If you’re just about to pull the trigger on a new climbing pack, you might want to wait a month or so for the launch of Lowe Alpine’s sleek new Alpine SuperLight minimalist 30-litre mountaineering companion.

It’s designed to be fully featured, but as light as possible at the same time, which means a stripped-down weight of just 540 grammes, lighter, reckons Lowe Alpine than pretty much anything else around.

Tough But Light Fabric

To achieve that, the pack uses a new, TriShield-coated 100D rip-stop Nylon fabric which is claimed to have impressive abrasion and tear resistance for maximum abuse with minimal weight. There’s no structured back-system, instead it uses a double-thickness foam pad that also functions as a simple alpine bivi sit mat.

Ice-tools are secured using the brand’s proven and ingenious Head Locker system, which utilises a simple bar which locates through the carabiner hole in the head of the axe and the main opening is zipped rather than lid-based for ease of access and further weight saving. Strategically positioned lightweight TPU reinforcement protects the fabric of the pack from damage by tool picks, bears and beavers.

Finally, the pack uses a new Dynamic Action harness system above. The straps are kept relatively thin and heavily articulated to minimise any impact on freedom of movement while climbing.

How much? RRP when the pack launches in the UK in March 2017 will be £100.