Cotopaxi Veloz 6
The test’s best trail running pack boasts smart pocket design.
Brand: Cotopaxi
Model: Veloz 6
Hydration
2.9 The 2-liter reservoir has an internal baffle that prevents bulging and sloshing. Ding: This pack is the only one in the test with no bite valve lock.
Comfort
3.5 Vest-style nylon shoulder straps form a snug “V” around the neck and chest for stability while trail running. “While hiking to Tamolitch Pool in Oregon, the pack nestled comfortably between my shoulders,” our tester says. Drawback: He wanted a hipbelt for times when the bag was fully loaded.
Organization
4.8 Although the Veloz is the smallest pack in the test, clever pocket placements impressed obsessive organizers. The Veloz’s 20-inch diagonal main zipper allows easy access to the packbag, which features a wallet-size mesh pouch. It also has a 10-inch-long diagonal pocket on the outside for sunblock and bug spray. Skinny, zippered bandolier-style pockets on the straps are perfect for stashing energy bars.
Ventilation
3.0 There’s no framesheet, as befits a pack made for the lightest loads, so the pack sits against your back. “The mesh backpanel got pretty sweaty,” reported a tester after a long, hot dayhike on Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho.
Overall
3.9