YETI  Skala 60 L Pack - Women's

This is a fantastic aluminum frame backpack that lives up to the Yeti name! I ordered the Yeti Women’s Skala 60L Pack for a longer backpacking trip this summer but shipping delays made it miss departure day. Luckily we found a break between our heat waves and rainstorms to take it out for a later local site test instead. A first look at the pack made me smile, because somehow it resembles the high end Yeti coolers we know and love so well. From the color to the unique three way top closure, it feels unique for a hiking pack yet strangely familiar. The construction and details are on point, expertly and aesthetically finished. The feel of the materials is high quality, from the duck like back, to smooth stretchy water pockets, and breathable hexagonal mesh. The exterior zippers glide easily along waterproofed seams. Every manner of strong and reinforced clips adorn the pack. It felt a bit like a treasure hunt exploring all the details. The pack has a couple fewer compartments than my trusty old favorite, an XS 80L women’s pack that essentially sizes down to a 70L. I dare say despite being a 60L, this Skala seems to hold just as much. At least it suffices for all of my backpacking gear except a full size bear bin, which always requires me to split the load with a friend anyway. I am accustomed to interior frames, but the top of this exterior aluminum makes a great second handle when the nylon one is too high for us shorties. The pack is so easy to lift compared to every other one I’ve used. A small built in separator keeps your sleeping bag protected from everything else above. A stretch pocket inside and a couple compartments in the hood give room for small items. The front hip pockets are perfect for my cell phone, headlamp, or snacks. I love the extra large water bladder pockets on the sides and managed to squeeze a 3L inside. With all the fun materials and features, it is not the lightest pack out there, but I am far from an ultralight hiker, so comfort and sturdiness is worth a few extra ounces. The pack is highly adjustable, and I am able to fit it perfectly to my extra short torso. It aligns in sizing with other high end brands I use. There is plenty of length in the hip pack for my wider bottom, and the chest strap easily moves to whatever height feels comfortable at the moment. All the strap adjustments are easily reachable while I’m wearing it. I can tighten or loosen any of them freely, and they stay in place where I set them. Some of the clips require more effort than others to release, but all of them hold tight and join together well. The wonderful luxury padding requires no breaking in, and my first miles on the trails were as comfortable as I hope the next hundreds will be. Even over just a tank top and shorts in this warm weather, there were no scratchy parts or rub points on my neck, arms, or body. The width of the shoulder straps is truly perfect for my build. Now I will say, I think the weak point of this pack may be the soft hexagonal mesh. Just after this first trip, I am seeing signs of wear on the fuzzy relief at the ends of the hip belt and on the inside edge of the shoulder straps. It is by no means compromised yet, but time will tell how it holds up. The rest of the pack remarkably still looks brand new. I had thought the light color would be doomed for the outdoors, but dirt brushes off incredibly well, and the material has proven to hold up quite nicely against rocks and stray branches. Overall I am very pleased to add the Yeti Women’s Skala 60L Pack to my backpacking repertoire. I think we are going to make some fabulous memories together. Also I’m looking forward to seeing what other surprises Yeti has in store!

The Yeti hiking pack is extremely comfortable and holds weight on all the right places for an extended trip out in the mountains. I appreciate the breathability of the material and numerous compartments for storage. I highly suggest this pack and look forward to taking it on so many more adventures!

Although not necessarily known for their line of bags, this Yeti backpacking pack is surprisingly feature-rich, durable, and well designed. Some stand out aspects include the incredibly plush and tailored women’s fit (highly adjustable!), notable bag width that easily accommodates larger items, and a multitude of attachment points and pockets for thoughtful packing. The fact that the entire body of the pack is constructed with waterproof materials and zippers means you don’t have to worry about forgetting your pack cover or getting caught in a surprise storm. My biggest feedback is that the ‘brain’ zips to the pack, removing the ability for you to quickly store layers or overfill as you usually can under a clip down version, however there are enough external pockets to make up for it. The weight on this pack is higher than comparable sized models from other brands, but if ultralight packing isn’t your main focus, you’ll really appreciate the added features and comfort you get.

No loops for carabiners on chest straps; hip pockets easily open with movement; chest straps and hip strap/pad uncomfortable