What is the Alpha AR 55 Backpack?The Alpha AR is a large-capacity rucksack for ice climbing excursions or multi-day alpine climbing trips. It features one of the toughest fabrics available on a rucksack and the ability to remove components to reduce the overall weight.
What is the Alpha AR made from?One of the most impressive features of the Alpha AR is the face fabric. The pack is constructed using N315r-LCP, a high tenacity nylon with a Liquid Crystal Polymer ripstop grid that Arcteryx helped design. You may be familiar with Arcteryx's AC² fabric which is used in the Bora and Alpha FL packs; well, this fabric is a new version and is a staggering 6-7x more abrasion resistant than AC². What this gives you is a face fabric that will not only shrug off all but the worst weather but is also tough enough to handle constant abrasion.
Which backsystem does it use?The back system is another area where this pack excels. The frame sheet of the back panel is now removable, lightening the load for fast ascents or allowing the pack to roll down and pack away when travelling. The Alpha AR 55 also has an additional framesheet that adds shape and stability to the pack, but can also be removed with the back panel. The back panel is also effective at protecting your back from all the jabby bits you usually get in a climbing/trekking pack. Moving down, the hipbelt fits like a climbing harness and encompasses virtually all of your lower back. If you were to look at where the take-off point for the hipbelt sits, it starts near the centre of the back panel, rather than on the side of the pack like most other bags. This gives you a feeling of complete stability and comfort and also suits a wide range of waist sizes. The low-profile shoulder straps wick sweat away and sit snug to your body to avoid chafing.
What are the features?The Alpha AR is a more stripped-down pack than some of the others in our range. The main compartment is a super simple space that is tailored towards hauling vast amounts of climbing kit. The compartment is easy to get into, even with gloves on — it features a traditional lid which can be extended for more space or removed to shed further grams. Underneath this, it's a simple pull to open/pull to close drawcord with a weather protection top flap to help further seal out any bad weather you may incur. Your full trad rack, a helmet, your shoes and a variety of mountain snacks will easily fit in. There is also an additional zipped security pocket on the inside of the lid with a key clip to safely stash all your valuables. External storage consists of ice axe loops that have been designed to fit a wide range of axes and custom webbing daisy chains for additional external storage. The pack also has side compression straps to synch down your pack when it isn't full to capacity; this adds to the stability and stops the bag from sloshing around.
- Highly Water-resistant
- Incredibly abrasion resistant
- N315r-LCP fabric
- Pull to open/ Pull to close drawcord main compartment
- Custom webbing daisy chains for external storage
- Ice axe loops
- Removable framesheet and back panel
- Removable lid with zippered pocket
- Security pocket under lid with key clip