REASONS TO BUY
Great pockets
Intelligent organizational features
Well-cushioned
Three access points into main compartment
More affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
On the heavier side
Only available in one size
Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 SL - Women's Review
With organization at its forefront, this pack is great for the adventurer who wants their gear in order when they reach camp
When the desire to stay organized is high, opt for a pack with plenty of compartments for stashing your goodies.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
If you like to stay organized on your multiday excursions, look no further than the Deuter Aircontact Core. This 4.9-pound pack comes equipped with zippers, straps, and pockets galore, each one designed and placed with purpose. The cylindrical body of the Aircontact Core keeps your load close to your body, while the slight mobility of the hip belt helps the weight shift with your body as you summit. The pockets of the Aircontact take a bit of getting used to, but if you want a pack that is going to help you stay organized on the trail, this is the one for you. See how it measures up versus competitors in our women's backpacking backpack review.
Editor's Note: We updated this article on April 30, 2024, to include new comparisons to other packs and information from our most recent round of testing.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 SL - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Organizational Systems |  Best Overall Backpacking Backpack for Women |  Best Bang for Your Buck | Most Versatile Women's Backpacking Pack | |
| Price | $250.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $260.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $190.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $199 List $199.00 at REI | $178.73 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A well-cushioned, but somewhat heavy pack that is chock full of useful pockets - all of which are intelligently placed for optimal organization | This women's pack is comfortable and well-designed, including near-effortless adjustment options, a trampoline mesh back panel, and a removable brain | A comfortable, roomy, durable pack that is friendly on your wallet and your body while you hike | From ultralight overnights to meandering multiday excursions, this lightweight and affordable pack can be adjusted to adapt to different types of demands - all in an extremely straightforward way | Full of neat features, cavernous pockets, and a well-padded back panel segmented by an airy, mesh chimney making it great for warm hikes in the backcountry |
| Rating Categories | Deuter Aircontact C... | Osprey Eja 58 | Osprey Renn 65 | REI Co-op Flash 55... | Big Agnes Garnet 60... |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Weight-to-Volume Ratio (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Deuter Aircontact C... | Osprey Eja 58 | Osprey Renn 65 | REI Co-op Flash 55... | Big Agnes Garnet 60... |
| Advertised Volume | 60 + 10 L | 55 - 58 L | 65 L | 55 L | 60 L |
| Measured Weight | 4.9 lb | 2.7 lb | 3.6 lb | 2.7 lb | 3.8 lb |
| Overall Weight-to-Volume Ratio | 1.12 oz/L | 0.79 oz/L | 0.89 oz/L | 0.79 oz/L | 1.01 oz/L |
| Volumes Available | 45+10, 60+10 L | 38, 48, 58 L | 50, 65 L | 55 L | 60+7 L |
| Sizes Available | One size, adjustable torso | XS/S, M/L, adjustable torso | One size, extended fit one size; adjustable torso | XS, S, M, adjustable torso | One size, adjustable torso |
| Organization Compartments | Lid, mesh side pockets, front stretch pocket, zippered top pocket, inner stretch compartment, bottom compartment with zippered divider, internal valuables pocket, dual zippered pockets on hipbelt | Lid, mesh side pockets, front stretch pocket, dual zippered pockets on hip belt, main compartment | Lid, side pockets, hip belt pockets, main compartment | Lid, double side pockets, front pocket, hip belt pockets, shoulder strap phone pocket, main compartment | Lid, hydration bladder pocket, 2 stretch mesh side pockets, a front quick-stash pocket and a front zip pocket with key keeper |
| Measured Volume (main compartment) | 50 L | 45 L | 40 L | 45 L | 50 L |
| Access | Top, panel | Top | Top, bottom | Top | Top |
| Women's Specific Features | Women's specific fit | Women's specific fit | Women's specific fit | Women's specific fit | Women's specific fit |
| Hydration Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rain Cover Included | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Bear Can Compatible | Yes - Vertical and Horizontal | Yes - verical and horizontal | Yes - Vertical and Horizontal | Yes - Vertical | Yes - Vertical and Horizontal |
| Main Materials | 235D recycled polyamide | 100D high-tenacity recycled ripstop nylon | 600D polyester | 100D robic ripstop nylon; bluesign approved | Recycled high-tenacity Mipan regen robic nylon |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Aircontact Core is a heavy backpack designed to keep backpackers organized on the trail. With three entry points into the main pocket and a plethora of zippers and webbing, the weight of this pack crept up with good reason. For a lower price than many other super-hauler backpacks, this pack is the one for you if you like knowing where all your gear is at all times.
Performance Comparison
If staying organized is key for a fun trip, the Aircontact Core makes a great trail companion.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort
Part of the reason that the Aircontact Core weighs nearly five pounds is because of its plush back panel. The chunky lumbar pad is soft enough to feel pillowy and is constructed to oppose the natural curvature of your spine.
The back panel splits to accommodate the spine and provide fantastic breathability before coming together near the cervical vertebrae. The cushion of the back panel is needed, as the frame Aircontact is strong and rigid. The strength of the Y-shaped frame aids in the comfortable distribution of weight. The perforated cushioning on the hip belt is a welcome attribute because when this heavy pack is correctly adjusted to fit your frame, the weight is largely concentrated on your hips.
The cushioning of the back panel is ultra-comfy, but also ultra-bulky so it adds some extra weight to the pack as a whole.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The load-lifting straps are helpful and functional, ultimately preventing much of the weight from resting on the wearer's shoulders — as they should. The narrower profile of this pack creates a slightly smaller base of support for the bulk of the weight, which makes heavy loads feel more imposing on our small tester's hips. We grew to greatly appreciate the external webbing of the Aircontact because of its ability to help compress the pack's load. We cinched the horizontal and vertical straps to tamp down the weight of the load, which aided in the overall function of this pack's suspension system. The cylinder shape prevented the pack from feeling like one side was riding heavier than the other, which was another bonus we noted when assessing the prowess of the suspension system.
All of the compression straps help keep the Aircontact Core comfortable and balanced when loaded up. Shown here with our base weight; 19 pounds.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Ease of Use
While rookie backpackers might initially be overwhelmed by the sheer number of pockets on the Aircontact Core, they are versatile enough to accommodate a wide variety of packing styles.
The large main compartment offers three entry points: through the top via a drawstring, through the front via a J-shaped zipper, and towards the bottom of the pack's body. The bottom zipper provides specific entry to the sleeping bag compartment, though this compartment can easily be eradicated by unzipping the interior panel to create one main chamber that is even bigger.
The one-pull drawstring closure system of this pack is made even easier by simply squeezing the sides of the pull tab for a quick release.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Three mesh pouches adorn the exterior of the Aircontact, one on either side and one on the superficial edge of the main compartment. We love stashing our dirty clothes in these stretchy mesh pockets since they help preserve whatever cleanliness remains across our other gear. The wearer's right mesh pocket includes a vertical slit that acts as a water bottle holster, making it easy to grab a bottle while you hike. The mesh hip belt pockets don't provide much protection from the elements, but they are large enough to stash phones, maps, snacks, sunscreen, and the like.
When empty, the hip belt pockets remain small and unintrusive. They are stretchy enough to hold significantly more than you'd expect them to.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The capacity of the brain on the Aircontact is exceptional. It holds far more gear than we anticipated in its two pockets. The upper exterior pocket expands to store quick-access items. While the fabric of the brain isn't particularly stretchy, it can hold a lot while maintaining its shape. We loved that this pack never felt lopsided beneath a hefty load. The underside pocket of the Aircontact's brain doesn't boast quite as impressive of a volume but makes a safe cache for car keys or other items that need to be securely stored. The more understated organizational systems of the Aircontact are the loops and straps that provide plenty of storage options outside of the pack's pockets. There are multiple loops for sunglasses and other items on the shoulder straps and a trekking pole-specific storage system on the back of the pack.
The lateral mesh pockets can stretch to hold a variety of water bottle shapes and sizes. The really fat ones, however, don't fit super well in the forward-facing holster.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
At 4.9 pounds, the Aircontact Core is one of the heaviest packs we've tested. However, just because it is heavy doesn't mean it scored the worst in this metric. Because the Aircontact has such a large capacity, its calculated weight-to-volume ratio is better than some other backpacking backpacks for women on the market.
Ruggedly built backpacks with lots of pockets and straps weigh more, so it is up to you to decide if you want an ultralight pack or an organizationally focused backpack. The lush padding of the back panel and hip belt add to the heavy weight of the Aircontact Core and its comfort when fully loaded. Since this is a backpack made for superhauling and has a huge capacity full of handy organizing features, it is not a surprise that it weighs more than most.
If you are in the mood to haul a bunch of heavy gear, this already-heavy pack is a pretty comfortable way to do it.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Adjustability
The Aircontact is easily adjusted on the fly via Deuter's Varislide torso adjustment system. Instead of simply offering a few set size options, the mechanisms can freely slide and be set to exactly where you want them to be.
While the torso height of the Aircontact is easy to adjust for comfort and correct sizing, the downfall is that this pack only comes in one size. Passed back and forth between a tester who is 5'2" and one who is 5'10", both found the Aircontact to be equally comfortable when directly compared to other backpacks for women, though the smaller of the two often felt dwarfed by the height of the pack itself. Because the Aircontact's shape is thinner and taller than some, the height can feel imposing and overpowering on small frames. Other super hauling packs that we tested rely on a shorter, wider pack size, which tends to suit the “average” woman's center of gravity better. Because of the height of the pack, we do not wholeheartedly recommend this backpack to smaller-than-average people, as it is better suited for taller wearers.
Shown here on our taller tester, the frame sits just behind her head. When the brain is fully loaded, though, it soars to even taller heights.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
If you are a larger person who wants a slightly larger capacity, the men's version of this pack offers five liters of additional packing space and can more easily accommodate larger people and those with broader shoulders. In most of the important ways, the men's version of this backpack is nearly identical to the women's, making it the obvious choice if you want to “size up” but have your heart set on this specific backpack.
For such a tall pack, it is disappointing to have only one size option available. We like how adjustable it is, but the body is a bit tall for smaller people.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 SL??
If organization is paramount to you on the trails, this is absolutely a worthwhile backpack to consider. It is well-featured and provides pockets aplenty without pigeon-holing itself into one rigid packing system. The price tag of the Aircontact is lower than many, making it a durable beast of a backpack that is available for less than others with the same features.
If you want a fully loaded pack that will help you stay organized, the Aircontact Core is an awesome choice. If you lead more toward the ultralight trail life, you might not even be able to fill this pack with enough gear to make it worth it1
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Women's Backpacks Should You Consider?
The most obvious alternative is another favorite for all-out hauling, the Gregory Deva 60. The suspension system is slightly better constructed, and the padding of the hip belt is extendable, providing extra cushion for a wider range of body shapes. The Osprey Aura AG 65 is another favorite when it comes to carrying a lot. The Osprey Renn 65 offers a less intrusive trampoline back panel if you aren't sure about the bulk of the padding on the Aircontact. If you don't foresee yourself toting epically heavy loads into the backcountry, check out the REI Flash 55 or the Osprey Eja 58, both of which are notably lighter.
—Ally Arcuri
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