ATOM PACKS THE ATOM+ EP50 £250

While bigger brands remain wedded to traditional backpack styles and designs, Atom Packs is a market disruptor with a cutting-edge, forwardthinking approach. Giving a British twist to the US ‘thru-hiking’ movement, the Keswick-based cottage business makes ultralight, highly-customisable backpacks with well thought-out features, tailored sizing options, and a fine balance between weight, durability, comfort and structure. The off-the-shelf Atom+ EP50, for example, weighs just 750g (that's up to 1kg lighter than some comparable packs) and delivers a close-to-the-body carrying experience that's so comfy and light-touch you almost forget it's on. Load transfer is good – courtesy of the removable carbon-fibre hooped frame (55g) and foam pad (15g) – and the materials used (EcoPak EPX200, 210-denier Robic Extreema, Dyneema mesh and 500-denier textured nylon) feel tough enough for extended trail abuse, despite…