Some days the plan is light and fast: up Mount Warning before the sun gets fierce, a lap of the Blue Mountains' Grand Canyon track, a summer scramble up Feathertop. The Nemo Resolve 15L Endless Promise carries water, a shell, snacks and keys, sits close on your back, and does not turn into a sweat sponge.

Who it's for

Hikers, peak-baggers and fast walkers who want a small, stable pack for half-day and day trips. It is built for moving: the straps are wide and soft and the padded frame moulds to your back, so it stays put when you step up rock or break into a jog. If you carry a full lunch, a puffer and a first-aid kit every time, look at the Resolve 25 or 35 instead.

Capacity, and what actually fits

Nemo measure it at 16 L. That is a hydration bladder, a rain shell, a light fleece, lunch and a small first-aid kit, with keys and phone in the hidden pocket. The adjustable side pockets stretch to take a big bottle or a jacket you have just pulled off.

How it carries

A padded frame and wide, flexible shoulder straps spread the load and move with you. Against your back sits CCubed, Nemo's cushioning that is 97% air: instead of trapping sweat like foam, it lets it wick away and evaporate, placed exactly where you sweat most. On a humid Queensland summer hike that is the difference between a damp back and a soaked one.

Fitting it

One size fits all torso lengths, so there is no measuring to do. Snug the shoulder straps so the pack rides high and close, and it will follow you on steep ground.

Access and organisation

• Front-loading main compartment, hydration compatible
• 3 zippered and 4 open compartments, 4 exterior pockets
• Hidden security pocket for wallet, keys and car fob
• Adjustable side pockets for a bottle or a layer
• Removable compression straps that move from the sides to the bottom, to cinch down a small load or strap on a jacket or mat

Weight

875 g empty, in a pack measuring 45 x 26 x 15 cm. The CERO shell is woven from solution-dyed recycled PET with up to three times the tear strength of standard pack fabric, and it shrugs off showers. It is water-resistant rather than waterproof, so keep a phone in a zip bag on a wet day.

Looking after it

Resolve is part of Nemo's Endless Promise range: built from a single type of material so it is fully recyclable, designed to be repaired and kept in use, and when it finally wears out, Nemo take it back for recycling. Brush off mud, hand-wash with mild soap if it gets grimy, and dry it in the shade.