ProView – Millet Backpack PEUTEREY 35+10L Review

The Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey (White Needle of Peuterey) is a proud alpine summit on the Mt Blanc massif in Italy and one of the most difficult summits in the region. True to its name, the Millet PEUTEREY 35+10L is a true 4-season alpine pack with features that set it apart from the other packs on the market. 

I tested this pack in the Cascades of Washington, the San Juans in Colorado, Chamonix France, and the German Alps. It accompanied me on alpine climbs, long multipitch rock days, and big alpine traverses. It is nearly the perfect alpine pack with features that will be appreciated by alpinists and skiers alike. While many packs are highly specialized into a niche, the Peuterey is equally at home skiing or climbing- a rarity these days. 

Fit/Comfort

The Peuterey fit well with or without a harness on. Even when loaded up for long days, it carried well. The cutouts on the back and hip belt offered decent ventilation. The pack sat close enough to my back that it was stable when climbing and scrambling and I was still able to access the gear loops on my harness while leading. I would have liked a removable hip belt for the harder climbing moves, but it was rarely a problem.

Look/Style

True to its French heritage, the Peuterey is sleek and attractive and looks like a modern alpine climbing pack. I tested the red color scheme because I appreciate the visibility. The blue model is equally attractive. 

Features

The alpine climbing-specific features are where the Peuterey really stands out. A large pocket on the back of the pack comfortably fits a shovel or large belay jacket for easy access. There are modern ice tool attachments on the back of the pack as well that were easy to manipulate even with large gloves and cold fingers. 

The hip belt has a gear loop and ice ax holder on the left side that I really appreciated. Being able to safely and easily store an ice tool when the climbing requires two hands or at the belay was often the key to safe and efficient climbing. Very few packs offer this anymore sadly. The right side of the hip belt has a pocket for snacks or phone that can be expanded with a simple velcro release. 

The lid has two pockets of appropriate size and clips for a helmet holder on the top. I wish the lid were removable but it stayed out of the way of my helmet even when belaying. There is enough slack in the lid straps to allow for the pack to be stuffed overfull. 

The main part of the bag has a hydration bladder sleeve as well as a side zip for easy access. I found the pack to be big enough for 2-3 day alpine climbs if I kept the rope on the outside of the pack with the rope strap and put my helmet on top of the lid. The inside of the main bag is bright enough to be able to see your gear without a light thanks to the light red color. 

There are ski slots on the sides of the pack and compression straps. I would have appreciated buckles on the compression straps so that I could use them to help secure the rope and make it easier to put skis on. 

Performance

The Peuterey carried well on the approach and climbed equally as well. I was initially concerned because of the substantial hip belt. This is a departure from most of the other alpine packs on the market but it mostly stayed out of the way and made for a lot more comfortable pack when loaded heavily. 

Durability

Despite two months of heavy testing the Peuterey is no worse for wear. The metal buckles on the back of the pack make a huge difference 

Environmental Impact

Millet’s website has a comprehensive review of the environmental impact of this pack. They claim 29.8kg CO2, 10.7 m^3 of water, 406Mj of fossil fuel use, and minimal mineral resource use. Hopefully one day all companies will be this forthcoming about their impact!

The Final Word

It’s rare to find a “do everything” pack and usually you have to choose a pack for skiing or climbing but the Millet Peuterey 35+10 has the features to do everything all year long. It’s the perfect pack for aspiring alpinists or anyone who wants one pack no matter what they’re doing. 

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