Alpha SL 30 Ryggsekk

The backpack is ultra-lightweight. After several alpine climbing tours and a week of high-altitude tours and north face climbing, I am extremely satisfied. It has sufficient space, and the pockets (especially the inner ones) are very practical. The closure is more practical than that of the normal Alpha FL backpack. The compression straps are not quite ideal. Super comfortable to carry. Unfortunately, it does not come with a helmet net! This material is the future for ultralight and durability!

I've taken this cragging around Alberta, with the most recent tester up Achilles Spire. What a pack! It's comfortable, clears the harness, it's light and it has pockets! one zippered at the front AND one zippered on the inside! I've appreciated the zippered pockets. For 13 pitches up Achilles, the pack sits comfortably and I barely felt the pack on my back most of the time. I appreciated the compresson straps being removable as I found that I didn't need all of them going up the mountain. The waist straps sat nicely and provided the support for hiking in with the gear. The height adjustable chest strap did it's job. Pack construction appears to be durable and it lasted me getting up the prickly dolomite and also throwing it around at the various crags. The material does show dirt pretty quickly, and it obviosuly doesn't help that it's white. I will say the same thing or the grey straps and shoulder straps just showing dirt very easily. Pack is top opening and operating is simple, easy and no fuss. However, I'm not sure the closure system will protect the insides from a heavy downpour. The pack cinches from the top and then strapped over with a bit of grafalyte. If your pack is full and it's bulging out - sure, the water won't pool. but if the pack isn't full, the top may collect some water. But then again, are you climbing in heavy rain?

The Arc’teryx Alpha SL30 is an excellent pack: ultra-light, incredibly comfortable, and built with top-quality materials. Its minimalist design is perfect for fast missions without sacrificing durability or performance. A top choice for alpine and technical use.

Perfekter Rucksack für einenTag. Leicht, optimale Größe, robust, gutes Tragesystem.

I've been waiting to try out this pack since seeing sneak peaks in promotional videos over the last year and it's everything I hoped for. Really simple design, no bells and whistles. Incredibly light yet feels well constructed and built to last. Perfect size for a full day of climbing, and the outer straps and lash points provide options for keeping things secure on the outside. It lacks the roll top of the Alpha FL. I haven't tested it out in the rain yet but it seems like the top closure will still repel water from the main body.

Fantastic minimalist alpine bag for mountaineering and scrambling. The seemingly basic side compression straps are long enough to hold multiple things and their quick release attachment to the bag actually makes taking things like pickets and poles off super easy. The bag fits really well, I’m typically a tall size on bags, and even with a full harness on and carrying at 60m rope it’s sits well. Fabric looks to be very durable and shed dirt and moisture with ease. The back panel and straps are the same fabric so don’t absorb sweat too which is nice. Didn’t come with repair patches so hoping those come out eventually.

I took the Alpha SL 30 from home to the sea to the mountains on a multi-day trip through Sitka’s rugged terrain and relentless rain. It handled it all—dry, light, tough, and simple. Lightweight & Durable: The material shrugs off rain and abrasion. I dragged it through wet brush, hauled it on boats, and dropped it on rocks—no issues. Minimalist but Sufficient: Just enough features. One main compartment, smart pocket layout, no unnecessary straps or gimmicks. Comfortable: Carried a full day’s load (water, rain gear, food, extra layers) and stayed comfortable through hikes, scrambles, and boat rides. Water-Resistant: Didn’t soak through, even in heavy mist and sea spray. Bottom Line: This pack is exactly what it claims to be—everything you need, nothing you don’t. It’s built for people who actually go outside, not for showroom shelves. Tough enough for Alaska. Light enough to forget it's there. Would use it again without hesitation.

Amazing backpack, the integrated frame help a lot! Only negative is the top section that isn’t waterproof. Looking forward for a bigger version!

The ALLULA Graflyte is the headline, a very impressive looking material. Some design changes from the tried and tested Alpha FL packs, namely strippable features to bring the weight down even further, included compression straps and different ice tool attachments. As a long term fan of the Alpha FL packs, it remains to be seen how I get on with some of the changes e.g no roll-top, no zigzag cord providing a crampon attachment but overall it looks to be an impressive pack. Some more detailed thoughts available here for folk who want to read more my initial impresisons of the pack - https://mountainindependence.co.uk/blog/gear-reviews/arcteryx-alpha-sl-30-backpack-first-look/ Deducted 1 star as it didn't arrive with the mentioned patch kit and no offer to send one out as yet. There's no doubt that even with my reservations of some features/design choices, that this is a great, well put-together bit of kit.

I really like the pack, but I'm disappointed by the change in the closure system compared to the FL packs. In my opinion, the roll-top and drawstring closure system of the FL packs is superior in every way. It provides better weather protection and greater flexibility in terms of available space. The FL 30 pack has at least 10 liters more volume without adding much weight.

I've been keeping an eye on companies building backpacks with UHMWPE fabrics like Dyneema—materials known for being incredibly strong and lightweight. I was waiting for Arc'teryx to step into that space. They finally did! They went a step further and used ALUULA Graflyte, a cutting-edge composite that’s even lighter and more durable than traditional UHMWPE. The result is the Alpha SL 30, a pack that’s incredibly minimalist and clean in its design—something I absolutely love. To be honest, when the team at Arc'teryx told me it would be 50% lighter than the Alpha FL, I was skeptical. Like—will I really feel the difference? But when I held it for the first time, I was just like: "Whoa." You do feel it. It’s featherlight, yet doesn’t compromise on strength or structure. This pack is a real step into the future of alpine gear—simple, tough, and insanely light.

I used this pack on many alpine and rock climbs through the whole last year and hauled it quite a bit too. I was very surprised about the durability of such a light pack. Its a perfect volume for day climbs or for a leader pack on multi-day climbs.

Sweet pack with never ending durability. Great carrying system, awesome looking. Light and compact, all I need