lowe alpine packs

[weighty walker]

Hi, can anyone tell me if these lowe alpine packs are any good. Ultimately I would like to get a one planet or dueter but unfortunately don't have enough cash.I have a travel backpack at the moment (bought at the flea market for $40)so this has been ok but it has a lot of useless parts for backpaking.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks in advance

[Scottyk]

There are lots of little used quality packs for sale. Lots of people seem to get keen on walking and then don't really use there gear too much and then sell it.
If I was looking for a budget pack that will last a long time, any of the second hand macpac stuff, especially the NZ made older stuff.
Like this
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hobart-r ... 1018511978
If the harness fits then that's about as cheap as you can get for a bomb proof pack

[Scottyk]

oh and welcome to the forum!

[weighty walker]

Thanks Scottyk I have already got heaps of info from here.Plenty of helpful people.

[gbagua]

My experience with them back in the 80s is top quality rugged packs with thick padded shoulder straps (main problem today with most packs which are made of thin ones on purpose too force consumers replace their gear quickly).

I have no idea what they are like today, but don't expect 80s quality due to globalisation, competition, cost cutting, etc. Maybe I am wrong. Your best bet is to walk into an outdoors shop and check them out. Try one on and see if it feels comfortable to your body shape and also check if the shoulder straps are thick, comfy and able to sustain a considerable weight (that's if you plan to carry stuff for a serous backpacking adventure).

Note: MacPac packs are low quality and won't last long.

[Clusterpod]

I have a Lowe Alpine Summit TFX 65 + 15 thats done a Cape to Cape and Bibbulmun (staggered) end to end.

I've found it an excellent pack, I have zero complaints. The harness especially is well designed and comfortable. It reviews very well at http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews ... 15%20Pack/

I only stopped using it due to an upgrade. I like much bigger packs.

Its for sale if you want it.

[Scottyk]

Note: MacPac packs are low quality and won't last long.

[/quote]

Really?, compared to what?
I disagree.

[wayno]

if you think macpac packs are low quality, then you havent seen low quality packs....

[Strider]

My experience with them back in the 80s is top quality rugged packs with thick padded shoulder straps (main problem today with most packs which are made of thin ones on purpose too force consumers replace their gear quickly).

I have no idea what they are like today, but don't expect 80s quality due to globalisation, competition, cost cutting, etc. Maybe I am wrong. Your best bet is to walk into an outdoors shop and check them out. Try one on and see if it feels comfortable to your body shape and also check if the shoulder straps are thick, comfy and able to sustain a considerable weight (that's if you plan to carry stuff for a serous backpacking adventure).

Note: MacPac packs are low quality and won't last long.

Nice conspiracy theory, but I think you'll find straps don't need to be as thick these days as modern gear is a lot lighter than that which you carried 30 years ago.

My advise to the OP would be pick a pack that it suited to carrying the weight that you intend to carry. If you don't plan on carrying 50kg then there is no logic in carrying the extra bulk and weight of a pack that is designed to do so.

Not even going to touch the Macpac comment - you clearly have no idea here.

[Scottyk]

My original reply was just a tip on getting into bushwalking on a budget. Macpac have been around so long that there is a lot of there gear available second hand in good condition. One Planet and Wilderness Equipment are also great brands with similarly rugged gear to Macpac but not as many on the second hand market.
Lowe Alpine I really haven't had much to do with so I can't offer any opinions but if I was getting into walking on a limited budget the second hand market offers real value I reckon.

[tryangus]

Note: MacPac packs are low quality and won't last long.

Yeah dude, how do you figure?

[vagrom]

Back away slowly Mister G and keep an eye out for a tall tree.

[blacksheep]

once upon a time that would have been challenged by me too!

[weighty walker]

Thanks everyone I am off to look around and try some on.Look out salespeople!!!!

[Ent]

once upon a time that would have been challenged by me too!

Um? Pray tell us more?

Lowe Alpine are a reasonable quality brand but like a lot of brands often it is the model that decides if the particular pack good or bad. Simple things like can you replace buckles or are they stitched on. What is the purpose of the pack. By that if it is built for lighter weight walking or harsh conditions. You need to match the pack to your needs rather than shop just on brand. For on track walking a Lowe Alpine will likely perform well providing you do not exceed its recommended load rating. Also be wary if you normal load will go near the recommended maximum.

Cheers

[roysta]

Note: MacPac packs are low quality and won't last long.

Hahaha, you're kidding right?
I have the original Macpac Ravine, have you seen one of those? That's the sort of pack you'd pray for in Tassie scrub.
The current Ravine is nowhere near as good, but low quality ain't a tag I'd throw at Macpac.
I could think of quite a few brands I would place in that category though.

[Joomy]

I don't think even the newest Macpacs are "low quality" per se, but like most (all) Australian and NZ designed packs they are vastly over-engineered with little thought as to how to make a durable, reliable, comfortable pack that is also light (and I'm talking sub-1.5kg for 50ish litres). The Americans are way ahead of us in this department. Granted their UL packs might not be 100% suited to Australian conditions, but with small modifications they could be.

Sorry slightly off topic. My answer: Lowe Alpine make good packs, but there are better around. Also, I don't like Deuter packs, I'm not sure from where they achieved their reputation, you couldn't give me one. Well you could but I'd sell it. One Planet make beautiful packs, almost works of art, but again, outdated fabrics and unnecessarily over-engineered. The exception is the Umbra which looks interesting but which I haven't seen in person.

The standard for me these days is light (25g or less "per litre" seems about right), waterproof, simple and rugged.

[roysta]

Horses for courses, as they say.
I'll back my Macpac Ravine (70 litres & 1800g) against anything to tackle Tassie scrub or Kanangra Boyd NSW heath.
But, if I'm on open track an Osprey Exos 58 Large (61 litres 1200g) will compete with most.
Most American packs will not work in our scrub (torn to shreds comes to mind).

[Ent]

Hi

The scrub and scramble through Tassie bush is hard on a pack. Give me over engineered pack than one torn to shreds. Also give me one that does not skimp on the load carrying ability of the harness. I have tried lighter packs such as the Lowe Nanon and frankly I wasted my money. Does not mean for many this pack is the bees knees but not for me.

Best advice is buy the pack that suits you and your needs and be less worried by money as quality is long remember after price is forgotten.

Cheers

[Joomy]

The scrub and scramble through Tassie bush is hard on a pack. Give me over engineered pack than one torn to shreds. Also give me one that does not skimp on the load carrying ability of the harness. I have tried lighter packs such as the Lowe Nanon and frankly I wasted my money. Does not mean for many this pack is the bees knees but not for me.

Well as I said, I don't think most American packs would work without some (simple) modification. My point is that there is a way to make tough, comfy packs that are also relatively very light through clever and minimalist design. For me, Crux packs are the embodiment of this (which doesn't mean they're prefect, just very good IMO). One thing that's always perplexed me is when pack makers use Cordura for reinforcement on high-wear areas that is lighter than the canvas they use on the body!

[surly 17]

Hi weighty walker,

I've had a Lowe Alpine 25ltr pack for nearly 20 years that I use all time and it still works great.

[stu]

I used a Lowe Alpine Expedition (dyneema) 75-95 for our 12 day trip through the Prince of Wales Range this January. It mostly survived this trip, one of the toughest trips SW Tas has to offer. Some damage to the various buckles and some minor abrasions to the fabric. I found it ok'ish to wear, we often had to carry 6-8 litres of water and our packs were often in the high 20s or around 30kg. I probably wouldn't use it again for this sort of trip tho, the adjustable back system often slipped (only secured by velcro) and it just didn't quite feel right on my back...I put this down to lack of structural support of the fabric, resulting in poorly distributed load. It was a good size tho & did sinch down well as the trip went.

Sorry Joomy, totally disagree. The likes of OP, MD's, Cactus, WE and Macpac are designed for our harsh environments and all have a proven track record of durability and comfort. I'd take any of these packs over generally 'over designed' American rubbish any time. Fine if you only plan to track walk, but otherwise they are cluttered, full of useless features and all prone to fad trends in pack design. If you are after durability, comfort and proven simple designs then I'd be sticking with one of these brands.

I have switched back to a OP Stiletto and couldn't be happier. Most comfortable harnesses around, tough fabric and simple supporting canvas sack design sans the bells and fluff of the more mainstream US brands. Some items of gear can't be sacrificed to light weight & for serious walking in Tassie a solid pack is one of them. But again, horses for courses. If you want to walk the Overland track or just stay on a track full stop then most all packs will do the job to some extent...only really comes down to comfort then as durability is not a driving concern.

P.S.: Yes, the Crux brand packs look nice, but as they are designed specifically for mountaineering they are stripped way back & I could guarantee their harness system wouldn't come close to the comfort & support of OP packs.

[Joomy]

Sorry Joomy, totally disagree. The likes of OP, MD's, Cactus, WE and Macpac are designed for our harsh environments and all have a proven track record of durability and comfort. I'd take any of these packs over generally 'over designed' American rubbish any time. Fine if you only plan to track walk, but otherwise they are cluttered, full of useless features and all prone to fad trends in pack design. If you are after durability, comfort and proven simple designs then I'd be sticking with one of these brands.

I have switched back to a OP Stiletto and couldn't be happier. Most comfortable harnesses around, tough fabric and simple supporting canvas sack design sans the bells and fluff of the more mainstream US brands. Some items of gear can't be sacrificed to light weight & for serious walking in Tassie a solid pack is one of them. But again, horses for courses. If you want to walk the Overland track or just stay on a track full stop then most all packs will do the job to some extent...only really comes down to comfort then as durability is not a driving concern.

P.S.: Yes, the Crux brand packs look nice, but as they are designed specifically for mountaineering they are stripped way back & I could guarantee their harness system wouldn't come close to the comfort & support of OP packs.

Hi Stu, firstly I am not talking about big brand American companies when I refer to American packs. I'm talking about the cottage manufacturers like Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Zpacks and ULA. They combine innovative, generally quite simple designs that reportedly have very good carrying comfort.

Naturally the less padded harnesses are slightly less comfortable, but my feeling is that the subtracted weight makes up for it. These packs have stiff frames which transfer load well, which is the main factor in making a pack carry well. Of course, these aren't packs designed to carry 25kg. They are designed to carry 15kg or less generally, which for me and many others is enough for a 7-day walk. As far as Crux packs I've carried 20kg and found it fine. It has about the stiffest frame I've ever encountered in a pack of this design (hoop frame). The fact that it has less padding doesn't affect me, the ergonomics compensate, but might affect others. Whether or not it's "as good as" OP (it's not, I agree), it's certainly good enough for me and the weights I carry (and I'm not particularly hard).

[stu]

Ahhh, pardon my assumptions Joomy, I took it for granted that you were referring to mainstream US brands rather than boutique companies. I don't have any experience with the brands you mentioned, but if the quality Is anything like Feathered Friends then I can understand your comments.

I only wish I could get a 7 day trip down to 15kg, but by both the nature of our trips and my lack of adherence to the fast n light ethos overides any chances of getting close to this weight :-/ Maybe one day when my knees are totally shot out of necessity Certainly our last big trip was brutal on the pack weight front amongst many brutalitues so I was happy to have a full blown easy rider pack for that trip.

I must convince one of my walking buddies in particular to give one if these pack brands a try so I can see them up close

Thanks for the clarification and apologies if I jumped the gun in my reply...

[Joomy]

No need to apologise! I should have been clearer, but I find it's often hard to gauge just how explicit to be on these forums without being tedious.

I would definitely recommend trying to lighten down to a base weight of 7-8kg. I've been doing it for the last couple of years, one piece at a time, and I've managed to shave about 1/3 of my old base weight when I carried a canvas Mont pack and 2 fleeces, etc.. Now my base weight for winter is under 8kg (less if I share a tent) and allowing 2-3kg of water and about 800-900g per night of food (which is plenty even for a big eater like me) and you've got 15-16 kg. The trick for me I find is to resist the urge to throw in "extras" at the last minute, like an extra knife or a spare cup or second fleece or whatever that really is just redundant (and then try not to break or lose things on the trail). Anyway plenty of info on how to lighten one's load around, but obviously the big 3 (shelter, pack, sleep system) are where the biggest weight savings can be had.