The Optic 58 has a single large main compartment that was surprisingly roomy for its stated capacity. The separator between main and lower compartment can be unzipped to create one larger area if required. This might be necessary if your tent is longer than the main compartment. The main lid compartment is a good size with a zip at the rear. Inside it is a key loop. On the underside of the lid is a second zipped compartment.

compartment is long enough to accommodate a typical lightweight two-person tent, and there is also a separate zipped bottom compartment for sleeping bag or stove. As well as the top opening, the main compartment can be accessed via a large front opening panel, with a double puller zip on three sides. We found this feature really useful for getting at gear when at camp, without having to remove items at the top of the main area. There is generous padding in the shoulder blade area and good padding in the wide harness straps as they come over the shoulder. The hip belt has equally generous padding in the lumbar area and in the wrap-around fins, which feel snug on the hips when carrying a load. The hip belt is articulated towards the bottom of its attachment to the main body, allowing upwards and downwards movement when crossing uneven ground. The foam in the shoulder straps is fairly stiff, but was reasonably comfortable, with just enough padding, and the harness does support the weight well. There’s more foam padding in the hipbelt, and the fins wrap nicely round the body and are offer good comfort. The main area also has a front opening, with a double-puller zip running two-thirds of the length of the front panel. Inside the main compartment is a deep pouch for a hydration reservoir, and a hanging loop with hook-and-loop closure. Drinks tube exit is to the right harness strap.The main compartment is a good size and the bottom compartment is bigger than most, and easily accommodated our sleeping bag and stove. There’s a divider between the two, which can be unzipped and opened to create one big storage space. There’s just one big main compartment – no separate lower section – and access is via a top opening with a good-size gaiter with double drawcord closure. The gaiter, combined with the floating lid, can be extended upwards to give an extra 5 litres of space if needed. It falls into the category of gear we like best: put it on and forget it’s there, which means it’s working well for the job it’s designed to do.

With winter on the horizon, hillgoers will also have to carry more kit: extra clothing, crampons, ice-axe, gloves, hat, headtorches and all the other essentials to enhance safety, even on day walks. The Trion Spine 50 displays Mammut’s alpine heritage, designed with mountain walkers, mountaineers and ski-mountaineers in mind. Despite its stated capacity being towards the lower end for the test, it did accommodate all our wild camping kit. The sternum strap is secured by plastic toggles in a series of daisy chain loops on each side, which offer less easy adjustment than one that slides on a rail or continuous webbing system. One other niggle with it is that when the sternum strap is tensioned well, there can be a tendency for one side of the retainers to ping out, especially if you’re slipping a map or similar under it.

Both the harness straps and the hipbelt have ventilation perforations. The harness has dual density foam, which gives reasonable comfort. The hip fins have good padding and were comfortable. The main body of the Asymmetric 52+8 is a diamond-patterned 400-denier polyamide-polyester mix with side panels and base in 600 denier polyester, half of whose content is recycled. The fabrics have polyurethane coating.