Equipped with an array of features for multiple different types of activities, the Lowe Alpine
Atlas ND 65 Liter Backpack would be great for weekend backpacking trips.
It has got a lot of trail worthy features, load hauling capability.
So you have got a full 65 liters here.
It has got other features for mountaineering and climb specific features that make it a
great haul pack.
So we will take a look at what makes this pack so unique.
This is a women’s specific pack and the first thing to talk about with any backpack
is how it carries the loads and the suspension systems.
I am going to turn the pack around.
Unique feature here is you have got the Axiom Two suspension system.
This is really easy to use, intuitive suspension system.
You have got adjustability from a 15 inch torso all the way up to a 20 inch torso.
So that is going to cover a multitude of heights.
And it is really easy to adjust this.
So I haven’t seen a whole lot of packs with this sort of adjustment.
It is pretty unique.
Basically there is a bar on the inside that you can move this shoulder harness up and
down.
On one side of the pack there is a cord that releases the lock.
So as you are wearing this pack you can adjust it on the fly, which makes it really intuitive.
Basically what you do with his pack, you put it on, make the straps loose, make sure the
hip belt is adjusted to the proper height so it is sitting on your hips in the right
way.
And then you can pull this black cord to unlock the suspension system.
What I normally do is put it at the highest height that it can go if you are not sure
where you need to position this shoulder harness.
And then you loosen it with that black strap.
On the other side, this grey cord is going to pull the shoulder harness down.
So all you have to do when you are wearing it is pull the shoulder harness down.
It is going to hug around your shoulders.
And then you know it is adjusted to the right height.
As soon as you let go of this black cord, it is going to lock and it is going to be
in place.
So unlike other suspension systems where you have to take the pack off, adjust it, put
it back on and see if it fits, this one you put the pack on and adjust it and it fits
right to your body.
So it is really intuitive.
Other than that, the suspension system here you have two rigid, aluminum stays kind of
behind the scenes.
And that is going to transfer the weight of the pack right to your hips, right where it
needs to be.
On the hip belt you have really nice padding.
Like I said, this is a women’s specific pack, so the hip belt is contoured, the shoulder
harness is contoured and it is meant for more of a women’s shape so really comfortable
there.
And there is excessive padding back here in the back panel.
So you have got padding, rigid padding here on the sides, which allows this center channel
to let warm air escape.
So that is going to cut down on hot spots.
There is a lot of mesh back here, too.
So if you begin to perspire, that is going to wick away really well.
Other things to note here, it is hydration compatible, so if you have got a hydration
bladder in there, you can route the hose to either side of the shoulder harness.
There is an adjustable sternum strap that you can put at a couple of different points
there on the harness and there is a whistle there in case you get into trouble.
Down on the hip belt you have got really easy to adjust straps on the hip belt.
You basically pull them forward to tighten those up.
And on one side, stretchy mesh pocket.
That is a pretty big pocket there.
On the other side of the hip belt you have a really large zippered hip belt pocket.
So you can store electronics in there, cameras.
It is big enough for a big phone.
You could store granola bars or snacks in there as well.
So all in all, just really intuitive, easy to use suspension system.
We will take a look at all the pockets and organization.
Starting here on the back you do have a big open pocket on the lid.
So I just have gear that is light weight, things I want to get my hands on quickly.
So you have a nice pocket there.
And I will mention there is a really durable haul loop right here on the back.
You have the same haul loop on the front.
So if I turn that around, it is a really nice feature that I don’t see on a lot of trail
back-packs, but really great feature there.
You can haul it from both sides.
Here on the side you do have a stretchy water bottle pocket on either side and this compression
strap can be routed underneath of this pocket or over top.
So you have adjustability there.
This is a traditional top loading pack, so I will open that up.
You have a very shallow pocket underneath of this lid as well.
And really wide, open top pockets.
So, as you can see, I have it packed out most of the way, but I don’t have it completely
packed out.
You have an expanded collar here.
So if you really need to, you can pack this out even more, but I have just got access
inside from the top.
So, like I said, this is hydration compatible, so there is a little clip here on the back
and a designated sleeve for the hydration system.
There is a sleeping bag pocket on the bottom and this can be accessed down here, it gives
you access to the bottom of the back pack.
There is a divider here in between the sleeping bag compartment and the body of the pack.
And this is actually a zippered divider.
So if you have got longer pieces of gear in there, you can open that up and really just
make this one big back pack.
But right now I just have it divided out.
I have got my sleeping bag stuffed into the bottom.
Down here on the bottom of the pack you do have an integrated rain cover that comes standard
with the pack.
So that adds a lot of value to this already affordable back pack.
There are three more pockets here on the front.
The very shallow map pocket, so I have just got a set of maps in there.
And you have a big bellows pocket on either side.
There are compression straps as well on those bellows pockets.
And I like pockets like this.
They are a little bit smaller, but they allow you to get hands on gear that you wouldn’t
necessarily want in the very top part of your pack.
So I just got a stove in there.
It would be a great place for a water filter or something like that.
If you don’t have these pockets packed out, like I said, they are bellows pockets, there
is a really nice compression strap here that you can cinch down your load.
In addition to pockets and organization, you have got a lot of features on the outside
of the pack to lash gear.
Here on the front you have two trekking pole loops.
These would also work to strap ski poles or any other type of tools.
You have got a really big tool loop on the bottom and compression straps here that you
can also lash other types of gear, like a sleeping pad or something like that.
As I go over here, there are trekking pole designated pieces here where you could put
the tip of your trekking pole in there, really cinches it down.
Makes it a really easy spot to store those.
With the multitude of features here, you have got some climb specific features like the
haul loops and the tool loops.
It makes a great climb worthy pack.
But you also have that really great suspension system that makes it an excellent trail worthy
pack.
It is the Lowe Alpine Women’s Atlas ND 65 pack.