Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic 70 > Owner Review by Karen Ross

LOWE ALPINE SIROCCO CLASSIC PACK

Background Information:
Name: Karen Ross
Age: 24           
Gender: Female
Height: 5'0" (1.5 m)
Weight: 103 lbs. (47 kg)          
Email address: karen ross AT tufts DOT edu
City, State, Country: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Date:  March 19, 2004

Backpacking Background:
I'm 24 and have been hiking and camping for as long as I can remember.  I'm an avid runner and day hiker, ski occasionally, kayak, car camp, and generally like to spend as much time outdoors as possible.  I've spent time hiking and orienteering with scout groups, as well as while doing my military service in Israel.  I travel frequently and try to use every opportunity to explore. I started backpacking a few years ago and my trips have been mostly limited so far to shorter ones, although I’m slowly working my way up to longer trips (including trail maintenance work).  Being small, I tend toward lightweight gear, although I’m not one to hit the digital scales with every item – it’s more of a philosophy than a science for me.  I like to think of my style as light, but not without a couple of luxuries.

Product Information:
Name: Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic
Manufacturer: Lowe Alpine
Web Site: www.lowealpine.com
Pack Type:  Internal Frame Pack                                   
Date of Manufacture: 2001
Listed weight:  5.2  lb. (2.3 kg)               
Delivered weight:  5.3 lb. (2.4 kg)
Volume:  70 +15 liters (4300 + 900 c.i.)                  
Color: Green
MSRP: $179.00

NOTE: The Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic pack no longer has the 15 liter (900 c.i.) extension collar available when I purchased it.  This option is now available on the Lowe Alpine Sirocco II pack, similar but for added volume and weight (about 1 lb. or .5 kg).  

Product Description:
The Sirocco Classic is a woman-specific, top-loading internal frame pack.  It consists of a large main compartment and a smaller bottom compartment separated from the main compartment by a zippered flap, which can be unzipped to create one large compartment (This smaller compartment is described on the Lowe Alpine website as a "modified "A" shaped sleeping bag opening with zip out divider").  The bottom section is accessible via a zippered opening from the outside of the pack (which also closes with a hook and loop fastener).  An extension collar provides an additional 15 liters (900 c.i.) of packing capacity.  The pack also uses a non-removable (but adjustable) zippered top lid and has two cloth side (bottle) pockets.  Each of these pockets can hold a 1 L (32 oz.) Nalgene bottle.

There are three compression straps on each side of the Sirocco Classic pack, the lowest of which is placed over the side pockets.  Two ice-pick loops are strategically placed near the bottom of the pack.   About half-way up the pack are two additional buckles with cinching loops.  Finally,  the Sirocco Classic has eight (yes, eight!)  tie-down buckles, four on each side of the pack, located on either side of the upper two compression straps.  These buckles are large enough to use 1 in. (2.5 cm) webbing, which is the width of all webbing straps used on the back  (except the webbing on the hip belt, which is 2 in. - 5 cm - wide). 

The Sirocco Classic pack closes by cinching a drawstring (there is another drawstring at the top of the extension collar).  Once the drawstring is cinched, the top lid is fastened closed with two buckles.  The straps on these buckles are adjustable, allowing the lid to be extended if the collar on the pack is utilized, or, conversely, allowing for the bag to be cinched down if it is not full.  

This pack, like most Lowe Alpine packs, uses the company's Air Cooled Back System™, described by the website as "A combination of air channels and special mesh in body areas which promotes the circulation of air. In hot climates, or during intense activity, AirCooled Back System™ will allow increased levels of comfort." Essentially, the  System™ uses a wicking fabric laminated onto foam to increase circulation between the back and the pack at body contact areas.  A central air channel allows for ventilation. 

The Sirocco Classic also uses Lowe Alpine's APS (Advanced Paralux System) to facilitate sizing of the pack.  The shoulder straps attach directly to a harness, which is adjusted by means of a plastic bayonet which can be moved up and down and placed into slots spaced approximately 1 in. (2.5 cm) apart.  As a result, the pack is suitable for women of many sizes and especially smaller women - I have an 18 in. (46 cm) torso and don't use the shortest bayonet setting. 

Impressions:

Pack use and Durability
I’ve been using the Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic for about three years now.  When I bought it, I knew little about backpacking (and less still about the ‘pack light’ philosophy) and was attracted by its size (that is, capacity) and adjustable fit.  Since my purchase the pack has accompanied me on camping and backpacking trips, extended travel of various sorts, and through basic training and onwards during my military service in the Israel Defense Forces.  I've packed it not only for back country trips, but for backpacking through the Mediterranean, week-long vacations, and pretty much everything in between. 

The Lowe Alpine Sirocco has traveled via plane, boat, bus, and automobile.  I don’t own a carrier duffel for this pack; when I check it at airports I generally buckle the hip belt around the pack and tuck in all straps.  Despite concerns that the pack might get stuck and/or ripped apart, this has never happened.  The pack is also no worse for the wear having been stuffed to the gills and overstuffed on more than one occasion - I remember one month-long trip home to my parent's house where the pack was stuffed with clothing, gifts, backpacking equipment, extra shoes, and school books.  Every bit of space in the pack was used and I had to strap my tent and sleeping pad to the side of the pack using compression straps! Needless to say, I was quite a sight getting on the subway when I reached New York City...

I've used the pack with weights ranging from 15 to 35 lbs. (7 to 16 kg). 

Comfort
I first used the Sirocco Classic on an extended three week trip through the south-western United States – Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.  The highlight of the trip – and longest continuous wearing of the pack – was a 3-day hike in Bryce Canyon, Utah.  This was my first experience wearing a full internal frame pack, and after initial adjustments due to my own ignorance (I was wearing the hip belt around my waist at first!), I found it very comfortable.   Subsequent trips have proved no less so, although the comfort factor tends to diminish as trip length increases.  

The Lowe Alpine Sirocco pack is at its most comfortable on short trips.  On longer trips, even with load lifters, a sternum strap, and shoulder straps, I can't always find the right configuration to take all of the weight off my shoulders and onto my hips, and more than once have taken the pack off to find huge red marks on my shoulders and upper back where the straps were sitting.  Taking the weight off my shoulders is no easier on shorter trips; however, because I'm carrying less weight and for a shorter distance/time, the shoulder soreness that this causes on long hikes does not occur. 

The Sirocco Classic is a very padded pack, meaning that it's extremely comfortable on my hips and lower back.  The padding on the hip belt is over 1 in. (2.5 cm) thick, and the padding at the center of the hip belt - i.e. at the contact point of the pack with my lower back - is significantly thicker than that! The hip belt is also just over 4 in. (10 cm) wide - definitely enough to cover my hips!

As far as the Air Cooled Back System™ is concerned, I'm not quite sure what to think.  It is possible that because of this feature my back has remained cooler than it would have otherwise: however, because I do not have any standard with which to compare the pack, I can't say that this is definitely the case.  What I can say is that when it's 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) or higher and I'm out in the sand dunes with my pack, nothing feels cool.  I don't blame the Sirocco Classic for this, though...

General Comments
I have two main complaints about the Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic pack, neither of which were concerns to me when I first purchased it. 

1.  Weight.  The pack weighs over 5 lbs. and given my current lightweight gear setup just takes up too large a portion of my total gear weight.  Given all the features, however, I feel that this is an acceptable trade off for a novice backpacker.  I have lately begun searching out lighter packs and intend to transition to a significantly lighter pack for backpacking trips.  Where weight is not an issue, however (for example, when packing occurs in more of a ‘suitcase’ mode than a ‘house on my back’ mode), I will continue to use the Sirocco Classic.

2.  Capacity.  This is slightly counter-intuitive: my complaint is that there is too much (not too little) room in the Sirocco Classic.  70 liters (4300 c.i.) is overkill for any but truly extended or winter trips for me.  However, as the Sirocco Classic is my only pack, I use it…and fill it up.  It’s the age old problem of using all the room I have. :) 

My only other complaint concerns water bottles and bladders.  As this is an older pack, it is not hydration-system compatible.  The water bottle pockets, while large enough to hold all the water I need, are not accessible without me taking off the pack.  This means that every time I want a sip of water I have to stop, take the pack off, take out the water bottle, drink, put the bottle back, put the pack back on and start again.  When the pack is full and/or heavy, this last part (putting the pack back on) can be a huge pain.  I would much prefer to have an easily accessed water bottle holder or a port through which I could put a hydration valve.

Summary
The Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic pack is a well-made entry-level pack.  It's adjustable size makes it ideal for younger backpackers, and it's many features allow for those backpackers leaning toward heavyweight packing to bring all their gear...and more.  At this point, it is a bit too heavy for anything but trips where the most gear is needed or I'm not at all worried about pack weight.  Overall, however, this pack has done me well.

Likes

• Adjustable back sizing
• Durability
• Padding
  

Dislikes

• Weight
• Overall comfort level (on heavier/longer trips)
  
  
  
  

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Lowe Alpine Sirocco Classic 70 > Owner Review by Karen Ross