DEUTER RRP: £170 Target price: £155

Aircontact 55+10

Coming from a nation of mad-keen backpackers, Deuter’s Aircontact 55+10 is a pack for serious adventures. On National Trails and Europe’s GRs, this capacious pack is right at home. It’s engineered for carrying cumbersome loads with minimum discomfort and maximum stability, and feels built to withstand the knocks and scrapes of life on the trail. Though it’s a hefty 2.6kg before you’ve put anything in it. Loaded up fully, the pack’s aluminium stays did a great job distributing weight. The shoulder straps are adjustable for six different back lengths, so the bodyhugging harness will always sit pretty, and Deuter make a female ‘SL’ version too. The Aircontact back system creates a subtle air arc between back and bag, which while not as airy as a ‘suspended’ system, provides some ventilation. The lid access at the top is supplemented by zipped access points in the middle and bottom, which can be split off for wet kit. Though by no means a crowded design, it has plenty of useful pockets, pouches and fixtures for organising kit.

SPECIFICATION: Capacity: 55L (+10) Sizes: n/a (adjustable) Weight: 2630g Back System: Air Contact (mesh padded panel) Extra pockets: 3+ 2 side pouches Unisex version: Aircontact 50+10 SL Contact: 0191 296 0212, www.deutergb.co.uk Robust, very stable with a properly adjusted harness, versatile storage. Heavy and relatively bulky.