Lowe Alpine Contour IV

Men's Contour IV
Reviewed by Yooper, Oct 12, 2006

"I have owned this pack for 13 years and can say it hasn't failed me yet. It is a large pack that can handle big loads. I've had as much as 85 lbs. in and on this pack hiking Isle Royale and other areas in the U. P. This pack is a tough well made pack that is very comfortable to carry."

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Contour IV
Reviewed by Wingnut, Sep 21, 2003

"This pack packs. In the years I've owned it it's taken me from Alaska to Argentina with Europe, Asia, and a whole bunch of mountains in between. I hauled 100 lbs. 45 miles in two days coming down from Aconcagua once with not so much as a single saddle sore."

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Contour IV (1996)
Reviewed by Rick Story, Jan 20, 2001

"Well, now that I have had this pack for five years and close to at least 100 trips (weekends and longer adventures), I feel that I can write of the good and bad.

Design - The pack is made with a wider profile rather than a taller thinner profile."

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Contour IV (1999)
Reviewed by Trevor, Jan 12, 2001

"great winter pack. sleeping bag conpartment holds your bag and then some. I have never been able to fill the whole bag even with 75# in it. straps on the sides hold my snowshoes tight against my pack. the bungi on the front (or back) is great for my crampons and ice axxes."

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Contour IV
Reviewed by Matthew E. Bazydlo, Sep 11, 1998

"This pack has worked out well for me in the past. It carries the load very well when it is packed fully. I have a couple of complaints. The stitching on a velcro pad in the sleeping bag compartment came undone within its first year of use. Also, the water bottle slots on either side are virtually useless as the bottles are nearly impossible to remove and replace in their pockets."

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Contour IV
Reviewed by Jon, Nov 11, 1997

"As a first pack, I have found it very versitile. I have used it for various trips ranging from 10 days in the Boundary Waters to a couple days on the Superior Hiking Trail and it fits my needs very nicely.

Negative's
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- heavier loads tend to "sway"."

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Contour IV
Reviewed by Mike Martin, Sep 10, 1997

"This is my first Lowe pack, and overall I'm pretty satisfied with it, save for a few minor design flaws. So far I've only used it once on a 4-day trip, but it was easy to get it dialed into my body shape. The pack itself is touted as being a pack for women or people with shorter torsos, but I bought it because it is slightly more compact than some of the more average sized internal frame packs for weeklong endeavors, such as the North Face Renegade."

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Contour IV
Reviewed by an anonymous hiker, May 31, 1997

"Had the back for 10 years now, really reliable. Made a few adjusments, add a front pocket and staps. a bit too big, if i had to buy a new one i would look for the contour 3 probably. the 4 is a fair fit for a good price. 8.5 on 10."

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Contour IV
Reviewed by sch126@..., Feb 17, 1997

"This pack has been a welcome addition to my gear. It's the most comfortable pack yet. Its contoured alluminum stays are wonderful and can be adapted to fit any back. It has unlimited room and space for anything. Extra deep bottle pockets allow for the storing of other gear such as tent poles and other bulky items."

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Contour IV (1990)
Reviewed by an anonymous hiker, Feb 17, 1997

"It's not a bad pack so long as you are not carrying huge loads. The stays start bending if you carry much over 50 lbs.

The sleeping bag compartment is too small for winter bags, or most synthetic three-season bags. The size range quoted by Lowe is a joke."

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