Once you go past 20 litres in a trail pack, the conversation quickly narrows down to two or three established names. Raidlight is back with a reworked version of its flagship stage-race model: the Ultralight 24-30L Made in France, with 1000 Schmerber fabric, adjustable volume and production in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. It is built for long-distance self-sufficiency, exactly where most premium vests top out at 12 or 15 litres.
Raidlight Ultralight 24-30L: the Made in France pack for long-distance self-sufficiency
7.5/10
The essentials in 3 sentences
The Raidlight Ultralight 24-30L targets stage races and ultras that demand real self-sufficiency, with a volume that grows from 24 to 30 litres thanks to an expandable back pocket. Independent testers all agree on its stability and fit, whether the pack is full or nearly empty, but the lack of a bundled bladder and the awkward access to the rear pocket on the move are genuine drawbacks to keep in mind. At 219.90 euros for a pack made in France, the value is debatable against competitors that come better equipped for hydration.
7.5
/ 10 · RunMorph overall score
Who is it for?Runners preparing for a stage race, a fully self-supported ultra over 80 km, or a GR20-style traverse, who want generous volume without ending up with a hiking backpack.
Who should skip it?Anyone who wants a bladder included straight out of the box, or quick access to the rear pocket mid-race without having to stop.
Raidlight Ultralight 24-30L: the Made in France pack for long-distance self-sufficiency
At RunMorph, we see that the 24-30 litre segment is still thinly covered in the reviews we have already published: most premium vests stop at 12 or 15 litres, designed for a long run or a skyrace. The Ultralight 24-30L fills that gap with a clear positioning: a pack for stage races and fully self-supported ultras, able to swallow a warm jacket, a light sleeping bag or several days of nutrition without turning into a classic hiking backpack.
RunMorph's advice: if you are already after something more compact for your shorter outings, look instead at the Raidlight Ultralight 12L or the Raidlight Responsiv 12L, two packs from the same brand designed for training and races up to around fifty kilometres. The Ultralight 24-30L is reserved for projects where self-sufficiency matters more than pure lightness.
Objective technical data
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Raidlight |
| Model | Ultralight 24-30L Made in France (formerly Revolutiv 24L) |
| Volume | 24 to 30 litres (expandable bellows back pocket) |
| Claimed weight | not stated by the brand on the current product page |
| Independently measured weight | about 325 g on the previous generation, same design |
| Recommended max load | 10 kg |
| Dimensions | 46 cm (height) x 28 cm (width) x 24 cm (depth) |
| Sizes available | S, M, L, unisex |
| Front pockets | 3 stretch front pockets, FreeLock system at chest level |
| Bladder compatibility | 1.2 L to 2 L, not included |
| Soft flasks included | no, sold separately |
| Fabrics | water-repellent 1000 Schmerber ripstop, 1200 Schmerber back pocket, 3D mesh against the skin |
| Side compression | yes, FreeLock system with micrometric buckle |
| Pole holder | integrated rear system, compatible with the optional Raidlight Carquois-pod |
| Reflective details | reflective logo and piping |
| UTMB mandatory kit compatible | yes (built-in whistle, bladder to be added) |
| Price | 219.90 € |
Who is the Ultralight 24-30L for?
Stage racers and adventure racers
This is the pack's historic target, already spelled out in its official description: self-supported GR20-style traverses, Marathon des Sables-type races, or raids where you have to carry several days of food and light bivouac gear.
Ultra trail runners on 80 km and beyond
On a 100 km or a 100 miler with the full mandatory kit (jacket, survival blanket, water reserve, food for several hours), the 24-30 litre format gives you real headroom compared with 10-15 litre vests, without tipping over into a stiff hiking backpack.
Fastpackers and fast hut-to-hut runners
The pack also works with an optional front pack and helmet holder, which extends its use to fast multi-day trips where carrying comfort over many hours matters more than the weight on the scale down to the last gram.
Comfort, bounce and fit
This is where the three independent reviews read for this article agree most clearly. On a four-day traverse of the southern GR20 with a pack loaded to six kilos, one tester describes stability that stays excellent whether the pack is full or nearly empty, which he puts down directly to the FreeLock tightening system combined with the chest straps. A second tester, after several winter outings including trail, easy runs and cross-country skiing, names stability as the pack's number one strength, even when it is stuffed to the brim. The flask tube retainer, a small strap that stops the tube from flopping down once the flask is empty, also gets praise as a smart detail that saves you from craning your neck at every sip.
The reworked 3D mesh on this version improves breathability against your back compared with earlier generations of the range, a point the official product page highlights and that matches field feedback from runs in hot weather.
Compartments and accessibility
The pack offers three stretch pockets on the front, two zipped pockets (one on the side, one at the back) and a main expandable back pocket that goes from 24 to 30 litres with the bellows open. The external storage system is fitted separately: Raidlight chose to supply the bungee cord on its own so you can set it up for your own use, a rolled jacket, poles or bulky gear, rather than forcing a fixed configuration on you.
The flip side of this modular layout: two flaws come up again and again in the independent reviews read for this article. First, the rear pocket is not practical to reach on the move. You have to stop and take the pack off every time, a common trade-off on high-volume packs, but one worth flagging rather than glossing over. Second, the deep opening of the main compartment means you have to plan your packing order: whatever sits at the bottom becomes hard to reach along the way, so that is where you store the things you will not need before the finish or a major aid station.
Hydration
This is the pack's openly acknowledged weak spot. Unlike several competitors in the same segment that include soft flasks or a bladder as standard, the Ultralight 24-30L is only compatible with a 1.2 to 1.8 litre bladder, expandable up to 2 litres, but it is not included and has to be bought separately, just like the soft flasks for the front pockets. One tester even points out his surprise at not finding a bladder included on a pack designed for this kind of distance, while noting that you can still add a front extension or a Raidlight bladder depending on your habits. For ultra or stage-race use, budget for these accessories right from the purchase instead of finding out once the pack arrives.
Ultralight 24-30L vs Black Diamond Distance 22: head to head
In the over-20-litre segment of the RunMorph catalogue, two clearly different profiles face off.
| Criterion | Raidlight Ultralight 24-30L | Black Diamond Distance 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 24 to 30 L (expandable bellows) | 22 L (fixed) |
| Measured weight | about 325 g | 412 g |
| Manufacturing | Made in France (Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse) | made abroad |
| Bladder included | no | no, but hose port confirmed |
| Price | 219.90 € | about 199.90 € |
In short, the Ultralight 24-30L wins on adjustable volume and weight, while the Distance 22 stays ahead on perceived durability and a technical build geared toward light alpinism. For a similar budget, the choice mostly comes down to terrain: long-distance trail and light bivouacs for the Raidlight, technical routes and skyrunning for the Black Diamond.
Another useful benchmark if you are still unsure about volume: the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 12 and the Wise Sherpa Max both cover a mid-size format around 12 litres, enough for most ultra trails without fully self-supported stretches.
How to fit the Ultralight 24-30L into your RunMorph training plan
A pack this size only makes sense if you actually train with it loaded. In your RunMorph training plan, schedule at least two or three long runs with the pack loaded to its real race weight before your goal event, especially if you are preparing a stage race or an ultra with a full mandatory kit. The goal is twofold: confirm that the pack stays comfortable over time, and get your back and shoulders used to a load you never carry on your usual, lighter training runs.
RunMorph Coach verdict
As a coach, I see the Ultralight 24-30L as a specialist tool rather than an all-rounder. On its home turf, stage races and long self-supported ultras, it delivers: excellent stability, generous and adjustable volume, carefully crafted French manufacturing. But the missing bladder and the limited access to the rear pocket on the move are two real compromises to factor in before you buy, not details to discover out on the trail. Verdict: 7.5/10, a very good pack for anyone who genuinely needs this volume, and overkill for anyone targeting outings under 60 kilometres.
Key takeaways for your training
- Adjustable volume: from 24 to 30 litres depending on the back pocket setting, ideal for stage races and fully self-supported ultras.
- Proven stability: fit rated excellent by several independent testers, whether the pack is full or nearly empty.
- Hydration sold separately: no soft flasks and no bladder included, so budget for accessories right from the purchase.
- Plan your packing: put what you will not need before the finish in last, because reaching the bottom of the pack during a race is awkward.
- Made in France: a real argument if you favour local production, at a price that stays premium (219.90 €).