Regatta Blackfell II 35

£70 ■ Capacity 35 litres ■ Back sizes one size (unisex) ■ Weight 1253g IT'S GOOD The low price tag is instantly impressive here – and it also has a reasonable weight (note that it is a 35-litre design as some lighter packs have a smaller capacity). The back system is a trampoline design, too, with a mesh panel holding the pack away from the body for maximum airflow. The body has a main compartment with a zipped opening and there is an additional zipped pocket near the top of the main compartment. You get mesh side wand pockets, as well as compression straps. So, all the basics are here, and there is even a removable 63g raincover. It works pretty well, too, for normal hillwalking. HOWEVER There are a few drawbacks. Firstly, it only comes in one size – there’s no women’s specific option – and there’s no back length adjustment either. It’s not quite as comfy as higher-priced designs, so you do need to try this before buying. Also, you are getting a zipped opening to the main compartment rather than a buckled lid, and while both styles have their pros and cons not everyone will want a zipped opening. The small zipped pocket provided is quite small but at least it does just about take an OS map. There are no other pockets, though. Side compression straps do allow poles to be strapped to the sides, but quick-release buckles are much easier to use. VERDICT If you like a zipped opening and find this fits, then it’s a great value-for-money option but higher-priced packs do have design benefits.