Review: Rab Muon 40L Hiking Pack

An ultra lightweight, functional hiking pack which is extremely durable and comfortable to wear, even with heavy loads.

The Rab Muon ND40 hiking pack is designed for long-distance adventures, where every gram of weight saved means you can last longer on the trails. Having said that, Rab have not compromised on comfort with their lightweight design, so I also use the Muon as a day pack. The roll top closure allows you to adjust the size more effectively than if there was a drawstring/lid closure, making the pack extremely versatile.

Rab Muon 40L Hiking Pack: The stats

Features of the Rab Muon 40L Hiking Pack

Back panel and shoulder straps

Rab’s TRI_FLEX™ carry system fits close to your back, enabling freedom of movement and agility when carrying heavy loads. The back panel and shoulder straps work in conjunction with a supportive hip belt to make for an extremely comfortable wrap around harness. I love the two pockets on the shoulder straps. They are big/stretchy enough to hold a mobile and are easy to access. These make up for the lack of hip belt pockets. I cannot fault the Muon’s carry system other than to question the cord sternum strapping. I have an athletic build, but even so, I sometimes find the zig-zag cord strapping to feel compressing across my bust. I question how comfortable it would be on someone with a curvier build, but I obviously can’t say for sure. Another thing about the sternum strapping I am not keen on is how fiddly the clips are to locate and secure, especially with gloves on. This type of cord sternum strapping is not just found on the Muon packs, I have seen similar strapping systems regularly used for running vests and a couple of day pack designs. I would prefer a single, height adjustable sternum strap as found on most larger packs.

Hip belt

With forward pull adjusters and a large central clip, the Muon ND40’s hip belt is super quick and easy to close and adjust, even with gloves on. It is very supportive, making the pack feel secure. The hip belt is also well padded and comfortable, it doesn’t rub or move once adjusted to the correct fit.

Roll-top closure

I was initially skeptical about using a pack with a roll top closure. I used to keep a lot of small items I needed to hand in the lid of my previous pack and didn’t know where these items would live. Now I am used to the roll top, however, I have to say that I love it. The items that used to live in my pack lid are now distributed between the Muon’s shoulder strap pockets and the internal and external zippered pockets (details below). Storing the items across different pockets allows for more organisation and is actually better than when they were all in one lid pocket. I find the roll top very easy to use with gloves, even with a relatively small closure clip. In fact, more so; the roll top is more adaptable than a pack with a drawstring and lid. The roll top easily expands or compresses with the load, always feeling secure.

Side pockets

The side pockets on the Muon pack have fabric base sections with the rest being elasticated mesh; they do not have any fastenings. This, added to the fact that the pocket openings are at a 45º angle, makes keeping things from falling out difficult. I tend to only use the side pockets for lightweight, bulky items (which are held in place better simply because they stretch the mesh more) or if my pack is at capacity and there is no alternative space left. A great addition to this pack would be clips to keep each side pocket closed, to match the front pocket. One good thing about the side pockets is that I can reach into them while still wearing the pack. Because of this, I sometimes stash my map and compass in there. If I do this, though, I always securely attach my map case/compass cord to the webbing ladder on the outside of the pack so I don’t lose them if they fall out.

Front pocket

I use the front pocket of the Muon pack a lot. It is a generous size, stretchy (same fabric/mesh construction as the side pockets), and is secured by a compression strap. Despite the clip on the compression strap being very small, I can still open and close it easily. Any larger items I want readily available go in here, like extra layers or gaiters.

Compression straps and gear loops

There are lots of handy features on the main compartment of the Rab Muon ND40. Starting from the top, there are diagonal compression straps to help secure your load. Next down, there are gear loops. I use these along with the bottom compression cords to secure my walking poles or ice axe. There are handy webbing ladders on either pack side for additional storage which I keep a carabiner on, just in case it’s needed. The lower compression cords double as external storage and I have carried my tent and a bag of firewood using them. They keep external loads away from your back and comfortably placed, so are a great addition.

Zippered pockets

For me, the internal and external zippered pockets replace the storage you would have with a lidded pack. They hold more than I initially thought they would and are easy to access. I like that the internal pocket is made from sturdy mesh, so you can quickly spot what you want to grab out of it.

Hydration compatible

Pretty standard nowadays, this pack is hydration bladder compatible. The pros to the Muon’s specific hydration system are the dual exit options, depending on if you prefer your water fed from the left or right of your harness, and a generous bladder sleeve with a capacity of up to 3 litres. Your bladder can also be clipped in at the top of the sleeve, which makes it very secure.

Trekking pole loops

I am torn when it comes to my opinion of the trekking pole loops on the Muon ND40. On one hand, once my poles are secured, they are extremely well placed. Despite them being held on the front of the body, they do not get in the way or obstruct movement at all. Having said that, I find getting my poles in and out of the loops a complete faff. Firstly, the loops are close to your body and made from thin elastic the same colour as the harness, which makes them hard to locate. Then, the loops are designed to be doubled before the poles are slotted through so you have to fiddle with them to make sure you have two loops of elastic. The loops do not open, so you then have to feed your pole up or down through each loop in turn and pull the elastic through a tiny toggle to secure. I wish that Rab had used the same materials for the trekking pole loops as for the rear gear loops. This would mean that they could open/close, they would be easier to spot being a contrasting colour and they would be less fiddly. The jury is out on my continued use of the trekking pole loops, I think I prefer storing my poles using the rear gear loops because they are far more straight forward to use.

Rab Muon 40L Hiking Pack review

First impressions

Rab is a brand with a reputation for quality and when I received this pack it definitely delivered. The Muon ND40 is very well constructed from strong materials with a thoughtful, technical design. Rab now also supply ‘Material Facts’ with their gear so you are fully informed about the Muon’s sustainability. The Muon is principally made from 100D (85% recycled) high tenacity nylon with Rab’s Spectra® Ripstop. Not only is this fabric very light and strong, it’s UV-resistant.

When I picked the pack up, my first thought was that it must have a load limit or suggested load range because it is so lightweight for the capacity (955g for the ND 40 litre pack). I tried to look up load guidance as I know other brands like Osprey state a load range, but I couldn’t find this information from Rab. I couldn’t get my head round how such a lightweight pack would handle repeated heavy loads. Despite the Muon being a pack with weight as a design priority, it still has lots of great features. I don’t feel like it is missing anything I need from a pack. I loved The Muon ND40 from my initial impression, but with use I now would prefer a few small design tweaks, which I mention through this review.

Narrow ‘womens’ fit

I’m not a standard woman when it comes to sizing; many women aren’t. In the detailed pack description, Rab explains the Muon ND40 (I assume the ND stands for Narrow Dimensions) as ‘ideal for women or those with smaller frames’, but the main page title calls it the Women’s Muon. I would personally like to see brands step away from linking gender to sizing when it comes to things like packs. Saying ‘smaller frames’ explains enough. This would mean they could step away from changing the contrast colour details between each fit version, which are usually stereotyped colours suitable for each gender. It would also be nice to see suitably framed women and men modelling both the ND and standard fits.

It is useful to note that the ND40 is not only narrower, but also shorter than the standard version. It has a 17” back length compared to the standard 19”. This was the first thing I checked when I received the ND40 as I am on the taller side (5’11”). The pack fits me well, which is important for comfort and weight distribution. When choosing your fit, go by your frame size and the fit dimensions, rather than relying on which gender the fit is marketed towards.

Comfort

Speaking about the fit leads me nicely on to my next point – comfort. This pack is hands down one of the most comfortable I’ve ever used! As weight is prioritised in the design, I assumed the Muon ND40 wouldn’t have enough structure or padding to be overly comfortable. I was proven wrong on one of the first overnight trips I took my pack on, which required a 14 km walk to get to a bothy. I was carrying 13 kg in my pack (weighed before I left my house) and added a bag of firewood to the outside which must have been an extra kg or two. The pack’s wrap-around harness made for a very comfortable 14 kms. This pack never rubs, pinches or hurts my shoulders no matter what weight I carry in it. I do have to play around with the hip, shoulder and sternum straps initially on each outing, but once I have everything perfect, it’s like the pack weight becomes part of me, rather than a separate load.

Heavy loads versus longevity

I absolutely put the Muon ND40 through its paces. As with all the items I review for Cool of the Wild, I have had the Muon for months before sitting to write this review. I have used this pack exclusively since I received it and have lost count of how many outings it’s had. I use it for day hiking (with full winter kit at the moment) and overnight trips, so it not only gets very regular use, it also carries loads of varying weight. I’m amazed at how well this pack is holding up. I only say this because of how little it weighs. It is a testament to the quality construction of this pack that it is comfortable, hard wearing and very light. Mind blown. The only slight imperfection I have noticed is that stitching where the compression strap meets the front pocket has given ever so slightly. This confuses me as there are other points of stitching that take a lot more strain that are still perfect. ALL of the other stitching is still perfect. I have investigated the inner side of where the strap joins the front pocket and the stitching is reinforced so I am hopeful that it will not give further. It may just have been an initial adjustment upon first use.

What I love the most about the Rab Muon 40L Hiking Pack

If you couldn’t tell already, I love the Rab Muon ND40. I may seem particularly hard on this pack throughout the review, but rucksacks are a bit of an obsession of mine. Out of all the kit I could be given to review, I have the strongest opinions and most experience with packs. Between my work, home and adventure life, I use some kind of rucksack 365 days a year. There are so many positives to the Muon, I won’t relist them all. It is a great pack and I will be using it for a long time to come.

What I don’t love so much about the Rab Muon 40L Hiking Pack

Some of the features on the Muon slightly miss the mark for me. All of the components of an incredible pack are there, I just feel like slight tweaks would improve its functionality. The side pockets being loose/untrustworthy is the pack’s biggest downfall, and I feel like the trekking pole loops could be massively improved just by switching the elastic and fastenings to the same as the rear gear loops.

Verdict

Whilst designed for long distance trekking, I think the Rab Muon ND40 is extremely versatile and would suit anyone looking for a bigger day pack too. From my first impression, I really loved this bag. All ultralight packs are at the higher end of the price range, but I do think this one offers good value. I say this because of how easily it deals with constant use and heavy loads. I can tell I will be using this pack for a long time to come so its ‘price per use’ will be very low. There are some design elements that could do with tweaking from my point of view, but this is very individual and you may not share my slight reservations. Overall, a great pack that I really enjoy using.

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Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.

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