QUECHUA ALPKIT

NH 500 30L Presta 25

RRP: £35 £35

Quechua’s parent brand Decathlon is all about quality at low cost. Indeed, they make a decent 20L pack called the ‘Country Walking Backpack’ (nice name) for just a tenner. What you get with this one though is more storage, tougher fabric, a more luxuriously padded back system, and a raincover. The main compartment is vast, easily swallowing three big jackets plus other kit, and there’s a huge basement section for wet stuff or a compact tent, plus a big front pocket sub-divided into four compartments. The main section has a divider for holding a laptop or a hydration system. Weirdly though, that section is also accessible from outside via a huge zip which is a) redundant and b) just another way for water to get in. As a whole it’s baggy and floppy, and the simple hip and chest straps don’t provide much stability (the chest strap is fixed to the harness via a simple webbing loop, which looks cheap and slips down). I think it’s just too big and unstructured for true versatility. As an alternative, consider its 25L little brother (£25), or even that little £10 gem.

INFO Weight: 900g Capacity: 30L Extra pockets: 7 Back system: Padded Contact: 07483 068343 (WhatsApp), decathlon.co.uk + Huge capacity, urban/country adaptability, tough fabric – Baggy, unstructured, lacks sophistication

BEST FOR: Laptop-and-folder office days and easy lowland walks.

RRP: £55 Target price: £55

The Presta is simple, lightweight and comparatively cheap. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t well featured and well designed. The Presta is intended for a variety of fast-paced activities, whether you’re zooming across the hills on foot or by bike. It’s still fairly capacious and will expand to swallow much more kit than might first appear with a stretchy front mesh pocket, two generous side pockets, small hip-belt pockets and a mesh valuables pocket. Unusually, the latter is accessible from both inside and outside the pack, with the outer zip tucked away above the shoulder straps. The back system, to save weight and keep the design streamlined, is simple: two mesh-covered foam bars at the shoulders to create a channel down the spine. It allows for some ventilation but I find the fit a little loose across the upper back. The soft, mesh-lined hip-belt though, contours perfectly, feeling surprisingly secure. The top opening zip is also worth a mention, encircling three sides of the pack. That means full, easy access to the interior, with plenty of room and light for digging around.

INFO Weight: 597g Capacity: 25L Extra pockets: 6 Back system: Mesh covered foam

Contact: 01773 417007, alpkit.com

+ Highly versatile, very low weight, excellent value

– Fit across shoulders and back could be better

BEST FOR: Multi activity and short summer walks.