Millet Ubic 30 backpack | Test

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Shortly after its birth in 1921, Millet began producing quality mountain backpacks, and after more than 100 years, it remains a benchmark in the production of these products.

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Since the dawn of time, man has been trying to create effective transport systems for moving loads, and shoulder carrying is certainly among the oldest.

Since the early 1900s, when walking in the mountains became not so much a necessity as an activity of exploration first and then a sport, the evolution of the backpack has undergone an unstoppable push.

Over the years, both designs and materials have changed, but innovation never stops and Ubic di Millet is proof of this.

Millet Ubic 30, we tested it

A hike of about 12 km and 750 m D+ was the testing ground for Millet’s new Ubic 30 backpack.

Ubic is a very wide range of hiking and trekking backpacks, which differ in volumes and gender: 20 L, 25 L, 30 L men and women, 35 L, 40 L men and women. Backpacks developed and tested with the help of French, Swiss and Italian Alpine Guide companies with which the brand has been collaborating for years.

Among the main qualities of a good backpack stand out: functionality, versatility and sustainability and these are certainly 3 of the qualities that characterize the Ubic models.

Functionality: a backpack must allow us not only to carry a load but to make this transport as less tiring and as easy as possible. Easy-to-reach pockets, adjustments to customize the product, accessories to protect in case of bad weather.
Versatility; ability to adapt to the type and duration of the route, therefore being comfortable when fully loaded and not.
Sustainability: ensuring the performance you expect while respecting the environment.

Sustainability

Let’s start with the last aspect. If sustainability is one of the cornerstones for Millet, so much so that it has set itself the goal of reducing its footprint by 25% by 2030, the evolution of the Ubic backpack is part of this path. The redesign of this new range, which lasted 3 years of development, has in fact allowed to reduce the CO2 emission by 30%, by changing the fabric (now 100% recycled polyester), rationalizing the number of pieces that compose it, modifying the back panel, adopting a new less impactful dyeing process (Eco-Dyeing) and using a DWR PFC Free treatment.

Versatility

The wide choice of volumes allows you to orient yourself in the choice according to your needs and at the same time the possibility of choosing between the men’s or women’s versions guarantees that you will find on your shoulders a product cut to your physical characteristics. The shoulder straps and the back of the women’s version are in fact designed to adapt to the morphology of the female body.

The lower and lateral compression straps (two of which are removable and repositionable), as well as the hat buckles, allow you to modulate the volume of the backpack when it is not fully loaded, so as to stabilize the contents while walking, preventing them from flapping around.

Still on the subject of side compression straps, these can be used to lock skis in configuration A, or a snowboard at the front, extending the backpack to winter use.

Functionality

We are at the last, or if you like, the first feature that usually makes us choose a backpack, functionality, and here Ubic plays a lot of good cards.

Ubic 30 L does not have a divided volume, but rather a single space, accessible both from the upper basket opening with drawstring, and from the lower side, via the very practical U-shaped zip positioned on the bottom.

The latter allows the backpack to be opened up to half its length, just like a duffel bag.

Inside the main volume we find two Velcro fastening straps and the pocket for the hydration system (sold separately), while in the lower part of the hat a zip allows access to a large pocket for storing objects.

Let’s talk about pockets again. Ubic 30 is equipped with numerous and practical pockets for storing objects, a very appreciated feature in trekking and hiking, during which it is useful to be able to store a water bottle, map, knife, bars etc.

The Ubic hat, in addition to the aforementioned pocket on the lower/internal side, has another one on the upper/external side, with a key clip or useful for keeping the rain cover bag attached.

Another zipped pocket is located on the front flap of the backpack, which, thanks to the elastic mesh sides and the upper opening that can be closed with an aluminium buckle, becomes a large compartment in which to store, for example, ski skins.

Two classic, deep stretch mesh pockets provide storage for a water bottle or perhaps a rolled-up shell or emergency gloves.

To complete the large array of storage compartments, we find the very practical zipped mesh pocket on the ventral belt. This is sewn only on the upper side and can be unfastened via Velcro from the lower side, allowing you to conveniently stow even a large smartphone.

Comfort

Ubic 30 L proves comfortable even when fully loaded, thanks to a series of carefully designed features.

The backrest, made of thermoplastic material covered in mesh, has a wavy surface and numerous notches to promote air circulation, while the lower part has classic padding covered in mesh.

If at a superficial analysis it is not clear what gives structure to the backpack (to the back of this one), just study it more in depth to understand that the Millet designers have found an innovative solution to this need.

Trekking and hiking backpacks usually have a metal frame/structure integrated into the back, made with two rods arranged parallel to it (or thermoplastic panels molded across the entire width). In both cases, the back will have both vertical and horizontal rigidity.

In the case of Ubic, however, the metal rods have been placed in an X shape with respect to the backrest, allowing the backpack to remain rigid on the vertical but to twist on the horizontal axis, increasing its comfort.

Other features that enhance comfort are the ergonomic shoulder straps with drawstrings and hand loops, a height and depth adjustable sternal buckle, and an adjustable ventral belt (in our opinion a little too padded).