GEAR REVIEW: Mammut Creon Tour 20 backpack

Mammut started life in Switzerland as pioneers in the design and manufacture of climbing ropes and over the last 150 years the company has forged a reputation for making highly technical clothing, footwear and equipment for Alpine adventures.

When you're ascending a sheer rockface with only your climbing rope preventing you from plunging hundreds of feet onto the jagged rocks below, you want to be able to rely on your kit. It is literally life-saving.

But you don't need to take part in death-defying mountain adventures to get the most out of Mammut's gear. The Creon Tour is a sporty backpack that is aimed firmly at hikers rather than climbers. That doesn't mean it's not designed to the highest technical standards, though. A top-performing 20-litre daysack (it's also available in 28-litre format), it uses Mammut’s Contact Stream suspension system for enhanced ventilation and load control.

It's sleek, lightweight and comfortable but feels rugged enough to cope with anything you're likely to encounter on the hiking routes of the UK. We think it's ideal for use all year round, particularly with its integrated and detachable rain cover. Overall, it's a great addition to your kit if you like to get out on the hills during your camping trips.