How to Choose a Backpack

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The REI Crestrail 48 Pack nicely balances comfort, organization and durability in a backpack designed for weekend trips.
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View all REI Co-op Backpacking PacksBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Frame Type | Internal Frame |
Adjustable Torso Length | Yes |
Material(s) | Nylon |
Frame Material | Aluminum |
Number of Stays | 1 |
Suspended Mesh Back Panel | No |
Pack Access | Top / side |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 4 + main compartment |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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My new pack performed very well. On a three day trip into the Sawtooth Wilderness outside of Stanley, Idaho, we covered 16 miles and the pack was very comfortable. It was light and easy to manage. The side pockets for water were easily accessible while hiking and the small spacious pockets on the hip belts were a nice touch for immediate needed items without taking my pack off. I wish I would have purchased a bit bigger pack though, but for the money, this pack is well built and functioned as advertised. I would recommend this pack for long weekend trips.
Needed a bag for those 3 day winter trips or the 5-7 day summer trip. Bag is light, comfortable and with the adjustable shoulder height you can get a perfect fit. This bag is listed as 48Liters, but I would have to say it holds more than that. The pockets are all placed in excellent spots and the frame allows you to really load it down. Have used on several trips and have used it in really bad weather. After 3 days in sleet/snow mix bag was still dry inside and more importantly all my gear was too! Bag feels really comfortable and the fact that you can load/unload the bladder without opening the main compartment is a plus. Own much more expensive bags, but this performs as well them all and has exceeded my expectations for comfort.
I went on my first backpacking trip in Yosemite for 5 days. I decided to go with this. Being a new backpacker, I have to say this was perfect for my needs. I fit about 35 pounds in this bag. Has many pockets that are easy access. I would agree with other reviewers that this is slightly bigger than a 48 liter. I probably overstuffed the bag more than I should, which made it difficult to fit the 2 liter reservoir in the water compartment pouch. Even though I may have overstuffed it with 35 pounds, I was very comfortable throughout the 5 day trip. The hardest part was trying to shove a bear cannister in there.
The good REI has been very patient with me as I have purchased a number of backpacks in the 50 Liter range in recent history in search of the perfect pack, and returned them because of some limit or flaw. I've tried to have backpack comfort and strength in the ultralight world, but in the end of the day, they really have to push limits of user-friendliness, and the weight they can hold leaves something to be desired for an all-around go-to pack (my experience in that dept. being the boreas buttermilks 55 and the Osprey Exos 58, both rightfully famous and works of genius). So they created the famed Crestrail in a weekend-sized pack, and it is perfect for any endeavour - mountaineering, climbing, backpacking, cold or hot weather, certainly dayhikes as well, but it's really sized for multiple nights. This is an absolute masterpiece. The torso length is adjustable via velcro in the size range you get it (M, L) making it limitless in perfect sizing for your body, and over the course of the owner's lifetime as a backpacker. The frame, waist belt and floating lid are removable (it was a wrestling match to get the frame back in, but it's so feather light, I won't bother taking it out again). The waistbelt is made substantial enough to support whatever load you can fit into the pack, which is such a huge selling point for me. The narrowish webbing used for all but the waist belt is not too big, not too small, a new standard of perfect backpack design really. Water bladder goes in between the back padding and the main sack, which is so perfect, and as a mountaineer, I rely on a bladder to keep up fluid intake during my 10k-15k steps up a mountain. The little trekking pole loops within the ice axe loops are one of the best things that ever happened to a backpack, even if they are not used all the time. On the bottom of the sack, they didn't use that rubber material they have been effecting in REI packs, which I think will go down in pack history as a silly weight-costing gimmick. And in my opinion, all the webbing straps come as the perfect length, and I won't need to modify anything. You know, it's hard to find a pack with this kind of perfection. Other perks aside, to me, the pack visually looks like a rocket pack that will shoot me up a mountain, and that blue is classic. From personal experience so far, all I can say is that it holds weight like a dream and instills a lot of confidence as a suitable pack every adventure I'm planning for.
After camping for years it made the jump to backpacking easy. There was plenty of room for all my gear and the pack was extremely comfortable.
I have only used this pack on one 3 day hike in the mountains and I have to admit, probably loaded it to it's limit (think: that person who really shouldn't be wearing spandex). It has a good number of pockets and lash points. The shoulder straps could be a little more robust and the back pad really doesn't do a great job of keeping you dry, but this is designed as a lightweight pack and in that perspective it delivers just fine.
This is my first hiking pack and I wanted something that I could possibly take on any type of trip. I love the fit, it is amazing! It fits all my equipment and I'm sure when I get a tent for when I go with friends it will carry that with no problem as well.
This pack shares the general design and most features with the larger REI Crestrail and XT Packs. However, it does not have the a separate sleeping bag or rear zippered compartments like its larger siblings. The shape, dimensions, and volume are ideal for weekends or lightweight multi-day trips. The suspension is well designed and highly adjustable. I absolutely love the space between the suspension and pack on all of the Crestrail bags where a hydro resevoir or fleece can be stowed, which provides convenient access and much needed support for my problem back. However, the 2014 48 liter model has harder/sharper lumber padding than the newer 65 and 70 liter models, which is very uncomfortable on the low back with extended wear. In addition, the 48 liter model has thinner waist belt and shoulder strap padding than the larger models, which is generally less comfortable, but shouldn't be a huge issue for the lighter loads likely to be carried with this smaller bag. Offered in only Cookie Monster blue with orange straps, this bag suffers from the same poor taste and judgement in color selection as many other otherwise outstanding REI products. If it were refreshed with the latest suspension as the larger models and with earth tones or neutral colors, attractive to humans instead of Oompa Loompas, it would be an absolutely rockin 5-star bag. These issues kept me from keeping the it, so my search continues. P.S. With the exception of the tolerable blue accents, the colors of the Gray 70 liter and Teal 65 liter (Women's) are nice.