Montane Reveals New Pack Range

Colours match Montane's shell clothing, straps are shell friendly and the twin axe loops are designed so tools can be reversed in alpine scenarios.

A zipper garage on a pack? You'd better believe it. Storm flaps too.

Yes, you read that right. One of the most interesting developments we've seen over here in Germany is fast and light clothing brand, Montane's launch of a range of four lightweight mountain packs for spring 2012.

We'll give you full details once we've back in the UK next week, but Montane marketing supremo and pack-modeller Paul Cosgrove tells us that the packs have been developed, like clothing, to be 'wearable'. That means tough but light fabrics, which depend for their strength on the structure of the material's weave, some interesting touches based on clothing design like storm flaps behind zips and zipper garages, harness fabrics designed to be gentle with waterproof shell clothing - no cheese-grater mesh here - and ergonomic shaping to fit body curves.

The pack in the pics is the Medusa 32, the largest pack in the range and like the others, it features a moulded back system designed for minimal water absorption, your pack is not a sponge, quick drying times and, ugh, sweat channels moulded into the back panel.

That fabric says Paul, is 'insanely tough', and the pack is decently light at 913g with a full back system, ice axe loops, and so on. Detailing is neat too with a new chest strap fastener and a lid which opens outwards so your mate can access the lid 'buddy pocket' on the move more easily.

They look really good. Lots of neatness, colours that match Montane's clothing and a price tag of £80 for the Medusa.

More about the rest of the range next week, more photos below.