The Advance Xpack 24L is an impressively comfortable and well-designed hike-and-fly backpack. Despite its compact size, it is a fully featured rucksack that carries exceptionally well. When loaded with a lightweight wing, a strapless harness, a helmet, and water, it feels so comfortable that you almost forget you are wearing it.

This pack is clearly designed with weight and comfort in mind. The mesh shoulder straps are lightweight and breathable, helping to reduce heat build-up while hiking. They are fully adjustable and sit nicely on the shoulders without pressure points. The Xpack also includes wrist-rest straps on the shoulder harness, allowing you to take some load off your shoulders during longer hikes—an often-overlooked but very welcome feature.

Unlike many small hike-and-fly backpacks, the Xpack 24L includes both a height-adjustable chest strap and a proper waist strap. The chest strap can be moved higher, which is particularly useful for female pilots, and the waist belt helps stabilise the load and improve comfort when hiking.

Storage is well thought out for such a small pack. There is a stretchy side pocket suitable for items like a water bottle, as well as additional attachment points for extra gear. A large, stretchy front pocket is ideal for stuffing a jacket or other layers, and rubber attachments are provided for carrying walking poles. There is also a small upper pocket that works perfectly for valuables such as a phone, keeping them easily accessible.

The helmet carry system works very well, and the Supair Pilot helmet fits perfectly, making this a great setup for hike-and-fly. The pack sits close to the back and remains stable, even without top load-lifter straps—something that simply isn’t necessary given how well the bag hugs the body.

In terms of capacity, the Xpack 24L is designed for lightweight, compact equipment. With a factory-packed PI 4 ULS 20 wing, a Strapless 4 harness with airbag, a one-litre water bottle, and some snacks, everything fits neatly inside. Even with the wing still factory packed, the shape and volume are a perfect match. Once emptied and compressed, the pack folds down to an impressively small size.

Build quality is excellent throughout, with everything feeling robust, well-finished, and carefully designed. The Xpack 24L is not intended for standard-weight paragliders, but it can accommodate slightly larger lightweight harnesses than a pure strapless setup. For a dedicated hike-and-fly kit, however, it is very close to ideal.

Overall, the Advance Xpack 24L is a superb lightweight backpack for pilots running compact hike-and-fly gear. It is exceptionally comfortable to carry, intelligently designed, and built to a high standard. If you are unsure whether your kit will fit, it’s worth checking, but for the right setup, this is an excellent choice.

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