Deuter Fox 30 Youth Backpack

Deuter Fox 30 Youth Backpack

By Cory and Ellie McLaughlin

Just the Facts:

The Fox, our trekking backpack for kids and youngsters, was revised to provide the technical design and high functionality of our “big” backpacks fully adapted to the needs of kids. The Fox also grows with the child thanks to the VariQuick back length adjustment system so they can have fun longer with their adventure backpack.

Colour:

petrol-arctic (blue)

Article ID:

3613018-3325

Weight:

1220 g

Volume:

30 litres

Size:

60 / 24 / 22 (H x W x D) cm

My Story:

Well here I am again expressing my dissatisfaction with the outdoor industries lack of motivation to provide quality equipment to our little outdoor enthusiasts. This problem was not one I paid mind to until I had children of my own and it jumped up and slapped me in the face. I have had a very hard time finding suitable gear for my kids. My girls are pretty awesome and they are always game to go into the wilds with dad. The problem we have faced for a long time is that I have had to adapt and or modify gear to make their time on the trail fun and not full of discomfort. When I first saw the Deuter booth at 2018 Summer OR I was beside myself to see this great pack that was designed for kids. I knew right then and there that I needed to connect with them and arrange a testing sample. We talked and settled on the Fox 30 as it seemed to fit the need and most importantly the frame of my daughter.

When the package arrived my daughter was absolutely beside herself. Not only was this “The coolest pack ever!” it was also in her favorite color. She wasted no time at all taking it into her room and filling it with whatever she thought would be good testing materials, likely toys and dolls. Soon after she had me by the hand and was pulling me out the door to go walk around the neighborhood and test this pack.

Sadly life got crazy for us and we did not have an opportunity to test the pack on the trails until spring of 2019. This was not what we wanted but the wildfire season of 2018 kept us house bound for the remainder of the summer and while it was hard to spend the weekends in town, it was not worth breathing in the thick toxic smoke or risk being burned up in one of the hundreds of fires that kept springing to life. So, we did a lot of urban backpacking and tested the pack around town.

Our first trip into the wilds seemed like it was an eternity in the making. It was not the giant multi-day trip that we had planned but it was a trip into the wilds all the same and it was a great time to test some gear. My daughter was more than happy to fill her pack with everything “she” thought she needed and after I helped her with a more sensible load we were ready to hit the trail.

Turns out that I probably should have had her go through my list as I forgot my portable charger and my phone, which is also my camera, died about 2 miles into our trip and spent the rest of its time just adding weight to my pack and not taking pictures as intended.

In total my daughter hiked 12 miles and unloaded and reloaded her pack 3 times. She had the following to say:

Ellie’s thoughts:

“This is the best pack that I have ever used. I have always had to use my dad or mom’s old day packs and they never fit me. I hated using them and it made backpacking not much fun. I am really happy to have my own pack that fits me. I like that I can fill it with my own stuff and use it whenever I want to. It has awesome pockets and I looks so cool. This is my favorite pack for sure, and it is my favorite color. I have already told all my friends about this pack and they all want one too!”

I do not think that I can say anything more about the pack. As a gear testing father I want to set my child up for success with quality gear. My initial thoughts and inspection convinced me that the Fox30 was a quality pack. After listening to my daughter rave about how comfortable it was and how much she loves it, I am convinced that this is one of the better youth packs on the market and to this date it is the best one we have tried.

Find it Here:

https://www.deuter.com/DE/en/trekking/fox-30-3613018-orange-blue.html

What can be done better?

Ellie insisted that I quote her “Dad, nothing, because it is awesome!”

Ellie says 5 stars and who am I to argue with 11 year old logic? Although, I do have to agree with her.