Test Millet Ubic 40 W – Versatile backpack for outdoor sportswomen!

Test video summary

My summary

How do you use the Ubic 40 backpack?

The Ubic 40 is aimed at people looking for a versatile bag that can be used for a wide range of outdoor activities, summer and winter alike: hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing, amateur alpinism or bivouac expeditions.

And that’s really the case, I find it’s a bag you can take without question, whatever the activity you’re planning.

Features

• Volume: 40 L
• Gender: available in men’s and women’s versions
• Dimensions: Height 63 cm x Width 29 cm x Depth 27 cm
• Back height: 46cm
• Weight: 1230 grams
• Main material: 210D DYE solution; Secondary material: 100% recycled 600D polyester; Lining: 100% recycled 250D polyester.
• Colors: blue, red, beige, black
• Price: €190

Our full test of the Millet Ubic 40 W backpack

Design and first impressions

When I unpacked the bag, I immediately liked the way it looked. It has a modern, sporty look, very sober and with meticulous finishing touches. I’ve got the navy blue version, a color that remains discreet and all-purpose, but perhaps not flashy enough for those who prefer to be seen in the mountains.

From the very first moment I picked it up, I got this impression of robustness. The material feels solid and resistant: exactly what you’d expect from a backpack that will follow you through all your outdoor activities.

First impressions are good, so let’s get into the details!

Storage and compartment

In terms of organization, you’ll find all the essentials of a good hiking bag.

The main compartment is spacious, with room for a water pouch.

What I also really appreciated was the double opening : the classic flap on top, but also a suitcase-style circular zip opening on the bottom. A real plus for accessing the bottom of the bag without emptying it all.

In addition to the main compartment, the bag has several external storage compartments :

• One expandable front pocket and one zipped pocket
• Two zipped pockets on the flap: one inside (with key ring), the other on the outside
• Two mesh side pockets
• Two zippered belt pockets, one of which is expandable for easy phone storage

The bag has also been designed with carrying straps :

• Under the bag to hang a mattress in bivouac mode;
• On either side of the bag for hiking poles or skis;

The special feature of this bag (and of the entire Ubic range) is its removable side straps, which can be attached to the front of the bag to hold a pair of snowshoes, for example.

What’s a shame, though, is that there’ s no specific place to put your helmet when you’re uphill on a ski touring trip.

Settings

For the bag to be as comfortable as possible, it’s important to be able to adjust it correctly to suit our body shape. The Millet features :

• A 4-level height-adjustable chest strap, ideal for positioning it in the right place without crushing your chest;
• Adjustable waist belt and load reminder;
• Adjustable shoulder straps and load reminder to bring the bag closer together and improve balance;
• Hand-rest straps to relieve shoulder and trapezius strain.

It looks a bit technical if you’re not used to it, but once you’ve got the bag on your back, the straps are easy to adjust and you can quickly find the setting that suits you best.

In the field

The Millet Ubic 40 is not an ultra-light bag like an Osprey Eja Pro 55, but for equivalent equipment, it’ s still lighter than other competing models. And thanks to its wearer-friendly design, it’s a very comfortable backpack.

The back height is adapted to a shorter female morphology, and that changes everything. Accustomed to borrowing men’s packs for my hikes, I felt the difference: proof that equipment specifically designed for women brings real comfort! Thanks to its perforated foam, the back is ventilated and I didn’t feel like my back was soaking wet.

In terms of weight, the waist belt, well positioned over the hips (neither too low nor too high), carries most of the load, so that the shoulders are not crushed.

With the right adjustments, the bag stays in place and doesn’t wobble. I even went for a run with it (well, it’s not normally recommended!) and it went well! However, you need to make sure you adjust the straps correctly to avoid chafing at the neck.

The two zipped pocketson the waistband are very useful, especially the larger one for easy smartphone storage.

The side pockets are large: I was able to slip in a water bottle and a gourd. On the other hand, it’s very difficult to put the water bottle back in place without removing the bag, unless you have a very mobile arm!

Finally, the 40L volume is ideal for hiking or skiing, as it doesn’t take up too much space.

Waterproofing

The waterproof rating of the bag is 1000mm, which means you can last about 1 hour in heavy rain. The rain cover(raincover) is supplied with the bag and cannot be lost as it is attached to the bag.

Unfortunately (or fortunately for me!) I haven’t yet been able to test it in a heavy downpour, but with the built-in raincover, I think it will keep things dry for a long time.

Conclusion

The Millet Ubic 40 for women is a backpack that I found to be robust, well thought-out and, above all, extremely versatile. It’s really a bag that can be used for a wide range of outdoor activities, no questions asked. With a design adapted to a woman’s morphology and well-made adjustments, it’s comfortable to wear, even on long outings.