The Aarn Natural Exhilaration is our high-performance, 100% waterproof multi-purpose lightweight balance pack for one-day or multi-day outdoor adventures.

With this comfortable backpack, the FlowMo harness allows for superb agility with glue-like stability while the frame automatically shapes to your body and bends when you’re traversing the hills, biking or skiing. This lightweight daypack doesn't round out, even when it’s stuffed full. The back length adjustment is easy with the pack and the optional Balance Pockets allow you to carry heavy loads comfortably.

Hiker wearing an Aarn Load Limo balance pack

FEATURES

The Natural Exhilaration is one of the top hiking backpacks from Light Hiking Gear and it features U, V, and Flexi-flow, an Auto-mould frame with a perimeter wire and hollow 6001 T6 alloy stays, and an Auto-form hipbelt, making it one of the best balance bags on the market. This comfortable backpack is perfect for cycling, skiing, and hiking alike.

Backpack adjusts up to 15 cm in length, True-fit shoulder straps, and Flow-thru stabilizers for ultimate comfort and balance.
Design features a waterproof Dri-liner, 1 lid pocket, 3 outside stretch pockets, and a closed cell foam sit mat for security and organizational purposes.
Web front compression with loop lock holders holds verticle tools and web-loc side compression with hyperlon reinforcement holds ski attachments.

This is the best hiking pack for those who want an adventure without the heaviness of a backpack. The Natural Exhilaration bag comes with a hydration hook, hang loop, and exit slot and can be attached to ice axes, skis, snowboards, and trekking poles in both the front and rear side of the bag.

SPECIFICATIONS

BALANCE POCKETS

Front Balance Pockets allow for high weights without feeling intrusive. Balance Pockets attach easily to Aarn’s comfortable backpacks and convert easily into a daypack after clipping on the shoulder and sternum straps. Hiking, backpacking, and exploring the outdoors has never been easier!

Either 10 or 12 liter front Sport-Regular Balance Pockets, or 15 liter or 18 liter Expedition Balance Pockets can be used with this pack. Pockets provide greater stability and balance, and a more upright posture. This translates to much less fatigue and strain.
Shoulder and sternum straps are included for converting the pockets into a daypack, which is carried on the front of the body for maximum security and easy gear access.
Front pockets have waterproof Dri-liners, accessible zip flaps to protect items from the rain, and four mesh exterior pockets with compression cords.
The design of the Front Balance Pockets, which includes four mesh exterior pockets with compression chords, is to provide maximum comfort, organization, and accessibility. Attach to the Aarn balance pack for an unmatched outdoors experience.

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Sport Balance Pockets - Mid-volume balances unobtrusiveness and weight carrying ability

Expedition Balance Pockets - Large-volume for balancing heavy loads.

MORE ACCESSORIES

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These allow you to clip climbing hardware on the larger models with Pelvic Form Hipbelts.

Alternative to sternum straps when Balance Pockets are not used.

Hold tent, poles, foam pad, etc. on pack sides.

Allow skis to be attached to the pack sides and locked to prevent movement

Allow a snowboard to be attached to the pack and locked to prevent movement

DESIGN

Featherlite Freedom Backpack Hipbelt Design

FITTING

Instructions also apply to attaching Balance Pockets to Featherlight Freedom

WHAT MAKES AN AARN PACK DIFFERENT?

TESTIMONIALS

This summer I went on Mountain Leader training and then did 2-3 day walks using the Natural Exhilaration. It is without doubt the best well balanced and designed pack I've ever used in the 40+ years I've been in the Outdoor Business! Keep up the good work mate!

David Spronson, Windermere, UK.

Natural Exhilaration + Expedition Balance Pockets

The concept behind Aarn packs made intuitive sense to me the first time I heard about them.While I'd never had major problems with pain or discomfort while hiking and backpacking, I'd never had a pack that I really liked. Particularly with a heavy load, I usually found myself cycling through a few different positions as each one became uncomfortable; there was never any single position that didn't pull or push on something harder than was sustainable. So I was excited to try out an Aarn pack on a recent ascent of Mt. St. Helens. St. Helens is a long, steep, full day hike, and requires enough weight (4+ liters of water, layers, camera, etc) to give a good assessment of utility and comfort. On previous ascents I'd used either an Arc'Teryx Bora 40 or an extremely full Mountainsmith lumbar pack.The Bora 40 basically worked fine, though with some shoulder soreness despit e a seemingly well functioning hip belt and a very sweaty back at the end of the day. While lumbar packs solve both of those problems, carrying that much weight for a long time would cause quite a bit of discomfort on my hip bones by the end of the day because the full weight was pulling back against them the whole time.

Enter the Aarn Natural Exhilaration. After spending maybe 15 minutes to get the pack adjusted for my torso and loading it up, I immediately noticed how comfortable the pack felt. There was no pressure or weight on my shoulders at all; the Balance Pockets were functioning as advertised. More impressive to me was that the way the weight rested around my waist via the hipbelt was immediately comfortable and distributed the load front and back. Once we got hiking there were some added benefits I hadn't anticipated.

First, it's incredibly nice to be able to access gear without having to take the pack off (or even stop hiking). Anything that's in the Balance Pockets can be easily taken out and put back on the move, and they're big enough for water, snacks, sunglasses, a hat, and anything else you might want on or off during the day. This meant fewer stops and a steadier pace.

Second, before using an Aarn pack I wouldn't have thought to complain about poor balance while using a normal pack or a lumbar pack. Once we got on the long boulder fields of St. Helens though, I noticed a major improvement. I was able to move as though I wasn't wearing a pack at all, confidently walking across the tops of boulders whereas before I would have chosen a more conservative route.

I was tired by the end of the hike, but none of that was due to the pack; I had no shoulder/ hip soreness or hot spots. The pack felt heavier while I was picking it up to put it on that it did once on, something I've experienced before and more evidence that the balance system distributes weight more efficiently than other packs. While the pack is a bit trickier to size and pack than a normal daypack, it's worth the slight effort in every way. I would recommend these packs to anybody who hikes or backpacks regularly with weight, even if you think your current pack is comfortable.

Brice Keown, WA, USA

36 Liter Aarn Natural Exhilaration Backpack