Exped Black Ice 45 £155

+ Waterproof, very light, innovative design - Not suitable for heavier loads, flimsy hipbelt, very simplistic back system, no lid As an ultralight obsessive myself, I was immediately drawn to the Exped Black

Ice 45 – it has an eye-catching minimalist design and a supremely impressive weight of just 820g (less than half the weight of the Gregory pack). Absolutely everything is stripped back with this approach, meaning any superfluous features or unnecessary bells and whistles are omitted – and instead you’re left with a waterproof, durable and super-simplistic pack that works excellently at the lowest weight possible.

Almost like a gigantic dry-bag with shoulder straps, the Black Ice 45 is billed as 100% waterproof with a 10,000mm hydrostatic head rating – making it the most waterproof pack on test. This is achieved through the use of a thick, 400-denier, waterproof ripstop nylon, factory sealed seams, and a generous TPU coating.

The rest of the pack is characteristically minimalist, including roll-top closure, thinly-padded shoulder straps, a thin foam back panel and a fin-less webbing strap around the hips. The latter two form a very basic suspension system, which is comfortable for lighter loads but ineffective for heavier loads. You also get ice axe loops, toggles and daisy chain straps for attaching gear, as well as two zippered pockets (one internal, one external).

■ Weight 820g ■ Volume 45 litres ■ Sizes Small, medium, large

■ Main fabrics 400-denier ripstop nylon