Patagonia Nine Trails 36L Backpack

Field Notes:

The Patagonia Nine Trails 36L is a lightweight backpacking backpack with a daypack’s DNA. In fact, due to the spaciousness of the pack (which testers said seemed significantly larger than advertised), the lightweight, no-frills simplicity of the design, and the innovative zipper that opens up the pack conveniently from the side, testers deemed the Nine Trails 36 the best crossover pack, as it can be used both as a daypack when hauling extra gear (perfect for an approach to the climbing crag) or as a lightweight overnight for minimalist or warm weather backpacking.

Pros:

The design is intentionally simple, which testers found made for a refreshing and functional pack. The main compartment of the backpack is huge: it feels way bigger than a 36-liter pack. Plus, the external mesh pocket only expands the pack’s carrying capacity.

The main compartment has a defined, lightly padded section at the bottom of the bag to supply definition and shape when packing.  The traditional, cinching, top-loading design is quick and easy to use, but it’s the long zipper that changes the recipe from classic to ground-breaking. That single, long outer zipper allows the entire bag to pop open: testers noted that this feature makes accessing gear at the bottom of the pack incredibly easy, and it also facilitates easier storage of larger gear like climbing ropes and harnesses. The brain is similarly simple and straightforward, and between the dual-access main compartment and the spacious brain, the Nine Trails 36 expertly balances simplicity and functionality.

Also, testers found the mono-mesh back panel—essentially a flexible, semi-stiff foam panel with strategically placed holes lined with a mesh fabric—comfortable even on 80- and 90-degree summer missions.

Cons:

While testers loved the comfort and adjustability supplied by the shoulder straps and waist belt, they felt there could be more support when rocking a fully loaded pack (remember, that 36-liter classification is deceiving, and max capacity felt more akin to a 40-liter pack). Also, the water bottle holders run tight if the pack is close to capacity, and though we’d rather have a water bottle pocket that’s too tight as opposed to too loose, the Nine Trails 36 could use more give in this department.

Tester Comments: “For hauling a rope and a rack to the crag, the Patagonia Nine Trails’ combination of a classic top-loading design and the implementation of the long outer zipper makes gear access incredible. Best of all, though, the 36L is no one-trick pony, and assuming you clean the chalk and red dirt out of the bag, its well-suited for a cross-country flight come Monday and a short backpacking trip once the weekend starts again.”

Key Attribute: Durability