Everything a walker could want in a daysac from the boys and girls at Lowe Alpine? Full test of Lowe's comfortingly comfortable Walkabout 35
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Lowe Alpine Walkabout
37
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Price: £50.00
(also available as ND, women's specific
version)
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Weight: 1400 grammes
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Features:
Ergonomic harness with elasticised chest strap, top
tensionsers/load lifters, two side-pockets, 'Chimney'
ventilating AirCooled Back System, padded waist-belt, ice
axe loop, drawcord closure, zip-poclet under lid, key clip
inside lid, front mesh stuff pocket.
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Designed specifically for walkers
No hydration system facility
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Ooops, this is actually last year's Walkabout 37. The current version, the Walkabout 35, is functionally very similar and most of the comments still apply. Apologies for any confusion. Not least our own. Understated
and efficient - few people are likely to crash into lamp posts ogling
a Walkabout, but if you're after an effective, comfortable,
well-designed walker's daysac, which is also big enough for winter
use, the Walkabout should be on your shortlist. Women should note
that it's also available as a Walkabout ND, part of Lowe's excellent
women's specific Nanda Devi range.
So what do you get? Well, pretty much everything. The harness and
padded waistbelt are both well-padded and shaped making for a
comfortable carry even when fully loaded and the chest strap helps
keep things stable. One point here is that back length is
non-adjustable so if you're taller or shorter than average, make sure
the pack fits before buying.
We particularly like the 'Chimney' Air-Cooled Back System (TM).
It's a sort of halfway house between a simple, breathable foam back
and one of the mesh 'trampolene-type' cavity designs with a big void
over the centre of the back. It breathes very well and is comfortable
on hot days, but because there's no side opening, you don't get
chilled in colder conditions - a problem we've noticed with designs
like the Berghaus Freeflow and similar.
A
stiff board between contents and back system helps keep things stable
and away from your back. Everything else is simple but effective. Two
decent-sized side pockets with double-ended zips are ideal for
storing gloves, water bottles, snacks and other frequent use items
and we liked the big adventure race-style mesh pocket on the back of
the sac. The latter's ideal for stashing wet kit, maps and things so
nasty you don't want them inside the sac.
The main body is roomy enough for everything you're likely to need
on a day walk and there's also a smallish lid pocket along with an
internal lid zip-pocket . The spec also lists a key clip, but we
couldn't find it. Never mind.
Last but not least, overall standards of build and material
quality feel good. It's not the lightest sac in the world, but it
feels built to last and substantial, which for many will be more
important than saving the odd few hundred grammes.
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Verdict: Along with the Berghaus
Dart, the Walkabout - also available in 25 and 45-litre
incarnations - should be on any walker's shortlist. Build
quality and comfort are both good and we particularly like
the back system for offering good breathablility and
ventilation but without the chilliness inherent in some
similar designs. Functionally all's reasonably well with
good pockets and a handy mesh stuff compartment.
It's not perfect though. The weight is
quite high at around 1500 grammes, though there's a pay off
in sturdiness and comfort. We also reckon all sacs these
days should have a hydration system facility - the Walkabout
doesn't though you could bodge one using a side-pocket and
routing the tube under your arm. You'll also be disappointed
if you expect a rain cover, which comes standard with this
year's Dart, as there isn't one. No snow-lock closure either.
These omissions aside, it's a highly effective walking sac.
Women should check out the ND ladies' version at the same
price.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time: A
comfortable, well built, walking sac with a good back
system, it's heavier than average though and lacks a
hydration system pocket and a rain cover. We like the mesh
stuff pocket, comfort and capacity, which is large enough
for winter days. Make sure the long-ish back length suits
yuo though and, if you're a woman or a short bloke, check
out the ND women's specific version.
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Know more or want to?
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Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear
forum.
