We've already told you about Lowe Alpine's new waterproof
shell jackets,
but we've also seen their new generation of walking packs due
out early next year.
Pure Air...
We won't go into excruciating detail here, but the gist of it is
that the Air Back system that used blocks of foam to hold the back
panel of the pack away from your back is being replaced by a
trampolene-type ventilated back system called Pure Air.
Cross Vent (left) and Pure Air (right)
As with other packs on the market, Lowe Alpine has minimised the
amount of mesh used to maximise ventilation, cutting as much of it
away as possible. It's hardly revolutionary, but it's a proven
system, which works and sells well.
What is impressive is the amount of thought and design that's gone
into the rest of the pack. Take the Air Zone Centro 45+10, not
only does it have the Air Zone gubbinses, but also an adjustable
length back system, an adaptive hip-belt, loads of outside stowage
options, a compression system that also pulls the base of the sac
upwards and a side-entry zip to make access easier.
Then there's an ingenious floating lid which uses a cord mechanism
for rapid deployment of the additional 10 litre overload option. Very
neat.
What's also a little different is the sizing rationale. Rather
than simply use 'traditional' arbitrary capacities, Lowe says it
considered what each pack needed to be able to hold for different
activities, then adjusted the size to suit.
The 35+10 version - ideal as a winter day pack says Lowe
Alpine
So the 45-litre version is an optimum size for short backpacking
trips, the 35-litre version is aimed at winter day hikers and
lighweight overnight camping while the 25-litre Air Zone Centro
should be just right for most day hikes.
Prices are going to be competitive - the 35+10 will be £80
and the 45+10, £90 - and there's also a more streamlined and
slightly lighter version of the packs with a lower price tag -
below.
Crossvent Too...
The more conventional back systems gets an upgrade as well with
something called Cross Vent. It''s basically an air chimney-type
design but with an additional, erm, cross vent for better venting.
Nothing dramatic, but all the packs should have Lowe Alpine's
customary excellent build quality and look to have been very
thoroughly thought through.
More Lowe Alpine information at www.lowealpine.com
