3L Pulse From Deuter: My First and Best Hip Pack? – Gear Review
Clark Rasmussen
Key Review Points
Quick Features:
- Good Padding
- Various Pockets
- Great For Biking
- Total Weight: 0.8 lbs
The 3L Pulse From Deuter Will Not Be For Everyone, But Some Will Love It
I’ve never really been a hip-pack guy, but finding this little pouch at a crazy good deal online made me think “maybe I could be.” I won’t bury the lead on this, it’s not really my favorite, but I’m comfortable chalking that up to me disliking the ergonomics of hip-packs generally, and anything this particular one is doing ‘so wrong,’ or anything like that.
My initial attempt at doing a short hike with it led me to quickly dismiss it for anything more serious than a stroll. I found it mostly uncomfortable and unwieldy, which was almost certainly exacerbated by my card-carrying status as a Big Back. I’m not super fat, but fat enough that the ergonomics were not lining up for me in a way that even resembled a comfortable fit.
All that being said, it really started to click for me after the first time I took it bike riding, wanting something to cary my drone and some snacks. As a stationary, trinket carrying device, one that isn’t prone to constant movement, it’s quite useful. For this intended use, biking specifically, it’s not too bad!
I think, weather or not the 3L Pulse from Deuter will be a good pick up for you will depend on how your hoping to use it, and weather or not you’ve got a physic that the pack will compliment. For me personally, if I didn’t like using this on my bike rides, I probably wouldn’t even keep it. As a hiking or even walking pack, it’s not a good fit for me and really isn’t intended to be used that way.
THE PROS:
I have way more complaints with this one than I do compliments, so let’s just get those out of the way here, quick and in a hurry. The padding and storage here is actually pretty great, for me that doesn’t really translate into good fitment, but I do thank it’s an undeniable Pro. The main pocket/compartment surprisingly roomy, I was able to fit my drone, GoPro, pocket things and some snacks in the pack on my most recent ride. Nothing felt bloated or out of place internally.
When the 3L Pulse from Deuter is worn tightly, the ventilation is shockingly good. I like not having the pack covering my whole back, causing extra sweat and discomfort, and I like how the pack sits generally while seated. My beer gut does make a good fit a little difficult, but I’ve had plenty of success with it while biking on the trails.
THE CONS:
I have had a lot of issues with my “Hip Pack Experience” in general, It just doesn’t feel great to me, and those feelings are probably going to color this whole thing quite negatively; so keep all that in mind. I did enjoy having the 3L Pulse from Deuter on longer bike treks, but even then… it’s a mixed bag.
The first thing that is more bothersome to me than pretty much anything else is the water bladders designed for these hip packs, they’re terrible. I’ve tried options from Source and Camelback, and none of them seem to work very well at all, with the water getting stuck and not really moving down and through the hose effectively.
I think this is mostly a problem of design, these packs just don’t lend themselves to bladder use. I’ve seen other products with small external water bottle, that’s probably a much better and more reliable solution. I believe newer versions of the 3L Pulse from Deuter fix some of the pocket issues, but this water situation is the same.
It’s been a while since I felt like I was too fat for something, and I was significantly fatter than I am now, so this one stung a little bit. I could not, for my life get the navel and lower back positioning with this pack to sit comfortably, and even if I was 20 pounds lighter, I think I would still be struggling with it pretty frequently. The second I got off my bike I had to take it off immediately, before it somehow found its way down to my ankles.
The two belt pockets on the side are the smallest I’ve ever seen, my phone doesn’t even fit in them, and it’s just a normal iPhone, not one of the larger Max style ones. I managed to fit some keys and a GoPro, that’s about it. A wallet might fit as well. It does look like the newer versions of the 3L Pulse from Deuter have slighter larger side pockets.
Size relative to GoPro
None of the bladders
I tried worked well
In Conclusion: Not For Everyone, Or For Everything
I like the 3L Pulse from Deuter for my all-day bike rides, but that’s really the only application and scenario where it “kind of” works for me. Despite my gripes with the general fitment, I suspect there will be many people who won’t have any issue with it.
I think if you’re a devote cyclist that needs to carry more stuff, this is a pretty decent choice, so long as you’ve got water held somewhere else on the bike. I know I’ve been kind of down on this pack, but I do think there are plenty of people who will love it.
Purchase links:
Direct Deuter Link
Sports Pro Fi Website