ARC'TERYX Acrux 50

Killer Deal

Get a lot of pack for a little money with the Manang. “I hauled more than 40 pounds on a 35-mile trip through the Wind River Range,” said one tester, “and this top-loader performed way above its price range.” How? The Manang’s well-padded suspension includes shoulder straps with extra-cushy gel inserts, and the frame is plenty stiff for big loads, thanks to two aluminum stays and a rigid U-shaped tube.

The packbag is easy to load and organize, with a cavernous main compartment that has a vertical access zipper, lid and hipbelt pockets, and plenty of lashing options. Even more impressive: The mix of 840- and 420-denier fabric is bushwhack-durable, yet the pack is reasonably lightweight for the capacity. The catch? No sleeping-bag compartment, and the ladder-style, adjustable harness is not as stable as the best in this category. $180; 5,190 cu. in.; 5 lbs. 2 oz. Lafumausa.com

Inspired by pared-down alpinist goals and constructed with revolutionary 420ACT fabric, this pack excels during light and fast missions. Includes only essential features like a removable WaterTight top lid and strippable Binary HipPods.

• RollTop closure
• Four external compression straps
• Fully seam taped
• Hydration bladder pocket
• Laminated moulded AC2 Fusion Points
• Monoframe backpanel
• Pigment dyed WaterTight Zippers
• Radially formed shoulder straps and HipPods
• Removable top lid
• Twin aluminum stays
• Waterproof Hydroport
• Webbing hipbelt with strippable Binary HipPods
• 3D shaping