I gave my backpack, which always leaves my back sweaty, a major upgrade. I tried out the Montbell 'V.B.P Back Panel'.

Attached to the Alpiplano Pack 30. Off to Mt. Takao!

When hiking, it's inevitable that your back gets sweaty and uncomfortable. The Montbell 'V.B.P Back Panel' is a piece of gear designed to solve that problem. By attaching it to your backpack, it creates a space between your back and the pack, allowing air to flow through.

I actually tried it out to see how it works.

Attach it to the Montbell Alpiplano Pack 30. Installation is very easy—just secure it in three places: one at the top and two at the bottom.

So how does it feel when actually hiking with it? I tested it on a roughly 20km traverse from Mt. Jinba to Mt. Takao.

To sum it up, air flowed through the gap between my back and the backpack, and I hardly felt any stuffiness at all.

Normally, when you put your backpack back on during a break, your sweaty back sticks to the pack and feels uncomfortably cold. But with the VBP Back Panel, your back doesn't touch the pack directly, so you barely feel that chill. The mesh part does touch your back, so there's a slight coolness, but the way you feel sweat is completely different.

The benefits of the V.B.P Back Panel go beyond just managing sweat.

Its appeal isn't limited to reducing sweat and stuffiness. With ultralight backpacks that lack a frame on the back, if you pack carelessly, you can feel your gear pressing against your back (though you could just pack more carefully...).

However, when you attach the V.B.P Back Panel, it acts as a solid frame, distributing the pressure on your back. Maybe because of the added stability, I found it easier to walk than usual.

Another unexpected benefit is that when you set your backpack down on a bench, the frame supports it so it doesn't tip over.

Even after a full day of hiking, while the shoulder harness was soaked with sweat, the back of the backpack itself was completely dry.

The mesh panel that touches your back does get sweaty, but it dries quickly.

It weighs just 298g, so you hardly notice the extra weight when it's attached. It doesn't shift or come loose while you're moving, and feels very stable. At 4,400 yen including tax, I felt it was worth more than its price. Once you've used it, it's hard to imagine hiking without it—it's an incredibly useful piece of gear, especially for summer.

(Hiking Schedule: June 12, 2025)

＊

It seems that Tobu was extremely satisfied. Recently, there has been an increase in simple and lightweight backpack models, but many people may still be concerned about comfort and sweat on their backs. For those people, adding options like this to your favorite backpack is one solution. Please note that as of June 17, this item is already sold out on Montbell's online store, so be sure to check your nearest Montbell shop.

Introduced items

Montbell
V.B.P. Back Panel

price	4,400 yen
weight	298g
material	210-denier ballistic nylon, mesh, steel frame
color	black
Rear Dimensions	45cm
Compatible Models	For backpacks with a back length of 45–53 cm and a capacity of 20–30 liters (approximate guideline)

View details

Tobu (Reader Reporter)

A literature-loving mountain man who dreams of a life where he ventures into the mountains on sunny days and reads books on rainy days. He leads the literary circle 'Pencil Bebop.' He has an unwavering love for mountains, literature, and Sagamihara City.