If you’re looking for a lightweight paragliding backpack that can comfortably carry standard flying kit without being unnecessarily bulky, the Woody Valley Rucksack Light 2 is well worth a look.

We’ve been using two sizes of the Rucksack Light 2 at Flybubble: the Extra Large, which we’ve packed with a Woody Valley Naos harness in size Large, and the Large, which Nancy has been using with aNaos in size Medium.

We’ve been impressed by how comfortably these backpacks carry, how well they accommodate bulky equipment, and how many useful storage options Woody Valley has managed to include without adding too much weight.

There are a few things to consider when choosing your size, though, and the lightweight construction involves some compromises. Here’s our hands-on review.

Choosing the right size

The Woody Valley Rucksack Light 2 is available in four sizes. We’ve tested two of them, and one thing we noticed straight away is that the size names can be a little confusing.

You might expect an Extra Large backpack to be enormous, perhaps even a tandem-sized bag. In reality, Woody Valley gives it a capacity of around 120 litres, which is about what we estimate it holds, too.

The Large is officially rated at 115 litres. That’s only 5 litres less on paper, but our estimate is that its actual usable volume is closer to 105 litres.

These are our own estimates rather than official measurements, so if you’re trying to decide which size will fit your equipment, check the volume estimates and sizing information on the Flybubble website.

Getting the right size is particularly important because the Rucksack Light 2 doesn’t have side compression straps. Unlike some backpacks, you can’t tighten the sides to make the bag smaller if your kit doesn’t fill it.

Ideally, you want a backpack that fits your equipment reasonably snugly, allowing it to sit neatly against your back rather than sagging towards the bottom.

A lightweight backpack for standard flying kit

The Rucksack Light 2 is a good option for pilots who want to keep the weight and bulk of their backpack down but aren’t necessarily using an ultra-light, super-compact hike-and-fly setup.

If you fly with a conventional paraglider and a standard harness, you’ll know that the packed equipment can take up quite a bit of space. You need a backpack that accommodates everything comfortably, but you don’t necessarily want to carry a heavier, more rugged bag than you need.

This is where the Rucksack Light 2 makes sense. It offers a generous capacity, a useful selection of pockets and a comfortable carrying system, while keeping the overall design relatively light and compact.

Plenty of useful pockets

One of our favourite things about the Rucksack Light 2 is its storage. For such a lightweight backpack, it has a surprisingly good number of pockets, and they’re genuinely useful.

At the top, there’s a small pocket for keeping handy items close at hand. On the front, there’s another pocket that also houses a helmet net.

The helmet net is a particularly useful feature. If your main compartment is already full, you can pull out the stretchy net and attach it to the loops on the front of the backpack. It holds your helmet securely and is easy to use.

There’s also an adjustable bungee cord across the front. This is ideal for quickly stashing a jacket when you’re walking uphill and start getting warm. Rather than opening the main compartment, you can simply tuck the jacket under the cord and carry on.

Around the back, Woody Valley has included a label holder. It’s a small detail, but a welcome one when lots of pilots have similar backpacks at a busy take-off. Being able to identify your own bag easily can save a surprising amount of confusion.

Side pockets for bottles and accessories

On one side, there’s a stretchy pocket that can comfortably hold two water bottles.

On the other side, there’s a taller pocket that’s ideal for walking poles. We’ve also found it useful for carrying speed arms and extra clothing.

Both pockets offer practical additional storage without making the backpack feel overly complicated.

The two zipped hip pockets are useful for smaller items you want to reach while walking, such as snacks and accessories. Our reasonably large smartphones fit in them, although the pockets sit towards the outer edges of the hips, so accessibility will depend on your phone size and how the backpack fits.

Overall, the storage is very well thought out. There are plenty of places to organise your kit, and the pockets make it easier to keep frequently used items separate from your main flying equipment.

Comfortable shoulder straps and good ventilation

A backpack can have all the storage in the world, but if it’s uncomfortable to carry uphill, it’s not going to be much fun to use.

Fortunately, the Rucksack Light 2 does well here.

The shoulder straps are generously padded, with a good thickness that makes them comfortable under load. They aren’t excessively wide, but they’re wide enough to sit nicely on your shoulders without feeling too narrow.

The straps use breathable mesh material, and there’s a gap behind the back panel to help create an air channel. This should help with ventilation and reduce sweating when you’re walking uphill.

There’s also an opening for a hydration tube. You can route your drinking tube out through the opening and under the shoulder strap, making it easy to drink while walking without having to stop and take off your backpack.

At the top of the shoulder straps, adjustment straps allow you to change how closely the backpack sits against your back. I generally prefer to pull these in to bring the load closer once everything is packed, but it’s useful to have the option to adjust the fit.

The grab handle is sturdy, too, with solid attachment loops.

A removable waist belt

The waist belt is nicely padded and comfortable, helping the backpack sit securely on your hips rather than placing all the weight on your shoulders.

It also has a good amount of adjustment. During our testing, the belt fitted comfortably around the hips, with room to adjust it for different body shapes.

Another useful feature is that the waist belt is removable. It attaches with Velcro, allowing you to take it off completely if you want to reduce the weight and bulk.

For carrying a full paragliding setup on a longer walk, we’d generally recommend keeping it attached. However, the option to remove it is handy if you don’t need the additional support for a shorter carry.

There are also hand loops near the shoulder straps. These allow you to support the backpack with your hands while walking, taking some of the strain off your shoulders.

They could perhaps be a little bigger, but they work well. Every now and then, being able to change your carrying position can make a difference on a long walk up to take-off.

One final little detail is the built-in emergency whistle. It’s a simple addition, but a useful feature to have available.

How durable is the Rucksack Light 2?

To keep the weight down, Woody Valley has used a relatively lightweight woven material for the backpack. It has a ripstop-like appearance, although it’s sturdier than the lightweight fabric typically used for paraglider canopies.

This is one of the compromises that comes with choosing a lightweight backpack.

Compared with a more rugged option, such as the Advance Comfortpack range, the Rucksack Light 2 prioritises lower weight and less bulk over maximum abrasion and tear resistance.

We’ve been using these particular backpacks for a while now, carrying quite a lot of equipment in them, and they’ve been holding up well.

That said, if you regularly carry your kit over rough terrain, tend to be hard on your equipment, or want a backpack that can withstand particularly demanding use, you might prefer something more robust.

For pilots who look after their equipment and want to minimise the weight they carry, the Rucksack Light 2 offers a sensible balance.

How does it carry when fully loaded?

This is where the Rucksack Light 2 really impressed us.

Even without fastening the waist belt, it feels comfortable on the shoulders. The generous padding helps, and once the waist belt is secured, the backpack sits nicely on the hips.

More importantly, it carries very neatly against the back.

Even when packed with a fairly bulky harness and additional equipment, the backpack maintains a comfortable shape. It doesn’t feel like an awkward, square lump hanging off your shoulders, as some older-style paragliding backpacks can.

The shape is streamlined, with no obvious lumps or uncomfortable protrusions, and the load sits close to the body.

The lack of side compression straps does mean that choosing the right size is important, but if you get a good fit for your equipment, the result is a backpack that carries very well.

A great fit for the Woody Valley Naos harness

We’ve been using the Rucksack Light 2 with the Woody Valley Naos harness, and the combination works particularly well.

Our Extra Large backpack holds a size Large Naos with its full foam protector. That’s a relatively bulky harness, yet it fits the shape of the backpack remarkably well.

It is a snug fit, so you need to compress the harness slightly while closing the zip. The trick is to bring the sides together and gently squeeze the contents into place, rather than forcing the zip under tension.

Once you’ve done that, the backpack closes without difficulty.

The shape of theNaos seems to complement the backpack almost perfectly, making good use of the available space.

We’ve also packed a Gin Bolero 8 paraglider, along with additional flying and filming equipment, into our setup.

For pilots using a conventional harness and wing, this demonstrates that you don’t necessarily need a bulky, heavy backpack to accommodate standard flying equipment.

Packing it away inside your harness

When it’s time to pack everything away, the Rucksack Light 2 folds down neatly.

You can fold the shoulder straps in, bring the sides together and fold over the top to reduce its size. Depending on the space available inside your harness, you can fold it in different directions to make the best use of the room.

With theNaos, there’s enough space to leave the backpack inside the harness if you prefer. You can position the padding at the bottom to provide an extra layer of protection, then place the folded backpack flat inside.

It’s a practical way to keep everything together and make efficient use of the space available.

The same features across all four sizes

One detail worth highlighting is that the Rucksack Light 2 has the same basic design and features across all four sizes. The main difference is the capacity.

This isn’t always the case with paragliding backpacks. Some ranges use the same model name for different sizes, even though the shoulder straps, construction or other features may vary between them.

With the Rucksack Light 2, you can concentrate on choosing the size that best fits your equipment without worrying about missing out on particular features.

Flybubble verdict: Should you buy the Woody Valley Rucksack Light 2?

The Woody Valley Rucksack Light 2 is a comfortable, practical and well-designed backpack that offers a good balance between carrying capacity, weight and packed size.

Its biggest strengths are its comfortable shoulder straps, well-fitting waist belt, useful pockets and streamlined shape. We particularly like how well it carries when fully loaded, and how neatly it accommodates the Woody Valley Naos harness.

The external storage is excellent for a lightweight backpack, and little details such as the helmet net, hydration tube opening, removable waist belt and emergency whistle make it a practical choice for everyday flying.

There are two main things to consider before buying. First, choose your size carefully, as the lack of side compression straps means you can’t easily reduce the backpack’s volume. Second, while the lightweight construction has held up well in our use, it isn’t as rugged as some heavier alternatives.

We’d recommend the Woody Valley Rucksack Light 2 to pilots who want a lightweight, relatively compact backpack with enough room for standard paragliding equipment. If low weight and comfortable carrying are priorities, it’s an appealing option. If maximum durability for rough terrain and hard use matters more, a more robust backpack may be worth considering.

Before choosing your size, check the capacity estimates and sizing information on our Flybubble website to help find the best fit for your equipment.

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