Deuter Futura Pro 34 SL

The Futura Pro sits between Deuter's day packs and its trekking line: 40 L with the same suspended Aircomfort mesh as the Futura, but VariClick five-stage back length adjustment, a separate bottom compartment and a lid section. It covers long day trips, hut tours and overnights where a full trekking pack is overkill.

A round-profile spring steel frame sets the Trail Pro 36 apart at the top of Deuter's Trail line, replacing the Delrin U-frame of the smaller Trails and lifting the load rating to 6-10 kg. It is the Deuter alternative to a 35 L alpine daypack such as the Osprey Stratos 36 or Gregory Zulu 35, with a flat lid, mesh hip fins with carabiner loops and an included rain cover. A women's Trail Pro 34 SL is also made.

The women's-fit Speed Lite Pro, with a 38-48 cm back length and hip fins carrying zipper pockets. It is the largest SL size in the line at 28 L and 740 g, and one of the few genuinely women's-specific fastpacking-style packs from a mainstream brand.

Women get the Trail 30 in a shorter cut as the Trail 28 SL: the same Delrin U-frame, Airstripes back, flat helmet-carry lid and included rain cover, cut for a 38-48 cm back and a 158-178 cm body. It saves 50 g and 2 L against the unisex pack at the same $155. The SL run also includes a 16 L and a 22 L.

Largest of the unisex sizes in Deuter's mid-range hiking daypack family, the Trail 30 sits between the frameless Telatie and the spring-steel Trail Pro. A flexible Delrin U-frame stiffens the Airstripes back, the lid is flat so a helmet can be strapped on top, and a removable rain cover is included. The line runs from 18 to 32 L, with the 32 EL built on a longer 48-58 cm back for tall hikers.

The Futura is Deuter's ventilated day pack and the smallest application of the Aircomfort suspended mesh used on the Futura Air Trek. The mesh is tensioned over a spring steel frame so the pack bows away from the back, which is why a 23 L day pack weighs 1,180 g -- heavy for the volume, and the direct cost of the airflow.