THE NATURE OF ALPINE CLIMBING IS VERYHARD ON A PACK, WITH A LOT OF ABRASION, A LOT OF HANDLING & A LOT OF BIG LOADS; THINGS THAT WILL RIP ANY GIMMICKS OFF THE OUTSIDE, BURST FANCY STITCHING, COMPRESS ANY SOFT FOAM, BEND OR BREAK ANY COMPLICATED FRAME & PUT HOLES THROUGH MOST FABRICS. AN ALPINE PACK NEEDS TO CARRY A LOAD BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO LET YOU CLIMB, SO CHUNKY HIP BELTS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR HARNESS & EXTERNAL POCKETS THAT ADD GIRTH ARE IMMEDIATELY OUT. ELABORATE FRAMES AND SUSPENSION CLOG UP WITH SNOW, AND MOST PACKS LACK GRAB LOOPS FULLY BAR TACKED IN SO THE PACK CAN BE CLIPPED TO AN ANCHOR- From Feeding the Rat Expeditions