Hi! Looking for a new backpack, mostly for alpine climbing but it will probably also be used for some hiking and general outdoor activities.

Looking at Lowe Pro, CileGear, arc'teryx etc all the packs seem very heavy to me and calling a pack weighting in at 2kg/4 lb lightweight is just dead end wrong in my world.

So if i want a pack that weights in at maximum 1.2 kg, what does the market has to offer?

Some things that I'm looking for is is:

*waterproof, ok maye not submersible but definately fairly rainproof

*Attachmentpoints for technical icetools without a big hammer or adze

*Around 45-50 litres

*Removable bivy pad

*Crampon pocket

*Heavy duty fabric, kevlar blend, dynamee ripstop or similar, not just plain nylon.

Some models I've been looking at that sort of fulfills the criterias is GoLite Jam and Crux 47-X and Osprey Mutant 38 and of them the Crux seems the best with it's kevlar fabric and lid but it still lacks good attachment for technical ice tools.

Anybody have any other suggestion?

I have a Granite Gear Alpine Lite that fits your requirements but isn't made any more. Perhaps check out some of their current products.

http://www.granitegear.com/

The Mutant is a great pack.

If you have the cash... 2.5lb (just over 1kg) without the framesheet:

http://www.cilogear.com/nwd45worksack.html


I personally use a Variant 52 - once loads get over 10-15kg I like a real frame, it's worth the extra weight.


When I go light, I use a Granite Gear Virga and a cut-down z-lite. $100 for the pack, $30 for the pad, and 1.6lb (measured, they say it's less) for the pack + 6-8 oz for the pad. It carries up to 10kg very well, and 15kg is OK.

You can see Crux vs. Osprey at: http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=411872

I've climbed several alpine routes with both Jam2 and CiloGear 45 Worksacks and the Cilo is far superior both in load-carrying and movement, though the Jam is lighter, but also less durable.

I would not carry/climb more than 10kg in my Jam, but up to 15kg in the Cilo, though I had around 20kg in it on an expedition last year and it was OK on approach. I have both a Cilo regular 45 Worksack and a Dyneema 45 (not NWD) and I seem to prefer the regular model if the load is heavier. I never use the plastic-aluminum framesheet, just the blue pad, even up to 20kg, so the pack itself would weigh around 1.6kg, which I think is fine for a pack that you can both climb with and carry 20kg with.

If you really want the thing rain-proof, then the lids on the Cilo and Crux may not fit well enough ( I think the new Cilo models are better) and the Jam is a loose roll-top so not really good in rain.

The Jam is a great pack for what it is, but it is not an all-round alpine pack and not meant to be the same type of pack as the CiloGears, Crux, Ospreys etc.

The Osprey Mutant 38 looks very nice and simple but I've never used one, I've always thought they were too fancy and 'strappy'. It's 38 litres seem a lot smaller than the Cilo 45, which seems more like 50+ in the large size. You can see a video on the M38 at:
http://www.altrec.com/osprey-packs/muta ... affNT=true[/url]