Lowe Alpine's New 2004 Packs Scoop!

As well as the new Load Locker buckle, Lowe has revamped its climbing pack range and launched some neat new day packs. There's also a new day sac with a trampolene-type air gap back system for hot conditions. The big load luggers remain pretty much the same for 2004, but a little bird tells us that there are some changes in the pipeline later on.

We brought you scoop news of the funky new Lowe Alpine 'Load Locker' and 'Web Catcher' alloy buckles direct from Friedrichshafen a couple of months back, but if you missed that, here's a top-up.

Made from high strength alloy by climbing hardware specialists DMM in Llanberis, the new buckles cost one US dollar apiece and are stronger and easier to use than conventional plastic ones, say Lowe.

To demonstrate, marketing boss Clive threaded and unthreaded one of the buckles while wearing a pair of bulky mitts. The 'Web Catcher' works on a similar slide the strap through a slot principle, but is mainly used for compression straps and accessory-stowage fittings for skis and the like.

You'll only find the new buckles on technical sacs, this year at least, the added expense means they're not being specced for more general use.

Lowe Alpine has taken a long, hard look at its extensive range of technical packs and gone for a bit of a revamp. Ironically the Alpine Attacks, which were originally designed with input from minimalist extreme alpinist Mark Twight, have become more and more bloated with the 40-litre version weighing in at around 2.1 kilograms.

The new Mountain Attacks - right - go back to first principles and while still using tough fabrics, have hacked off the unnecessary frills and added touches like removable padded hip-belts with tuck-away thinner waist belt for stability.

As a result the 40-litre Mountain Attack is a staggering 600 grammes or so lighter than the Alpine Attack equivalent without, say Lowe Alpine, sacrificing strength. They're basically supposed to be 'bombproof cragpacks'. They look good and come in women's specific guise as well. Not cheap though, the Mountain Attack 50, which weighs just 1.6 kilos will cost around £110, then again the Alpine Attack equivalent weighs 2.2 kilos and is priced at £95.

There's also a new Alpine Attack 20, which we told you about before. It's a modular multi-pitch climbing sac that sits high on the back to improve mobility and allow easy access to a harness. It expands for the approach, then zips down to a smaller, neater package once you've racked up for the route. Very nice, very neat.

Lowe's Hyperlite packs, which to be honest, weren't that light, have also had a bit of a seeing to. Thank heavens the annoying lidless packs - no pockets made for maddening approaches - have gone, to be replaced by more conventional lidded packs.

The one we really liked the look of was the new Warp 70 lightweight expedition frame pack. It weighs in at a claimed 1.99 kilos - now there's a coincidence - feels as light as a feather, but still has abundant padding in the areas where you need it and tough feeling fabrics too.

No lack of technical features either. It gets Lowe's 'Noggin Notch;' head recess for comfortable gazing up at routes and shooting stars, adjustable back system, removable bivvy pad, wrap around compression system and more.

The smaller packs in the range - Ion 50, Quark 40, Neutrino 30 - don't have quite such impressive weight-saving credentials, but again are aimed to be a balance between lightness and comfort rather than extreme, minimalist weight slashers.

You can get an idea of the approach by checking the padding on the back systems. Rather than just throwing huge slabs of 'comfy chair' foam at the problem, the designers have opted to pad only the main contact points, which matter. So you get padding on the shoulder straps, hip-belt and the top of the back, but not elsewhere.

There are three new Contour Air packs that use the familiar air gap-type back system familiar from packs like the Berghaus Freeflows. They come in 45, 35 and 25-litre versions, are aimed at hot conditions use and also incorporate hip side pockets that look just like the ones we really like on Karrimor's fast-moving packs.

For the more fashion inclined among you, the four new Echo day packs - see pic - may appeal. They're in the modern urban idiom with a futuristic, technical-looking wrap-around back system and distinctive thermo-formed, moulded front panel.

You get handy internal organiser compartments for files, phones and so on, but they're also hydration system compatible so you can slake your shopping frenzy thirst more easily. Capacities from 15 to 30 litres in five-litre steps and looking good.

For info on the current range, check out the Lowe Alpine web site.