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I'm used to light rucksacks, even for backpacking, and I know you can get a good 60-litre pack with an internal frame and a comfortable carry around the 1kg mark (Granite Gear's Crown VC and Exped Lightning 60 are our favourite examples), so the Boreas is a bit heavier than this at 1.32Kg - the question is what do you get extra for the extra weight. In this case, the answer is pretty simple - the …

Vaude Zerum 58+ Litre LW Rucksack ReviewWe had been sent a Vaude Zerum 58+ Rucksack to test and as I was about to set off on my 5 day hike to Knoydart I Jumped at the chance to try it out, especially as it sounded like an extremely impressive rucksack on paper. Vaude have managed to get so many features into what is still an extremely light pack. It has an adjustable back length on a central spine …

Haglofs Strive 50 is designed to meet the requirements of lightweight backpackers who can get their kit into 50 litres. This is exactly the type of trip I was planning last year to Scotland, and I was delighted to get hold of a pre production sample to try out. First impressions are good, its a 50 litre pack, with a decent framesheet and weighing in at just 1150grams. There are lighter packs out t …

This trip was another chance to use the  Granite Gear Crown 2 60L rucksack. Having found the Crown 2 so comfortable on an earlier trip to the Howgill Fells, I was very happy to use it on the Affric Kintail Way. The  Granite Gear Crown 2 is designed as a lightweight multi-day backpack. The previous version, the Crown V.C. 60 had long been one of our ‘Top Pick’ backpacks. We we …

I had the opportunity to do a few day's walks while on holiday in Tenerife, so I was looking for a hydration pack that would also swallow all my day gear as well. The Camelbak Volt 13 LR was my choice, and although it's designed as a bike pack the bike-specific features are fairly nominal - like the hooks for attaching a helmet - ideal for attaching other things.In use I loved the pack - the hip b …

ULA's CDT pack is remarkably lightweight, I took one with me for a few days on the Cleveland Way. with a stripped weight of just 580 grams its a very lightweight 50Litre pack that's nevertheless got a very good hipbelt, well padded shoulder straps and is very tough there are no compromises made anywhere on strength and durability, except perhaps for the main stuff pocket on the outside of the pack …

Testing the ULA Circuit 68 Rucksack while backpacking the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National ParkWe were lucky enough to be in California for a sales meeting, the last time we visited Yosemite. This time we wanted something different and opted to backpack the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park. Even in May the weather up high in the Sierra can be challenging and this year was a much …

The Six Moon Designs Fusion 65 was the pack I chose for my 8 day backpacking trip to Peru. At 65 litres it allowed me the volume required to carry the 10 days food required. At the start of the trek I reckoned I was carrying around the 35lbs mark (16 kg), which is the upper limit of what I want to carry on any trip.I have to say that I was pretty happy with the comfort even at this weight. Th …