Deuter Futura 23 vs CamelBak Rim Runner X30
Quick take: The CamelBak Rim Runner X30 costs $2 less; the CamelBak Rim Runner X30 carries more (30 vs 23 liters); the CamelBak Rim Runner X30 is lighter (2 vs 2.6 lbs).
Which one to buy
Within $2 of each other, these answer different questions. The CamelBak Rim Runner X30 is for hose drinkers: a 2 L Crux reservoir comes in the box, in its own compartment apart from the gear, and the whole pack weighs 2.0 lbs with that reservoir included. The Deuter Futura 23 is for hikers who hate a wet back: its suspended Aircomfort mesh bows the pack off you on a spring steel frame to keep air moving, and the cost is 2.6 lbs for 23 L.
On paper the Rim Runner gives more: 30 L of gear space against 23, a lighter pack, and a ventilated hipbelt with pockets. It is frameless, though, and CamelBak publishes no load limit. The Futura is rated to 7-13 lbs, low enough that a heavy camera kit or winter layers will exceed it. Remember that a full 2 L reservoir rides on that frameless back too, before any gear goes in.
The Futura brings a rain cover, ice axe and pole attachments, and a 44-54 cm fit; its curved frame steals depth and won't pack flat. The Rim Runner comes in one size and has no rain cover. On mild-weather trails the Rim Runner is the better value, and the Futura's extra weight only pays off on the days heat is the thing wearing you down.
Deuter Futura 23
The better fit for hot-weather hikers whose main complaint is a soaked shirt, and who want a rain cover and axe loops for shoulder seasons.
CamelBak Rim Runner X30
For hose drinkers who want a reservoir included, more volume and a lighter pack, and who don't need a stated load rating.
| Spec | Deuter Futura 23 | CamelBak Rim Runner X30 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $148 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 23 L | 30 L |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs | 2.0 lbs |
| Max Load | 7-13 lbs (3-6 kg) | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | Fixed back length, fits 44-54 cm | One size |
| Material | 210D recycled PA X-Grid | Recycled 210D nylon double ripstop |
| Back Panel | Aircomfort suspended mesh over flexi spring steel frame | Air Support body-mapped ventilated back panel |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | Yes |
| Raincover included | Yes | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Deuter lifetime repair policy | CamelBak Got Your Bak lifetime guarantee |
Pros & cons
Deuter Futura 23
- ✓The suspended Aircomfort mesh is the most ventilated back panel in this size class and the reason to pick a Futura over a Speed Lite.
- ✓A rain cover is included at $150, which is not a given on day packs at this price.
- ✓The fixed back length is sized for 44-54 cm (17-21 in) torsos, so most average-height adults fit without fiddling.
- ✓ActiveFit shoulder straps pivot at the anchor rather than staying flat against a fixed yoke.
- ✓The 210D recycled X-Grid face fabric is a genuine step up in tear resistance over the plain recycled fabrics Deuter uses lower in the range.
- ✓One-handed sternum buckle is easier to work with gloves or while moving.
- ✓Ice axe and pole attachments make it usable as a shoulder-season pack rather than summer only.
- ✓PFAS-free, bluesign and Green Button certified, with Deuter's lifetime repair policy.
- ✗1,180 g for 23 L is heavy: the Speed Lite 21 carries nearly the same volume at 470 g, less than half the weight.
- ✗The 3-6 kg load ceiling is genuinely low, so it will not take a heavy camera kit or winter layers.
- ✗The suspension gap eats depth, so usable packed volume is less than 23 L suggests.
- ✗The curved frame means the pack cannot sit flat, which makes it awkward to pack or stow.
- ✗US pricing is published for the 23 only; the 27 and 32 are listed without prices.
- ✗Aircomfort ventilation matters far less in cold weather, where the weight penalty remains.
CamelBak Rim Runner X30
- ✓A 2 L Crux reservoir is in the box, where most 30 L daypacks make you buy the bladder separately.
- ✓2.0 lb includes that reservoir, so the pack itself is light for 30 L.
- ✓Air Support body-mapped back panel and a ventilated hipbelt, the same cooling approach as the pricier Fourteener.
- ✓The reservoir lives in a separate compartment, so a leak does not soak the main bag.
- ✓Dual cargo compression keeps a half-empty 30 L from swinging.
- ✓CamelBak's Got Your Bak guarantee is for life.
- ✗No maximum load is stated.
- ✗The 22 L size loses the pocketed hipbelt for a plain webbing stability belt, so the two sizes are not simply big and small.
- ✗No rain cover is sold with it.
- ✗One size only; a women's X20 with an S-curve harness is the alternative fit.
- ✗The 30 L figure is gear capacity; a full 2 L reservoir adds about 4.4 lb of water before any gear goes in.
Deuter Futura 23 vs CamelBak Rim Runner X30: common questions
Does the Futura 23 come with a hydration reservoir like the Rim Runner X30?▾
No. It has a hydration sleeve but no bladder. The Rim Runner X30 includes a 2 L Crux reservoir in a separate compartment, so add the cost of a bladder if you want one in the Deuter.
Does the Rim Runner's Air Support back breathe as well as the Futura's mesh?▾
No. The Futura 23's mesh is suspended on a spring steel frame so the pack sits off your back and air moves behind it. The Rim Runner uses CamelBak's Air Support body-mapped panel, on a frameless pack with no suspended gap behind it.
How much can the Rim Runner X30 carry?▾
CamelBak does not state a maximum load, and the pack is frameless. The Futura 23 is rated to 7-13 lbs, a genuinely low ceiling.