- Home
- ZENN 25
Built to Explore
ZENN is the ultimate backpack, designed for adventurers seeking comfort and modularity.
Built to Explore
ZENN is the ultimate backpack, designed for adventurers seeking comfort and modularity.
PAAGOWORKS
ZENN 25
ZENN 25
This product is limited to single purchases only.
Couldn't load pickup availability
ZENN CONCEPT
With the philosophy of "eliminating the unnecessary and refining only what truly matters," we completely reimagined the backpack as a product. Our goal was to create the optimal solution for today’s Japanese mountains—not something based on the U.S. or Europe.
ALL SEASON, LONG LASTING
Designed to be carried year-round and used for as long as possible, it features an expandable modular system and a simple design that won’t grow old. It also offers a well-balanced combination of light weight and durability.
FITS EVERY SITUATION
ZENN SYSTEM was designed to follow your body at all times and reduce fatigue. It was developed through extensive research into backpack fitting. We also focused on a modular design that offers high maintainability and expandability.
FLEXIBILITY
By setting the anchor point of the shoulder harness lower than on standard backpacks, it ensures sufficient effective length and flexibility, achieving a high level of fit. Even when the top stabilizer pulls the load closer to the body, the fit remains consistent.
STABILITY
The wide shoulder harness distributes the load across the entire ribcage, delivering remarkable stability. It reduces bounce while walking and also lessens strain on the shoulders, providing the comfortable carry inherited from RUSH.
ADJUSTABLE HARNESS
A unique back design that integrates the back panel and shoulder harness. The Velcro adjustment system allows the back length to be adjusted from 38 to 48 cm. The carefully shaped shoulder design ensures a great fit for both men and women.
HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY
While based on the slim silhouette of an alpine pack, volume is added around the shoulder blades to optimize load balance. It inherits the high center-of-gravity design from RUSH and BUDDY.
EASY OPENING
The tube-top style opening can be opened and closed simply by pulling the drawcord, allowing quick access even while wearing gloves.
SIDE POCKET
The large side pockets are designed to hold two 500 ml bottles. They can be accessed while wearing the pack and are structured to prevent items from accidentally falling out. Made from highly abrasion-resistant stretch material.
TOP POCKET
The top pocket is positioned for the easiest access when the backpack is placed on the ground. The straight zipper makes it easy to open and convenient for storing small items.
HARNESS POCKETS
The shoulder harness includes pockets that can hold a smartphone or a 500 ml bottle, offering the same ease of use inherited from RUSH and SNAP. From the 2026 model, an inner pocket has been added. The zipper position has also been improved for smoother opening and closing.
"ZENN SYSTEM"
The harness and front pocket share a modular design across the ZENN series. You can choose functions based on your needs—such as the ZENN RUNNING HARNESS for fastpacking or the SNOW HARNESS for winter use—making it adaptable to various scenarios. More modules are planned for release.
FRONT POCKET
Combining the 5 L front pocket with the harness creates a sub-pack. It is ideal for summit pushes from a mountain hut or for exploring after descending.
EASY MAINTENANCE
The harness, which can get dirty from sweat, can be removed and washed to keep it clean (do not use a washing machine; hand wash and air dry in the shade). It is also easy to repair or replace in case of damage.
LIGHT & TOUGH FABRIC
The main fabric uses Extreema Grid Nylon with ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers. It is lightweight, strong, and designed to age well. The bottom uses ECOPAK with high tear strength.
STEP 1
Adjust the back length using the 38–48 cm markings as a guide. Make sure the Velcro is firmly secured. Fasten the four clips to connect the harness and the main body.
STEP 2
Secure the chest vest with appropriate tension, then pull the side straps to bring it closer to your body.
STEP 3
Finally, pull the top stabilizer to bring the load closer to your back. Use the hip belt as needed.
SIDE BELT
ZENN25 comes with eight loops and four side belts, making it convenient for attaching and securing gear. The lower side belts can also be fastened inside the pockets.
KEY HOOK
Inside the backpack, there are two key hooks. You can also attach MY FIRST AID or W-FACE POUCH.
GEAR RING
From the Spring 2026 model, an O-ring has been added to the lower part of the harness. SWITCH, FOCUS, and PATH FINDER can be attached.
BACK PANEL
The back panel includes a foam pad that can be removed. The foam can also be used as a simple mat.
HIP BELT
The hip belt can be attached or removed as needed.
DESIGNER'S VOICE
Lightweight? Durable? Easy to carry? Easy to use? Stylish? Easy to buy? The answer is YES to all of these.
So is there a backpack that can fulfill all of these YES? Probably not. Because the requirements vary greatly depending on the user and the usage environment. The ultimate solution may be a custom-made product, but how can we solve this problem with mass-produced products? I embarked on a long journey to reconstruct the backpack. Using my specialty of completely disassembling the "carrying function" and "storage function".
"Function of carrying on the back." This usually starts with designing the harness, but this time we started with making a torso. We took a mold of the upper body of the new staff member and made a torso out of urethane foam, and used this as a reference point to design the harness. We also collected data using a 3D scanner. This is when we came up with the idea of lowering the fulcrum of the harness. By lowering the fulcrum, the effective length of the shoulder harness becomes longer, making it easier to fit the body. We found that by deliberately making the shoulder curve straight, whereas the mainstream S-shape, it can be made to fit both petite women and large men. This was an exciting discovery!
Next, we considered the "storage function". With the theme of "how to pack without stress", we created countless inverted trapezoidal and wide-opening bags, and carefully considered the size and pocket specifications while packing mountain climbing equipment. We made the front pocket detachable, aiming to be able to expand its functionality in the future.
Finally, we add up the "carrying function" and "storage function." Instead of simply sewing it together like we normally would, we made it removable and adjustable, which allows for comfort, customizability, and ease of maintenance. This is the birth of the "ZENN System," which allows users to freely customize it to suit their body type and how they use it!
...... This may sound very smart, but in reality it was a painstaking journey that took more than two years and involved the creation of more than 30 prototypes. The work of product design is similar to mountain climbing; it's hard, tough, and sometimes you want to give up. But at the same time, it's an exciting and fulfilling training. The name ZENN also conveys the idea of "training to find a backpack that fulfills all your needs." We hope that ZENN will become the optimal solution for Japan's mountains today. Go on many adventures with ZENN.
PACK AND GO!
2025/3/19 PAAGOWORKS Tetsu Saito
- Size
- 500 × 250 × 250 mm (Max roll-top: 680 mm)
- Weight
- Main body: 780 g, Detachable pocket: 85 g, Hip belt: 25 g
- Capacity
- Main body: 20 L, Detachable pocket: 5 L
- Back Length
- 38–48 cm (Recommended height: 155–180 cm)
- Main Material
- 210D Nylon Extreema Grid
- Accessories
- Detachable pocket, detachable harness, hip belt
