What is the AirZone Z 20?
The Lowe Alpine AirZone Z 20 is one of the most breathable, comfortable and well constructed rucksacks for walking, biking, travel, urban use and a whole range of other outdoor activities. The super breathable suspended backsystem, moisture-wicking fabrics and comfortable, supportive harness means you'll barely notice it on your back.
What is the AirZone made from?
The entire pack is made from a durable, lightweight nylon with a durable water repellent coating. This fabric offers the same durability and abrasion resistance of heavier canvas fabrics of old, but with a reduction in weight and pack size if you frequently travel with your outdoor gear. The water repellent coating offers a level of protection for unexpected showers, however for longer periods of rain the pack includes a raincover.
What is the backsystem?
Lowe Alpine's AirZone range of packs have always excelled in comfort and breathability, and the Z 20 is no exception. A suspended piece of pre-curved mesh sits against your back, while the pack itself sits about an inch away, leaving a gap between the two fabrics for air to circulate and your sweat to escape. The shoulder straps and hipbelt both use a comfortable mesh which wicks away sweat and grips to clothing to avoid slipping during use. The hipbelt also features cut-outs to allow the harness to wrap around your hips more securely.
What are the features?
Starting from the top, you get a huge wrap-around zip which stretches all the way down to the bottom of the pack; this allows you to access items from the bottom of the pack without emptying everything out. Storage wise, you get a large stretch mesh pocket on the front to store wet gear, spare socks or a map, two side pockets which will fit up to a 1L water bottle and the main compartment for everything else. Other useful features include a raincover which is stashed away in the bottom of the pack, a bike light strap and walking pole holders, all on a pack under 20 litres.
Summary
If breathability and comfort are your main requirements when purchasing a pack, look no further. The AirZone Z 20 will hold just about everything you'll need for a few hours in the hills or a full day on lower trails and coastal paths and includes just about every feature you could ever need as well.
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Tough outer fabric
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Suspended mesh backsystem
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Two bottle pockets
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Large mesh front pocket
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Walking pole holders
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Raincover included
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Bike light attachment point
Getting the correct fit for your rucksack is as important as getting the fit right for your boots. A badly fitting pack can inflict misery and discomfort and completely ruin your adventure. This guide is designed to help you get the best fit and comfort from your chosen pack so that carrying all your kit becomes a pleasure and not a chore.
ADJUSTING THE BACK LENGTH
If the pack has an adjustable back length, adjust this to your correct level. Your back length is not related to your height but your torso length. Many packs, and specifically the bigger and more technical packs are available in different back lengths or feature adjustable back systems. Contrary to popular belief, your torso length and not your overall height is the key to getting a well fitted pack. Tall people don’t necessarily have long torsos, just as shorter people don’t always have a short torso length.
Your torso length can be found by measuring from your C7 vertebra (the bony protrusion at the back of your neck when looking down) to the height of your iliac crest (top of your hip bones, where you put your hands on your hips). This measurement will give you an idea of which pack back length to choose.
Once you've got the back length sorted, either by selecting the correct size pack or adjusting the back system, you can begin to follow these simple steps to help achieve a comfortable carry.
LOOSEN OFF ALL STRAPS
Before you start fitting the pack, loosen off all the straps as this will make it easier to get the correct tension later.
TIGHTENING THE HIPBELT
Fasten the backpack hipbelt, the general position is the same as where you’d put your ‘hands on hips’ This area is called the pelvic girdle, and what you can feel when you rest your hand on the area is the bony protuberance, the iliac crest. The iliac crest can support the weight from a pack comfortably, and for sustained periods. The padded section of the hipbelt should encompass this and fit securely.
Tighten the straps so the hipbelt feels secure and held firmly around your body. Ensure that the lumbar pad is centered to your lower back to give you maximum support. Remember that your hips carry most of the weight of the pack, so this should be firm but comfortable.
ADJUSTING THE SHOULDER STRAPS
Next, adjust the shoulder straps, pull them until they start to become snug, but ensure that they are not too tight as to lift the pack off your hips. Remember tightening them will stabilise the pack but will increase pressure over the shoulders. If the back length of the pack is correct the shoulder straps will be flush to your shoulders whilst the hipbelt sits in place comfortably. The point where the shoulder straps attach to the main body of the pack should be roughly half way down your shoulder blades; this ensures that the shoulder straps rolls evenly over the top of your shoulders to distribute the weight correctly.
FASTENING THE CHEST STRAP
Fasten the chest strap and pull until taut but not tight, the elastic section should not be extended. This helps keep the shoulder straps from catching in your shoulder joints and keeps the stability of the pack when moving over rough ground.
ADJUSTING THE TOP TENSIONERS
Top tensioner straps link the shoulder straps to the top of the pack. When tightened, their main function is to stabilise the top part of the pack. The optimum angle for these straps in 45º, but they will stabilise the load even when horizontal or at a more obtuse angle. Tighten them until you feel the top part of the pack rest against your pack, over tightening them will create excessive pressure on the front of your shoulders.
ADJUSTING THE SIDE TENSIONERS
Side tension straps are linked to the hipbelt. By tightening these straps you can stabilise the load but reduce the hipbelt flexibility. Where balance is critical tightening them can help you feel more secure. However, if you are striding out over easy terrain it’s better to loosen these straps to allow full hip flexibility.
ADJUSTING THE SIDE COMPRESSION STRAPS
Side compression straps come next, pulling these tight does two things: firstly, it stabilises the load, secondly it can lift the lower part of the pack, repositioning the load closer to your back.
ADJUSTMENTS ON THE GO
Following these steps should give you a comfortable but secure fit on your pack. Sometimes adjustments will need to be made on the go depending on the terrain or the load you are carrying. The perfect fit is very much a personal preference so experiment with different tensions on the pack to find what suits you best.