Lowe Alpine Cholatse 45

£105 Capacity 45 litres Back sizes adjustable (men’s); adjustable (women’s) Weight 1674g

The back system allows the shoulder straps to be raised or lowered to ensure a better fit on a wider range of people and there is a men’s and women’s option. A stiffened back allows easy packing and support for heavier loads , while a mesh panel holds the pack’s padding away from the body a little. To allow more comfort between hips and shoulders, the back system twists easily. The body of the pack is made from durable nylon and the main compartment is accessed via a fixed lid; there's also zipped access to the base compartment and front. Good-sized pockets are placed on the lid and front of the body as well as the hipbelt.

The weight is creeping up but it does include a 98g raincover, which you could ditch. I tend not to use front zipped access to packs so for me this option adds unnecessary weight and cost. Some other packs have even more airflow across the back system too for warmer conditions. A slight niggle is that the side compression straps don’t get quick-release buckles so are slightly more fiddly to use if you strap trekking poles or other items to the sides of the pack. Some other packs have at least one zipped side pocket, which you may miss on this design.

This is a very well-priced pack for what you get and it is ideal for overnight use, but the drawbacks are the weight and that other rucksacks have some extra benefits.