‘This is a comfortable, lightweight pack that’s great for summer hikes when you don’t need to carry much extra clothing. It has three exterior pockets with draining holes, which is a good idea considering typical British summer weather.’

berghaus.com

‘This bag is quite uncomfortable because of the stiffened back and inflexible belt system. On the plus side, there are lots of handy internal pockets and plenty of room for a hydration system.’

snowandrock.com

‘The patterned fabric is the most notable feature of this basic sack. The bungee cord system is good for attaching waterproofs, but the spring wire frame adds unnecessary weight to the pack.’

peakperformance.com

‘I like this pack. It has an external pocket for a hydration pack, several deep stretch pockets and pockets on the adjustable hip belt. The finger loop zip pulls are great for numb fingers and the drain holes let the rain out.’

ospreypacks.com

‘This was the largest sack on test but the lightest and the most comfortable, thanks to the narrow shoulder straps and wicking harness system. The selection of secure pockets offers loads of room, which is great for carrying awkwardly-shaped items and a hydration pack.’

salomonsports.com

‘This is all waist belt and harness and very little of anything else. The pack is constructed and equipped like a much larger conventional sack and, as a result, is pretty heavy. On the positive side, there is a lot of room for clothing and equipment.’

vango.co.uk