Why We Like The Mountain Hardwear Alpine Light 50L Backpack
When we've got plans to ascend monumental mountains with rock, ice, and snow blocking our path, we pack up the Mountain Hardwear Alpine Light 50L Backpack. The backpack is designed for gear-heavy expeditions, with removable front webbing straps, a modular center rope strap, and side compression straps that secure carabiners, ice axes, ice screws, crampons, and even skis so we can be prepared for everything the mountains hold in store. The inside of the pack offers 50 liters of space for our sleeping bag, bivy, food, extra layers, and smaller gear, with a removable pocket that allows us to keep our small essentials organized and easily accessible. All that gear is supported by a 7000 series aluminum frame that evenly distributes weight and a removable foam frame sheet that keeps us comfortable no matter how much cargo we're hauling.
Details
- Versatile backpack for multi-day expeditions in the high alpine
- 50-liter capacity carries everything we need for technical routes
- Extremely tough nylon construction stands up to rough rock
- 7000 series aluminum frame provides support and structure
- Closed-cell foam frame sheet doubles as a seat-pad
- Seven total pockets help keep our smaller gear organized
- Compression webbing allows us to secure external gear
- Quick access tool carry system holds axes, poles, and skis
- Item #MHWZA02
- Material
- [face fabric] 200D nylon ripstop, [bottom] double-layered 200D nylon ripstop
- Volume
- 50L (3051cu in)
- Support/Suspension
- 7000 series aluminum, closed-cell foam
- Shoulder Straps
- padded, adjustable
- Waist Belt
- padded, removable
- Hydration Compatible
- yes
- Access
- top
- Pockets
- 2 zippered lid, 2 side, 2 zippered hip, 1 internal removable
- Gear Loops
- front and rear grab loops
- Ice Axe Carry
- 2
- Trekking Pole Carry
- 2
- Compression
- side, center
- Claimed Weight
- [S/M] 2lb 8.7oz, [M/L] 2lb 9.2oz
- Activity
- backpacking, hiking, ice climbing, mountaineering, ski mountaineering
- Manufacturer Warranty
- limited lifetime
Reviews
Q&A
What do you think about this product?
Overall Rating
4 based on 1 ratings
Review Summary
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageNovember 10, 2024
Good pack with some room for improvement
Pack is super light and good, minimal features. The white color looks good (at least when new) but doesn't make sense. Using this in snow and ice (its intended purpose) means it can more easily get lost if you were to drop it or be stuck in a blizzard, and if someone is looking for you after an accident, it will be more difficult to find you. The color choice seems to be mimicking dyneema fibers (which can't be dyed and are white by necessity), but these packs are made of nylon, not dyneema. The pack carries well considering how light it is. I Have some durability concerns. After 1 climbing trip, there is already a small hole in the fabric at the bottom corner of the frame, presumably from scrambling over and down rocks. Lastly, the ice tool attachments have multiple issues: the metal tool clip at the bottom works fine but feels like the elastic cord holding it in place could break and it is connected to the other side, so you could potentially lose both tools if it snapped and it makes it more difficult to repair. Also, the top cord attachement for ice tools attaches to the shaft in 2 separate ways, one is very insecure and can just pop off (possibly sending your tool down the mountain; mine popped out of the top attachment and swung down/flipped over, luckily didn't come off); the other shaft securing option is to put the shaft through the loop of cord and tighten it with the spring loaded clamp. This is more secure but the spring clamp is not strong enough and it gradually loosens until the shaft is moving around by a few inches on the back of your pack.
Originally reviewed on mountainhardwear.com
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