"I like the Atlas Athlete because it’s a nice middle-ground between a hefty over-nighter and light day pack. Weighing in at 4 lbs and holding 40L (Atlas also has the Adventure which holds 50L), it comes in two colorways, black and gray/yellow. It lacks the torso adjustment features of the Fernweh and Action X but takes a different approach by having multiple frame sizes available (medium, medium/large, and large) based on torso height. It also has one of my favorite internal features that is unique to Atlas bags only, and that’s the ‘Origami Camera Core’. The Atlas Athlete doesn’t use removable core units/camera cubes, the storage is built-in and sewn right into the bag. Whether this is a pro or con is up to you, I always preferred having camera cubes BUT the way Atlas has built the camera storage, especially with the adjustable camera core pocket, I’m starting to lean towards Atlas’s system. Another great feature that is unique to this bag is the camera dividers, they are very padded and quite literally mold to your gear. Once you have everything set up the way you like, within 24 hours the dividers form to your lenses and camera, providing extra protection so they don’t move around as much as you’re hiking."

Kristen Danforth | @goforthewest Atlas Packs Ambassador and customers since 2021