Edelrid describe the Satellite as a “featherweight daysack set to appeal to walkers and mountaineers who value minimal weight, without compromising on features”.
Well, it certainly does the former, weighing a paltry 490g thanks to the use of ultralight ripstop nylon, but I found the minimalist harness a faff to use – yes, you can adjust it to suit your own requirements but it takes time and it isn’t as efficient or user friendly as others we've tested.
It uses webbing located across the shoulder straps which have double pull cords at the base to adjust the height, with separate loops to tighten or loosen the webbing, whilst double pull cords at the shoulder adjust the angle, with once again separate loops for the same function. And yes, it’s as complicated as it sounds.
However, if you can live with this the Satellite is a great option if you want to keep weight to a minimum. The single compartment will hold all you need for a day in the hills; in fact there are even removable ice axe loops for winter use.
You also get stowable side compression straps to keep everything securely in place and a zipped pocket in the lid. According to Edelrid the pack is also supposed to have a removable moulded PE back plate although this wasn’t the case with the one we reviewed.
So, as a nice looking, superlight day pack the Satellite does the job superbly as long as you don’t mind the rather fiddly harness system.
