Forclaz MT900 UL Backpack Review: 1.3 kg, 50 L, and Room to Grow

Introduction

Ultralight backpacks usually pay for their lower weight by dropping pockets, padding, and adjustability. The Forclaz MT900 UL takes a different approach. It weighs 1.3 kg, carries a 50 L main compartment that expands by a further 10 L, and still arrives with seven pockets, a framed suspended mesh back panel, and a full set of straps.

At £129, it sits in a bracket where light packs often either strip features away or ask for considerably more money. The useful question is whether the MT900 UL carries well enough to justify all that volume, and whether the compromises it does make are the right ones for real trips.

Who This Backpack Is For

This pack suits backpackers and wild campers who want to cut weight without giving up organisation. A 50 L body that expands to roughly 60 L is enough for a multi-day three-season load: tent, sleeping system, stove, food, and spare layers, with the expansion used when a trip demands extra capacity.

The suspended mesh back panel makes it particularly appealing to hikers who run warm in summer, since air moves between the pack and your back instead of trapping heat against it. It is also a sensible choice for anyone who values a clear, repeatable packing routine, because the two-way access means gear goes in and comes out the same way every time.

It is less suited to people who carry heavy loads by habit. The MT900 UL is built around a lighter weight ceiling, and it rewards a deliberate, compact kit list rather than a full traditional loadout.

Main Strengths

Pocket Layout and Everyday Access

The MT900 UL is unusually well organised for a pack at this weight. There is a large stash pocket across the front, sized for waterproofs you want within reach without opening the bag. The side pockets are generous enough for water bottles, trekking poles, or tent poles. Two hip pockets sit far enough forward to grab snacks on the move, and the lid adds an external zip pocket plus an internal zip pocket that houses the included rain cover.

Access is the standout feature. A zip at the base gives full opening to everything in the lower half, while the top can be packed and then cinched down hard. A clip releases so the whole front can be zipped open, which makes packing and repacking far quicker than a pure top-loader.

Inside, there is a hydration sleeve with a key hook, and the hose routes through an outlet at the top that is covered by a small hood to keep rain out. The hose can be fixed left or right through the retaining straps so it stays put instead of swinging around.

Suspended Back System and Comfort

The frame and fully suspended mesh panel are the reason this pack stays comfortable at its weight. Air passes freely behind the load, which makes a noticeable difference on warm days. The panel is adjustable at the top and then locks into place, so the fit can be tuned to torso length rather than accepted as it comes.

Padding on the shoulder straps and hip belt is present and adequate rather than plush, which is the expected trade-off on an ultralight design. Adjusters are spread across the pack, including load lifters at the top and a sternum strap with a small whistle. Everything on the harness is slightly smaller than on a heavier pack, but the fittings still feel properly made.

The stated load ceiling is 12 kg. That figure is realistic for the structure, and for multi-day trips keeping the total closer to 10 kg is the more comfortable choice.

Materials, Durability, and Warranty

The body is built mainly from 100D fabric, with a thicker 210D material across the base where abrasion and ground contact are highest. It is light where it can be and reinforced where it needs to be, which is the right way round for a pack that will be set down on rock and grit.

The MT900 UL also carries a 10-year warranty, and the gear behind it is extensively tested before release. For a pack bought to last several seasons of trips, that coverage removes a lot of the risk from the decision.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main limitation is the padding. This is an ultralight pack, so the foam in the hip belt and shoulder straps is deliberately thin. It is comfortable when the load is appropriate, but it will not mask an overloaded bag the way a heavier harness would. Packing to the intended weight matters more here than on a traditional pack.

The rain cover is included but adds about 100 g. Leaving it behind saves that weight if you already rely on a pack liner or waterproof stuff sacks.

The bottom straps are a neat detail worth knowing about: they pull out so a sleeping mat or even a tent can be secured above or below the pack, including a folded mat. That said, anything strapped to the outside should be balanced against the load ceiling.

Finally, the 1.3 kg weight is the price of the feature set. Buyers who want the absolute minimum of straps and pockets will find more stripped-back options elsewhere, while anyone who wants organisation, adjustability, and a suspended back panel will see the weight as well spent.

Buying Advice

At £129, the MT900 UL is strong value. Ultralight gear frequently loses features as weight drops, and this pack keeps the pocket count, the two-way access, the adjustable suspended back, and the external attachment points that much heavier packs rely on. That combination is what makes it easy to recommend rather than simply light.

It is the right purchase if you are building a lighter multi-day kit and want a pack that is simple to live with: quick to pack, quick to reach into, and comfortable across a full day of walking. Match it to a load around 10 kg for multi-day trips and up to the stated 12 kg for shorter carries, and the harness will do its job.

If you routinely carry more weight than that, or you want deep cushioning regardless of load, look at a heavier framed pack instead. For everyone else, this is a well-considered ultralight option with a long warranty behind it.

Conclusion

The Forclaz MT900 UL gets the balance right. It is light enough to make a real difference on long days, spacious enough at 50 L expanding to 60 L for proper backpacking trips, and organised enough that you are not constantly digging through a single top-loading opening.

Its limits are honest and predictable: thin padding, a 12 kg ceiling, and a rain cover that costs 100 g if you carry it. Pack within those limits and it is a comfortable, capable, and genuinely good value backpacking pack.