Berghaus Arete 35 Pack
-Tested
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Price:
£45 RRP
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Weight: 980
grammes
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Features:
35-litre mountain pack using Fusion 2 back system, top lid pocket, two
wand pockets, ice axe holders, ergonomically shaped shoulder straps,
reflective print, multiple webbing attachment points, gear loops, grab
handle, bivi draw cord, rope compression strap, side compression
straps, hydration system pocket, removable and height
adjustable elasticated chest strap, SOS safety instructions under lid,
hop belt, Bergbuckle, emergency whistle integrated in chest strap
buckle.
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What's It
For?
The Arete 35 is the latest in Berghaus's line of affordable,
no-nonsense mountain packs aimed at mountain walkers, climbers and
mountaineers. It's a technical pack with features like the smooth back
panel to shrug off snow, but has quite a basic back system and lacks
the sophistication of Berghaus's top-end Extrem packs like the Sentinel
35. Then again, the Sentinel costs a whopping £115 compared
to £45 for the Arete 35.
The Techy
Bits
The Arete packs are quite simple beasts, so the Fusion 2 back system is
a mix of foam and a very flexible frame sheet with a snow-hostile,
smooth surface. That's not to say that the pack lacks useful features
though, we liked the stuff pockets, which are often lacking on
technical climbing packs, the ice axe loops are a neat shock-corded
design - easy to use when iced and with gloves - and we like the pull
inwards to tighten hip-belt configuration.
How It
Performed
First off, the Arete 35 definitely looks the part. It's a nicely
sculpted shape with a slanted base to minimise catching when descending
steep ground facing out and the fabrics feel tough and workmanlike. We
also like the 'pull inwards to tighten' hip-belt and ergonomically
shaped shoulder straps.
Where it does fall down a little is with the very basic back system.
The frame sheet is quite floppy and flexible and doesn't offer much
support beyond basic padding from the foam. With normal loads this
isn't really an issue, but if you're likely to gear up with a full rack
and ropes - there's a neat rope stowage strap under the lid - you may
find the Arete uncomfortable for extended use.
That's a shame because most of the basic features like the shockcord
ice-axe loops and the handy stash pockets work fine and there are neat
touches like the emergency instructions panel under the lid. Basic
compression straps are adequate and there's a handy lid pocket, albeit
with no key retainer, neat gear loops on the hip-belt and a 3-litre
bladder-friendly hydration system pocket with a single exit on the
righthand side.
The Arete 35 is decent enough pack that functions well enough unless
you really load it up, when the basic back system struggles
to cope with the sort of loads many climbers will carry. Even with
lighter loads it's a little basic, but most of the features work pretty
well and it feels and looks like a quality pack.
Ultimately we'd say it's more suited to mountain walking and scrambing
with moderate loads rather than full-on climbing or mountaineering use
when you'd be better off with a slightly more supportive pack.
Buy if... you're
a mountain walker and scrambler on a budget who wants a neat, technical
pack for walking and scrambling but probably won't load up with lots of
ropes and hardware on a regular basis.
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 Nice aesthetics,
neat features and what feels like decent build quality.
 Basic back
system feels floppy and unsupportive with heavier loads.
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Performance
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Value
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Know more or want to?
If you'd like to add your own
experiences of this
product check out our user review system and post your opinions to
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