Kev The Doc
Senior Member
- Messages
- 2,451
- Solutions
- 4
- Reaction score
- 1,596
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Decathlon Quechua MH500 20L / 30L / 40L (2020) Backpack - Review, Q&A
- Thread starter boogisha
- Start date
I have been using the Lowepro Gearup XL II with my MH500 40L pack. It works well, but sometimes I have to carry more gear. My current solution is to add another Gearup L to the mix, but I don't find managing 2 ICUs convenient, so looking for a larger ICU
I have looked at the 2 suggestions in this thread, but both subtech and cozyspeed don't seem to be available to buy where I live
I have tried the f-stop ICUs, but only the shallow models fit comfortably in 40L pack, and large model doesn't come in shallow variation
I have tried shimoda large ICU, and it seems to fit well, but I don't find the ICU very good, with no proper lid and flimsy construction
Anyone has tried another large ICU with this pack they like?
I have looked at the 2 suggestions in this thread, but both subtech and cozyspeed don't seem to be available to buy where I live
I have tried the f-stop ICUs, but only the shallow models fit comfortably in 40L pack, and large model doesn't come in shallow variation
I have tried shimoda large ICU, and it seems to fit well, but I don't find the ICU very good, with no proper lid and flimsy construction
Anyone has tried another large ICU with this pack they like?
Sidewindingroads
New member
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi Chris and fellow forum friends, I am in a bit of a pickle. I have an old deuter futura pro 36 (bought around 2015) but it's in a bad state as it was kept in store a long time. I used it for a 2 week backpacking trip in China and found it to be sorely lacking in capacity and my gear was difficult to access. This was even without any camera systems so I suspect it would be insufficient for my upcoming trip - 3 month backpacking and trekking
I plan to pair my daypack with either a luggage or a bigger backpack (atmos 65) so that I can interchange these two.
I have a sony a7iv with two lenses and a toploader. Am in two minds whether I should also carry my spare body a6000 and 18-300 lens. They will be stored in a tenba byob 10. I haven't figured out a graceful solution to mount the camera for quick access during my treks.
Will also be bringing a tripod for astro or river shots.
Considering my issues with the deuter, I bought a MH500 40L and was pleasantly surprised to find that it had a front zip too. And seemed more spacious than the futura 36. So I'm a bit stuck which one I should bring for my trip.
Ps - I also hurt my shoulder recently and may not be able to do a dual backpack method..
I plan to pair my daypack with either a luggage or a bigger backpack (atmos 65) so that I can interchange these two.
I have a sony a7iv with two lenses and a toploader. Am in two minds whether I should also carry my spare body a6000 and 18-300 lens. They will be stored in a tenba byob 10. I haven't figured out a graceful solution to mount the camera for quick access during my treks.
Will also be bringing a tripod for astro or river shots.
Considering my issues with the deuter, I bought a MH500 40L and was pleasantly surprised to find that it had a front zip too. And seemed more spacious than the futura 36. So I'm a bit stuck which one I should bring for my trip.
Ps - I also hurt my shoulder recently and may not be able to do a dual backpack method..
There is no significant usable volume difference between these two packs, but if your F36 is shot the MH is your best choice. Be sure to bend the frame a bit for more ventilation.
Can you slip your toploader bag over the waist belt? That would then be your most obvious front/side access solution.
You should be able to carry the MH500 in front and the Atmos or equivalent in back, but this requires some rigging followed by experimentation and testing on the trail (think hundreds of miles.)
The idea of bending the MH500 made the dicision for me. I ordered 6 different backpacks and coulnd't decide between the Deuter Futura 26 and the Quechua MH500. The pockets and accessability of the MH500 is better, especially the hip pockets but the Futura helped me to cool my back way better.
Bending the frame of the MH500 gave me almost the cooling of the Futura and then it is a easy choice.
Thanks!
Bending the frame of the MH500 gave me almost the cooling of the Futura and then it is a easy choice.
Thanks!
I eventually managed to import a cozyspeed photocube XL from austria, and it seems a good fit for the 40L pack. My only disappointment was the dividers are too small - not wide enough for my camera gear. For now, I have readjusted the 3 column layout to a 2 column one and using wider dividers from another bag. I will be looking for some alternate dividers to fit the internals
Great analysis.
I got your PM but you answered your own question above. The F26 is indeed fantastic for back ventilation (I think it would be fair to say that with this pack, Deuter set THE ventilation standard for backpacks) but the MH500 has better bottle access, bigger and stretchable waist pockets (super important for those hikers like me who like to keep a compact cam at the ready), etc. Bend the frame and you have an overall better pack, no question about it. It may not last as long as the F26 but 10K miles is a reasonable expectation.
No Time To Lose
Leading Member
- Messages
- 559
- Reaction score
- 929
I have a Deuter Futura Vario 50+10 (Chris' No.1 recommendation) and wanted something bit smaller that could still take a long lens. I bought a MH500 40L (I often use it only semi-filled) and I have been very pleased with it.
The harness system is very comfortable (seems to be close the the DFV50+10). The side pockets work very well.
It doesn't have the organisational feature for the DFV - no adjustable TMP, top pocket doesn't float and less pockets but then it is generally carrying less. I'd like a bigger back stretchy stuff pocket.
I just came back from 8 weeks in S America (took both bags) and the MH500 did really well - I'll probably end up using it a lot more than the DFV.
The harness system is very comfortable (seems to be close the the DFV50+10). The side pockets work very well.
It doesn't have the organisational feature for the DFV - no adjustable TMP, top pocket doesn't float and less pockets but then it is generally carrying less. I'd like a bigger back stretchy stuff pocket.
I just came back from 8 weeks in S America (took both bags) and the MH500 did really well - I'll probably end up using it a lot more than the DFV.
Rodrigo Pasiani
Senior Member
I have the 40 L and I like it.
Tripod goes inside (Benro IT15).
Camera (Sony rx10) wrapped with a microfiber towel on top of the clothes.
Easy access to water bottles, no need to put the backpack down. Those 0,75 L metallic water bottles from Decathlon Quechua fit perfectly.
The lid has plenty of space for my lens filters, battery and other items.
There is a small pocket inside the main compartment with a plastic carabiner, great for the keys.
There is also a larger compartment (maybe for the laptop?). I throw my wallet there, no easy access for pickpockets.
Tripod goes inside (Benro IT15).
Camera (Sony rx10) wrapped with a microfiber towel on top of the clothes.
Easy access to water bottles, no need to put the backpack down. Those 0,75 L metallic water bottles from Decathlon Quechua fit perfectly.
The lid has plenty of space for my lens filters, battery and other items.
There is a small pocket inside the main compartment with a plastic carabiner, great for the keys.
There is also a larger compartment (maybe for the laptop?). I throw my wallet there, no easy access for pickpockets.
Rodrigo Pasiani
Senior Member
Size "L" available in Germany, 74,99 Euro the 40 L version. Size S unavailable for the 40 L version.
Serbia has them all as well, now even in a few more color variations.
Polisky
Member
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 5
I have just bought the 40L version and I am trying to bend the frame (it really does not have a big gap between mesh and backpack when new). Does anyone have a picture of much they were able to bend the plate? And how difficult was it to get it into shape?
I am slightly worried about applying too much pressure and damaging the back plate.
I am slightly worried about applying too much pressure and damaging the back plate.
Rodrigo Pasiani
Senior Member
I wouldn't bend anything.
Search my posts for details. It's not hard to do at all.
Polisky
Member
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 5
I did try to search for more details, but I only found a few mentions of you and others talking about bending it carefully (I may have missed more discussion of it somewhere as I can't find a search function within users' comments, sorry if that's the case).
It just seems like you'd have to bend it quite a lot to get anywhere near as large a gap as e.g. the Deuter below, which makes me wonder how effective it is in comparison.
Decathlon MH500 40L
Deuter Futura Pro 40
Last edited:
S Hendrik Seelen
Active member
And he's right too, Chris. In the very first post on page 5 of your original recommendation thread you mention "As long as you slightly bend the frame, as I've explained before, ". But you never did explain it actually. I went through the previous 4 pages searching for "bend" with Ctrl+F, alas to no avail.
Another Quechua MH500 40L interested buyer here. Actually, hes right Chris, as previously mentioned by others, this "bending of the frame" method has not been shown/explained anywhere in the DPR forums (I searched) except for this short sentence in one of your replies to @starfly in the main R1 (BEST BACKPACK / RUCKSACK FOR HIKING PHOTOGRAPHERS (2021)) thread:
******
Chris 222 wrote:
[...]
[...]
It's possible that the frame on yours was "flattened" during shipping or stocking. Feel inside the bag to find the vertical parts of the frame and curve them a bit more to add more space behind the mesh.
******
It would be great to have your input here (again! thanks so much for all your camera gear-carrying threads!).
Last edited:
Similar threads
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum