Alpkit are a company that are going places (in more ways than one!), and they just won Online Retailer of the Year 2015 at the prestigious TGO Awards. Recent restructuring has seen them move up a gear in terms of product development and with that comes a measured increase in the range of equipment that they currently offer to customers.
The Atom LitePak is just one of these.
In the spring of 2015 I was tinkering about at home with some simple designs for just such a product when it conveniently popped up on their website. Plenty of outdoor manufacturers do a similar product but none of them were fitting in with what I needed. Most were way too big; the Sea-To-Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack, for example, is a whopping 20 litres. The 11 litre LitePak was just what I was looking for. I wanted something compact, light, and unobtrusive, for stashing food supplies during bikepacking trips, and for kicking around town when travelling.
In simple terms it's an ultra-lightweight day pack that fits easily in to a trouser pocket when not in use.
Alpkit manufacture it using 30D siliconised cordura; the same material they use for their range of excellent Airlok drybags.
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| The LitePak squashes in to a very small package. |
The material is waterproof but the zips are standard and the seams aren't taped, even so it has performed impeccably, water beads off well and none of my kit has suffered at all. I haven't yet had the pleasure of testing its performance in torrential rain (hopefully I won't have to either) but under normal conditions it has repelled it well enough.
It is stable and comfortable in use even when, as usual, I have abused it and overloaded it. The zips have also held up under considerable strain.
I have used it a lot lately. As I write this I am currently in Kathmandu, Nepal, and I have used it daily for seven weeks.
During this years Yak Attack Mountain Bike Race in Nepal I officiated as stage starter and race sweeper, and most days it would be stuffed to the gunnels with arm warmers, jackets, and windproof smocks, from the riders, prior to racing.
It's 11 litre volume will be more than enough for most people. The photographs show it easily loaded with a 13" laptop and cycle helmet, with plenty of room to spare for a lightweight jacket.
It's showing no signs of wear at all.
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| Peace badge not included! |
It doesn't come with the peace badge, you have to retro-fit that yourself! :D
Alpkit retail this item at £16.00 ($25/22euro), that compares very favourably with High Street prices on similar items.
Free delivery and returns to UK addresses.
Full product details available here
Pro's: Price, Lightweight, Robust.
Con's: None; but the lack of waterproof zips and seams may put some people off.
A fine travel accessory for a discerning dosser such as I!
Great product, buy it with confidence.
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Thank you for looking, my reviews are always very honest, I hope you like them.
See you again soon :)
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