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DUSTY OLIVE

REI XT 85 Pack

$299.00

(31)

Item # 795524

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Welcome to the most comfortable and user-friendly extended-trip pack in the REI brand. The REI XT 85 utilizes the latest design ideas and materials to deliver a top-of-the-line performance pack.

Handling heavy loads in comfort and providing easy access to your gear, the XT 85 is perfect for anything from a 10-day wilderness expedition to a weekend jaunt
Hybrid frame design blends external-frame comfort and load-transfer capability with internal-frame stability
X-Brace center stays stabilize the hipbelt against unwanted sag under heavy loads
FreeFlow sculpted torso pad reduces sweaty contact areas with multiple peaks and valleys releasing vapor; foam structure allows pack to conform to your back for a stable fit
Precurved hipbelt comfortably matches your anatomy from day one
Hipbelt webbing system adjusts with a forward pull in an ergonomic motion
Unique front pocket arrangement provides 2 zippered pockets on top of a stretch-woven stash pocket, allowing access to your gear without interference from the other pockets
Floating lid can be removed and stowed; secure key pocket is inside lid
Double top collar allows you to vary the pack's capacity
Side zip access allows easy retrieval of items buried deep in the pack
Bottom sleeping bag compartment features a smooth curved zipper
Tough Cordura® nylon offers superior abrasion resistance and tear strength
Sew-free construction at lash points provides a lighter-weight alternative to sewn constructions without sacrificing strength
Quick-release straps on the bottom of the pack body provide an easy attachment point for sleep pad or tent
Lash points on the hipbelt make it easy to keep camera and GPS pouches within easy reach
Water-repellant zippers eliminate the need for zip flaps and provide quick access
Hipbelt pocket provides handy storage for items needed on the hike
Accommodates most hydration systems; ports allow for routing the bite valve over either shoulder (hydration reservoir sold separately)

Imported.

Item 795524

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REI XT 85 Pack Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI XT 85 Pack

4.0

(based on 31 reviews)

77%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Comfortable (27)
Large capacity (26)
Good suspension (20)
Easy to load (19)
Good padding (19)

Cons

Weak seams (5)

Best Uses

Extended trips (27)
Heavy loads (23)
Light loads (8)
Wet weather (5)
Day hikes (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (20), Casual adventurer (6), Outdoor professional (3)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (19), Survivalist / minimalist (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (17)

Reviewed by 31 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

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Apr

2010

(15 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Awesome!!!

By ELK REAPER

from Denver.CO

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good Padding
Good Suspension
Highly Adjustable
Large Capacity
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

After many good years with my Bora 80, it finally met it's end (shoulder strap ripped off).

As a guide, I needed a pack that would hold up to 100 pounds loads and work as a day pack as well, this pack has met all my expectations and more. I have put about 65 miles on the pack and no less then 70 pounds each trip and the pack has shown no sighnes of ripping or tearing. My bora has stood the test of time and abuse, but the 85 XT is much more comfortable and weighes about 3 pounds less( on my scale).

I will give a follow up review when I have gotten over the 300 mile mark, but things are looking good so far:)

Feb

2011

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Great pack with serious issues

By Kevijojo

from Oakland, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Great Pocket Features
Intelligent Zipper Design

Cons

Poor Handle
Shoulder Straps are Weak
Weak Seams

Best Uses

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

I just finished my first thru-hike of the PCT this October. During the trip this was my pack from the beginning to about mile 1,400 in Chester, CA.My loads varied from 55 lbs to 20 lbs depending on food and water weight over a period of 2 and a half months. I loved the pocket and zipper design. Clearly made for convenience. The seams, however, are what ultimately make what could be an outstanding pack, not worthwhile.The first thing to go was the handle. The part used to help hoist the pack onto ones back. It ripped off the pack within the first month - 600 miles or so.Then the shoulder straps started to go. First it was slight tears where the straps are sewn into the cushioning, and then, about 15 miles from Chester the bottom part of the straps completely separated from the cushioning. I managed to tie it back together and the pack, surprisingly held up another 200 miles where friends who were meeting us managed to get me an Osprey Aether, 85 liter. My buddy had been using it the whole trip and had zero issues with it.In short, I really really liked the pack but unless they do something about the seams I would stay away. [...]

Apr

2010

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

XT 85 Great Value

By NMPacker

from New Mexico

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Good Padding
Good Suspension
Highly Adjustable
Large Capacity
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

Just got this pack because my Osprey was too small and lacked the pocket orginzation that I liked in a large pack. Pack is lightweight for size and is very adjustible. Have only tried on training hikes, but it has performed well. You can throw everything in w/o worrying about running out of space. Large is 90L! Seems like REI has copied Ospreys good features.

Mar

2010

(5 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Awsome Pack

By Table Legs

from Las Vegas

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good Padding
Good Suspension
Highly Adjustable
Large Capacity
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Day Hikes
Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads
Light Loads
Wet Weather

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

This pack is outstanding, perfect for extended excursions, and day hikes. It is 85 liters!!!!! You can fit everything you need and more, also very waterproof. I love to carry a lot of stuff, so my camp is very comfortable and this is the pack to go with.

Mar

2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Excellent Long Distance Pack

By atbaritone

from Laramie, WY

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Good Padding
Good Suspension
Highly Adjustable

Cons

Best Uses

Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

I used this pack all last summer along the northern California coast and in the mountains of Montana and Colorado, and will be using it this summer on the John Muir Trail. By far the most comfortable pack I have owned, it is also the first internal frame pack I have owned. While I miss the versatility of an external frame pack, the XT 85 offers decent lash points and a couple of very useful external pouches that roughly mimic external frame features. It is, however, a challenge to load if you are carrying a tent, pad, and bear-proof container as these all have to go in vertically and don't nest well together. Also, you have to plan carefully if you want to access any larger items (stove, for example) during the day. But I love the camera pouch location and the water bottle holders on the side. The straps are generously padded and very adjustable, making it easy to shift the load during the course of a long day of walking to ease pressure points.

Some problems: the zippers drag and are therefore hard to pull. Also, be certain to get a rain cover. I did not use one on my first trip, which enjoyed wind-driven horizontal rain along the Pacific coast. When I dumped my pack into the car more than a cup of water drained, and absolutely everything was soaked. My fault, but you should not consider this pack to be waterproof.

And yes, I would recommend this pack, which I just did to my brother as he prepares to join me on the JMT.

Aug

2010

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Outstanding backpack

By Orange Ranger

from Orange County, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good Padding
Good Suspension
Highly Adjustable
Large Capacity
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads
Light Loads
Travel
Wet Weather

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

I am a seasoned backpacker. Have used many packs, but this one is my best. Enough that I got two of them. Yep, two.
2009 did the John Muir Trail, South to North. I should have had this pack. This year did 125 miles of it and trimmed two days off my time. Comfort, light weight, easy to get into, and just a nice pack. The second one I bought I trimmed it down so I could get the weight down to 4lbs. Why, cause I am going to be married to this pack during the Pacific Crest Trail in 2011. 2650 miles. This one will last. Good job REI

Aug

2010

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Pack

By jaw300

from Philadelphia, PA

About Me Casual Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

I just finished a 6 day trek through the southwest Montana mountains with the XT 85, and am extremely impressed with the pack. I have some neck/back issues that were agonizing with my old North Face, and after much research, got this pack in the hope that I wouldn't have to stop backpacking. Problem solved. Pack is incredibly comfortable with 50+ lbs, and directed all the weight straight to my hips. Back/neck felt great after the trip, and I didn't even have the usual hip bruises I got from other packs. The hipbelt is wide and comfortable, even when cinched in tight, and kept the pack firmly anchored. The ridged backpanel looks weird, but managed to keep me cool on some hot days. It was like the pack wasn't there the whole trip, which is exactly what you want.

The pockets are also smartly laid out. The two large elastic pockets at the bottom are easily accessable while wearing the pack- these became essential- I don't know why every pack dosen't have them. The pocket on the hip belt was small but quite handy, and the two large pockets on the front of the pack are great for raingear, pack cover, extra layer, etc. The side access zipper was also useful on more than one occasion.

I had none of the construction failures other reviewers mentioned, luckily. I also had no problem attaching a full-sized thermarest to the the bottom straps. While I can't comment on long term durability yet, the pack certainly got tossed around by myself and baggage handlers on this trip and came through unscathed.

Overall, I'm very happy with this pack and would highly recommend it.

Jul

2010

(3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Decent pack.

By cwbishop

from Davis, CA

About Me Casual Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good Padding
Large Capacity

Cons

Weak Seams

Best Uses

Extended Hikes

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

This is my first large volume pack for extended packing trips. I used it during a month long backpacking trip through the Sierras in 2010. Overall, I was very pleased with the bag. Lots of storage space, reasonably comfortable even with high weights (60+ lbs), and tons of attachment points via daisy chains. Additionally, the bag has 3 access points: the top, a side zipper, and a bottom zipper, which makes it trivial to grab anything in your bag without having to unload the whole thing as you have to do with top loaders. Huge selling point for me.

I only have 2 complaints about the bag. First, it does not have a detachable day pack, which means you have to carry a separate pack. Second, with high loads, I noticed that some of the seams started to give. Specifically, the high load handle in the center/top of the bag (apparently the "strongest" part of the bag) started to tear after a few weeks of use with 45-65 lb load. I'll be returning it to REI for repair.

Despite these shortcomings, I am pretty pleased with the bag, but wouldn't recommend it unconditionally to people.

May

2010

(3 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Pack!!

By Juelz The Missionary

from Valdosta, GA

About Me Getting Started

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good Padding
Good Suspension
Highly Adjustable
Large Capacity
Lightweight
Lots of pockets

Cons

Best Uses

Day Hikes
Extended Hikes
Heavy Loads
Light Loads

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

I haven't used the pack in the field yet but just packing it and wearing it I love it! It is a very nice pack and I love the comfort of the straps and hip belt. I would suggest this product if you can spend the extra money. I got a feeling this baby will last!!

Sep

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

I have no complaints about this pack.

By jessica5

from San Francisco, CA

About Me Getting Started

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy zippers
External pockets
Good Padding
Large Capacity
Side zipper

Cons

No removable daypack

Best Uses

Travel
Wet Weather

Comments about REI XT 85 Pack:

I bought this pack for a three-month road trip through Mexico and Central America, moving hostels (and repacking) every 1-3 days. My boyfriend was helping me pack one morning and mentioned how much easier my pack was than his (other brand pack) to pack up. He said it stood up better and the zippers were easier to maneuver, which made me realize I have no complaints about this pack, and that's about all I could hope for.

I'm a woman with a men's pack, and that decision came down to capacity: the women's version is 10 liters smaller. Other than capacity and fit (and this pack fits me like a glove), I was looking for external pockets and front-opening zipper. The side zipper on this pack may be a bit of a compromise, but it's way better than nothing (I only used it once to grab a change of clothes). The external pockets are perfect for little stuff, and the waist pocket is great for an ID and some cash in bus stations and airports.

Only negative is that one of the elastic bands on the side water bottle holders broke, in the airport on the way home after 90 days of solid abuse.