The elate doesn't have the ice axe straps I dont think. The pack with the ice axe straps mentioned on it was another bag I was mentioning because I thought it was the one billstephenson was talking about. The loops I'm refering to may still have something to do with that though, I dont know. This pack does have two elastic cord loops with keepers on them that I dont really see much of a purpose for. I saw the red pack in the store, and it mentioned the ice axe loops, this pack does not.

The loops I'm talking about are at the bottom of the bag and are make of the same material as the straps.

my pack is the grey and black pack pictured, not the redish one that is linked to.

It is a closed cell pad, just one of the cheap blue ones.

The under the lid idea sounds good, I was just thinking I've typically saw them suspended under the bag like by those straps.

thecook, to attach it vertically how do you do that? with the compression straps?