Lucy Wallace gives the Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek ND 43:50L her best in test accolade after rigorous testing. Find out why.
At just 43 litres, the Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek ND 43:50l was the lowest volume pack that I tested, but I found it to be easily roomy enough for an overnight camp, even with a winter sleeping bag.
Lucy Wallace’s Best in Test
This roomy but low-volume pack has just one downside.- lightweight
- tough
- loads of handy features
- back system can’t be adjusted when bag is full
| Quick Specs |
|---|
| Price: $180 / £180 Weight: 1645g Materials: polyester/nylon mix (8% recycled content), PFAS free Features: adjustable Airzone back system, zipped hip and lid pocket, internal lid pocket, mesh side pockets, mesh stash pocket, internal divider, pouch for hydration system, side compression straps, zipped lower entry point and bottom straps, trekking pole TipGripper attachments Volume: 43l Sizes: one size, adjustable Women/Mens version: Airzone trek 45:55l lowealpine.com |
The lid is fixed, but has good extension capabilities, and there are plenty of compression straps for attaching external items if necessary. I would be confident using this in summer for a couple of nights camping (with careful packing) and for extended hut to hut journeys. Despite its relatively low weight, it is rugged, well made, and festooned with useful features, including an internal zipped lid pocket and a roomy external stash pocket.
There are attachment points for trekking poles and generous mesh side pockets as well as two small pockets on the hip belt. The pack is comfortable once fitted, with a rigid Airzone back system that allows for free flow of air in hot weather and nicely contoured shoulder straps designed for the female shape. Like all Lowe Alpine rucksacks with the ND tag in the name, it’s designed to fit women and people with smaller body frames.
My only complaint is the internal adjustment for the back length, which is a hook and loop tab system buried deep within the hydration pouch. It’s nigh on impossible to adjust when the pack is full, but it’s only when it is properly loaded that you can effectively tailor the fit. Getting the rucksack adjusted for the first time is frustratingly time consuming, because what should take seconds takes several minutes of faff.
If you don’t share the bag with anyone else, it’s a one-time annoyance, so definitely worth enduring for what is otherwise a great backpacking rucksack at the lower volume end of the range.
Testing conditions
Lucy tested this pack in a variety of conditions on overnight camps in Scotland and Wales. Weights are supplied are from Lucy’s home scales.
This review was first published in the August 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine. Compare it with others in our guide to the best backpacking packs.
