Backpacks - Budget Vs Premium - 3FUL Gear Qidian Pro Vs Granite Gear Blaze 60

The Granite Gear Blaze 60 has been one of my favourite pieces of gear for a long time. It saved me 1500g in weight over my last pack, versatile and well made, a real quality bit of kit.. BUT at £280 wow that's expensive. Enter the 3FUL Qidian Pro. Its lighter, very well made but has a few less features. Does it stand a chance in this ultimate budget vs expensive kit test? As I say in the title if you dont want to watch the video have a look this week on eBay to see which one is a keeper and which one I am selling..... ATB Tom
If you have enjoyed this video you can help the channel and support this type of content by hitting the like button and subscribing to the channel. You can also buying me a coffee using the link below...
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Or click the 'Super Thanks' above.... Both support the channel and allow me to make more videos like this.... I really appreciate it... Tom

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Another great video. I have owned the 3FUL bag it was excellent. I then upgraded to their xpac model which has been superb. Very good value Tom and great video to showcase that wildcamping doesnt need to be expensive. Cheers

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi thank you for watching and taking the time to comment... Great to hear of your experience too. That XPAC looks interesting. Its a little hard to work out the weight saving for their website.. ATB Tom

[@Ottawa9one9]

I think that you did one of the best overviews of the Qidian Pro out there. Great comparison.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey thank you for watching and your positive feedback. Really appreciate it.... ATB Tom

[@runhikesleeprepeat187]

thanks for the video. I wouldn't have chosen the 3f if I planned on extended use. I find if the hip belt pockets are that large, they hinder pole movement, and squeezing through Stone stiles etc. 60bL packs for multi day trips in colder weather or long hauling water. my back would appreciate the frame sheet and padding. customer service is another consideration. GG are well known for being very helpful. I appreciate we're all. different, but I can't see the comparison. the Blaze is designed as a heavy hauler.thanks again.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey than you for sharing your thoughts and experience.. These are two packs that I have used for single overnight camps.... Both are Ultralight and for what I do camping wise very similar levels of comfort. I sold the Granite Gear because for my type of camping the 3FUL actually works better... Best wishes and thank you for your time to watch and comment... Tom

[@phildorman6638]

Interesting watch, Tom. Two packs I didn’t know a lot about. Thanks for making this film, very very enjoyable! Phil

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Phil, second comment second reply ha ha. What pack do you use by the way and any trips planned?? ATB Tom

[@thomasowens5824]

Thanks Tom, excellent review.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Thomas, thank you for the positive feedback, I really appreciate it... ATB Tom

[@Hayyothhakodesh]

Thankyou great great review !!! Soooo helpful.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Glad it was helpful! great to hear.. Hope you get sorted with a new pack if you need one.. ATB Tom

[@Martycycleman]

Cheers Tom.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Very welcome Marty thank you for watching and commenting on many of my videos.. Tom

[@stewartperry7797]

Good review Tom

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey Stewart thank you for watching and I appreciate your comments and positive feedback... Tom

[@samhill3496]

Very informative especially for me. Packs are something I know little about. Thanks for your insight. This will help me in the near future. Light is right, however comfort is king. Found the 3EUL for about 80 bucks on sale. Yeah boy.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey Sam, thank you for watching and great to hear that this video helped.. I love this pack for what I do its perfect.. All the very best Tom

[@danieljames2718]

Another awesome video.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey thank you very much for the feedback...I really appreciate it.. Best wishes Tom

[@freeforester1717]

The Qui Dian pro also has fixing loops for attaching a bungee lattice on the outer of the back of the pack, and mine came supplied with sufficient bungee elastic and 5 bungee stops so you can customise the lattice/s to your preferences; I made two separate lattices, one overlaying the top of the other, which gives absolutely tons of packing options. It’s also a really comfy pack to carry. 👍🏻

[@TOMHEANEY100]

yes the Qiudan really is super versatile light and functional... I too find it super comfortable.. Thank you for sharing your experience.... best wishes Tom

[@TonyHobbs]

Hi Tom, Mark of Bikepacking in Vietnam recommended you. So popping by to say hello....

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey Tony, great to hear from you and a big welcome to my content. Mark has been following my channel for a long time.... I hope that you find some interesting, entertaining and informative content here. ATB and welcome once again.... Tom

[@Bikepacking]

@@TOMHEANEY100 check out tony Chanel he got some really good gear .he got to much money lol

[@ianmacfarlane9454]

Another good video Tom, just bought a Gregory rucksack at Christmas

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Ian, thank you for watching, I honestly appreciate it. Great that you share your pack experience too. The Gregory packs get a good reputation and are very light too as far as I am aware.. ATB Tom

[@neemancallender9092]

Great review Thanks I have the Blaze 60 I am 167 with a small frame so I wear a small women’s size It fits like a glove It is one of my most comfortable packs I can carry 18 kg with no worry Well worth the extra pack weight of 500g I can shorten the hip belt for a slim waist Both the pack and side pockets are cavernous So easy to fill with 9 cinch straps for compression the load The lid is also a real size I was fortunate to get the pack for $200 at REI when they had it on offer So an excellent price Yes the back netting pocket is a fail much too tight to be usable, although I do use it for a fairly fix load of a painting set The work around is the Exped Flash pocket that clips on to the back I use it for many other packs The 3FUL would not work for me as it is to long a back size and too wide a waist belt

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Thank you for sharing your experience of the Blaze.. I think Out Door Gear Lab over rated the comfort as they gave it the same rating as an Osprey Aether. I kind of expected it to to be and it's not... Doesn't have anywhere near the padding or back system.. But it's a great pack and if it fits you well and does the comfort then that makes it a winner.. I loved the fabric and the massive side pockets... Also the base is wide making it easy to get a big sleeping bag sideways in the bottom.. Hey best wishes Tom

[@rogerlevy57]

Qi dian will probably be my choice too. Thanks

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey thank you for the comment. Yes it's a great pack for the money... Tom

[@craig3401]

Another great vid I think the weight of the granite gear let's it down personally I'd rather have the osprey exos 58 more adjustable and same weight.the 3ful looks better if it's weight saving that's your main thing.but as with most things like this it's how durable they are

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Craig, thank you for watching and commenting. That Osprey Exos is a popular pack and I am not sure why I went for the Granite Gear to begin with... Weight saving is a big thing for me and as you say it will be interesting to see how the pack gets on long term... ATB and thank you for your input. Tom

[@Fellmandave1]

Very relaxing watch and useful Tom. Might get one of the 3ful boys after this. I am looking for features like that but with side pockets I can access whilst wearing. Any ideas?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey Dave thank you for watching and taking the time to comment... The only packs that do what you talk about as far as I am aware are Osprey with Dual-access stretch mesh side pockets and Gregory who have Side stretch-mesh pockets with side trail access and pass-through for over-or-under compression.... There probably are others.... Hope this helps.. ATB Tom

[@Fellmandave1]

@Tom Heaney Adventure yes I have an osprey aether 70l job with side access but it weighs more than a human leg when empty, plus a Gregory optic 58 which is pretty good but the side access is tight. Also have a 45 l montane trailblazer 44, that is almost therw. The chest pockets are useless though! Thanks for getting back to me Tom.

[@vargaresa]

How happy are you with the 3FUL Qidian Pro a year later? I got the old 40+16l version of that backpack, and I absolutely love it. The only flaw I had was that after a few hundred kilometers of use, the shoulder straps became thinner and thinner, as the padding inside compressed over time and didn't spring back into shape anymore. If they fixed that I would get the new one right away.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi, I love my Quidian Pro for what it is and the value it represents. I use it for about one in every 3 camps as I have another pack (Durston Gear Kakwa 55) that I use a bit more... This reduces the stress on each pack as they are not used on every camp... So I haven't subjected mine to the same use as yourself so difficult to comment on long term durability... Mine has no signs of what you say so far so this is really all I can comment... best wishes Tom

[@oe.nygren]

Great review! May be buying the 3F UL pack used very cheap. I am 6.2 tall and really hope it fits well. But apparently the owner removed the ”padding” on the hips.. May be a superpicky guy trying to get the grams lower but still.. feel a bit strange. Greetings from Sweden!

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi I am 6.1 and mine really fits perfect so it should be good. Used the pack about 20 times now and it's one of the best packs ever for its comfort, simplicity and practicality and of course value.... best wishes of you get it.. Tom

[@northumberlandmountainhopper]

Hi Tom, Nice comparison, I wonder how the stitching will hold up on the 3f ul but saying that I payed £99 for a Vango 70 plus 10 and it’s years old and still perfect, My favourite pact is the Exos 58 which in long is 61 litres and it has the vented mesh so it sits off your back, at 1300 gr it’s not bad, like tents is there a best one and you probably need several !!! Keep em coming Cheers Adrian

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey Adrian, how are you? I really appreciate your positive comments... The stitching is very good as far as I can tell on the 3FUL pack. That Exos is a great pack and I probably should have gone for it over the Granite Gear..1300G is actually very good for all the features it has.. Yes definitely good to have a few pack options just like tents ha ha... ATB and thank you for watching and commenting.... ATB Tom

[@garynesbitt5078]

Hi Tom. Great to see a review of 2 packs at very opposite ends of the price scale. That 3ful definitely seems brilliant value for money and very well featured. A big factor here will definitely be load carry. If you are carrying 10kg or less the weight saving afforded by the 3ful is hard to ignore. Bigger weight and the back system in the GG will come into its own I’d guess! Cheers. Gary

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Gary you are doing great to point this out. I didn't want to cover everything in this video. However I personally found that once the Granite Gear pack gets over 10Kg it really wasn't that comfortable. The hip and shoulder the hip and shoulder straps are actually quite thin. This was a little disappointing for me as the pack is said to be able to comfortably carry much heavier loads... ATB and great comment... Tom

[@rogerhudson2814]

Both a bit complex. I used to carry a Camp Trails magnesium alloy frame mated to a surplus Marines Arctic Bergen pack, but these days at my age every ounce matters. Too many commercial packs have unnecessary clips and straps, customisation with lightweight guy rope saves weight.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Roger, yes the manufactures have convinced the market that we need all these features. To be fair these two packs cut back on features that the likes of Osprey have for example.. Both have just a main compartment, big side pockets and hip belt pockets with a number of compression straps. As you see here the 3FUL is my preference as its lighter and has no lid making it also slightly more simple.. Extra features on packs help sell them and this is what we are up against in the real world. Simple is better in my opinion and I agree with you but if these packs were stripped down much more then the manufactures would struggle to sell them... Thank you for your thoughts... ATB Tom

[@leecocker4799]

Hi Tom, may I ask how tall you are, I'm a broad shouldered 6ft, the 3ful did look a great fit for you. Another great video. Cheers Lee

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Lee, good to hear from you and thank you for the positive feedback. I really appreciate it. I am 6'1 and it really fits me well, I mean perfectly. I hope this helps. ATB Tom

[@siwywarszawka]

What is the difference between qidian and qidian pro?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi some difference in size and also the fabric is lighter and stronger in the Pro... best wishes Tom

[@siwywarszawka]

@@TOMHEANEY100 Is the capacity/volume of the main compartment the same?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

@@siwywarszawka Honestly I am not sure.. I just have to look it up like you and the website is not very clear... By the weight and materials though I would say its a 15 to 16 L smaller.. Ie the pro is 56L main body then you have the side pockets extra. The Qidian is 56L total I think... Tom

[@vvs3796]

i just tested gg blaze in local woods in a constant rain for 3 hours with 18.5kg. mixed feelings. at some point i was even forgetting there is 20kg on my back. but somehow from my last memories flex capacitor felt more comfy,or it was just lighter load. anyway i m not convinced abt blaze rating of 22.7kg . even my proper lowe alpine manaslu got 20kg limit. not that i intend to carry such heavy loads but if i was to go for a multi day hike i need a pack that can handle up to 20kg another problem is that hip belt and side pockets collect rain water like a saggy tarpaulin.well that could be fixed by just making drain holes in right spots. my shoulder still feeling sore btw. did it take some time for you to break in new blaze? also up to what loads you find blaze comfortable?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi thank you for sharing your experience its really great to hear... I just never felt it that comfortable even with 10kg... I think its was the expectation given by the manufacturer and also Outdoor Gear Lab... Outdoor Gear Lab rate it I think 9 out of 10 in comfort. This is the same as an Osprey Aether... Absolutely no way as I have owned both... I also found the 3FUL here more comfortable so that's why its been sold long ago... It never really broke in either and I adjusted it many times.... recently I have acquired the Durston Gear Kakwa 55 and I actually prefer it to both packs here.. Super comfortable and filled with practical features... I hope that this helps best wishes Tom

[@cameronedwards1241]

Have you ever tired the nature hike rock 60L?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi no I haven't.. but just had a look and its very similar to the 3FUL... It looks pretty good and very light too.. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Best wishes Tom

[@vvs3796]

does a plastic frame where shoulder straps are attached feels like it can crack?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

No actually it doesn't. Feels pretty strong.. best wishes Tom

[@Super.Quasar]

Another great comparison video with an unanticipated winner, Tom. Had me looking at sourcing one to replace my beloved Crux AK47. Can you strap the Akto/Unna on the side of the 3F UL as I find that to be an extremely useful feature of my Crux ? ATB.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Gary, great to hear from you, as I always look for and appreciate your comments, as long as they are not related to me speaking too fast ha ha.... I really hope the pics and Videos I sent are of some help..... ATB Tom

[@phildorman6638]

Interesting watch, Tom. Two packs I didn’t know a lot about. Thanks for making this film, very very enjoyable! Phil

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Phil, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment x 2..... Have you bought another Ledlenser yet? These are both great packs but the Granite Gear wildly expensive and the 3FUL Gear insanely good value.... ATB Tom

[@phildorman6638]

@@TOMHEANEY100 haven’t bought the H19r yet, I’m going to look for a good deal online, but I will, having seen how good it was in your video!