£150- £299 | translate:/Global/SiteRating: 3 | Rucksacks

There’s nothing worse than sheltering from the rain and delving into your rucksack, only to find that your hats, gloves and spare insulation are soaking wet because your rucksack leaks. So can renowned waterproof cycle pannier manufacturer Ortlieb come up with a better solution than the main hill-walking brands have to date, which is to store everything inside a waterproof ...

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Gregory Z65 2011

£160.00

The Gregory Z65 is a ‘bells and whistles’ pack festooned with pockets, zips and straps, and sporting a complex, venting back system that offers a novel hip angle adjustment. In spite of all this, it only weighs 1750g. DesignThe Z65 is a wide pack that forms a kind of tortoise-shell shape on your back. This is partly to provide space ...

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Wenger Almer 40 2010

£170.00

The Wenger Almer 40 is an incredibly well-thought-through 1500g pack designed for ski touring and alpine adventure. It has a rain cover, mesh water bottle holder, quick-stash sleeve, Swiss Army knife pocket (naturally) and organiser pocket. But it’s too pricy and too feature-packed for most walkers. Definitely worth admiring in the shops, though: it is a thing of beauty Stockists ...

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Haglöfs Sumo 75 2009

£225.00

Replacing Haglöfs’ Topo 75 in 2009 is the slightly lighter Sumo 75 – a big, sturdy pack designed for expedition usage, but at 3.13kg, it’s not the lightest. It has zipped access to the main compartment, as well as a curious but very effective funnel opening on the base. DesignThe Sumo has a big feel to it. The back length ...

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Karrimor Jaguar ST 75-95 2009

£200.00

The Jaguar has been a staple of the Karrimor range for decades, and its latest incarnation includes taped waterproof seams and an update to the classic Self Adjust (SA) back system. A highly waterproof pack is a real bonus for UK walking, and it will fit a wider range of back sizes than many on test. Design The new ...

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Vaude Versametric Proof 65+10

£200.00

There are lots of ways to improve the comfort of a rucksack on the hill, and one of the most important factors to consider is how well the sack’s back system is designed to match the shape of the wearer’s back. Vaude’s Versametric back system features a stiff and supportive polycarbonate frame to reduce the energy used on every step ...

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The North Face Outrider 75

£165.00

This backpacking rucksack, which comes in men’s and women’s styles, is 2640g, which is a reasonable weight. It is based around a back system that is designed to transfer load onto the hipbelt. It also has open construction of padding to improve breathability in the contact areas. You get a removable hydration system holder with shoulder straps inside too. The ...

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Mountain Hardwear Maestro

£240.00

At 2380g this is a relatively lightweight backpacking rucksack that comes in men’s and women’s styles. But the real story here is the unique Exodus back system that really hugs the body while having minimal contact areas and a high degree of freedom of movement. The ‘sack is very narrow too so you can easily move your arms back and ...

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Kelty Kids Adventure

£170.00

My youngest, Charlie, loves this carrier – and so do I because it is superbly comfortable for both of us. The fantastic sun/rain cover fastens securely to the main carrier and it means he won’t get sunburnt. And it’s easily adjustable so as he grows the pack will grow with him. The back system is stupendously comfortable and the broad ...

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Deuter Kid Comfort III

£150.00

There’s no mistaking the German engineering that’s gone into this pack. It’s the child carrier version of a Mercedes or BMW: a luxurious ride in a meticulously designed pack that’s taken every effort to ensure your offspring’s comfort. There’s even a convertible-style, fold-back sunhood that zips out of the headrest. It’s the easiest of all the packs to get your ...