Deuter Aircontact Lite 50+10 £155

Comfortable, capable, plenty of features, good value

No raincover, not as rugged as some

When it comes to large packs, a few elements seem to have become preferred design features, as they work well on the trail. The Aircontact Lite has them all. Floating lid with inner and outer pockets? Check. Roomy main compartment with double drawcord collar? Of course. Separate bottom compartment with zipped divider? Naturally. Practical side, front and hipbelt pockets? All present and correct. Hydration compatibility? Tick. Adjustable, padded harness? Yes indeed.

The pack itself is built around an aluminium alloy X-frame with a top bar stay and a rigid plastic framesheet. The back panel has a central channel for airflow alongside soft, padded foam sections with mesh overlays. It carries well and is comfortable. The pack is well-built and the fabrics are pretty tough too, though it’s not quite as rugged as some. And despite the Aircontact Lite name, at 1.75kg, it’s a welterweight rather than a featherweight.

But in terms of price, features, overall design and carrying comfort, this pack does everything pretty well.

■ Weight 1.75kg ■ Sizes One size (adjustable) ■ Main fabric PU-coated 600D polyester, 100HT ripstop nylon ■ Pockets 7 ■ Raincover No ■ Women’s version Aircontact Lite SL 50+10

Verdict

A well-built, roomy and feature-heavy pack with a tried and tested design for trekking and backpacking.