LOWE ALPINE

Cholatse ND45

RRP: £105 Target price: £105 The Cholatse ND45 has more pockets and openings than you can shake a walking pole at. What’s more – they’re all useful. On a recent venture into the hills I had hip belt pockets full of Snickers bars, a map tucked away neatly in the front compartment and my hydration system reassuringly stowed away in a separate pouch. The main compartment can either be accessed from the top or from a front opening zip (so when your waterproof is stuffed right at the bottom of your pack, you don’t have to empty your pack to find it). Lowe Alpine offer both a unisex and a women’s specific version of the Cholatse. I found the women’s model to be a good fit without resorting to the extreme adjustments sometimes needed on unisex packs, however I didn’t find this the most comfortable of packs. The hip belt is well-padded but quite stiff, and heavy loads can bulge outwards and destabilise the pack. It does however have a good ventilation system, which was a relief on a long summer’s day walk. SPECIFICATION: Capacity: 45L Sizes: n/a (adjustable) Weight: 1580g Back System: AirMesh (mesh) Extra pockets: 3 + 2 side pouches Unisex version: Cholatse 45 Contact: 0800 0116107, www.lowealpine.com Useful pockets, front access, good ventilation system. Not the most comfortable, can feel unstable with heavy loads. BEST FOR: Long day trips where food and supplies demand extra space.