Review by Fiona McIntosh
RRP: Variant 52 – R2499
RRP: Variant 37 – R2299
www.adventureinc.co.za
Choosing the right backpack for a big mountain or polar expedition is always a challenge. You need large capacity for load carrying, but want something that’s light and compact enough to be a daypack for a big summit day or for technical climbing.
The Osprey Variant 52 fits the bill perfectly. Despite its stated capacity of 52 litres, it is incredibly roomy (it takes as much as most of the 65-litre packs that I have used), and the extension collar and floating lid allow you to increase the size of the main compartment and to stash a rope or a tent between the lid and the pack.
Designed as an alpine climbing/expedition/back country ski pack, the top-loading Variant is streamlined and light (weighing in at 1.57 kilograms for the medium-sized version), yet has all the straps, pockets and buckles necessary to strap on ice axes, skis, climbing gear and safety equipment. Chunky buckles and big zipper pulls make opening the pack and making adjustments to the fit easy with gloved hands.
One of the best things about the Variant is the ease with which you can reconfigure it into a daypack. A removable solid back plate (a piece of plastic mounted on a minimalist aluminium frame) adds stiffness and support when carrying heavy loads, but this can be removed and the compression straps tightened if you want less weight and bulk. Similarly, a flap jacket closure means that the lid can also be dispensed with.
The recommended maximum load for comfortable carrying is around 20–25 kilograms for the Variant 52, but the tapered shape, and easily adjustable, padded waist belt and shoulder straps means that it sits well on your back even when overloaded or on technical ground. It comes in three sizes and has a removable hip belt, so if you’re not of standard girth, you can customise it for an optimum fit. There’s an internal pocket for a hydration bladder, but since I eschew these in the big mountains, my one gripe is that the side pockets are not deep enough to securely stash insulated bottles.
The Variant (which also comes in a 37-litre size that is ideal for weekend mountain trips) exemplifies the light-and-fast ethos in mountaineering and as with all their packs, it comes with Osprey’s Almighty Guarantee under which the manufacturer undertakes to repair or replace the bag if it is damaged.
