing around 880 g. Compared to many traditional trekking backpacks, it is significantly lighter and primarily aimed at hikers who want to travel with minimal weight.

The backpack features a large main compartment with a volume of 46 liters, which can be expanded to approximately 56 liters using the roll-top system. This system allows flexible volume adjustment while also providing a certain level of protection against rain.

Back and Carrying System

The Qidian Pro does not have a rigid back panel or built-in back padding. Instead, there is a mesh pocket where you can insert a foam sleeping pad or a seat pad. This helps stabilize the structure and improve carrying comfort.

On my last trip, I placed a seat pad in this compartment. Unfortunately, it fell out during the hike, and I lost it.

The shoulder straps have about 12.5 mm of padding, while the hip belt padding is approximately 20 mm thick. Overall, the backpack is fairly well padded—except in the back area.

Optionally, a water bottle holder for the shoulder strap can be purchased, making it easier to access your bottle while walking.

Compression Straps and Attachments

The backpack includes several compression straps:

two compression straps on the sides
one compression strap for the main compartment
an additional strap over the roll-top closure

These straps allow you to compress the pack and stabilize the load. However, they are relatively thin.

At the top, there is an additional strap with a clip, which can be used to attach items such as a foam sleeping pad or a seat pad. This strap is about 1.5 cm wide and runs across the upper section of the backpack.

On the sides, there are two additional narrow straps (about 0.9 cm wide), which can be used both for compression and for securing items in the side pockets.

Personal Experience with the Backpack

I have used this backpack on several trips. The material feels fairly standard but has not caused any issues during my hikes.

I carried loads between approximately 7 and 10 kg. Within this range, the backpack was comfortable and easy to carry.

Overall, the pack is well padded—except for the back. Since there is no rigid structure, the backpack can feel slightly unstable or wobbly while walking.

Manufacturer Specifications (Size and Volume)

The stated dimensions vary depending on the source. Amazon lists the backpack as 24.89 × 30 × 70 cm, while the manufacturer (3F UL Gear) specifies 80 × 30 × 22 cm.

Based on these measurements, the calculated volume is approximately:

Amazon: about 52.3 liters
3F UL Gear: about 52.8 liters

Both values fall within a similar range of around 52–53 liters, which aligns reasonably well with the stated 46 liters base volume plus expansion to about 56 liters via the roll-top.

Personal Measurements

I measured the backpack myself by placing 10-liter canisters inside.

It fits three canisters, resulting in an effective height of about 65 cm.

When fully packed, I measured approximately:

70 cm height
24 cm width
16 cm depth

This results in a main compartment volume of about 27 liters.

I also estimated the volume of the outer pockets:

front mesh pocket: ~6 liters
side pockets: ~1.2 liters each (total ~2.4 liters)
hip belt pockets: ~0.7 liters each (total ~1.5 liters)

The total length of the backpack can reach about 80 cm when the roll-top is fully extended.

Calculated Total Volume

Adding everything together:

main compartment: 27 L
front pocket: 6 L
side pockets: 2.4 L
hip pockets: 1.5 L

➡ Total: approximately 36.9 liters

This suggests that the actual usable volume is significantly lower than the manufacturer’s stated 46–56 liters.

It is important to note that backpacks are not perfect rectangular shapes. Due to their rounded design, flexible materials, and compression, calculated values can only serve as rough estimates.

This raises the question of why the manufacturer specifies 46 + 10 liters. In theory, this would imply a total capacity of around 56 liters.

However, based on my own calculations, the usable volume is noticeably lower. Summing up the main compartment and all external pockets results in roughly 37 liters.

Depending on how the pack is loaded, the usable volume may increase slightly. Realistically, I would estimate it at up to around 45 liters.

The discrepancy likely comes from the fact that manufacturers often calculate maximum theoretical volume, including full roll-top extension and fully expanded outer pockets.