Last year we shared the news about Deuter’s move into the avalanche airbag market. The German brand’s Alproof line runs the gamut from 20-liter to 38-liter models, all equipped with the Alpride E2 airbag system. Downdays staff member and ski-touring fiend Christian Stadler had the Alproof 32 on his back for most of last winter. Here’s his report after around 50 days of use, almost all of them outside of resorts on skin tracks around Austria and South Tyrol.
Dawn patrol in the Austrian Alps with the Alproof 32.
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Gear
HighlightFreeride and touring all-rounder
Tested: Deuter Alproof 32 Avalanche Backpack
Quality check
Deuter has been making backpacks for over 125 years, so it’s no surprise that their bags generally are known for their functionality, comfort and quality. Christian says that this experience is evident in the Alproof line. “The bag is super comfortable to wear,” he reports. “You immediately feel like this brand knows how to make backpacks.”
Christian praises the cushioning and fit on the back panel as well as on the straps, which he says make for a comfortable day out both on the uphill and the downhill. It’s worth pointing out that a fair amount of backcountry packs come from brands that make a lot of things, too, so Deuter’s near-singular focus on the backpack (okay, they also make sleeping bags) helps their gear to stand out.
The Alproof 32 in chestnut and black.
Deuter
Size and storage
Christian was happy with the size of the 32-liter bag, which he says worked great for both in-resort freeride days as well as touring missions. “It’s a great amount of volume to have, because you can always get a second jacket or a change of clothes in there,” he says. “I even took it on an overnight mission and there was still enough room to store everything I needed.”
1.
You were likely still asleep when this picture was taken.
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2.
Any snacks in here?
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In terms of pockets and compartments, the Alproof 32 sports a fairly standard layout. A rear compartment is intended for storing your avalanche kit, with sleeves for a probe and shovel handle and a zip compartment for a first-aid kit. Christian says there was also enough room in this space to stow his touring skins. The main compartment features a clamshell-style opening with a three-way zipper, meaning it can unzip nearly all the way around and flip open like a suitcase. This makes access to everything in the bag easy, and keeps you from rummaging around from the top looking for something that you packed at the bottom. On the top of the bag there’s a small accessories compartment that can fit goggles, snacks, a headlamp, or anything else that you don’t want floating around in the main compartment.
I even took it on an overnight mission and there was still enough room to store everything I needed.
There’s an ice axe holder as well as a gear loop, which Christian mentions is nice to have for ski mountaineering or glacier travel. “It’s always nice to have an extra loop,” he says. “That’s not so common on freeride packs.” Last but not least, there’s a pocket on the waist strap that’s handy for storing your smartphone.
Christian thinks the 32-liter backpack is a good middle-of-the-road volume for skiers who do both lift-serviced freeriding and self-powered touring missions. “To be honest, if I was using it just for freeriding, I would probably go with the 22-liter version,” he says. And for longer multi-day missions, he recommends a look at the 38+5-liter pack that’s new this year.
The Alproof 32 supports both vertical and diagonal ski carry.
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The E2 system
The whole Alproof line is outfitted with the E2 airbag deployment system from Swiss manufacturer Alpride. This compact and lightweight (1100 grams) system uses supercapacitor technology that guarantees the same performance at temperatures ranging from -30°C to +50°C. The supercapacitors can be charged with USB-C or with two AA batteries, and can hold a charge for up to three months.
Learn more about the Alpride system
alpride.comFor Christian, the easy functionality of the E2 system is one of the highlights of the Alproof backpack. “The battery life is amazing,” he says. “I think I charged it once the whole season.” An LCD indicator visible on the outside of the bag makes it easy to check the status of the charge. Since the system doesn’t use cartridges, you can test trigger the airbag anytime without needing to load a new cartridge. And of course, using an electronic system instead of a cartridge-based one makes flying with your bag a breeze.
The final word
“This is a pretty light all-around backpack that’s suitable for freeriding as well as ski touring,” reports Christian. “You can take it out for a freeride day, but it’s also got enough room for gear for a serious touring mission.”
“I really like the feel of this pack,” he adds. “It’s super comfortable. You can tell that this company has been making bags for a long time.”
The Alproof 32 backpack is available at deuter.com for €1,300.
The chestnut color of the bag goes nicely with a sunrise, don't you think?
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