Forclaz MT900 Symbium Review

Overview

The MT900 Symbium (formerly the Trek 900) is Decathlon’s expedition-minded trekking pack: a 50-liter body with an extendable 10-liter top, a front zipper, a built-in rain cover and ten pockets. It is built for people carrying a lot for a long time, and for people who would rather replace a buckle than replace a pack. The trade-off is plain from the scale. At 2,404 g, it weighs nearly twice what Decathlon’s own MT900 UL 50+10 does, and that is a lot of pack for 50 liters.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	2,404 g (about 5.3 lb)
Volume	50 + 10 L
Fabric	600D ripstop
Pockets	10
Hip belt	Symbium dynamic hip-belt system
Access	Top loading plus front zipper
Hydration	Internal bladder compartment (bladder not included)
Rain cover	Included
Former name	Trek 900

Performance

Carry and comfort. The Symbium name refers to the hip-belt design, which Decathlon markets as the most comfortable carry in the Forclaz range. Owners tend to agree on the basics. Buyers describe the pack as roomy and stable on the shoulders, and one reviewer who stands 1.90 m tall found it held steady where other packs felt heavy on the back. A long-term owner of the 70+10 sibling reported carrying around 25 kg through month-long mountaineering courses and expeditions. The 50+10 shares that carry system, though Decathlon’s own marketing for this size puts the working load closer to 20 kg.

Padding is the soft spot. A video review of the 70+10 found it excelled at loads around 35 lb. Beyond that, the thin, soft shoulder padding started to lose out to better-supported harnesses. Most users of the 50+10 will not routinely carry that much, so the issue matters more for the larger pack. The torso adjustment is also dated. The same reviewer called it slow and cumbersome compared with newer systems. A buyer of the current 90+10 version pointed out that its width-adjustable shoulder straps are a feature not found elsewhere in the range, which suggests Decathlon is still iterating on the harness.

Organization. Ten pockets and a front zipper mean the pack can be unpacked horizontally like a duffel. An owner of the 70+10 liked pulling clothes out sideways while still dropping last-minute items in from the top. The detachable, free-floating lid is a small win for weight-trimmers. Not everyone wants this much hardware, though. One 50+10 owner listed “too many zippers” and “too many adjustments” among the cons, and another complained there is no tidy way to route a hydration tube. The pack’s own builder-in-chief seems to have prioritized access over simplicity.

Durability. This is where the MT900 earns its mass. The 600D ripstop fabric is heavy-duty, and owners who describe themselves as hard on gear, including a trainee outdoor instructor, call the pack very robust. Decathlon says it has put the pack through lab abrasion testing, and it sells replacement shoulder straps, hip belts, hip-belt foam, elastic cords, buckles and rain covers so that a failed part does not end the pack’s life. That repairability is worth real money on a multi-year trip. Not all feedback is rosy. One reviewer of the 50+10 criticized workmanship, citing visible stitching and dents in the aluminium frame reinforcement, and a long-time owner of the 70+10 reported that a broken chest-strap clip had no available fix.

Weight. Reviewers across the line keep returning to this. One 50+10 buyer said the pack is heavy compared with other 60-liter bags. A reviewer of the 70+10 noted that most packs in its size class run 4–5 lb, against 6 lb for the Symbium. For the 50+10, the arithmetic is similar. Decathlon’s MT900 UL 50+10 carries the same nominal volume at about 1.3 kg, which leaves 1.1 kg on the table before a single sock goes in.

Weather. The integrated rain cover is a practical inclusion for wet-climate hikers, and the pack’s hydration sleeve and slanted water-bottle pocket cover the basics. The hip-belt pockets are on the small side.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tough 600D ripstop that owners trust for rough use
• Comfortable carry for moderate-to-heavy loads
• Ten pockets and a front zipper make gear easy to reach
• Rain cover included
• Decathlon sells replacement parts, so repairs are realistic
• Extendable 10-liter lid that can be detached

Cons

• 2,404 g is heavy for 50 liters
• Shoulder padding is thin for the heaviest loads, per testers of the larger pack
• Many zippers and adjustment points
• Torso adjustment is slow compared with newer systems
• Some owners report uneven workmanship
• Hip-belt pockets are small

Who Should Buy This

The MT900 Symbium suits trekkers, guides and expedition travelers who carry 15–20 kg, abuse their gear and want a pack that can be repaired rather than discarded. It also makes sense for people hauling shared family gear who value organization and a stable carry over grams. Base weight-conscious thru-hikers should look elsewhere. A pack that eats 2.4 kg of a 5 kg base weight is a hard sell, and Decathlon’s own MT900 UL covers the same volume for far less.

Verdict

The MT900 Symbium is a durable, comfortable and well-organized trekking pack that is repairable and fairly priced, but it carries a weight penalty that rules it out for ultralight use. Buy it for rough, heavy, multi-week trips where durability and access matter most. Skip it if the goal is to keep the pack under 1.5 kg.