Deuter Backpacks for Women

Deuter makes gender specific packs, and here you have my selection of the best Deuter backpacks for women in a variety of sizes and with excellent features.

In case you did not know, Deuter is a German brand and they started their business in 1898. Their official beginning of making backpacks was in 1910. So as you realize they have been in this for over a century already.

I myself bought my first Deuter pack in 2003, and I have been using their packs ever since. They have invented their famous patented trampoline style tension mesh back panel, and for several decades they were the only brand with this design. This is what they call the AirComfort design. Nowadays, you can see this design used by most of top outdoor brands.

As mentioned above, Deuter is also one of the top brands that make gender-specific packs. Typically, you will see the pack with the letters SL in its official name, so this means ‘slim line’, and it implies packs for women.

Why buying a Deuter pack?

You have already seen, they have been in this business longer than any other outdoor brand. So there is no doubt they have learned how to build packs. My first Deuter Futura 38 is still in a very good shape after 19 years, and I have used it in tens of my mountaineering and hiking tours.

What I want to say is that Deuter’s packs are incredibly durable and reliable. You can be sure it will not fail, you will not have a broken buckle or a damaged zipper. This is why I would always recommend their packs to anybody.

My selection of Deuter women’s backpacks

So here is my list, the packs are ordered by a volume from smaller to larger:

Note that some of the packs are representatives of the whole series. So if the volume of the pack in the list is not what you want, most likely you can find the same pack in a different size. On the other hand, some of these packs have been on the market for many years and there may be two or even more versions of them on the market so it is easy to get confused.

1. Deuter Women’s Futura 25 SL Hiking Backpack

This is a pack from their best known Futura series that has been around for decades and it included many packs in a variety of sizes and styles. This pack is a panel loading type, so you have a long zipper that opens it wide. The pack comes with their famous Aircomfort back mesh and you have optimal ventilation.

The volume is 25 liters so you can use it for fast and light day tours, but the shape is such that you can use it as a pack for daily life, for commuting, and for travel. The torso length is not adjustable except for what the shoulder straps allow, this is normal for packs of this size.

The shoulder straps are nicely padded, and you have an adjustable sternum strap and load lifter straps. There is also a generously padded hip belt with two zippered pockets. You also have dual side mesh pockets and dual upper and lower compression straps. One large organizer pocket with several smaller inner pockets is on the front, and on top of it there is a large stretch front pocket.

Even a loop for trekking poles is available, and it is paired with a bungee tie-off on the top. The pack weighs 2.9 lb (1.3 kg). Note that it is built from 50% recycled materials.

What I like:

• Ventilation.
• Padding.
• Overall quality.
• Pockets.

What I dislike:

• A bit heavy.
• No rain cover.

2. Deuter Futura PRO 34 SL Pack for Women

Futura PRO series is different from their standard Futura packs. The PRO packs may have fewer features but they have some that make them more technical than the standard Futura packs.

This Futura Pro SL is available in several other sizes, you can find it in 32 and 36 liters as well. It comes with an ergonomic Aircomfort Sensic Pro mesh back system for optimal back ventilation due to the innovative mesh. You also have their moveable VariFlex ECL hip fins design so that the pack follows your body movement.

The shape is classic with a top lid and the top access. But the pack also has a separate zippered bottom compartment. There are plenty of features, they include pull-forward hip fins, load adjustment straps, adjustable sternum strap, multiple pockets and attachment options for poles and an ice axe, etc.

It is equipped with attachment loops for the helmet holder, and it has a rain cover included. The fabric is made of 50% recycled materials, and the pack is PFC free. The weight is 3.4 lb (1.56 kg) and the dimensions are (H x W x D) 24 x 12.6 x 9.4 inches (61 x 32 x 24 cm). The torso length range is 15 – 18.9 inches (38 – 48 cm).

What I like:

• Ventilated back panel.
• Rain cover.
• Great organization.
• Durable materials.

What I dislike:

• Not adjustable torso length.

3. Deuter Aircontact Lite 45 + 10 SL Pack

I would start by explaining the name first. So Deuter has several different concepts regarding the back panel design, and here you have what they call Aircontact. This means that the pack is in contact with the body because of the two massive padding sections on the sides, but it also provides air contact due to the central chimney for ventilation. You can see this in the picture above.

The number + 10 means that the pack has an expandable collar that offers extra 10 liters of volume when needed. The top lid is adjustable and floating type, so it easily accommodates to such an expanded pack.

The word Lite should taken literary, this 55 liters pack weighs only 3.7 lb (1.7 kg). The dimensions of the pack are (L x W x D) 29.1 x 11.8 x 9.4 inches (74 x 30 x 24 cm).

The torso length is adjustable, and you have a ladder type system with the range 13.8 – 22 inches (35 – 56 cm). The pack has a separate zippered bottom compartment.

What I like:

• Excellent padding.
• Expandable volume.
• Vari Quick adjustable back length.

What I dislike:

• No bottom compression straps.
• No rain cover.

4. Deuter Futura Air Trek 55 + 10 SL Women’s Hiking Backpack

This pack is from a completely new sub-series that Deuter launched not so long ago. Their Futura series has been around for decades already and it is the best known of all Deuter packs series. They launched this Futura Air Trek series to replace their Futura Vario packs series which I am using myself.

The number + 10 is an extra volume which you have if you expand its extendable collar. So this is very useful to have and the pack remains equally functional in this case because its top lid is a floating type.

Here you have what they call the VariFit design, and this means the pack comes with an adjustable torso length. But the best part in this design is its ventilated back system. They call it the Aircomfort Sensic Vario suspension system, it is supported by a peripheral spring steel frame. There is hardly anything better if you need a ventilated pack.

There are three access points. These include the mentioned top collar and the lid, then you have a large zippered front access,  and finally there is a bottom access through the sleeping bag compartment. This bottom section is with a zippered divider between the main compartment and the bottom compartment.

The pack comes with a rain cover stored in a separate bottom pocket, and there are 9 pockets in total. You also have the usual full set of attachment elements and compression straps. The weight is 4.6 lb (2.1 kg). The dimensions of the pack are (H x W x D) 73 x 34 x 26 cm. This pack is also n my list of best backpacking packs for women.

What I like:

• Ventilation.
• Multiple access points.
• Pockets.
• Rain cover.

What I dislike:

• The price.

Deuter packs frequently asked questions

Are Deuter packs good?

I already mentioned above a bit from Deuter’s history. So here just to reiterate, this brand makes some of the most reliable packs on the market.

Is Deuter an American company?

No, Deuter is a a German brand.

What does SL mean on Deuter backpack?

This means slim line, more precisely, those are packs for women and/or for people with a smaller body size. But note that they have separate series of packs for kids.

Is Deuter backpack waterproof?

No, their packs may have coating from inside, but generally they are not designed to be fully waterproof. This is typical for most top brands.

However, most of Deuter packs have a rain cover included in a separate bottom pocket. This is what makes them waterproof, take my word for this, have been using them with rain covers for several decades already.

Also, Deuter now uses DWR (Durable Water Repellency) impregnation that is harmless to health and the environment. This is a part of their policy they announced last year. Their materials are also PFC free.

Are Deuter backpacks unisex?

They have unisex packs, but they also build separate gender specific series.

Why do Deuter backpacks have flowers?

This is about their SL pack so that you visually instantly know this is their pack for women and for smaller body sizes.

Can men wear Deuter SL?

Yes, as mentioned these packs are for a smaller body size. But SL packs have some specific features that make them most comfortable for women.

Final thoughts

So this was my selection of the best Deuter backpacks for women. I have chosen them from a wide range with respect to the volume, so you have packs for short day tours and for multiple days tours.

Deuter has launched several new series recently, but some of them are not widely available on the market yet. I might add them later, so bookmark this text and come again.

I myself have been actively using Deuter packs for many years, so let me know if you have questions, I shall do my best to answer the best I can. Thank you for reading.