Transalp review

GEAR

Berghaus

Lowe Alpine

www.berghaus.com

www.lowealpine.com

AT RATING

AT RATING

Ridgeway 65+10 £130

8

Kulu £150

8

.2 10

.8 10

men’s

men’s The Ridgeway pack from Berghaus is the cheapest of the men’s rucksacks on test, and while it might not have some of the fancy features you’d find on a few of the others, that’s no reason to discount it.

It’s one of the lightest packs in the test (1.9kg), but still offers good support thanks to firm padding on the back. The weight is transferred onto the hips well and I found the pack easy enough to adjust using the BIOFIT back system. I didn’t find the shoulder straps the most comfortable and, although the back system provides support, I did find the lumbar area slightly uncomfortable as it pushed into my back. It wasn’t as bad after a little while, but I could definitely still notice it.

The storage and organisation is good. There’s an exterior and interior lid pocket for you to store the items you might need in a hurry, plus handy, elasticated wand pockets for you to keep other essential items. There is a separator toward the bottom of the pack for a sleeping bag or dirty clothes (however you want to use it), and this can be accessed via a zip at the bottom of the bag. A hip belt pocket is great for snacks, while large bellows pockets on either side of the pack offer extra, easy-to-reach space. There are also attachment points for walking poles, should you want to stow them.

Compression straps on the side are useful for compressing the load and also attaching extra kit – I used it to attach a tent, while a waterproof cover will fit over it all. I found there was reasonable air flow to the back, so we didn’t get too sweaty, but there’s no fancy moisture wicking tech here. Other features you’ll find on the Ridgerway pack includes a pouch for a water system, extra lashing points and very solid clips. As the cheapest men’s rucksack on test, I would say this pack is very good value for money indeed.

I’m a big fan of Lowe Alpine packs after using one when I first started getting into the outdoor scene, and I’ve only ever experienced good things since – including brilliant customer service (they shipped a replacement rucksack to me in New Zealand when my years-old, battered and bruised pack finally gave up the ghost).

Now, I’m impressed again with an innovative new pack called the Kulu. Designed more as a pack for all-round adventure travel rather than an out-and-out trekking pack, the Kulu has a new patented hip belt design that lets you fold it away and clip it into the sides when travelling. This means there are no flailing straps when in transit – a great idea. There’s also a travel cover that can be used to cover up more straps, or keep your bag dry if it’s raining.

Importantly, it’s still comfortable to wear when you are actually out on the trail, and it’s pretty much got everything you would want from a standard trekking pack. The adjustable back system and top/side tension straps help you get a good fit and there is plenty of padding on the hip and shoulder straps, so comfort is not an issue. It has an interior and exterior lid pocket, plus hip pockets for those little essentials you need close by.

The floating lid also means load capacity can be extended.

Multiple haul loops make it easy to throw around when you need to and there are also two front zips which give you access to the main compartment, plus one for the separate bottom compartment. Wand pockets are ideal for water bottles or fuel canisters and the side compression straps are just long enough to allow for a tent or roll mat to slide down there. The Kulu feels tough and durable, yet at 2kg it’s one of the lightest on test. For £150, This is a really impressive pack for anyone in need of a pack for both travel and hiking.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

A reliable, no fuss rucksack that does the basics well.

Another impressive and innovative pack from Lowe Alpine.

WEIGHT

10

WEIGHT

9

ORGANISATION

8

ORGANISATION

9

COMFORT

7

COMFORT

8

VALUE

9

VALUE

9

FEATURES

7

FEATURES

9

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117

GEAR

Gregory

Osprey

www.gregorypacks.com

www.ospreyeurope.uk

AT RATING

AT RATING

Paragon 68 £175

8

Aether AG 70 £200

9

.6 10

.4 10

men’s

men’s The Gregory Paragon 68 is a pack with a lot of bells and whistles, but are they actually useful? Well, let’s start with the basics.

The pack has all of the usual features you would expect on an expedition rucksack, including hip belt pockets, two external lid pockets, very large wand pockets for water/gas storage, hiking pole storage loops and compression straps on both sides. All do their job well.

Now here are the clever little bits. They’re not necessarily ground breaking, but they all add up to contribute to a very intuitive pack. The compression straps on the front of the bottom of the bag can be extended a lot to allow bigger items to be attached here, or they can be removed entirely if you want to use other lashings.

They also tuck away very nicely. The pack is joint lightest on test (1.9kg), yet is very stable on the back. Ventilation is pretty good thanks to the Aerolon suspension which allows air to pass through and moisture to wick away – a combination of mesh and triangular shapes cut out. Lumbar support is very good and it has a silicone type coating which stops it from sliding around too much.

I wore it over pretty rough ground and found it to be comfortable, with a good fit and decent ergonomics. I really liked the inclusion of a lightweight day pack inside which you can detach for shorter excursions. A really handy feature, especially for adventure travellers. Apart from the top loader style access, there aren’t any extra entry points to the main pack, but there is a well-designed sleeping bag compartment which is accessible by zip. There’s an extremely useful elasticated pocket on front and a decent rain cover, while extra lashing points on top are a nice touch.

One thing I would mention is that the straps and clips are quite thin/small, so they are slightly more fiddly than on other rucksacks. If you’re likely to be wearing gloves a lot during use, this could become an annoyance for you.

Osprey are one of the big dogs when it comes to packs, and there’s a reason they’re considered as such – they produce gear that does the job well. After spending some time with the Aether AG 70 it seems that this product is no exception.

One of the biggest talking points here is the AntiGravity (AG) back system which consists of a suspended mesh back panel and an IsoForm hipbelt that moulds to your shape. What this all means is that it’s very comfortable pack. In fact, I’d be tempted to go as far as to say that it’s the most comfortable on test.

Beyond comfort, the adjustable system ensures the load is carried very much where it is supposed to be (by the hips and legs) and the mesh back panel does a great job of wicking away moisture and allowing air flow.

Organisation is good because there is an internal and external lid pocket, plus you can easily access the main pack through the J-zip front access. Of course, you can also get to the sleeping bag compartment via a zip toward the bottom of the bag as well. There are two deep wand pockets, a large elasticated pocket on the front, plus lashing points where you can attach more kit. The compression straps also have enough slack to allow you to attach kit such as a tent. There are loops for storing hiking poles and pockets on the hip belts too.

The pack feels solid, carries heavy loads fine and it does it all comfortably. At £200 I don’t think it’s overpriced either, as it’s simply that good. The American version has a detachable day pack which this one doesn’t have, but you can buy a Daylite pack separately which will attach to the front of the rucksack. The lid is also removable to get weight down (2.35kg with lid, 1.9kg without the lid), while a rain cover, hydration pocket and a panel of ‘leave no trace’ rules are also included.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

A well-thought-out bag with some nice touches.

A fantastic pack that just won’t let you down.

WEIGHT

10

WEIGHT

8

ORGANISATION

8

ORGANISATION

10

COMFORT

8

COMFORT

10

VALUE

8

VALUE

9

FEATURES

9

FEATURES

10

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GEAR

Black Diamond

Thule

www.blackdiamondequipment.com

www.thule.com

AT RATING

AT RATING

Mercury 65 £200

8

Guidepost 65 £219.99

7

10

.6 10

men’s

men’s I found the Mercury 65 a peculiar-looking pack, especially as it turned up in two pieces! The hip belt comes separate from the main pack and you have to attach it with an allen key. This can be a bit of an awkward job, particularly if you want to adjust how high the hip belt is, as you’ll have to undo it and reattach it afterward, though once you’re sorted you won’t have to do it again.

Once you have achieved your preferred fit, the system ergoACTIV XP suspension system works rather well, though other hip belts are easier to tighten and loosen. The pack features a pivoting hip belt that offers great manoeuvrability, while the SwingArm shoulder straps naturally adjust to ensure even load transfer when on the move. It works pretty well and there is good airflow and lumbar support, but it’s not the most padded of hip belts.

The Mercury 65 comes with most of the features you’d expect from an expedition pack including hip belt pockets, lid pockets (inside and out), elasticated wand pockets, walking pole attachments, hydration pocket and two compression straps on each side which are helpful for securing extra kit. Extra attachment points on the top or bottom could have been useful though, and we did find a lot of the straps hung loose and were quite messy, blowing in the wind throughout the day.

One thing I did miss was a sleeping bag compartment. There is a very small, basic separator toward the bottom of the bag, but it’s not the most effective and the only way to access it is through the top or via the large zip on the front which exposes your entire load.

A separate zip would have been appreciated.

Still, the front zip does make it easy to pull things from the main pack without going through the top. There’s also a handy zip pocket on the front which would happily take waterproofs. All zips are water resistant, while the bottom of the bag has taped seams to protect your kit when your pack is on the ground – nice touch.

OK, so there’s a lot I like about the Guidepost 65 and then there are some bits I’m not such a fan of. Let’s start with the positives. It has many of the features you would be looking for on an expedition pack. These include walking pole hoops, an exterior and interior lid pocket, a sleeping bag compartment (which can be taken away), hydration pouch, lashing points on the top, waterproof cover and so on.

One of the really good things about it is that you can remove the lid and reverse it to turn it into a 28L day sack. – handy.

There is also an additional pocket on the front of the bag which is large and easily accessible, perfect for bits and bobs you might need quickly, like waterproofs. We also liked the J-zip access to the main compartment and sleeping bag (though we’d prefer a separate entry for the sleeping bag). Another cool feature is the brand’s VersaClick accessories that can be switched and swapped on one side of the hip belt. As standard, you get a small weatherproof roll top pocket, but you can purchase different items like a camera holder or water bottle sleeve.

The other thing we liked was that the hip belt pivots with you when you move. This means you’re not restricted in your movement – a great plus. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite get used to the hip belt personally, as I felt the lumber support jabbed into my back somewhat. The shoulder straps are comfy though, and the tension straps, both top and bottom, work very well.

Thule definitely paid a lot of attention to the smaller things with this pack and it certainly pays off. The straps tuck away nicely and most things seem to work very intuitively. It’s a shame that there are no wand pockets though as there’s nowhere obvious for water bottles, while only one compression strap on each side makes it more challenging to attach kit like tents or roll mats.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

Lots of features we did like, but some omissions which we couldn’t overlook.

Some impressive technology, but a couple of frustrations too.

WEIGHT

8

WEIGHT

7

ORGANISATION

8

ORGANISATION

8

COMFORT

8

COMFORT

7

VALUE

8

VALUE

8

FEATURES

8

FEATURES

8

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GEAR

Fjällräven

Arc’teryx

www.fjallraven.co.uk

www.arcter yx.com

AT RATING

AT RATING

Kajka 65 £300

8

Bora AR 63 £420

7

.8 10

.8 10

men’s

men’s Fjallraven’s Kajka 65 rucksack may look understated, but take a closer look and you’ll discover a myriad of useful and welldesigned features. Let’s start with the frame and back system.

It takes a bit of work to find the perfect fit, but the beauty of this is that there are various adjustment points to help you achieve this. The height and width of the shoulder straps are adjustable and when you have a good fit, it’s very comfortable. The hip belt fits well, is comfortable and pulls in nicely to take most of the weight, and there’s plenty of support too.

The frame uses birch wood as opposed to aluminium, a move that reduces its environmental impact by 90% but still ensures stability and load carrying abilities – a nice touch.

There’s an exterior and interior lid pocket, plus two easily accessible zip pockets on the side of the pack that offer great storage – perfect for extra layers or waterproofs. There are plenty of places for you to attach extra gear, with compression straps on the sides and front, plus a bungee cord on top of the lid. Speaking of which, the lid is adjustable so you can pack more in between it and the main pack. It can also be detached and used as a waist or shoulder bag, or attached to the shoulder straps in front of you. The pack also features pockets on the hip belt, walking pole storage and wand pockets.

Organisation is further enhanced with a bottom compartment in which you’ll find a mesh lining which can be used to separate kit. The main compartment can be accessed in the standard top loader style, but there are also zips on the front which allow you to open the pack like a suitcase and see what’s inside. The Kajka might be the heaviest pack on test at just under 3.5kg, but it’s weight well spent. It’s solid, reliable and a decent load carrier that will do a job over long distances, regardless of the terrain you are covering.

Yeah, I know. The Bora AR 63 comes with an eye-watering price tag, but then, Arc’teryx gear often does. The question is, does it live up to the cost? Well, one of the headline features is the RotoGlide hipbelt and the GridLock shoulder strap system. As its name suggests, the former rotates up and down and from side to side with the movement of your body. It’s a great little feature that helps you maintain balance and it also reduces the risk of chafing.

The GridLock system also works very well. It enables you to clip the shoulder straps into a range of positions so you can determine both the height and the width of them. Handy.

The padding on the hip and shoulders is quite different to anything else on test and almost feels like memory foam. While slightly odd at first, I did find it pretty comfortable in the long run, though I would say the Osprey and Fjallraven packs beat it in this respect. There is a good amount of airflow behind the pack too.

The pack also features a hydration pouch, attachment points for trekking poles or ice axes, a wand pocket on each side ideal for water bottles or gas canisters and daisy chain loops for extra attachment points.

Unfortunately, there’s no sleeping bag compartment which is a shame, as we find them so useful. Instead everything goes in the pack together. There is a side zip opening and a ‘kangeroo’ opening on the front that allows you access to the main pack, but there’s no easy way to get your sleeping bag out without it bringing other kit with it. We did like the additional sleeve pocket on the front as it looks really handy for waterproofs or extra layers.

There’s no waterproof cover, which would see the Bora AR 63 marked down if it were not for the fact that much of the fabric used on the pack is actually weatherproof itself. This has been included on the areas Arc’teryx believe are most exposed to the elements, though we’d still pack our kit into dry bags as a matter or course.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

A solid and reliable pack that has been designed extremely well and won’t let you down.

A bag with lots of impressive technology and great features.

WEIGHT

7

WEIGHT

8

ORGANISATION

10

ORGANISATION

7

COMFORT

9

COMFORT

8

VALUE

8

VALUE

7

FEATURES

10

FEATURES

9

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GEAR

Vango

Regatta

www.vango.co.uk

www.regatta.com

AT RATING

AT RATING

Sherpa 60 + 10S £90

8

Blackfell 60 + 10 £120

8

.4 10

10

women’s

women’s The main compartment of the Vango Sherpa is a good size, I had no issues with fitting all my expedition kit in there.

However, I did have a bit of a fight on my hands when it came to packing my sleeping bag in the bottom compartment.

After a spot of fisty-cuffs and a slight struggle with zipping it up, I did eventually get the sleeping bag in. When it comes to organisation, the backpack has two large zipped side pockets, two stretch wand pockets, one zipped central pocket, two hip pockets (big enough to fit an iPhone 6), one good-sized zipped pocket in the lid and one small zipped pocket on the lid’s underside.

Weighing in at 2.26kg, this backpack was in the middle weight category of all packs in this test. But it benefits from plenty of cushioning on the hip belt, shoulder straps and back padding – so when it’s loaded up and on your back, the straps don’t cause any discomfort. They also feature a mesh material to help wick away the moisture when your back sweats, which keeps you feeling dryer. The back support system is easily changed to fit the length of your back via two adjustment straps, and you can also remove the back system should you wish via Velcro tabs in the main compartment.

Other features on this rucksack include a bungee cord for additional external storage, an emergency whistle on the chest belt buckle, attachment loops, a side haul handle, a drawcord to separate your stuff in the main compartment, and it is hydration bladder compatible. Being cheapest in the test at £90, I think this backpack brings more to the table than some of the other more expensive ones on review and it’s certainly a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to break the bank.

Being a cheaper, entry-level brand, I’m always intrigued to see how Regatta will do in comparison to other more expensive brands, so I was looking forward to testing this one out. It didn’t let me down on space, there was plenty of room in the main compartment for my expedition kit and my sleeping bag slotted in the bottom compartment with ease. However, I must say it lacks in zip pockets on the outside of the backpack. There is only one small-ish zip pocket on the top of the lid, the rest are mesh stretch pockets – two on the hip belt and two on either side of the pack, along with bungee cord storage to the centre.

When I’m on the go, I like to keep my iPhone stashed in one of my hip pockets, so I would be worried to do so with only a mesh pocket for protection in case it got knocked out or it rained. On the inside, there is a large hydration pack pocket.

The hip belt, shoulder straps and back padding are all adequately cushioned, I didn’t experience any discomfort when the pack was loaded up on my back, and the weight felt evenly distributed. The back support system is simple and easy to adjust to fit the size of your back. You can also remove the back system via a zip in the main compartment should you wish to make the pack more lightweight.

Weighing in at 2kg, the Regatta backpack was the third lightest in test. The rucksack also has an emergency whistle and rain cover, but there are no attachment loops. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some of the other packs have in this test have, but you can’t really grumble about the lack of fancy extras on an expedition backpack which only costs you £100. I would recommend this pack to anyone who is looking for something cheap and cheerful.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

The Blackfell pack is comfortable and lightweight to wear and it won’t hit your purse too hard.

It may be cheap, but it kept up well with the other backpacks on test.

WEIGHT

8

WEIGHT

9

ORGANISATION

8

ORGANISATION

7

COMFORT

8

COMFORT

8

VALUE

10

VALUE

9

FEATURES

8

FEATURES

7

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GEAR

Quechua

Ferrino

www.decathlon.co.uk

www.fer rino.it/en

AT RATING

AT RATING

Symbium 70+10 £109.99

9

Transalp 60W £129.95

8

.2 10

.2 10

women’s

women’s First thing I noticed when testing this backpack was the centre zip which runs down the main compartment, this is so handy when you need to grab something from the bag because you don’t have to hurl everything out to find what you need. There is also an abundance of inner and outer pockets which makes easy work of organising all your bits and bobs.

On the outside, there are two zipped hip-belt pockets (plenty big enough to store my iPhone 6), two large zipped pockets on either side of the pack, two stretchy (non-zipped) side wand pockets, a big zipped compartment on the lid, and another big zipped bottom compartment. On the inside, there is a zipped pocket on the inside of the lid.

Once the backpack was packed and on my back, I immediately noticed how luxuriously cushioned the shoulder straps, hip belt and back padding were. They also benefit from a mesh material which will help to wick away moisture. I have no complaints about the comfort of this pack. Once I had made all the finetuning to the back support via the Velcro adjustment, I found the weight was distributed evenly across my back. This pack is also incredibly lightweight, weighing in at 1.18kg, it was the lightest in the test.

The thing I love most about this pack is that the compartment on the lid of the pack detaches, pulls over your head and gives you access to the pocket, which is perfect for stashing and keeping your valuables safe, along with an integrated map holder. You can also clip it to the hip belt for extra security. The backpack also features a rain cover which is stored via a velcro pocket on the bottom of the pack, an emergency whistle on the chest strap clip, handy adjustable straps which are perfect for stashing walking poles and is hydration pack compatible.

Ferrino is a well respected Italian brand that has recently started bringing more of its product range over to the UK, so I was eager to get my hands on the Transalp 60W and see how it performed. I was pleased with the amount of room offered in the main compartment, it was plenty big enough for my expedition kit, and the bottom compartment was a good size for my sleeping bag. You can also access the main compartment from here via a drawstring opening. When it comes to external pockets there is an abundance. There are two zipped hip belt pockets (which at a squeeze fit my iPhone 6), two large zipped side pockets, two zipped central pockets (one small, one large), and a good-sized zipped pocket with an inner zipped mesh pocket on the lid. Internally, there is one zipped pocket on the underside of the lid.

The hip belt and back padding don’t feel particularly well cushioned when you squeeze them but, I have to say, I didn’t feel any discomfort when the backpack was on and the shoulder straps felt well cushioned. They also benefit from mesh material to help keep the sweaty back at bay. You can easily adjust the back support from small to medium via a central strap. The overall fit of the backpack feels welltuned to the female form and the weight of my kit was evenly distributed across my back.

The backpack also benefits from other features such as a rain cover stashed in the bottom of the bag which is accessible via a Velcro pocket, plenty of attachment loops and is hydration bladder compatible. Out of all the packs I have tested, I thought the Ferrino was one of the most comfortable to wear, however, it was the third heaviest in the test weighing in at 2.5kg.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

Plenty of organisation pockets but a little on the heavier side.

A spacious and lightweight backpack that ticks all the boxes.

WEIGHT

10

WEIGHT

8

ORGANISATION

9

ORGANISATION

9

COMFORT

9

COMFORT

8

VALUE

9

VALUE

8

FEATURES

9

FEATURES

8

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GEAR

Montane

Haglöfs

www.montane.co.uk

www.haglofs.com

AT RATING

AT RATING

Grand Tour 70 £160

7

Röse 65 £180

7

.4 10

.6 10

women’s

women’s You can always count on Montane to bring you good-looking kit – this is my favourite style out of all backpacks in this test.

Loading it up for an expedition was easy, there is plenty of room in the main compartment for the bulk of my belongings, and the bottom compartment is a good fit for a sleeping bag. You can also access the main compartment from the inside of the bottom compartment, which is handy for grabbing things without having to take everything out. Externally, the backpack benefits from two large zipped stretch pockets on either side, two stretch side wand pockets, two hip belt pockets (big enough to fit an iPhone 6), and one generous sized lid compartment with a large inner mesh pocket. Internally, the bag has a zipped pocket on the underside of the lid compartment.

I was disappointed with the minimal cushioning on the shoulder straps, hip belt and back padding, in fact, I found the back padding too hard which made it uncomfortable as it was sticking into my lower back a little, which is something that could cause a lot of grief on a long trek . The backpack’s adjustment straps are easy to use and you can also remove the back system (which is accessible via a zip in the main compartment) to make the bag even lighter, but this bag was fourth lightest, weighing in at 2.17kg (inclusive of the back system). The back system can also be shaped to tailor fit the user’s back. There is no mesh lining to the straps or back padding either, but having said that, the back does feature channels that promote air flow to help reduce back sweat.

The Grand Tour backpack also benefits from features such as an easy top grab haul handle, extra drawcords that can be attached to front loops for additional front stretch storage, attachment loops and it is hydration pack compatible. However, it’s disappointing that the backpack doesn’t feature a rain cover, as this is exceptionally useful when out on an expedition.

When I first looked at the Röse backpack I thought to myself ‘how on earth am I going to fit all my stuff in here!?’

- the profile of the bag was very slim and it had no bottom compartment for my sleeping bag. Expecting to have to strap my stuff on, here, there and everywhere, to the outside of the pack, I was pleased to find how roomy it was when I started undoing the compression straps. It was at this moment that I ate my words, so to say, as all my expedition kit went in with ease – sleeping bag and all!

The cushioning on the hip belt, shoulder straps and back padding felt really hard, so I was worried that the bag would feel uncomfortable when on. However, I have to say, once I had adjusted the straps to fit me and changed the velcro back support to fit the length of my back, the bag was very comfortable – the Röse pack had proved me wrong again.

I was disappointed at the lack of external pockets though, especially seeing as there is no bottom compartment, I could definitely do with some extra stashing spaces. There are no hip belt pockets either, however, there are two stretch wand pockets on either side of the bag which are ideal for water bottles and the lid does have a zipped pocket. The centre of the bag also has drawcord storage.

You can access the main compartment of the bag via a large zip at the bottom of the bag, which makes very easy work of reaching your stuff without having to lug everything out to find what you need. The backpack also benefits from attachment loops for walking poles or ice axes and a rain cover. The pack is not hydration pack compatible which I think is a big overlook for an expedition pack. The Rose 65 weighs in at an impressive 1.9kg, which makes it second lightest in test and retails at a respectable £180.

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

A good-looking backpack but needs to score higher on comfort.

A lightweight pack that proved my pre-judgements were wrong.

WEIGHT

8

WEIGHT

10

ORGANISATION

8

ORGANISATION

6

COMFORT

6

COMFORT

8

VALUE

8

VALUE

7

FEATURES

7

FEATURES

7

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GEAR

Vaude

Deuter

www.vaude.com

www.deutergb.co.uk

AT RATING

AT RATING

WO Astrum 60 + 10 £190

7

Aircontact Pro 65+15 SL £210

7

.8 10

.4 10

women’s

women’s Packing doesn’t prove an issue with the Astrum backpack as there is plenty of room for all your expedition kit in the main compartment and there is a generously sized bottom compartment which is perfect for stashing your sleeping bag or dirty clothes in. You can also access the each compartment from the other thanks to a zip divider inside. For external organisation, there are two stretch side wand pockets which will happily take water bottoles, one large zipped pocket on the lid, but only one hip belt pocket (but this is big enough to fit an iPhone 6). Inside, there is a zipped pocket on the underside of the lid for any other valuables that you might want to keep close to hand.

I found the cushioning on the shoulder straps to be quite firm, though I did not find this uncomfortable. I did find that the hip belt was a little too hard against my hips (even though it felt pretty cushioned when I squeezed it with my hand), but this could change over time. The back padding felt well cushioned and wasn’t too hard against my back and it benefits from a honeycomb type of mesh, which not only works to wick away moisture but allows air to circulate behind your back to help keep you cool. You can also easily adjust the back support by using a central clip adjustment system.

Other features include an emergency whistle on the chest belt buckle, an SOS instruction label on the inside of the lid, a top haul handle, attachment loops, and the backpack is hydration pack compatible. The bottom of the Astrum also houses a rain cover which is accessible via a zip and is also detachable by a small clip. Vaude’s backpack came in second heaviest in the test at 2.54kg and retails at £190, making it the second most expensive women’s pack.

When I was packing this rucksack I noticed that the main compartment was a tad limited in space compared to the others in this test, I could have done with a little more room for my things. However, that being said, on the outside of the bag there is lots of external storage, including two zipped side pockets, two (non-zipped) side wand pockets, a mesh stretch pocket on the front, two hip belt pockets (big enough to fit an iPhone 6), one large zipped bottom compartment (big enough to store a sleeping bag), and a zipped top compartment. The top compartment also contains a zipped away daysack which is very handy for day trips.

I found the cushioned padding on the shoulder straps, hip belt and back padding to be a little on the harder side on this pack, but not uncomfortable. The cushioning features a mesh fabric which helps to wick away moisture when you sweat.

I found that the backpack straps were easy to adjust to my size and I was able to alter the back support to fit my back length by a quick centre buckle adjustment. The backpack also benefits from a slim profile which gives free range of movement when on. However, this pack was the heaviest in test weighing in at 3.53kg.

One of the things I like most about this Deuter backpack is how easily you can access your stuff in the main compartment via a large zipped front opening. The backpack also features trekking pole and ice axe attachment loops, a rain cover, an SOS instruction label inside the lid, and is hydration pack compatible. My favourite thing about women’s Deuter backpacks is the yellow flower detail, it’s detachable and you can use it as a (fancy looking) hair-band, this is ideal for me because I always forget to bring one!

IN A LINE

IN A LINE

Limited on main compartment space, but makes up for it with the extra pockets.

Plenty of room for your kit and will keep things cool behind your back.

WEIGHT

7

WEIGHT

7

ORGANISATION

8

ORGANISATION

8

COMFORT

8

COMFORT

7

VALUE

8

VALUE

7

FEATURES

8

FEATURES

8

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