Hello. I am Daichi Terui, a mountain guide and an Arc’teryx-sponsored guide.
This time I want to write about the pack I carry on most of my guiding days: the ARC’TERYX Alpha FL30.
Who this pack is for
- Alpine climbing
- Climbing
- Canyoning and stream climbing
If you are trying to cut weight in the mountains, or you climb and go alpine climbing, this pack works all year round.
It also suits anyone who likes to travel minimal.
It is good for stream climbing too, but it is not fully waterproof, so use a dry bag inside. One warning: the fabric is airtight enough that if too much air is trapped inside, the pack floats more than you want it to.
Why pack weight matters
You feel the weight on your back within the first hour of any climb. You are carrying your own body up steep ground and awkward terrain, and the pack on top of it, sometimes for days at a time.
That is where cutting weight with an alpine pack comes in. Choosing lighter kit, and carrying only what you actually need, takes real load off your body.
That does not only make the day more enjoyable and safer. It also slows down how fast you tire, and leaves you the endurance to reach the summit.Weight is one of the things that decides how comfortable and how enjoyable a climb turns out to be.
The main features of the Alpha FL30
The slim profile moves well with you and rarely snags on rock or branches.
The shoulder straps are supple, so they sit against the body without restricting the upper body.
The waist belt keeps interference with your harness to a minimum while still stopping the pack from swinging, so you can concentrate on the climbing.
There are two axe holders, which makes it easy to use on routes where you carry two tools.
What I fit into the Alpha FL30
The photograph below is my standard kit for guiding a rock ridge in the Northern Alps with a night in a mountain hut.
All of it goes into the Alpha FL30.
- Helmet
- Harness
- Rope, 9 mm x 30 m
- Assorted climbing gear
- Head torch
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Massage ball
- Charger and personal items
- Trail food
- First aid kit
- Water bottle
- Trekking poles
The pack in use
In summary
It is not a pack for everyone, but as an alpine pack it is excellent.
The weight is what you notice first, but the Hadron fabric also holds up well against abrasion.
I would recommend it to anyone who uses their kit hard.
To me it is simple is best, made into a pack.
