Macpac's New 2004 Kit Previewed

The flipside of Macpac's shift to manufacturing overseas - see this article for more details - is both a cut in prices and, they say, the potential to use new technologies to produce more advanced products that they've not been able to before as well as improving existing ones.

We had a sneak preview of the 2004 Macpac range at the recent Friedrichshafen Outdoors show and there are some neat new bits of kit coming our way early next year.

Macpac say that using specialist tent makers in the Far East has enabled them to both cut prices and reduce the weights of their tents through improved construction and materials. For example, next year they'll be using an improved, lighter flysheet fabric coated with a silicone elastomer on both sides and significantly lighter than the existing materials. Poles have been lightened too.

They also say that manufacturing expertise means that the tents now pitch more cleanly with sharper lines. As an example, next year's Minaret will cost £290 as opposed to this year's £320 price tag. Meanwhile, total weight drops from this year's 2.6 kilos to 2.44 kilos while useable weight falls from 2.4 kilos to just 2.17 kilos, which we reckon is pretty impressive.

Meanwhile the well-reviewed Microlight gets a cut in useable weight from 1.8 kilos to 1.6 kilos.

Macpac have gone a bit mad for 2004 with no fewer that five new alpine climbing packs with some innovative new features and funky, Arc'teryx-style looks.

There are three clean-cut, chisel-jawed new Pursuit models to accompany the existing Pursuit, which will now be known as the 'Pursuit Classic'. Capacities are 30, 40 and 50 litres and all three use an interesting new back system called the Wraptor Harness.

The idea is to keep weight down, but without compromising either mobility or load-carrying ability. The system uses a distinctive stiff alloy frame - see pictures - combined with 'variable Wraptor Rods' which are claimed to transfer load more effectively as the weight goes up.

Another really neat feature is that the load-transferring hip fins retract automatically and lie flat when not in use, so you can dramatically clean up the lines of your harness area when on the route. Very nice. On top of all that you get Macpac's 'Toolport' ice gear-carrying system, removable lids on the larger two sacs, twin haul loops, Hypalon detailing side compression straps and base and hip gear loops.

We won't go into the details now, but there are also a whopping 12 new day packs in the Macpac range for 2004 with the Tekapo series using a design designed to maximise lumbar contact and so prevent the pack from swinging around. The urban / student market hasn't been forgotten either with four new packs complete with all the techno-pockets and sleeves you could ask for...