This is a very unique backpack with a lot of new features that can be customized to your desires. The RMU Core Pack 15 is a great pack with a variety of uses but might not be great at what it was designed for. Let me tell you why you should or shouldn’t have this pack. 

Opening up this pack and trying it on for the first time there were a lot of features that I didn’t understand or didn’t know how to use. Therefore, this pack is not really an “open and go play kind” of pack because it took me almost a month of use to really hone in on each feature and arrange how I was really going to use this pack. 

I used this pack throughout the beginning of summer in the setting of mostly mountain biking and hiking. Let me tell you about some of the key features that make this pack good, bad, and really just unique:

Backpack Straps

I think this is one of the most important parts to a pack and RMU did something very unique by using what they call a “Breathable vest-style harness”. The arm straps are indeed breathable and very thin. This was so different from packs I’ve used in the past which usually have foam to make the load softer. I really enjoyed these on days where we were biking in the hot Utah sunshine because it breathed so well. 

The drawback to these thin straps showed up when I was hiking in the Grand Tetons in the rain and was putting the pack on with a puffy and a rain shell. With many layers I found that the strap would fold over on itself and was annoying to keep straightening out the strap every time I got something out of the pack. 

Double Chest Buckles

I have never seen a pack with double sternum buckles, and these ended up being great! These straps are there to customize your fit and make the pack more comfortable. I really enjoyed these up until I was taking the pack off mid-ride due to the one extra step. However, the added step did not outweigh the comfort and support it brought. And if you want only one you can just remove the extra.

Locking Waist Belt / Removable Waist Belt

I like the option of the removable waist belt because it offers versatility. I personally really enjoy waist straps because I think it keeps the pack from bouncing around too much. What surprised me was that they had a locking push through style metal buckle-often found on avalanche packs (a bit overkill for a bike pack). Not only that but the buckle was on the left side. This really annoyed me at first because I had to reach across to buckle it.  Just like the straps, I imagine with thicker winter clothing, this would be very difficult. 

Fast forward a few weeks of biking including cross-country, shuttles and bike park laps, I realized that the buckle was out of the way when placed on the left side. No pinching of the belly fat from a buckle over the belly button, just a smooth piece of webbing. I found the comfort especially during hill climbs and when getting in the backseat on the downhill. I was very happy about this and imagine others will be as well. 

Gear Pockets

This was a big flaw in my book. RMU claims, “Reinforced tool organization fits a reservoir, tools, extra jacket, and first aid kit.” While you can fit all of this in there, I’m not understanding the organization of it all. I didn’t feel like tools fit super well and just expected more customized pockets for bike tools. One of the pockets is advertised as a beer pocket but I ended up using it as a spare tube pocket. I also cannot see how these tool pockets could be used for backcountry skiing; shovels would fit so awkwardly, and a probe does not. It just wouldn’t be a smart choice for a backcountry ski pack due to safety reasons. 

Bladder Options

This was my least favorite part of the pack. It is advertised as having a bladder/laptop pocket, and I imagine it works a lot better as a laptop pocket then a bladder pocket. The pocket is bigger than your average bladder (big enough for a laptop) but that’s not what’s to complain about. 

My big beef is how the hose comes out of the pack: the side. The opening is very tight and is right on the aluminum frame which pinches the hose and restricts some water flow. And then to make it worse there is only one loop on each arm strap that the hose can be routed through. Even after routing most of my hoses were sticking up in my face or off to the side. They must have used a specific bladder when designing this none of my bladders worked well with this pack. 

All in all, this pack is made out of durable materials that feel like it will last quite a while. It’s a well-rounded pack that works, but maybe shouldn’t be advertised as such a specific pack for mountain biking. My thought for this pack is that it would make a great work/school bike commuter pack. The features on this pack seem better fitted to carry everyday essentials for a bike commuter than adventure mountain biking. 

The features are unique, and I think you will either love it or hate it.