Talkback: Just In - Lowe Alpine Alpine Attack 34:45

Lowe Alpine do make some really well-specced medium capacity packs, and this could well be another. I've somehow acquired four ( ) in the last few years, all with variations of the Adaptive Fit harness and they do carry very comfortably. They're also well designed with features that genuinely work, although (with the exception of the Zepton 50) it does tend to add a few extra grams, so keeping this Alpine Attack 35:45 light and strippable seems like a welcome development.

Not sure about the "Headlocker" system though. It looks like it'll work well for weird shaped technical axes, but it potentially limits the pack's versatility - not likely to be so good sharing one central attachment bar for more traditional axes, and no use at all for carrying poles, shovel handle, etc.

The Head locker thing can take shovl handles etc, because the big metal button thing is on a loop of webbing and you can just use that old school style.

Ah, ok, that might well help.

But I suppose you could still hit snags with the angle from that central point to any upper attachment point if the item is long and straight rather than banana-axe shaped...

it'll been fine unless it's a 3 foot long bimbling axe.

If you want a problem with it. It relies on the bag being fully compressed so may require constant readjusting, and I think you cant have the lid pushed down into the main compartment for climbing?

It'll be fine unless it's a 3ft long bimbling axe!

If you want a problem with it. It needs you to keep the bag compressed at all times. So maybe lots of readjusting. Unlike some simple bunge.

oh it did post it without me being logged in. Oh well!

@Matt C Lowe have put a video on this website that explains ice axe attachment - they say they are not aware of a single axe on the market that can't be used with this system - http://lowealpinetechroom.co.uk/2011/mountain/index.html