Whether it’s the 16-litre, the 22-litre or 33-litre, this is a daypack that Lowe Alpine say has been specifically designed to cover you for all kinds of activities – from hiking and running, to climbing and riding. To test this out, we called upon a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts from around the world to go and see what kind of wild adventures they could use it for. Here’s what they got up to…
Russell Davies
I took the Lowe Alpine Aeon 35 on loads of hikes this winter, most notably a trio of demanding mountains near Torridon in the Scottish Highlands.
The first one required full winter kit and I managed to get my crampons, food, water, layers and axe all comfortably packed and attached due to the large main compartment and outer multi-lock tool.
I then tested the Aeon’s comfort on an arduous 8-hour hike. Its lightweight but tough, durable materials blocked out the elements and kept me light-footed even despite the fact I was laden with heavy camera equipment! The third hike a more technical climb on ice and snow highlighted the benefits of the Flexion shoulder harness and the supreme fit and compactness of the bag overall.
Hannah Kacary
I took my Aeon backpack on a day’s worth of adventures from Vancouver to Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. It started off with some cycling along the seawall in Vancouver before heading off to the forests near Squamish for hiking and trail running. The final adventure was skiing through the powder up at Whistler Blackcomb!
Thanks to the Aeon I was able to pack in all the equipment I needed for my day’s adventures; my helmet attached on the exterior with the MultiLock tool; snacks in the hipbelt pockets; and my water bottle in the side pockets.
Marus Stitz
I used my Aeon pack on a winter fatbike trip in the powder on the Pentlands Hills near Edinburgh; on a battle with the ‘Beast from the East’ while riding an electric bike through the sand dunes and snow drifts on Tentsmuir Beach in Fife; for a walk up Schiehallion in Perthshire on a beautifully calm winter day; and also on a spontaneous 160km overnight trip to ride a sportive in Oban.
As a keen bikepacker I haven’t used a backpack for a while, but using the Aeon 27 has properly widened my range of adventures and got me thinking about new ones! It is also super handy for transporting my bikepacking kit, as it fits bags and kit for a long weekend trip when flying to the other end of the country.
Kelly Jayne-Emerson
So far, I’ve taken my Aeon backpack along with me and my dog all over the country for hiking, mountain bike rides, hike-a-biking and bikepacking trips.
Packing the right equipment is essential for any big ride and this bag has room for it all. Not only can it manage any spares and tools plus waterproofs and layers, but also mine and my dog Bell’s lunch and snacks. All of that and still room for a hydration bladder. This bag has made overnight bikepacking trips possible, and even made using the bag on smaller rides desirable – I normally don’t like riding with a pack but this one isn’t any bother at all.
Karl Steinegger
In February I took the Aeon to Norway for an ice climbing trip around Senja, Lyngen Alps and Lofoten. As a multi-pitch climber, I need a backpack that is really comfortable and that has a good fit which won’t restrict my movement at all.
The smart details let me carry my icepicks and other equipment well organised on the outside of the bag. The 35L volume version that I have is just the right size for my one-day trips even with all my camera gear which includes a full frame camera and three lenses.
Ieuan Barrett
At the start of the year, we were overwhelmed in the UK with heavy snowfall and below freezing temperatures. I’d taken a small trip to a mountain I’d been eager to explore more, in the hope of capturing a frozen waterfall.
The vibrant red bag had room for me to pack every photographer’s essential. It was spacious enough to hold my food and water and ultimately allowed me to explore for longer.
Will Renwick (OM Editor)
So far I’ve used this on morning runs to work and also on a couple of day hikes, including a wander to seek out a bothy hidden deep within a forest in Mid Wales – it was called Nant Syddion, in case anyone is curious. I didn’t stay there but I’ll certainly try to one day.
So I’ve used it for running and hiking, but I’m now wondering what else I can personally get out of the Aeon. I think an experiment is in order. Keep an eye on the site, that’s all I’m saying…
You’ll find the Lowe Alpine Aeon in a multitude of designs and capacities for men and women. Choose the colour, the type of top closure you want (zipped or lid sealed?) and between sizes ranging from 16 litres to 33. For more info, head to lowealpine.com
