 Just looking for any opinions on deuter's larger packs, does anybody own/use the aircontact pro pack? How good is the back system? Their larger packs look quite beefy are they very heavy? Any sugestions for the perfect 50litre(ish) pack will be gratefully recieved.
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 Haven't got a 'large' Deuter sack but I have got the ACT Lite 40+10 (=50 litres) According to the stats it weighs in at 1650 gms which is only 300 more than the Osprey Atmos 50 (medium) but at least £30 cheaper! The back system worked for me last hot autumn and adjusted easily to fit correctly. I don't find it heavy and neither did a friend of mine who quite liked it but for some reason decided to buy the Osprey!!
It has no side pockets, which I find a bonus, but does have lots of little other pockets and hideaways which are very useful and it has a useful pocket on the hipbelt. The sac also has a divider with a lower entry/removal zip. Material seems rugged enough. I've used mine on the Two Moors Way last September, on a couple of weekends and as a winter daysack. I intend to use it on a week long trip across the Lake District this autumn.
It's the perfect 50(ish) sack for me!
Hope that helps.
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Thanks alot, thats really helpful. I've considered osprey packs, but now I think go for Deuter on the basis of better value for money.
Cheers office manager.
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 The oddest thing for me about the larger Deuter packs is how hard they are to find in the UK  I've seen the smaller rucksacks around a bit but the only Deuter stuff I've seen reviewed in the mags (inc some sac group tests) has been their sleeping bags. I guess that they must simply not bother with the UK rucksack market too much.
I recently carried an AC classic 55+10 round ~500k. Very adjustable back system, solid build, some neat bits but maybe a little heavy. (~2.4kg iirc.). Very teutonic really It certainly seems like quite a good load hauler if you want/need such a thing. I did but only because I'd packed too much  Especially useful if you don't get on with Ospreys/fixed length back systems for whatever reason - my back is somehow utterly Osprey proof.
The ACLites do look like the most generally useful sacks in the range - the 40+10 does look like a very nice sac in principle - I'm certainly planning to try one. It looks quite close to the lowe alpine Airzone 45 in terms of features/weight etc to me.
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  The oddest thing for me about the larger Deuter packs is how hard they are to find in the UK - Wrote MC.
S'funny, as recently I've come across a good few outdoors stores online here that had nothing but Deuter rucksacks in their backpacks range!
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Try Itchy Feet, Craigdon Mountain Sports and Field and Trek for starters. I cannot give you my usual exact web address links right now sadly though, as my Google desktop is playing up a good bit at the moment. 
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OK, scratch Itchy feet here, I was misremembering there it seems. Curse my misbehaving Gogle Desktop for that red herring there then! 
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| Edited: 22/07/08 01:50 |
 Do the on line stockists of Deuter packs really have them in stock???
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Why not ask them yourself first off?
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Very odd Are you sure? Field & Trek and Craidon seemingly don't have any of the big sacks in their main rucksack sections. (Craidon do have a few around though). Tamarack do but seem to rather specalise in good European things which haven't yet reached the UK mainstream (I found mine in Alpenstock who also seem to like such things.). It's rather easier to find German stockists of course! Oh well. Maybe we get put off by the alpine safety stickers
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I bought mine in Cotswold in Nottingham. I've just looked on their website and they don't have it but they may have them in-store?? Might be worth a phone call to your nearest branch??
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 I bought the Deuter AirContact (AC) 50+10 SL last week from Gaynor Sports at Ambleside for backpacking. I have a Vango Sherpa 60+10 but was never comfortable with the fit after using it fully loaded a couple of times. I know they advertise it as a womens fit BUT they also state it's unisex ie for any person requiring a shorter back length (well that's my excuse ). Tried a few on over the past weeks but this one is the best fit for me. I also have the Deuter Futura 32 AC for days out and like it a lot so was comfortable with choosing another Deuter.
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