WALKING: KIT ON TEST
Best walking backpacks
Looking for a new backpack to take with you on day hikes? Rob Slade puts six options through their paces
LOWE ALPINE AIRZONE TREK 28L
£140; rab.equipment/uk
Lowe Alpine has a long-held reputation for making quality rucksacks and, after some mountain testing in Wales, I can say that continues to be the case here. The AirZone Trek 28L is among the heavier daypacks in this test at 1.3kg, but you don’t really notice it. That’s in part down to the impressive back harness and hipbelt, which spreads the load. The trampolinestyle system helps ventilate the back, too. The system is adjustable, allowing you to customise the fit to suit your body shape (a 26-litre women’s version is available). Organisation is impressive. The large main compartment is accessed via a zip that runs halfway down the bag and swallows up lots of kit effortlessly. A zip pocket on top is ideal for snacks, compass, a head torch and other small items, while an elastic pouch on the front is ideal for waterproofs.
Zip pockets on each side of the hip belt are useful and there’s a whistle on the sternum strap, attachment points for walking poles, space for a hydration bladder and elastic pockets for water bottles.
VERDICT: Versatile, has every feature and offers all-day comfort. ★★★★★
DEUTER SPEED LITE 17
£62; deutergb.co.uk
This is the smallest and cheapest option in this test, and is designed to be light (just 420g) for people who want to move fast. But does that translate into good performance?
With a 17L capacity, this daypack is best suited to summer walking – it was able to take everything I needed for low-level walks but wasn’t spacious enough for higher-level adventures that require spare warm layers. With no rain cover, whistle or walking pole attachments, this pack feels minimalist.
The back panel is flexible, but its meshand-honeycomb style sits flush against your back and offers little protection against the contents of the pack. When carrying lighter loads, the pack does feel comfortable and with heavier loads, a hip belt takes some of the weight off.
The elastic pockets on each side of the pack held my water bottles in place well; the pack is also compatible with two-litre hydration reservoirs. It’s great to see this pack is made using 100% recycled preconsumer waste.
VERDICT: A lightweight pack for casual walks or summer holidays. ★★★☆☆
DEUTER TRAIL 30
£125; deutergb.co.uk
The Trail 30 has a lot going for it. For a start, Deuter says it’s a carbon-neutral product, and it’s made from a 100% recycled PET (plastic) material. Organisation is also very good in this top-loader style pack. The main compartment is roomy and the 30-litre capacity allowed me to carry everything I’d need for a full day in the hills, even in winter.
A long zip on the outside front allows you to access that main compartment, making it easy to pull items out from near the bottom – it’s a great feature. There’s also a zip pocket on the inside and outside of the lid, ideal for storing hats, gloves, snacks or an OS map. You’ll also find two side pockets, one elastic and one zipped, though the latter was a little too small for my water bottle.
Additional features included ice axe and walking pole attachment points; a rain cover, provision for a hydration bladder and compression straps on the side of the pack.
The back system uses two strips of foam, which was not uncomfortable, but I do find a trampoline-style system more comfortable.
VERDICT: A great set of features and easy access.★★★★☆
PATAGONIA ALTVIA 22L
£110; eu.patagonia.com/gb
The Altvia is a lightweight pack at just 690g. I found it roomy enough to pack kit for a day in the mountains, though it’d be a squeeze for a winter mountain walk. Despite that low weight, there’s structure to the back panel, which was appreciated, as was the hip belt. It all makes for a step up in comfort, though I’d appreciate more adjustment to the back system to help achieve an optimal fit.
In addition to the main compartment, you get a zip pocket on the front that’s large enough for an OS map, plus a zip pocket on the top that will take small essentials. A bungee cord on the front allows you to stash layers, while two zip pockets on the hipbelt are handy, but only large enough for a few sweets or keys. The two elastic pockets on the side for water bottles are a little shallow.
Other features include a pouch for a hydration bladder and a rain cover, though the latter would benefit from a toggle to help secure it better. A good option for a lightweight spring/summer pack, but check it fits you well before buying.
VERDICT: Lightweight, comfortable and a fine set of features. ★★★★☆
MOUNTAIN WAREHOUSE PACE 30L
£69.99; mountainwarehouse.com
The 30L capacity offers adequate space for most one-day adventures, with plenty of room for additional layers, food and a first aid kit. Organisation is decent, with a large main compartment serviced by a zip that travels around the top of the pack and two-thirds of the way down the front. This means it’s possible to grab an item from halfway down without entirely opening up the compartment. You also get a small zip pocket on the top, plus a zip pocket at the bottom that I found useful for waterproofs. There’s a small zip pocket on the hip belt. I was impressed by the feature list, with attachments for poles, two side pockets for water bottles (but these aren’t easy to access while walking), a rain cover, a pouch for a hydration reservoir and a bungee cord for lashing extra layers to the front.
The trampoline-style back kept my back fresh, but the padding on the shoulder and hip straps is basic and wasn’t as comfortable as other options tested.
VERDICT: A good budget option, but some materials felt cheap. ★★★☆☆
BBC Countryfile Magazine favourite
OSPREY HIKELITE 28
£120; ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en
The Hikelite 28 is a lightweight pack weighing 990g. The main compartment is unexpectedly cavernous. Osprey says this is a 28L pack, but when loading it up it feels larger. It easily swallowed my winter kit list including bothy bag. It’s easy to pack, with the zip stretching halfway down each side of the bag. You have additional storage in a stash pouch on the front, plus a zip pocket at the top. There are also two large elastic pockets on the side, both of which will easily take two water bottles each. They’re secure, too, and I had no issues with kit falling out of them when bending down.
The loaded Hikelite 28 was extremely comfortable, with the trampoline-style harness a great asset. While you’re not able to slide the shoulder system up and down, there are two sizes you can choose from. For this 6ft 1in tester, the M/L size fit perfectly. There are two handy pockets on the hip belt, while other features include a quality rain cover, a whistle built into the sternum strap, the provision for a hydration reservoir plus attachment points for poles. The use of 100% recycled nylon is great.
VERDICT: Well-designed back system and impressive organisation. ★★★★★
Rob Slade is a content editor for 220 Triathlon and has extensive experience of hiking and camping in the UK and overseas. He has been reviewing outdoor gear for over eight years.
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