What makes a really good backpack?
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!