Thriving on human-powered adventures of all kinds out our back door in Vermont’s Green Mountains, we utilize a great variety of backpacks throughout the year.
When we first got our hands on the men’s and women’s versions of the REI Traverse 28 pack, it was clear we had a very light and comfortable daypack on our hands. Featuring the practical design features typical of most REI products, the Traverse 28 came with some unique extras, too.
To put our instincts about the pack to the test, we embarked this summer on several hour-long to half-day hiking, foraging and wildlife-tracking adventures into our local woods and mountains, where winding trails, frequent stream crossings and plenty of off-trail bushwhacking kept things interesting. We often loaded our packs with approximately ten to fifteen pounds of gear, food and water, and we occasionally used trekking poles for some extra support—or to fend off the ever-elusive wildebeest (our imaginative 2-year- old daughter is convinced they prowl our backyard woodlands).
Five minutes into our first hike, while rock-hopping across a small stream, we confirmed our predictions about the pack’s excellent fit and comfort. The combination of the pack’s rigid internal frame, trampoline back panel and well-ventilated hip and shoulder straps keep the pack snug to the body. With the pack’s two sets of compression straps, we could fine-tune for comfort as we traveled by using the straps to pull the load up and in, closer to our center of gravity. The compression straps are an especially nice feature that we wish was standard with most smaller backpacks. Perhaps this pack will drive the trend.
To us, the Traverse 28 is a glorified top-loading pack by design, with a zippered lid at the top of the pack, as well as a few other well-placed pockets and features. A zippered pocket built into to the top lid can easily hide a couple of sandwiches and a map, and includes a key clip. Inside the pack awaits a standard hydration pocket with a centered port for your hose. A mesh stash pocket can be found on each side of the pack, just behind the hipbelt—convenient spots for a hat, water bottle or some items for the kids. The hipbelt also sports a small zippered pocket on each side, a very handy feature for storing a small knife, camera, headlamp or some calories.
The front of the pack features retractable loops and ties for carrying a set of poles. There’s a standard ice axe loop ready for a little mountaineering. And there are a few other tie points for customizing your system. Finally, and perhaps our favorite feature of the pack, is the roomy stash pocket, with a drain hole at its bottom, centered on the outside of the pack—a perfect place for storing rain gear, some trailside treasure or trash, or thinking ahead to winter, a pair of climbing skins.
After several short hikes and then a more extended afternoon hike up a local mountain, this pack only seemed to get more comfortable. Its coated polyester construction easily held up to a few passing showers (consider an optional rain cover when heavy rain is a risk), but some off-trail bushwhacking, in which we subjected the pack to some very close contact with rocky ledges and sharp branches, did lead to some reasonable scratches and abrasions – as would be expected. Then again, this isn’t a pack for serious rock climbing endeavors, and rather, it’s very well-designed and versatile choice for most short-haul hiking, traveling and ski touring adventures.
Shop the REI Traverse 28 Pack – Men’s and REI Traverse 28 Pack – Women’s.