"SHIELD 25" suspension system :

"BACH HIKE VS"

While offering maximum ventilation the BACH HIKE VS still sits close to your back and offers a perfect balance: flexibility when you want it, rigidity when you need it. The secret is the genuinely simple and lightweight spine construction that fits perfect to every back.

Features

• mesh back for maximum ventilation
• HDPE frame sheet with 6082-TF-Alu Stay
• 12mm BxL shoulder straps with elasticated Schoeller fabric
• BACH GENIUS SHOULDER POCKET for mobile and small stuff on left shoulder strap
• padded BxL hip belt with mesh fabric
• load control straps on hip belt and shoulder straps

• SHIELD 25
• SHIELD 38
• SHIELD 45

CORDURA® FABRIC

Due to its superior abrasion resistance CORDURA® fabric has made its name as the best pack fabric available. BACH usually works with air-texturised CORDURA® fabric nylon yarns. Most of their fabrics are made by Leejo Textiles in Seoul, Korea.

BACH works with the following Cordura® qualities:

What does 1000D mean in the real world of backpacks?

POLYESTER WEB

BACH is using polyester web only. Polyester webs are strong, abrasion and UV resistant and do not absorb any water. Nylon webs can be of good quality as well but are not so readily available. Bach do not recommend the use of polypropylene webbing on packs. Compared to polypropylene, polyester is much more resistant against UV-radiation. When buying web for their packs they take special care to make sure, that the webbing qualities are compatible with the buckles they use. It can be quite tricky to make sure, that the web holds the required load. The web must not slip through the buckle but should be easily adjusted at the same time. And not only once but for years to come!

YKK CHAIN AND VISLON-ZIPPERS

Little parts - big difference! On all packs BACH is exlusively using high quality YKK zippers. Where ever applicable they use #10. Feel the difference! Since BACH started more than 20 years ago they have resisted the temptation to go for cheaper brands and this decision has proven to be right. They can only remember a few warranty repairs caused by failing zips. That is as good as it gets.

NYLON BUCKLES

Duraflex National Molding Buckles are the leading brand since many years. BACH is using Duraflex nylon buckles made in Italy and USA or by the former Korean Duraflex licensee Woojin. They try to not go for optics only but to choose the strongest designs available. This is not always an easy task and may involve compromising, changing technical features and at times buying designs from other brands as well. Whether you prefer acetal (stronger under very hot conditions) or nylon (does usually not break) is a matter of individual preference. We use mostly nylon buckles.

FOAM

Cheap or inadequate foams are really annoying, because the lack of quality only shows after a while. Generally speaking you can say that the harder a foam the longer it will last. But foams can also be too rigid and uncomfortable, particularily in shoulder straps.

SHOULDERS STAPS

All BACH shoulder straps are made from Evazote foam. Depending on size and style of pack, thickness can vary from 10mm on daypack to beefy 20mm on a M.A.D. Series pack. Over the years Evazote foams have proven to be good compromise between comfort (softness) and durability (hardness).

FITTING

INDIVIDUAL FITTING

Put some weight into your BACH pack. Slightly loosen upper and lower load control straps. Put pack on your shoulders and slowly tighten shoulder straps until your pack feels comfortable. If you close hip belt now it will nicely hug your hips. To distribute more weight to your hips, you may loosen shoulder straps slightly.
Position the sliders of the upper load control straps slightly in front of your shoulder as shown in the drawing. The upper load control straps stabilize your load and prevent pack from falling backwards. For best result tighten the upper load control straps slightly.
You may or may not tighten the lower load control straps for firmer fit of the hip belt.

BENDING THE ALUMINIUM STAY

To further improve the fit of your pack you may bend the aluminum stay. Use a plier to take the stay out of your pack without removing the PE frame sheet. The stay should follow the contour of your back in slightly bent forward position.

LOAD YOUR PACK

CLEANING