Talk about bang for your buck.R/Ultralight is the largest online Ultralight Backcountry Backpacking community! This sub is about overnight backcountry backpacking, with a focus on moving efficiently, packing light, and generally aiming at a sub 10 pound base weight. With the addition of an incredible price tag, it was a no brainer. Value For its weight, comfort, size, and durability, this bag was already a winner in my book.

Bean’s incredible customer service held up their end of the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, replacing his pack at the end of the season despite the natural wear and tear he’d put it through on the trail. It was nothing that couldn’t be doctored with duct tape in the moment, and L.L. My Dad, however, managed to puncture his pack in several places over the course of the summer. Nearly three straight months and hundreds of miles later, my pack didn’t have so much as a pin prick through its surface. My Stowaway Day Pack pack held up like a champ no matter what I dragged it on, over, or through. Bean throws some bungee cords on the front of the pack that could be used to lash poles in for hands-free movement. Ultimately, I collapsed my poles and shoved them down into one of the side water bottle pockets and cinched them to the pack using the compression strap from the adjustable front pocket. My one gripe with this pack was that I had trouble storing my trekking poles anywhere with ease.

But water certainly rolled off for awhile, and anything worth keeping dry was, as always, sealed into a ziploc bag anyway. The foam padding of the shoulder straps looked and felt alarmingly thin upon initial inspection, but still managed to provide plenty of comfort, even when hiking in a tank top. It had just enough pockets to allow for easy organization, including the front “shove it” pocket which was perfect for keeping my map accessible or piling soggy clothes into so the rest of my gear stayed dry and stink-free. This pack didn’t have bells and whistles, nor did it need any. At a mere 14 oz., it weighed less than my NeoLite Air Mattress and took up just as little space. When packing it into my base camps, I tucked it into itself (or contorted it into any shape I needed) and tossed it into my backpack with the rest of my gear. Yes, using the brain of my backpack was always an option, but it wasn’t one that leant itself to carrying the amount of snacks, water, and gear that allowed me to feel safe and comfortable hiking long distances. My hikes this summer consisted primarily of day hikes from the car or backpacking five to ten miles into an area and setting up a base camp to day hike out of for 2-3 days at a time. It is comparable in size and weight to similar day packs on the market (such as the Marmot Kompressor Pack or Mountain Hardwear’s Lightweight Backpack ), but less expensive, which is always a plus in my book. The specs and construction speak for themselves, but let me underscore how much I loved this little pack. This pack kept my map, bear whistle, water, and snacks accessible at all times. Standing atop Iroquois and admiring the Flowed Lands far below. Lots of pockets for organizing gear featuring an easily accessible front “shove it” pocket. Back panel with wicking Air Mesh for all day comfort. Padded foam shoulder straps and back panel for increased comfort.

This bag went through it all, and lived to tell the tale.Ĭapacity: 22 Liters Packed Size: 8″ x 7″ (It packs down into its own internal stow pocket!) Weight: 14 oz.Ĭonstruction: Superlight and extra-tough ripstop nylon fabric. I even managed to jerry-rig poles in the side pockets for hands-free scrambling. I dragged this sucker over plenty of rock during my most embarrassing butt sliding maneuvers. I quickly realized I was ready for an upgrade of my own and acquired the Day Pack as soon as possible.įor the duration of the summer, I put my Stowaway Day Pack through the ringer. It looked tiny, light, and somehow packed away gobs of gear, snacks, and three liters of water. On our very first hike together this season, my Dad wore the L.L. I’m a big proponent of the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But here’s the truth about that old pack: it was bulky, the insides were peeling, my back was a sweaty mess, and the left strap needed constant readjusting. Sure, it was over ten years old and heavy, but it still worked. peaks in the Adirondacks, I sported a day pack that I’d bought back in college. This summer, as I began to tackle the forty-six 4,000 ft. Bean donated this item for review purposes, but this review presents an honest representation of my experience using this gear.

Marmot kompressor summit pack review