For the serious alpinist or dedicated scrambler who is in need of a smaller pack for go-light overnighters or long days on technical terrain, the Osprey Exposure 36 backpack is a must have. It comfortably carries up to 40 pounds of the tools of the trade: technical hardware, skis, snow shovels, wands - you name it. But unlike so many other packs, it carries this gear in an organized, secure manner. A good example is the low profile shovel wing that, in addition to hauling snow shovels, doubles as a sleek apparatus to hold ice tools, even those without leashes. Carrying hardware is nice, but comfort and durability are arguably more important when it comes to selecting the right pack. The Osprey Exposure 36 backpack does not disappoint here either. A single aluminum stay and HDPE framesheet support the load and provide stable weight transfer to the built-in padded hipbelt. This hipbelt features Osprey’s exclusive ErgoPull technology. The ErgoPull design draws tension along the top and bottom of the belt, not through the center, so it distributes gentle pressure evenly over the entire belt. And if a more substantial suspension system is needed, be sure to check out the Osprey Exposure 50 backpack, a larger pack in the series that features a custom molded hipbelt. On the durability front, the pack makers at Osprey are so confident in the tough construction that they have attached three sewn in loops near the top of the bag so it can be hauled over unforgiving alpine rock. Other useful features include gear loops on either side of the hipbelt, hypalon reinforced side ski carry straps, floating top pocket with under-lid rope tie-ins, and an internal hydration pocket. Yes, there are many features, but viewed from a short distance the Osprey Exposure 36 backpack has a sleek, uncluttered appearance.