The karrimor AR 20 is a pack from a new series released on February 12, 2026. It's ¥20,000 (tax included), 20L and 470g. If you hike day trips fast, or want to take the pack off less often, it's a good buy.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The AR 20's shoulder straps are shaped like a vest. They cover a wide area along your body, so the pack moves less, and four pockets across the chest plus a pole carrier are lined up on the front. That's why I recommend it to anyone who used to stop every time they drank water or stowed poles. A pack that keeps you moving gives you time back.
Key points
- 5L bigger than the AR 15, yet only 20g heavier (470 − 450). Per liter that's 23.5g against 30.0g, so the AR 20 is lighter
- The fabric is 100-denier ROBIC DYNATEC nylon. The series name comes from adventure racing
- The chest strap comes off, and its height adjusts in 4 steps
When does the karrimor AR 20 come out? Price and weight
karrimor International announced this new series on February 12, 2026, and it went on sale right away at the official online store and retailers. The AR 20 is ¥20,000 (tax included), 20L and 470g. It comes in four colors: L.Grey, Midnight, Jade and Black.
The AR stands for "Adventure Race." It takes gear made for races that keep you moving fast in the mountains for hours, and turns it into a pack for fast hiking and trail running.
How I judged it
The first thing I looked at was the shape of the shoulder straps. They aren't the usual two belts but a vest, with four pockets across the chest and a pole carrier. Next I divided weight by capacity: 23.5g per liter, about level with the day-hike Deuter Speed Lite 21 (22.4g). What gave me pause is the price, ¥5,150 more than the Speed Lite. I still recommend it, because you can get at water, snacks and poles without taking the pack off. Hiking in Japan and abroad, I've found that how often you stop sets your descent time.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
karrimor AR 20
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥17,000 (as of 10/18). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥20,000, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaAR 20 vs. AR 15 and Speed Lite 21
| Model | Weight and capacity | Official price | Weight per liter |
|---|---|---|---|
| karrimor AR 20 | 470g · 20L | ¥20,000 | 23.5g |
| karrimor AR 15 | 450g · 15L | ¥18,000 | 30.0g |
| Deuter Speed Lite 21 | 470g · 21L | ¥14,850 | 22.4g |
| Salomon ADV Skin 12 | 247g · 12L | ¥19,800 | 20.6g |
5L bigger than the AR 15, with a 20g difference in weight
This is where I get excited. If you're torn, take the 20. The gap to the AR 15 is 5L, 20g and only ¥2,000. Per liter, the AR 20 is 23.5g and the AR 15 is 30.0g, so the bigger one works out lighter.
Back length is 46cm for the AR 20 and 47cm for the AR 15. If you only carry light loads, the AR 15 is enough.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
karrimor AR 15
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥16,200 (as of 10/18). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥18,000, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSame weight as the Speed Lite 21, different shoulders
The weight is the same 470g, and the Speed Lite holds 1L more. It's also ¥5,150 cheaper, and for ordinary day hikes it's enough. What you pay extra for with the AR 20 is the vest-style shoulders and the pockets across the chest.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Deuter Speed Lite 21
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥10,694 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥15,750, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhat do vest-style shoulder straps change?
With an ordinary pack you take it off and open it to drink water or pull out a jacket. With the AR 20, if you keep a bottle, snacks and your phone in the four pockets on the front of the shoulders, you can reach them while walking.
The chest strap comes off, and its height adjusts in 4 steps. Even on days when layers change your chest measurement, you can reset the strap position. The pole carrier sits on the shoulder strap, so you can stow poles on the climb and pull them out again on the descent without stopping.
On the same day, 4L and 2L waist bags called Sporran also came out. If you carry even less on running days, you can choose those too.
Who is the karrimor AR 20 for?
- Fast hikers who cover low-mountain day hikes at a quick pace.
- People who pull out and stow trekking poles on every climb and descent. The shoulder pole carrier lets you slide them in without taking the pack off.
- People who find a 12L running pack too small and want room for a bit more jacket and snacks.
If you carry poles, I compared lengths and folding styles in trekking pole rankings. For trips where the load grows, like hut stays, you could pick a pack around 30L instead. I wrote up how to decide capacity in how to choose hiking pack capacity.
How the AR 20 is built, and what to watch for
The fabric is 100-denier ROBIC DYNATEC nylon. The back and shoulders are air mesh, the hip belt has stretch-mesh pockets, and the hip belt can be stowed on days you don't use it. It also has deep pockets on both sides, a zip pocket on the front, daisy chains and bungee cord.
Here's the weak spot. Vest-style shoulders follow your body closely, so fit is more likely to work for some people and not others. Back length is 46cm, so load it up and try it on in a shop before you decide.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Salomon ADV Skin 12
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥19,800 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
When does the karrimor AR 20 come out?
Announced on Feb 12, 2026, it's on sale at the official online store and retailers. The price is ¥20,000 (tax included).
How does the AR 20 differ from the AR 15?
It's 5L bigger, 20g heavier and ¥2,000 more. Back length is 46cm for the AR 20 and 47cm for the AR 15.
Can I use the karrimor AR 20 for hiking?
Yes. It's built for fast hiking and trail running, so it suits day hikes with a light load.
Gear in this article
Ad · Images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- karrimor official online store: AR 20 (501253)
- karrimor official online store: AR 15 (501254)
- karrimor official feature page: AR series
- karrimor International press release: the new AR series (Feb 12, 2026)
- Iwatani-Primus (Deuter's authorized distributor in Japan) official page: Speed Lite 21
- Salomon official online store: ADV Skin 12
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