Coming in at a budget price, the Salewa Alp Mate 24L budget daypack offers a lot of features for the price and is well worth it in my opinion. It is a highly technical daypack, well suited in terms of capacity, stability, features and comfort to more demanding mountain activities such as scrambles and alpine hiking, as well as lower level day hikes and shorter walks.
TGO Magazine verdict
The overall pack is a bit heavier than some of the others on test, but the sturdy build, stable fit and extra features make this an excellent choice for female mountain hikers- Price for the quality, features
- Supportive hip belt
- Highly breathable back system
- Slightly heavier than some
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £90 |
| Weight | 1003g |
| Materials | 150D Polyester/100D nylon honeycomb |
| Features | Trekking pole loops, hydration bladder compatible, sternum strap, padded straps, side compression straps, daisy chain accessory straps, detachable rain cover. |
| Capacity | 24L |
| Men’s version | Women’s – no men’s version of this size but unisex Alp Mate 26 is almost identical |
| Brand site | www.salewa.com |
With three colour options, the Salewa Alp Mate 24L comes in two different sizes – 24 litres and also 30 litres, and is just one of several technical mountain daypacks available from Salewa. I tested the 24 litre Alp Mate and found it to be a good size for most day hiking. Its single main compartment optimises useable space, while compression straps mean that if it’s not stuffed full, it stays sleek and neat. An accessory daisy chain and trekking pole loops make this very versatile for attaching stuff to the outside of the pack too, which is handy for upping the capacity of any pack. The side bottle pockets are particularly nicely designed, with good depth to hold most designs of bottle secure yet accessible.
The lid fits nicely over the main body, keeping the worst of bad weather out, but there’s a detachable lightweight rain cover in a bottom zipped pocket for truly persistent rain.
One of the best features of the Salewa Alp Mate 24L is the back system. Using mesh padding, it contours comfortably to the back, keeping everything remarkably stable, another reason this pack is so good over rough terrain. It also does a great job of preventing the build-up of sweat. The well-cushioned hip belt is very comfortable and cups the hips effectively, ensuring comfort while adding to the stability in a way that the Osprey and the Vaude didn’t quite achieve. The overall pack is a bit heavier than some of the others on test, but the sturdy build, stable fit and extra features make this an excellent choice for female mountain hikers
Written and tested by Lara Dunn
Lara has worked in outdoors media since the late 90’s as a writer, reviewer, and an editor in her own right across adventure travel and cycling titles. She has hiked, cycled, climbed, scrambled, trekked, ambled, and swum all over the UK and further afield.
