The Helikon-Tex Numbat Small is a chest-pack option for keeping a limited set of frequently used equipment accessible while wearing a backpack. It is worth considering if it solves a recurring access problem. It is less useful if it simply duplicates working hipbelt or clothing pockets and adds another set of straps.
Research-based buying analysis by Smoky Mountain Gear; we have not hands-on tested this product. Sources checked October 9, 2026.
Helikon-Tex Numbat Small: compare the two documented sizes
Helikon-Tex’s manufacturer comparison gives these figures for the original Numbat and Numbat Small. They are published specifications, not our volume or carried-weight measurements.
| Specification | Original Numbat | Numbat Small |
|---|---|---|
| Listed capacity | 3 liters | 2.6 liters |
| Listed dimensions | 28 × 18.5 × 6 cm | 23 × 15 × 5 cm |
| Listed weight | 479 g | 207 g |
The figures show a 272 g difference in listed weight but only a 0.4-liter difference in stated capacity. That arithmetic does not establish how efficiently your particular equipment fits. The different shape and organization can matter more than a small capacity difference.
Choose the items before choosing the pack
List the equipment you want to reach during a hike without opening the main backpack: perhaps a folded map, compass, compact light, snack, or phone. Check each item’s dimensions and how it will be protected. Do not assume a stated liter capacity guarantees a phone or map fits the pocket you prefer.
Put essential items where you can retrieve them reliably, but avoid filling every available compartment just because it exists. A dense collection of gadgets across the chest may make movement less comfortable or create a second bag that you constantly rearrange.
Our navigation guide can help decide what needs reliable access. Keeping navigation convenient does not replace learning to use it or preparing an independent backup.
Fit it with the backpack you actually carry
Try the chest pack with the backpack’s shoulder straps and sternum strap, and with the layers you expect to wear. Check whether the harnesses overlap awkwardly, whether buckles create pressure, and whether you can breathe and move comfortably.
Raise your arms, bend forward, and look down at your footing. Check how the pack behaves with the actual items inside rather than an empty pouch. Consider pole use, a camera strap, or other equipment that occupies the same area.
If the arrangement requires loosening the main backpack into an unsuitable position, it is not a useful access upgrade. A different pocket arrangement or smaller list of accessible items may be the better solution.
Think about weather and stops
Do not assume the pack is waterproof from its fabric or zipper appearance. Protect maps and electronics according to their needs and the product’s instructions. Decide how you will retrieve them in rain without soaking adjacent items.
Consider what happens when you take off the backpack, sit down, or remove a layer. An access system should make those routines simpler rather than leaving you attached to several separate harnesses.
For warm conditions, check whether the additional chest coverage is a trade-off you accept. We have not measured breathability, movement comfort, or performance with a loaded backpack for this product.
Keep the camping use case central
The product is marketed across several outdoor contexts, but this buying analysis focuses on hiking access. It is not a reason to carry equipment unrelated to your trip, and accessories attached to the front should not interfere with movement or the intended organization.
Compare the chest pack with existing hipbelt pockets, a suitable waist pouch, or a different backpack layout. If one of those already handles the needed items, an additional pack may bring little benefit.
Use the backpacking packing guide to identify duplicate equipment before turning quick access into extra carried weight.
Our buying assessment
Consider Numbat Small when you have a defined accessible-item list and the loaded pack works with your backpack and clothing. Compare the original only if its shape and organization serve an identified need; the size name alone is not the decision.
Before ordering, confirm current version, pocket fit, weather protection, and harness interaction. The existing creator video remains supplementary; we do not treat its enthusiasm as proof that the arrangement suits every hiker.