In 2007, I started getting into outdoor sports. As a beginner, I bought a Polar 65-liter backpack. I was a big guy, and the back part and belt of the bag felt similar to Dort's models. It was also quite heavy. If you were to look at it, it seemed tall. Two years later, as my awareness of equipment improved, I began considering replacing my large bag. That same year, I purchased a 70-liter version of the Sky backpack, which I've been using ever since. This bag has accompanied me through most of my two- to three-day mountain trips and even served as a 7- to 12-day long-line pack for several years. However, over time, this bag has aged, and during use, I noticed that after a certain weight, the carrying system no longer provided the best comfort.
I had heard a lot about reloading backpacks from friends, especially those from GG and Dort. I had been looking for the right opportunity to try these brands. Coincidentally, the launch of the AIR CONTACT 65+10 reloading gear package caught my attention. The "alpine transport plane" concept of the AIR CONTACT model intrigued me, and I thought it could be a good companion for my long-term travels. After registration and screening, I was lucky enough to qualify for this package. Thanks to the support from Equipment Cool and Shenzhen Dortmund, I had the chance to experience this powerful backpack firsthand.
I haven't introduced much about the Dort brand yet. If you're someone who carries heavy gear, their backpacks might have already crossed your mind. You can check out the official website at http://# to learn more if interested.
**Dot AIRCONTACT (Crossing Series) 65+10L Outdoor Mountaineering Bag Introduction**
- **Name:** Aircontact
- **Model:** 33426
- **Manufacturer:** Deuter, Germany
- **Origin:** Vietnam
- **Capacity:** 65+10L
- **Dimensions:** 84 x 40 x 28 cm
- **Weight:** 2710g
- **Recommended Weight:** 33kg
- **Color:** Apple Green + Gray
- **Surface Fabric:** 330D Anti-Tear + PU Waterproof Coating (Gray), High Strength Tear-Resistant Fabric + PU Waterproof Coating (Green)
- **Bottom Fabric:** Duratex (1000D)
- **Zipper:** YKK
- **Fasteners:** YKK/Duraflex Korea
- **Multi-Resistant Sleeping Bags:** Yes
- **Rain Cover:** Detachable rain cover included
- **Tag Price:** 2099 yuan
The logo and product model are clearly marked on the head bag and the front of the sleeping bag compartment, making it easy to identify.
There are two tags on the package: one describes the 3D space cotton mat, and the other talks about the movable fin belt. I saw in reviews online that there is also a warranty card, but I couldn’t find one in this backpack. I’m not sure if it’s missing or just not included.
There are some embroidered details on the back and belt of the bag, mainly simple expressions related to the backpack’s carrying system.
The rapid adjustment system is intuitive and easy to use.
The belt features a logo and a removable fin belt.
The bottom of the backpack has a logo with a rain cover, and it comes with its own blue rain cover.
The backpack uses YKK zippers and Korean Duraflex fasteners, both well-known in the outdoor industry. Each fastener has the LPGO and brand name of the company.
The seams throughout the bag are flat, with very few visible thread ends.
In areas where extra strength is needed, additional stitching is added to reinforce the structure.
The main body of the bag is divided into three sections: a head compartment, a main compartment, and a sleeping bag compartment. The following images show how the original backpack was loaded and the expanded appearance.
The head compartment is not detachable and is rigidly connected by soft cloth and the main compartment. Some people may prefer a detachable head compartment that can be used as a waist pack, but I don’t think it significantly affects the overall experience. Both the outer and inner pockets of the head compartment are equipped with zippers. The outer pocket is convenient for quick access to small items, while the inner pocket is for less frequently used items. There are also printed messages inside, such as “Call for help†and “International help gestures.â€
At the top of the head compartment, there are four external buckles that allow you to hang small items when needed.
The sleeping bag compartment is self-contained and separated from the main compartment by a curtain and a two-way zipper, allowing you to open or close it as needed.
After placing a 1000g down sleeping bag inside, there is still room to store small items. If you need to carry more, you can also place a moisture-proof pad outside the sleeping bag compartment, secured by two webbings.
The main compartment has a large U-shaped door that can be opened at any time, making it easy to access items in the middle. To prevent accidental loss of items, two fasteners are added below the U-shaped door. Additionally, there are 10 chrysanthemum-style plug-in points on the front of the U-shaped door, allowing you to attach items like clothes using a belt.
A map pocket is located on the right side of the main compartment, ideal for storing maps or thin items.
Small side pockets on the lower left and right sides can hold water bottles, with an elastic band on the outside for secure storage. I’ve used many bags, and some have better-designed side pockets based on human hand movement. I think that design might be more practical.
A small pocket on the right belt is perfect for storing small items like candy or a phone.
On each side of the U-shaped door, there are velcro-controlled webbing buckles that can be used to hang ice axes or trekking poles. Correspondingly, there are two O-shaped webbing buckles on the lower part of the backpack for securing ice axes or trekking poles.
You can also place the trekking poles on both sides of the backpack and secure them with adjustable webbing. These webbings can be tightened according to the capacity of the backpack to reduce internal swaying and fix external items.
Inside the main compartment, there is a dedicated section for a water bag. The outlet of the water tube is clearly marked, and there is a webbing buckle on the right shoulder strap to secure the water tube for easy drinking.
The backpack comes with a blue rain cover, which is very eye-catching. Even when the expansion area is fully loaded, the rain cover still fits well.
The color of the backpack is gray and green. The fabrics in different parts vary: the gray part is 330D ripstop nylon, known for its tear resistance and light weight, commonly used in backpacks. The green part is high-strength tear-resistant fabric, also widely used in outdoor products. The bottom is made of Duratex (1000D), offering excellent abrasion resistance.
When evaluating a backpack, the carrying system is the most important factor. The carrying system of the Dort AIR CONTACT series includes a rotating fin belt, X-shaped built-in aluminum frame, quick adjustment system, and 3D space cotton mat. From the back of the bag, the design has a slight curve, potentially fitting the human back better.
The belt of the backpack carries about 70% of the weight. It is very important. The belt has a fin-shaped swivel design, divided into a load-bearing part and an adjustment part. The load-bearing part is wide at the back and narrow at the front, thick and soft, with a 3D breathable mesh mat providing soft support to the waist.
Why is it called a finned belt? In addition to its shape being inspired by fins, it also functions similarly. Fins help fish maintain balance and move forward, so the finned belt should also serve a similar purpose. According to the manufacturer’s schematic, when the body twists, the belt also twists slightly, helping maintain the center of gravity. Why does the belt twist? Because the connection between the belt and the back is flexible. The belt is detachable and attached via Velcro and the back panel, allowing the bag to rotate instead of sway.
The adjustment part of the belt is easy to operate. The front stepping-type fast ladder buckle can tighten the webbing, while pulling the buckles on both sides backward loosens the belt.
This backpack has three built-in and detachable aluminum shelves, two of which are X-shaped, and one is slightly below the head compartment.
The manufacturer has carefully indicated the role of the aluminum frame on both sides, and the curvature of the third aluminum frame ensures the design and shape of the head socket.
The shoulder straps are responsible for about 20% of the weight and consist of the load belt and the adjustment belt. The load-bearing belt is partially filled with the same material and a 3D breathable mesh pad, but thinner than the waistband. Notably, there are two buckles on the back of the backpack and above the shoulder strap that can connect to webbing to adjust the center of gravity, hence the name "center of gravity adjustment belt." Tall people usually use the upper adjustment straps, while shorter individuals use the lower ones. However, height is limited, and it’s better to adjust based on personal comfort.
The quick adjustment system with the shoulder strap is connected via Velcro and bow webbing. Generally, four arched webbings are needed to keep the backpack stable. Some backpacks have independent code designs with large, medium, and small shoulder straps. This one can be adjusted roughly by crossing the upper, middle, and lower parts. Fine-tuning based on body height might be more precise. Some worry that the Velcro might come loose during intense activity, but after a 7-hour reload experience, I didn’t notice any issues. However, long-term durability will need further testing.
The back of the bag uses a patented 3D space cotton mat. According to the manufacturer’s description, this is a macroporous material. During outdoor activities, our bodies press against the mat, allowing air to flow in and out, effectively exchanging air and dissipating heat faster. Research indicates that this fabric can reduce sweat by 15%.
In addition to the material, the manufacturer also focused on the back design. There are grooves on each side of the back pad and a larger groove near the lower back, creating an efficient ventilation system.
During the outdoor experience, the negative weight was 19 kg, walking time 7 hours, and altitude climb 800 meters. The bag’s rated load is 33 kg, and before this, I had difficulty achieving that amount with a similar-sized backpack. Achieving comfort at higher carrying capacity is a strong selling point. Since it wasn’t a long-distance trip, I added more gear to test the burden of this bag, reaching 38 kg. In fact, some bags with poor carrying systems reach their limit at this weight, so this bag still performed well under heavy loads.
Summary: Based on the design of this bag, I believe it can excel in long-term re-loading (more than a few days). The reasonable design makes this 65+10L bag suitable for up to 10-day trips. Compared to the previous 70L model, I think the weight of this bag is more important for long-term use. If it’s a short-term load-bearing activity, the Sky might have an advantage due to its own weight. If I were to choose, I wouldn’t pick such a large bag for a 2-day trip. In actual outdoor experience, the contrast with the previous Sky model (around 38 kg) wasn’t too strong, but the multi-pack advantage became clearer later, maintaining a consistent feeling. I still feel this bag should be tested in multi-day long-term activities, which is what I hope to experience and will supplement in future long-term trips.
The 3D space cotton fabric is very soft and comfortable when the back is heavy, and according to the material and design concept, it should perform well in ventilation. I can’t compare two backpacks under the same conditions.
It’s worth mentioning that the X-shaped aluminum frame of this backpack is hollow, reducing weight somewhat, but will it weaken the support? The Sky uses two small round brackets, and the Gregory B76/65 uses a single solid built-in aluminum frame, but its weight isn’t as high as this bag. In actual use, with a 38 kg load, the overall performance was good. I look forward to more weight-bearing tests in long lines.
Main advantages:
1. Reasonable design. The entire backpack has a unique concept, designed specifically for the human body’s engineering characteristics, with ventilation and load-bearing in mind. The U-shaped opening and closing design of the front door makes it easier to access items in the middle.
2. Excellent material selection and fine craftsmanship. Whether it's fabric or zipper, lock, etc., this bag uses famous materials in outdoor products, with a great texture; the details of the stitching and other work are clear and rigorous.
3. Good carrying system. I can only say it's good here because I think this bag needs more long-term heavy load experiences to better reflect its load-bearing performance. In my actual use, 7 hours of 38 kg load, from beginning to end, I really felt the difference wasn't big, and some similar-sized backpacks made me feel heavier and falling.
4. Quick adjustment system enables finer adjustments. This bag’s rapid adjustment system allows fine-tuning based on the height of the human body. Unlike other backpacks, the shoulder straps are set for large, medium, and small sizes, which is more reasonable.
Shortcomings:
1. The shape is not attractive enough. Although each brand has its own design concept, I’ve seen that the shape of the multi-pack hasn’t changed for a long time, which is unreasonable to always win with quality. However, the average audience still likes beautiful bags. If the shape design is more attractive, market promotion may be easier.
2. The position of the water bag placed on both sides of the backpack is unreasonable. We all know that many times we need to take water and drink without putting down our backpacks. Companions aren’t always around. How to conveniently get the water bottles placed on both sides of the backpack is very important. According to the function of the human body, the inclined water bag opening is designed.
Follow-up evaluation:
1. The bag's carrying capacity under a 7-day or more state.
2. Whether the rapid adjustment system Velcro is solid. The rapid adjustment system may have its shortcomings. In the long-distance walking process, it may fall off due to excessive force, which needs to be experienced in subsequent use.
Personal recommendation: This is a recommended backpack for long-term reloading. Many people find the bag's weight slightly larger, which is indeed a relative fact. I estimate that many people compare it with the O-series backpacks, but the Dort bag is compared with the Sky 70. The weight is not a grade. In a strict sense, the Sky is not a heavy backpack. If you want to compare with O’s Argon, Zenith, and other heavy packs, the weight of this bag is not too heavy. In addition, many people compare it with GG’s B65/B75. The weight of these two bags is similar to that of Dort’s. But whether it’s official or the actual use of the customer, the amount of load that can be handled is between 40-45, and it may be uncomfortable. Therefore, people think that choosing a backpack first requires knowing their own use environment. Long-term loading can have more choices. If it’s a 3- to 5-day line, things can be controlled below 40 pounds, and designs that are more trendy, like O Home and GG Home, are also good choices.
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