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The Montane Habu 22 comes in two sizes: S/M (15-17 inch torso length) and M/L (17-19 inch torso length). Its 210D “honeycomb” nylon construction weighs about 32 ounces.
Performance Comparison
Sightseeing on a stormy day in the Habu. This pack was fairly simple in its design but on the expensive side for what you get.
Credit: Catherine McKenzie
Comfort
The Habu wasn't a particularly comfortable pack. There is ample padding on the shoulder straps, hip belt, and back, but that padding has no cutouts or mesh covering it, which means that it doesn't have as much airflow as the packs that do. There is only a little bit of internal framing, which meant that when the pack was full or we had a water reservoir in it, the back of the pack distended inwards and pushed the contents into our backs. This never happened on models like the Deuter Futura 22 or the Osprey Sirrus 24, as they have frames that keep the contents of the pack away from your back.
The back didn't give us as much airflow as an open mesh back, and there's little structure to it, so your gear pushes into your back if it's packed full.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring
Features
There are some good features on this pack and we gave it an 8/10 overall in this metric. Both hip belts have pockets that can accommodate a smartphone, there's a nice top pocket for organizing smaller items, and there are double compression straps on either side. There's dual ice axe/trekking pole attachments, and a solid grab handle on the outside of the pack.
We liked the two hipbelt pockets, and they are large enough to fit a smartphone.
We also gave the Habu a high score for adjustability. More than anything, we were just happy that it came in two sizes, and that the M/L size we tested it in fit our 5'6 inch tester well in both the back and the hips. Many of the models that we tested came in one size only and the hip belt barely covered our hips, so having options for both smaller and larger ladies is greatly appreciated.
The hipbelt gave us enough coverage in the M/L size that we tested.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring
Durability
We like the quality construction on this pack, and the thicker 210D material will resist snags and wear more than a thin 70-100D nylon. The bottom is made with an even thicker material for extra longevity in that high wear spot.
The bottom of the pack is made with a thicker material, and the ice axe loops are reinforced for added durability.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring
Best Applications
The Montane Habu 22 is a good choice if you need to carry two ice axes but don't want a full-sized pack.
We liked using this pack for sightseeing days where we weren't carrying much gear.
Credit: Catherine McKenzie
Value
This pack retails for $130, making it one of the more expensive packs in this review, without the extra features like an included rain cover or a water reservoir.
Conclusion
The Montane Habu 22 is not a “bad” daypack, but there's not much that stands out about it either, particularly compared with some of the models out there that really make use of new technology and design. While we'd gladly buy a simple bag that was priced accordingly, this one seems overpriced for what you get.
