Jack Wolfskin Highland Trail 55 £175

Comfortable, robust, plenty of features

Relatively heavy

Incorporating all the design elements you’d expect from a fully-featured trekking pack, the Highland Trail 55 is a versatile trail buddy. The internal X-frame and adjustable back system are near-identical to Deuter’s Aircontact Lite pack, delivering similar carrying comfort, good airflow, and plenty of padding for shoulders and lower back.

The two German brands share a common approach when it comes to design. Both have main and bottom compartments, floating lids and plenty of additional storage options. The Jack Wolfskin has a few useful extras though. First there’s U-shaped front access to the main compartment for added convenience, plus a zipped front pocket with an inner sleeve that is a good place to slot a map or guidebook. The outer lid pocket opens wide, and the right-hand hipbelt pocket has an expanding bottom, so it can be used as a water bottle holster. The pack is tough and weatherproof too, with a stowaway raincover.

The robust fabrics and extra features do add weight, and this pack is 2kg+ empty. It’s also priced a little higher than comparable models like the Deuter and Lowe Alpine.

■ Weight 2.2kg ■ Sizes One size (adjustable) ■ Main fabric 280D ripstop nylon body and 300D ripstop polyester base, polyester lining ■ Pockets 8 ■ Raincover Yes ■ Women’s version Highland Trail 45 Women

Verdict

A classic trekking pack that is well suited to a whole gamut of backpacking adventures.