This pack is rugged and for a 36l capacity pack it seems to take forever to fill.
It'll be my pack for an upcoming journey on the Via Francigena in Italy in late Spring so I'll be packing light and moving from hostel to hostel sleeping in a bed each evening so no need for anything but a bag liner.
Everything else needed for a couple d... Read Moreays to a week fits easily in the main area.
The pack comes without a bladder but can hold one. The hips pockets are a bit too small to be much use but it's not a deal breaker.
The fit is great and very comfortable, plenty of ways to adjust it too.
Very happy with it and looking forward to putting it through its paces through the coming winter.
My Altvia 36l pack has worked out really well so far in its first 35 miles of hiking and backpacking. It is super comfortable and is sturdier than it looks; I packed a bear-barrel, sleeping bag, tarp and a bunch of ultralight camping gear for three days in the Adirondacks and even though it was completely stuffed I was still able to put water bottl... Read Morees and gear in the elastic outer pockets. And, it remained comfortable because of the adjustment capabilities and the ergonomics of the waistband and shoulder straps. Super light without a big load, able to carry a big load and I love the color! The only thing that I havent really tested is the ski bungees in the sides, they dont look like they would hold much because they are so light. The walking pole holders work great. Worth a try if you like ultralight hiking/backpacking.
Thank you so much for this detailed review, Neil! It sounds like you've been able to really test this pack on your adventures. We so appreciate your feedback!
September 5, 2022
Patagonia Bag
Exceptional bag, strong, and generous capacity with very clever design
I bought this for casual traveling not hardcore use. The size is great for a 7-10 day getaway via airplane that included light fly fishing tackle. Convenient exterior pockets and though the main compartment isnt the best for accessing gear, it got emptied at the destination anyways.
Used this pack for 8 day trip on Wonderland Trail then a 10 day trip in Tetons. It performed well, had enough room for what I needed to carry and survived the beating I gave it on two large trips
love this pack's comfortable fit with proper hip straps, but it's lightweight enough to feel like a minimalist fastpack. use it for bike commuting, short backpacking, skimo and around town bag
Pack is perfect for 4-5 days of travel. No issue with size for airline overhead bag storage.
Design is basically a vertical duffle bag so packing bags for gear really help organization. An improvement would be additional zippered interior pockets.
This back pack is amazing, fit everything I needed and fits perfectly. I used it for a week of intence hiking and loved it, for some reason the straps started to wear down on the lower clip, disappointed in that but all around a wonderful bag
Overall I like this pack a lot. It's lightweight but holds up surprisingly well to a good-sized load. It's easy to travel with and comfortable to wear for a while. I think my only comment is the drawstring closure. It's an interesting concept to not have an actual "brain" at the top of the pack that flops over the opening, ... Read Morebut something about this design is a little awkward. It works just fine and I am happy with the pack, but this one thing is just a tad odd. I also wish it was waterproof; it would be a great pack to use on my river trips in Alaska.
Hi Christa, we're so pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L. WE wanted to let you know that the pack features a convenient rain cover to help keep your pack dry. You can learn more about the awesome features on the Altvia here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdJUl_8YhVo.
June 9, 2021
Perfect
Everything I want and need from a hiking backpack. The good thing is that if you don’t stuff it to the brim, the backpack is not that big which is nice.