2017 marks 50 years since Lowe Alpine released their first ever product – a pack designed specifically for climbers and mountaineers. To mark the anniversary year, Lowe Alpine have released a brand new range of packs which, once again, are designed specifically for those heading up high.

Their new Ascent collection is supposedly made to cater for all levels of experience and for all types of climbing pursuits, from summer hut-to-hut tours in the Pyrenees to winter climbs in Scottish winters.

According to Tim Fish, the Brand Director at Lowe Alpine, the new range “uses all 50 years of the company’s experience and is their “most advanced yet” with innovative designs, clean and simple features and new technologies and fabrics.

Lowe Alpine Ascent Range: The Ascent Superlight

The ‘hero item’ in the Ascent range is certainly the Ascent Superlight. The 30-litre pack is phenomenally light, weighing just 580g when fully stripped back (the back panel is removable – and it doubles as a useful fold bivvi mat). It uses a clever ripstop and PU coated nylon fabric that’s ultralight but also tough, with a 100 Denier rating.

There are plenty of climber-friendly features including straps that have been carefully designed to allow complete freedom of movement when on the rock face, mitt friendly buckles, a secure and easy-to-use ice axe holder, loads of external clipping points and a big grab handle to attach belays.

“£100 is a fairly lofty price for a daypack but the high quality materials and innovation go some way to justifying this.”