Vaude

Asymmetric 42 + 8 Backpack - 2563cu in - 2016

The Haute Route is calling, but before you zip your suitcase and hop on your flight to Chamonix, give your mountaineering pack a final, thorough once-over. If it's looking a little more threadbare than you remembered, don't leave things up to chance. Upgrade to the Vaude Asymmetric 42 + 8 Backpack so you're not the guy trying to fix a broken zipper or ripped strap at the hut each evening. With a detachable top compartment and streamlined features specifically for hut-to-hut trekking, the Asymmetric is most at home high in the clouds.

For this version of the Asymmetric, Vaude focused on a clean, close-to-the-body fit, so you aren't burdened by a bouncing pack as you navigate technical terrain through the French and Swiss Alps. It also updated the pack's suspension system and internal frame to create a supportive and highly-adjustable pack that accommodates a wide range of heights. Pull the straps as tight as you need to ward off achy shoulders on the morning ascent, and enjoy the flexibility of the the adjustable waist strap as it yields to high steps and continuous movement while providing additional support.

The detachable top lid adds eight liters of space, organized by two pockets, for longer treks, and the whole pack is compressible for shorter weekend trips into the mountains closer to home as well. Slide a map into the designated map pocket, stash your trekking poles or ice axe in the exterior loops, and keep your phone close at hand in the waist belt pocket in the likely event you want to take pictures of the impressive scenery along the way.