Raidlight Ultralight 12L trail bag test – My opinion

Video summary

Opinion summary

How do I use the Ultralight 12?

The Raidlight Ultralight 12L is a trail bag designed for long trails, thanks to its volume that allows you to carry all the gear you need: rain gear, food, water, poles, while remaining light and comfortable. This is the bag that accompanied me on the 62-kilometer Munster Trail, as well as on all the training sessions leading up to the race.

Features

• Volume: 12 liters
• Weight: 190g advertised; 197g when weighed
• Maximum bag load: 6 kg
• Hydration: 2 flasks of 2x600mL for use with pipette or valve
• Fitting: Micrometric buckle fastening system on sides
• Fastening system: chest drawstring with buckles
• Storage: 9 pockets in all, including 3 with zips
• Fabric: Water-repellent main pocket
• Pole-holding system: front and rear with cords + possibility of fitting a quiver
• Available in 3 colors: black, blue or pink
• Price: €159.90

Our trail bag test

Material

The bag is 84% recycled polyester and 16% elastane. The mesh is 100% polyamide. The main compartment on the back is made of water-repellent 100% polyester.

Comfort

Once on the back, the bag is very comfortable and is quickly forgotten, even when loaded. There are no unpleasant sensations such as feeling oppressed.

On the sides, the micrometric tightening buckle system (BOA type for those in the know) is very practical for adapting to your morphology and allows for quick adjustment. The straps on the front are adjustable to fit the breasts, without annoying pressure points (important for us women!). They are, however, fixed, so the strap anchorage can’t be adjusted in height, but that’s not a problem for me.

In racing conditions, the bag doesn’t wobble, whether with full or empty flanges, loaded or unloaded.

The fabric is meant to be breathable, but I always get soaked after a trail run, no matter what bag I’m wearing. I’ve only tested it in summer so far, so I’ll have to wait and see in cooler seasons.

Organization

The Raidlight Ultralight 12-liter bag has 9 pockets, 3 of which are zippered, organized as follows:

• 2 flange pockets
• 2 large open pockets under the flanges
• 1 small zipped pocket under the left flange
• 1 large 5-liter zippered back pocket
• 1 kangaroo pocket on back
• 1 small zipped pocket on back
• 1 space for water bag

There’s enough storage space to keep your bag organized. Its volume can hold a lot of gear, especially in the zipped back pocket, which can easily accommodate rain pants, a rain jacket and all the equipment required for long trails.

Location of sticks

The bag features 3 corded pole attachment systems :

• Front, under the chest, horizontal
• At the back, in the lower back, also horizontally
• On the back, vertically on either side of the central zipped pocket

In the field, thefront slot is practical, provided you have light poles. I tested it with two types of poles, and it worked well with my Leki Carbone poles, but was uncomfortable with my Raidlight poles, which are quite strong. Arm movements are then hampered by the poles.

At the back, horizontally, you have to run with your arms slightly away from your body to avoid rubbing the poles. I’ve had several women try it out , and we’ve all had the same sensation: it’s pretty unpleasant.

As for the vertical back, this remains a mystery, as my “big” poles are quite unstable, and with thinner poles it doesn’t hold at all.

It’s up to you to make your own tests, depending on your morphology and running style, but I’d advise you to opt for the front position or use a quiver, which I think is much more comfortable.

Ease of use

The front pockets are accessible, even the zipped one. You can easily access your bars, compotes and smartphone while you’re in the middle of the race. The same applies to the small zipped pocket on the back of the bag.

The kangaroo pocket is also easy to access without removing the bag. It’s a handy place to put your rain jacket for quick removal.

For the large zipped back pocket, you need to bring your bag forward to retrieve the gear you’ve put inside.

However, the flanges are not easy to replace when full.

Quiver

The Raidlight quiver (sold separately) is compatible with the Ultralight 12L bag thanks to shoulder loops and a magnet attachment system at the back.

The quiver has been very well thought out. It accommodates all types of poles (telescopic or 3-strand), easily accessible thanks to a forward-tilt system. (Or even without a tilt, depending on the type of stick, you can get right to it!) To make it simple, simply unclip the magnetic part of the attachment and pass the quiver over your head, bringing it back to the front using the elastic straps.

To reposition it at the back of the bag, repeat the same tilting movement and re-clip it onto the magnetized part, using just one hand. Tip: it’s best to loosen the shoulder straps so that the quiver fits over your head more easily (especially if you’re wearing a cap!).

Another plus is the zippered side pocket, which offers plenty of room for a few groceries.

In terms of comfort, you don’t feel the quiver when you’re running. Just make sure you adjust the shoulder straps and the strap on the magnetic part to hold it in place.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I think the Raidlight Ultralight 12L bag is a great ally for your long trails, thanks to its lightness, capacity and comfort. It’s comfortable to carry, even when loaded and with the quiver. You don’t feel any tossing or turning.

For short trails, I’d tend to go for a smaller bag: 5 or 8 liters, even if the 12-liter is fine empty.