Bag it up: Altmont Professional backpacks

Victorinox's handsome and hardwearing new collection of backpacks is as suited to the mountainside as it is to the city

Style 14 Sep 2017

Victorinox Altmont backpack

Victorinox Altmont backpack

Founded in Ibach, Switzerland, in the late 19th century, Victorinox’s success has been built on a rugged practicality inspired by its Alpine surroundings. And, as the creator of the Original Swiss Army Knife, the company prides itself on products that don’t simply do one job – a philosophy which certainly informs Victorinox Travel Gear.

Altmont Professional is a new backpack collection inspired by the mountains, but transferrable to those scaling the peaks of city life. They are made of durable but elegant ballistic-weave polyester fabric, and come in several styles – the Essential, Compact, Fliptop, Deluxe Fliptop and Deluxe Travel – all in black.

The Professional models have a dedicated protective laptop pocket, like all Altmont bags, but also a separate tablet section. Deep vertical front pockets contain inserts, loops and enclosures for valuables and smaller devices. In addition, there is a removable essentials organizer for chargers, cords, USBs, pens etc. It hangs in an easy-access location inside the bag and can be neatly folded for independent use.

The Altmont Professional’s multifunctionality goes further than that, however. (A Victorinox bag is never just a bag.) Across the range there are different options for extra attachments – Travel Sentry combination locks for heightened security, or an integrated multi-tool inspired by one of the clever triple-purpose parts on the Swiss Army Knife.

As an alternative to the Professional, the Altmont collection also includes Classic and Active ranges. The Classic, in blue or olive, has a traditional Alpine rucksack design ethos, but is equally state-of-the-art. Designed to carry heavy loads, they have reinforced webbing and padded shoulder straps.

For those whose worklife often segues into sport and adventure, the Active backpacks (in grey and burgundy) are also built for comfort, with load-lifter pulls and sternum straps. They feature gear loops, daisy chains and cord systems which secure items such as shoes and helmets to the exterior. There is also a metal slider to adjust the shoulder straps which, naturally on a Victorinox product, serves a dual role, doubling as a bottle opener for that well-earned post-work train drink.

Altmont backpacks start from £70. Pictured: the Deluxe Travel Laptop Backpack, £105, and Fliptop Laptop Backpack, £80, victorinox.com