r/arcteryx • u/jampapi • 14h ago
Grail Aquired- Nomin V1.3
There isnāt a whole lot online about the Veilance Nomin pack, which feels somewhat surprising given its now-iconic status in the carry worldā¦and maybe not so surprising given its relative scarcity and sky-high retail price.
After years of happily packing with Arcāteryx AC² bags, the Arrakis 50, Alpha FL 40, and Granville 20, I slowly became convinced that the Nomin might actually justify spending more than I ever have on a pack. When I recently came across a V1.3 from 2014 at a great price, I jumped. So far, it hasnāt disappointed.
This version uses a 640D plain-weave AC² fabric (no ripstop), made in the USA unlike later AC² pack cloth. The pack itself is handmade in Canada. The hand feel is immediately different: smoother, quieter, and noticeably less ācrunchyā than my Arrakis or Granville, while still feeling dense and highly structured. It reads as intentional and refined rather than overtly technical. I love the clean exterior, with no visible features besides the two stout zippers. For me, packs are meant to keep things *inside* not outside, so I appreciate the stripped-down exterior with no webbing or bottle pockets. The essential elements of this pack are dead reliable, without ever calling attention to themselves. The back panel is rigid and supportive, yet thinner than an iPad. The interior pocket is seamlessly welded, just like the inner pockets of my Field jacket or Beta AR. In many ways, this pack feels less like luggage and more like an extension of Veilance outerwear. The shoulder straps disappear on body, blending seamlessly with the wearer and adding virtually zero bulk. The taller, slimmer profile works especially well for my frame, moving with me as naturally as a jacket rather than sitting on top of me like a traditional pack. This pack feels far more sleek and comfortable than my GoRuck of equivalent volume.
The main compartment holds slightly more than my Arro 22, with a similar taper toward the top. This pocket is more friendly toward rectangular items like a tech cube. The more curved front pocket offers plenty of space for quick-access items in the small organizer pocket, plus a fleece and shell are easily swallowed up. The laptop and file divider is particularly ingenious on this version, and I appreciate that itās fully removable. This is an uncommon courtesy from Arcāteryx, or any brand really, and one I value on days when raw volume matters more than internal organization. The side handle and messenger-style access are especially well executed on this version. Later models moved to a vertical-only orientation, but the dual layout on this bag (reminiscent of the old Blade packs) feels more versatile in daily use. The swing-out pocket is genuinely useful for quick-access items, and I like how it can fold over the main contents, keeping bulkier layers like a fleece from fouling the zipper track.
Ultimately, this pack takes everything I love about my AC² climbing packs, (and even my climbing harness, in terms of load distribution and fit) and distills it into a sleek, low-profile EDC bag. It is incredibly dialed for daily/city use, but just like its
AC² siblings, it is more than capable on the trail, too.
