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ROCKWALL

REI Pinnacle 50 Pack

$159.00

(21)

Item # 816103

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The REI Pinnacle 50 pack is ideal for overnight ascents and winter activities in the mountains. Its beefy suspension and solid design handle alpine gear with ease.

Removable hipbelt and framesheet let you strip down the pack to save weight and match the needs of your adventure
Perforated shoulder strap foam allows body vapor to pass through and evaporate; molded foam back panel handles abuse and delivers comfort
Top-loading design features a floating top lid and collar closure; side-zip access allows easy retrieval of items buried deep in the pack
Internal gear loops make it easy to rack and sort climbing gear; lash points let you secure bulky gear to the pack's exterior
Hydration sleeve accommodates a reservoir (sold separately); tube port lets you route the bite valve over either shoulder
Burly front pocket stores crampons and a jacket
Wand pocket is generously sized to also store small items like gloves and hats; exterior zippered pocket also keeps small items handy
Dedicated ski-tail loops and cam-lock buckles securely hold skis
Snow-specific buckles work well with gloves and won't clog with snow

Imported.

Item 816103

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REI Pinnacle 50 Pack Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Pinnacle 50 Pack

3.8

(based on 21 reviews)

67%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Easy to load (20)
Comfortable (18)
Highly adjustable (13)
Large capacity / good size (11)
Good padding (10)

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking (16)
Climbing (13)
Hiking (11)
Day trip (9)
Car camping (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (15), Casual/ recreational (5)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (12), Survivalist / minimalist (7)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (20)

Reviewed by 21 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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May

2013

2.0

Not impressed after all

By IdahoTom

from Boise, ID

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Load
Highly Adjustable

Cons

Heavy For The Size
Poor Zipper

Best Uses

Backpacking
Climbing
Day hikes
Snow shoeing

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

So I got this pack as a replacement for an old REI Talus 50. That pack had a blow out of the side zipper. The Pinnacle seemed like it was going to be a great replacement pack. I need a medium sized pack that can cover a wide range of loads and uses. I've carried up to about 40lbs on weekend trips and it's not the most comfortable pack, but not the worst. It carries snow shoes well. It does have pretty burly materials used in the construction and holds up very well, however it does add weight. The major problem with this pack is the outside pocket on the back has an awful zipper. It actually popped within the first two weeks of having it, but I stuck it out. It got worse and worse to the point that it was popping open with only a thin soft shell jacket in it. The pocket was never over loaded, I guess its just a design flaw. I returned it and went with the Osprey Variant 52. I got my hopes up a little to high when I picked this pack out. Sorry REI, but it's back to the drawing board with this one...

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

3.0

zipper flaw

By wvasmith

from WV

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good padding
Large capacity

Cons

Cheap Zipper

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Climbing

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

I really like the design and layout of this pack, it felt good and had nice features. I used it on a 2 mile hike just to carry a little weight before a rainier climb, once for 2 days car camping but never had to wear it. When I loaded it up to go to Mt Washingon the zipper busted, given the pocket was snug but not enough that it should have broke like it did. I saw it seems to be a common problem so I exchanged it for a Osprey Variant 52 which has a similar layout but has a pocket without a zipper so there will be no zipper issues with it.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

4.0

Utilitarian pack

By outofdoors16

from seattle, wa

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Load
Robust

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Climbing
Day trip

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

This is a great utilitarian, technical pack.
You can fit most everything on the inside and there is still lots of attachment points for strapping gear to the outside.

It carries a full climbing load (30-40 lbs) fairly comfortably. I find that the fit of the straps is a bit "utilitarian" or generic and have had some problems getting it to sit right on my shoulders and collarbone, but that's kind of a personal fit thing anyways.

I like the front pocket because even when the main compartment is full, you can still put quite a bit of stuff in there.
I haven't had any problems with my zippers yet but I've also been gentle with them and I make sure not to overload the front pocket.

Another reviewer pointed out the lid being hard to secure so it's not flopping around and I totally agree. It seems like the pack needs to be the perfect fullness for the lid to stay affixed and if it's too full or especially not full enough, it flops around everywhere. Thankfully you can remove it!

The side "wand" pocket where one would normally put a water bottle is not really sized for a standard cylinder shaped water bottle bottle but rather wands (shocking!) or small items. However, I found the Nalgene Oasis Cantene to fit perfectly in that pocket with it's flatter, kidney shaped profile.

Oh yeah, and those super long shoulder and hip belt straps with the annoying velcro strap keeper things are a pain to deal with. I ended up cutting the straps down but make sure not to cut them too short because you'd be surprised how much extra strap you need to loosen them to take them off!

Overall I'd say this pack is a great value and does what it's supposed to do.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

2.0

Zippers don't last

By teo916

from Sacramento, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

Day trip

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

Zipper on top got stuck right away, zipper along side did the same. This was on the second and third trips out with it. When I returned it the rep at REI mentioned that this was not unusual.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

2.0

Great pack with a major flaw

By HaileC

from Atlanta, GA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good padding

Cons

Bad zippers

Best Uses

Alpine climbing
Backpacking

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

I loved the design of the pack. It was just right for 1-2 night alpine climbing and general backpacking trips. Pockets were well thought out and it has a well designed brain. Weight was also good for a alpine pack at a around 4lbs. The waterproof zippers are awful! For some reason REI chose to use cheap zippers on crampon pocket, when they have YKK zippers elsewhere on the pack. The cheap zipper started to split open on my second trip when I stuffed a belay jacket in it, and completely failed on the 4th trip. I ended up going back to a BD speed 40.

Comment on this review

Oct

2012

1.0

Zipper has major design flaw

By 220mya

from Salt Lake City, UT

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Highly Adjustable
Large capacity

Cons

Main Zipper Breaks
Main Zipper Design Flaw

Best Uses

Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

I had the same exact experience as 'akram from vegas.'

Bought the pack because of the heavy-duty fabric and the profusion of different compartments. Within two weeks, the main vertical zipper on the outside pocket broke, including damaging the teeth (so I couldn't just replace the pull).

Thought this was a fluke, so I returned it for another example of the same pack because I otherwise liked the design. The same exact zipper broke on me again after a week.

This is clearly a design flaw that REI needs to fix before I would recommend this pack to anyone.

Ended up replacing it with the Mountain Hardware Direttissima 46, which I am so far happy with.

Comment on this review

Oct

2012

3.0

If only the zipper...

By rodeoringo

from Tucson, AZ

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good padding

Cons

Bad Bad Zipper

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Climbing
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

Disclaimer: I only took this pack on one trip and then returned it because the front zipper broke.

I bought this pack because, well, honestly, it is one of the only ones I have found that fits me. I have the conflicting issues of having too broad of shoulders for a woman's pack to fit me right (the straps almost always cut into my neck) but of being just slightly too short in the torso for a men's small sized pack. In comes the Pinnacle unisex! It fit the best of any pack I've ever tried.

I would have simply exchanged this pack for another just like it except that I did want a pack that was a little bigger (I ended-up getting the REI Passage 65—a unisex youth pack).

This pack is definitely a 50L pack—there's no cramming in anything since the material is so durable and strong, there's no give. The main problem with the pack was that the front zipper broke on my first trip out with it. I have read that the same thing has happened to other people, so this is probably a design flaw in the new pack. I am sure that REI will fix it pronto, but for now I'll try the youth pack and see. It doesn't fit as well, but it also might not leave me on the top of a mountain without a sizable portion of pack space.

Overall I'd definitely purchase this pack again if I knew the zipper wouldn't bust!!

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Would be great except for zipper problem

By ackram

from vegas

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good padding
Highly Adjustable
Lightweight

Cons

Zipper breaks
Zipper Snags

Best Uses

Backpacking
Day trip

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

Bought this pack because it has heavier material than most and I get through a lot of packs. After a few weeks the zip on the outer compartment split open and I lost a climbing shoe. But I liked the pack so much I exchanged it for another. Same zip bust and will no longer close on first trip. I have the 35L and the zip on the small compartment comes apart sometimes too. REI - sort your zips out.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

5.0

AWESOME PACK

By pbmuzik

from Houston, TX

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good padding
Highly Adjustable
Large capacity
Plenty of Room

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Climbing
Hiking

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

It seems like REI took input from every aspect of backpacker can give. Brought all the information together and made a perfect bag. This has access from the top and side ( MAJOR CONVENIENCE). Has plenty off loop holes on the back and arm straps, pockets every where. Hands down, one of the better packs I've owned. Pockets galore, with room on the sides with compressions straps. This bag will never disappoint. I mainly use the bag for rock climber. I am able to fit 60m ( in a Metlo bag) 2pairs of harnesses, shoes, helmets and pro with room for extra water, snacks and other misc stuff.

Comment on this review

Jul

2012

5.0

"Go-to" Utility

By Chaiguy72

from Holly Springs, NC

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Load
Good padding
Highly Adjustable
Large capacity
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about REI Pinnacle 50 Pack:

I previously owned another REI-branded backpack that I used as check-in luggage on a trip to Seattle, WA. While I was in the home state of REI HQ, I perused the spacious store and came across the older (2011) model of the Pinnacle 50. I'm sure glad I "traded up". I've used the Pinnacle 50 in no less than 3 excursions since the initial purchase and the backpack has held its own through airports, mountains and river-crossings.

Due to my military background, I'm a minimalistic-type of backpacker, so this backpack was just large enough to contain all I needed without sacrificing it's lightweight and well-balanced frame.