THULE BACKPACKS £90-£125

Thule make more than racks and carriers for cars – among other things, they make hiking backpacks – in three series. This review includes one from each – the AllTrail 35L Men’s (£125), the Stir 28L Women’s (£105) and the Capstone 22L Men’s (£90). Their quality is impressive, and they have some good features.

AllTrail

This range has 15L to 45L models in various colours with all bar the 15L available in men’s and women’s versions. The 35L felt like a big 35L! I walked a good 12 miles with it, and it was a comfortable carry. It has a thin, wire frame, two stretchy, capacious side-pockets for water bottles, a top pocket, and a vertical zip to quickly access a subsection of the main compartment – which you can also access from inside. There’s a zip-up pocket on the right-hand hip-belt, and ‘VersaClick’ sockets on the left. These allow the addition of, for example, a camera pouch or water bottle holder (optional extras), or a strap (supplied) for a walking pole or two.

Stir

I don’t have what it takes to review a woman’s pack, so drafted my wife Ruth in, who used it on walks, cycling and as an urban bag, and was very impressed. The Stirs stretch from 15L to 35L in various colours. The bigger packs have versions for men and women. The 28L is compact and well thought out. Access to the small top pocket is well placed, the side ‘shove-pockets’ are deep enough to look after a water bottle or Walkstool (strapped on higher up), you can strap on a walking pole, add a hydration reservoir, and there’s a stretchy pocket on the shoulder strap. Initial concerns about shoulder straps slipping on ‘non-grippy’ fabric were dispelled by using the chest harness.