Futura Pro 36

The Deuter Futura Pro 36 is the Futura with a back that adjusts to you. Five clicks set the harness to your torso, the mesh panel keeps your back cool, and 36 litres take you from a long day out to a weekend in the huts.

Who it's for

Walkers who want a ventilated pack that fits like it was made for them, and households where more than one person borrows the same pack. Deuter rate it five out of five for hiking and three for trekking. The 6-10 kg recommended load suits a day on the Larapinta's Section 1 with plenty of water, a two-night hut walk in the Snowy Mountains, or the long haul up Mount Bogong's Staircase Spur.

Capacity, and what actually fits

36 litres, 69 x 32 x 24 cm. The separate bottom compartment holds a sleeping bag and camp clothes, with a zip-out divider to open it into the main space. Up top, a 3 L bladder, food, a stove and a first aid kit. A large side stretch pocket opens from two directions so you can grab a bottle without taking the pack off.

How it carries

The shoulder straps anchor straight to the flexi spring steel frame, which moves the load cleanly onto padded hip fins with Pull-Forward adjustment. Soft mesh runs the full length of the back, held off you by the frame for airflow and wrapping your lower back for a snug fit. Shoulder straps and hip fins are one continuous piece of padding, and the stabiliser straps have two mounting positions to suit different back lengths.

Fitting it

VariClick adjusts the back length from the centre of the pack in five steps, each one clicking audibly into place: S 42-46 cm, S/M 44.5-48.5 cm, M 47-51 cm, M/L 49.5-53.5 cm and L 52-56 cm. Deuter fit it to walkers around 170-205 cm tall.

Access and organisation

The main compartment loads from the top with a drawcord under the lid, which has a pocket outside and another inside with a key clip. Two hip fin pockets, a mesh front pocket and a wet compartment inside keep the small stuff sorted. Quick-release pole attachments on the shoulder straps let you stow your poles for a rock scramble without stopping.

• Top-loader with drawcord and lid; two lid pockets
• Separate bottom compartment with zip-out divider
• Dual-access side stretch pocket, mesh front pocket, two hip fin pockets
• Quick-release pole attachment on the shoulder straps; ice axe and pole attachment
• Hydration compatible, up to 3 L
• Rain cover included

Weight

1590 g empty. The adjustable harness and frame-anchored straps cost a little weight over a fixed-back pack, and pay it back with a fit that carries 10 kg in comfort over a long day.

Looking after it

The body is 210D recycled polyamide X-Grid with a DWR finish made without intentionally added PFAS, and the pack is bluepass and Green Button certified.