Mountain Equipment Tupilak 45+ Pack Review
Reviewed by Piers Harley (April 2021)
So ... The Tupilak 45+ is the largest in the ME range with 37+ and 30+ litre models sitting beneath it. In my opinion it is aimed squarely at the Scottish winter climber, winter alpinist or any climber who struggles to travel light! The first thing I noticed when I picked the pack up was how light it was. Mountain Equipment state the 45+ weighs in at a featherweight 815 grams (600g when stripped) which makes it one of the lightest packs available. Despite the low weight it has a substantial feel to it. This is helped by the bomb proof fabric used and the obvious quality of the build. The design does without the conventional lid and instead has a loose hood or cowl at the entrance that is secured with a draw cord. Within this there is a roll top dry-bag that makes the pack weather proof. A simple overall design that includes removable side compression straps, twin ice tool holders, a simple, removable waist belt with hip fins and a semi stiffened back with a removable foam pad completes the picture.
I was lucky enough to use this pack over the last winter and took it climbing on Ben Nevis. My first observation was that, despite being overloaded, it was comfortable and carried a heavy load well. Once on the route the pack compressed down well in order to compensate for the reduced volume. However, the really outstanding feature of the pack was just how well it climbs. The shoulder straps are unobtrusive and allowed my shoulders and arms to move freely and the back panel flexed rather than act like a splint. It was also incredibly easy to use on the route. An interesting feature is the aluminium closure buckle that ME have called the "Grappler". It proved simple to operate with gloves on and wasn't affected by cold or windy conditions.
Access to the pack through the cowl is dead easy and simplified grabbing things such as my belay jacket and flask. As mentioned the pack does not have a conventional lid pocket, however it does have a map/guide book/Snickers bar sized floating pocket located at the top of the back panel. This is accessible from either outside or from within the pack. However when this pocket is full, access to the main compartment can prove difficult.
Overall, I think Mountain Equipment have done a good job! The pack is very well thought out and has all the features a climber needs and nothing more. The RRP of £220.00 may be top end but so is the pack. The thing about well designed kit is that it performs when you need it to and the cost becomes largely immaterial.
There are heavier, more durable packs out there, as well as lighter, more compromised ones.
However, in my humble opinion the Mountain Equipment Tupilak range trumps the lot because it hits that sweet spot of being well made and fit for purpose and nothing more. In short it works (and looks great in photos!)