Lowe Alpine Backpacks – Packed with 50 years of Experience
A good backpack is indispensable for tours and for many globetrotters the backpack is a symbol of freedom and independence. The brothers Greg and Jeff Lowe, both ambitious mountaineers and climbers, feel the same way. In 1967, they started manufacturing their own, better equipment for even steeper and higher routes. Until the 60's, backpacks had an external frame that did not spread the load very beneficially on hips and shoulders. Already in the founding year of Lowe Alpine, Greg, the inventive genius of the family, revolutionized mountain equipment with the Expedition Pack. A backpack with internal frame and a milestone, to whose construction all common backpack models can still be put down.
Mountaineering and climbing on ice and rocks themselves, Greg and Jeff were the harshest critics of their own developments. Material and equipment have to withstand the toughest conditions, e.g. Jeff‘s solo route 1991 at the Eiger Northface, which was only finished again 25 years later. With the contours of the Grand Teton in the logo, they immortalized their favourite routes from the American state of Wyoming on all Lowe Alpine backpacks.
In the 80ies, Lowe Alpine introduced the ND series, their first ladies backpacks. The women-specific, shorter construction with straps and hip belts adapted to the female body fits much more comfortably on the backs of women who are excited about mountaineering. ND honors India's second highest mountain, the Nanda Devi, and is also a tribute to a talented young woman - Nanda Devi Unsoeld, who had an accident climbing this mountain in 1976.
The backpack revolution was followed by improvements to individual parts, e.g. the introduction of break-resistant, lightweight plastic buckles and the Load-Locker metal buckle for alpine backpacks. The award-winning brand Lowe Alpine proved its innovative character with the TFX, APS and AirZone carrying systems, too.