Deuter Designs Pave the Way for an Outdoor Adventure
Nothing is more depressing than going camping or hiking and having muddy clothes with nowhere to put them except a plastic bag. Even more debilitating is that although there are many backpacks I like, it is hard to find one I love. Most backpacks are not designed for women’s bodies, meaning the waist belt and shoulder straps are usually too wide and rub me just the wrong way. Make way for the Deuter Trans Alpine 26 SL Women’s Backpack. Originally designed for the legendary Trans-Alpine mountain bike route that spread the Alps from Germany to Italy. We aren’t biking nearly that long of a distance, but we do like the thought of a backpack named after an acclaimed territory.
Women everywhere can rejoice because this backpack is made for us with compressed and shorter, soft-edge shoulder straps with smaller buckles to prevent chafing and annihilate those annoying pressure points. The ‘Airstripes System’ is unique to Deuter’s backpacks and made an impression on us. The system is comprised of 2 contoured foam stripes covered with breathable mesh that is designed so only 5% of its surface area comes in contact with our body. When going on a hike we were delighted to find that this backpack was durable and surprisingly comfortable and less bothersome than most storage bins on straps.
The flexible aluminum allows for curvature adjustment of the back and gave us continued support. The conical waist belt was the perfect size and the light color of this backpack made it look chic yet efficient. The rain cover was a bright neon color as well and provided added protection to our belongings.
Another one of our wishes was granted as there is a bottom compartment with a panel divider that kept our wet (sweaty) clothes and mudstained socks in it.
All in all a nice-sized backpack that was articulated with me personally in mind at a decent price of around $130. Available online for purchase.
We also tried out Deuter’s ACT 24 which is specifically designed for your work trek. It can stow up to 20 pounds and even has trekking pole loops for those of us who are serious athletes.
We personally liked the bright, Midnight Storm color and the pockets were just the right amount of space for a day’s bike ride. A rain cover is also included.
This model was built on the idea that it is easier to carry heavy loads when the backpack and carrier are, in essence, a single form. The “Aircontact System” depends upon the compression and expansion of two hydro- and thermo-phobic foam columns to provide the perfect amount of ventilation and comfort. The ACT 24 is suspended on a flexible Delrin frame. The backpack felt sturdy and we liked the buckled lid which allowed us to conveniently access the backpack in a pinch.
Even more so, the front elastic stash pocket was large enough to accommodate our bicycle helmet. An internal pocket was reasonably sized for our watch and other personal effects. There were enough pockets to suffice for even the most discriminating traveler and the design was well thought out and executed. We were able to purchase online for around $108.
If you are planning on any outdoor camping trips or abandoning civilization for a day, we would also suggest the Solar eCharger II by Wagan Tech for emergencies on the go (helping to keep your cell phone battery charged). The eCharger has a small LED flashlight and is the perfect size for under $80.
