Back system

Trailblazer 30

How your pack deals with heat and air is crucial if you want to avoid a sweaty back. See Back Systems

RRP £85 Target price £85 The Trailblazer is designed for on-thego adventures. With a 30 litre capacity and a weight of only 800g it will take you far and high. I squeezed in more spare layers than I could physically wear and still had room for a full day’s worth of nosh. Montane seem to be nudging you towards a jog with their multiple cross-body straps and easy-access pockets on the shoulder straps and hip belt. With strategically placed snacks and drink, you wouldn’t have to stop for hours. Luckily there’s no one from Montane watching to see you idle over the views or lounge about on the summit with your sandwich. There isn’t much padding on the straps, but I still found the pack extremely comfortable – partly because of the flex in the back, though that does also mean the pack isn’t as well structured as some other models. It’s a unisex model but the back length is adjustable and I was able to find a good fit for my petite frame. The only slight downside for smaller walkers is that the shoulder straps are very wide to accommodate the pockets, so they can impede movement slightly if you’re not particularly broad-chested. RB

INFO: Weight: 800g Back system: Padded Extra pockets: 8 Contact: 01670 522 300, www.montane.co.uk

Light, high capacity, pockets everywhere, adjustable back.

Wide shoulder straps, no rain cover, load can bulge.