Yes I own an
aarn pack and have used them for walking in australia and NZ.
I have a natural balance modal and have tried some of the other models in NZ.
The balance pockets are a great design feature as they balance the load on your back.
These hang on the front of your body and they transfer the weight to the front of the hip belt.
You can see them on the front of the body in the photo above.
I place a fair bit of weight to these balance pockets, usually food plus water bottles.
So you walk upright compared to a normal pack where you lean forward a little.
This makes the pack a lot more comfortable for long walks as you walk much more naturally with less strain.
You really need to try an
aarn pack to feel the difference.
However, once you feel the difference you will probably not want to go back to a normal pack.
If you have some back issues you might try an
aarn pack to see if they help.
The front balance pockets also allow you to access food and a water bottle while walking.
You do get some strange looks when wearing the
aarn packs due to the front balance pockets.
Also the shoulder straps have a unique swivel system that allows you to raise your arm and the other shoulder drops down.
This makes the pack much easier to use climbing and ski touring as it allows freedom of shoulder movements.
Another thing is the pack has a full waterproof liner as well as a separate liner for the sleeping bag.
Overall, in my experience they are the most comfortable pack I have ever used. ( I am being totally honest about this even though
Aarn is my brother so I could be accused of bias)
I would be interested in others opinions and I know a few in the melbourne bushwalkers that have switched to
aarn packs lately. Quite a few of the members in walking clubs in NZ use
aarn packs for increased comfort while walking.