Lowe Alpine Edge 26 Backpack

Product Information

There’s another bungee system on the base of the pack, allowing attachment of gear or, say, a lightweight tent or sleeping bag. Pole loops easily carry two poles and side compression straps keeps your pack stable when on the go. The sternum strap is constantly adjustable for height on a pair of rails, and the buckle has a built-in whistle. Overall, the rucksack was comfortable though, when fully packed there was a slight tendency of the back to bow out, though this didn’t present problems on the move. You've got a padded sleeve to fit a laptop up to 15", a hydration sleeve, a front zipped pocket designed to fit a folded OS map, a zipped top pocket for items you need to get to quickly, loops to carry two walking poles, two stretchy side pockets for bottles, side compression straps to stop things rattling about when not fully packed and a custom bike light loop with reflective details.

The Deuter pack has many of the features you’d expect in a bigger rucksack, scaled down into a compact 28 litre model.

The Osprey Archeon 30 has a conventional drawstring opening at the top of the rucksack, with a lid covering this. A recent one compared trail running, trail walking and approach shoes - ones described as "best for technical terrain and scrambling" were compared with ones for "urban walks and everyday use".

They can be adjusted for length from within the main compartment using spring toggles, a process best done before filling it with your gear. The ability to take the rucksack out on to the hills is useful, though for me, it only just accommodated our typical gear load, especially on cooler days. Whether you're heading out for a walk in the hills, a bike ride into the woods or a commute to work, the Edge will do it all! On the outside of the front of the Picture pack is a small zipped pocket with soft microfleece lining for items such as sunglasses.

The outer PFC free 420D fabric is finished off with a HydroShield, water repellent finish to help shed light rain. While the Kiwi Classic 20 is clearly designed with more urban trips in mind, it is comfortable enough for an occasional country excursion.

It’s built on a rigid Air Fit 2 back system with vertical frame members either side linked to cross members top and bottom, with a curved rigid plate reinforcing the rucksack. Lowe Alpine has become the singular specialist dedicated to pushing the boundaries of carrying systems for those who live life in motion. The back doesn’t support higher weights as well as one with a metal frame but does keep weight of the pack down. The body of the Deuter pack is robust-feeling 210 denier Dynajin, with the base a reinforced 600 denier material. There was just enough padding in the shoulder harness and the venting did help keep down perspiration build up a little.The Edge 26 Litre Daysack has plenty of pocket space with top security pocket, side mesh pockets and many more. The pouch also doubles as a hydration reservoir pocket and has a short webbing hanging strap with plastic hook. The back is flexible: there’s no stiffening panel and doesn’t really have much in the way of ventilation. The top element is a generously padded panel that integrates with the harness straps, which have similar foam padding. The women's Covalent harness ensures a customisable, body-hugging fit, stabilising your load without limiting movement.