REI Ruckpack 40 Travel Backpack Review

Bottom Line

The REI Ruckpack 40 (men’s / women’s) is a best choice for anybody searching for an inexpensive pack that works simply as nicely on the path because it does in transit. Its mixture of affordability and efficiency makes it one among our favourite journey backpacks, and it proved itself to be a worthy companion for anybody wanting a succesful pack with out breaking the financial institution.

On a week-long journey throughout the Western United States, the Ruckpack 40 was the right companion for one-bag journey. It match seamlessly in each overhead and underseat storage on the airplane, and simply carried all of the objects we wanted for per week on the highway. Not wanting to hold one other bag for day hikes, the Ruckpack 40 was snug on the path due to its supportive waist belt and breathable again panel.

While a powerful performer in our lineup, we the Ruckpack 40 fell quick in a couple of minor particulars. The lack of segmented storage could annoy some vacationers, and accessing the primary compartment requires undoing the facet tensioners. When loaded down, the semi-clamshell design lacks construction and may flop open awkwardly when unzipped. Despite these small shortcomings, the Ruckpack 40 stays close to the highest of our listing and is a spot we plan on utilizing for a lot of journeys to come back.

How We Tested

We examined the REI Ruckpack on a week-long journey throughout the Western US. We used this pack as our carry-on baggage and likewise for day hikes. This pack served as our major bag the place we had been in a position to match every little thing we wanted for a week-long journey.

Organization & Storage

The Ruckpack 40 contains a semi-clamshell design, with the primary compartment zipping open and the again of the pack remaining open when totally unzipped. Inside, the primary compartment is unsegmented besides for 2 zippered mesh pockets on the underside of the lid, and one mesh stuff pocket on the facet. Stowing gear extra like a day pack than a journey bag, the Ruckpack 40 might not be one of the best match for these searching for extra segmented storage. However, we appreciated this design for rapidly stowing a considerable amount of gear in its voluminous fundamental compartment.

The exterior of the pack has one zippered pocket close to the highest of the lid that’s excellent for fast necessities like electronics or snacks. Two water bottle pockets and a facet zippered pocket spherical out the exterior entry. We liked the simplicity of the Ruckpack 40’s group and storage, and dice packers won’t thoughts the minimal compartments. At 40 liters, we discovered this to be greater than sufficient room to stow objects for a week-long journey and by no means felt restricted by the shortage of segmented storage choices.

Features

Despite its streamlined look, the Ruckpack 40 packs a stunning quantity of options into a light-weight pack. It is the one pack in our lineup that comes with its personal rain cowl. This stashes simply in a zippered facet pocket for fast entry when rain strikes. Even with out the rain cowl, the nylon and polyester supplies have a powerful DWR end that held up in opposition to rain longer than we anticipated. 

Also on the outside of the pack are trekking pole attachment factors and a cut up webbing daisy chain for attaching extra gear or making a modular pack system with the REI Ruckpack 18. The laptop computer compartment unzips alongside the left facet of the pack and is massive sufficient to simply match a full-size laptop computer.

Under the underside of the pack, a canopy rolls out and zippers over the again panel of the pack to show it right into a duffel. This permits the bag to be stowed or checked with the shoulder and waist straps tucked in.

Comfort & Fit

When loaded down, the REI Ruckpack 40 is without doubt one of the most snug packs in our lineup. The padded shoulder straps are vast sufficient to help a heavy pack comfortably, and the padded hip belt distributes the load extra evenly than the hip belts on different journey packs. The shoulder straps additionally come outfitted with load tensiors, excellent for dialing within the match for longer walks.

The breathable again panel is ideal for operating by way of the airport to make your connection whereas avoiding the dreaded sweaty again. We additionally discovered it greater than satisfactory for day hikes, and it’s inflexible sufficient to supply help for longer outings. Two vertical pads run alongside both facet of the backbone, and additional padding on the decrease again is snug and supportive.

What’s perhaps better of all is that there are many dimension choices, and the pack has each girls’s and males’s designs.

Durability & Protection

For a price range backpack, we’ve been impressed with the Ruckpack 40’s sturdiness. The recycled nylon and recycled polyester materials has withstood scrapes and being dragged and hauled round with out displaying any scrapes or scuffs. 

The backpanel gives probably the most construction for the pack, and a padded laptop computer case retains fragile electronics protected. While the outside of the pack lacks the inflexible construction present in different journey packs, we didn’t really feel that our objects had been in jeopardy of being crushed whereas in transit, and even our bag of treasured snacks was stored intact even after being crammed in an overhead bin.

Should You Buy The REI Ruckpack 40?

If worth is your primary consideration, it’s arduous to beat the REI Ruckpack 40. For lower than $200, you get a extremely succesful pack with sufficient room for per week’s price of things, and it’s versatile sufficient for day hikes as nicely.

While these searching for extremely segmented storage could discover this pack’s simplicity limiting, its streamlined design is efficient for rapidly storing a considerable amount of gear in the primary compartment. While some particulars left us wanting extra, like an enlarged laptop computer compartment, the Ruckpack 40 is a strong price range choice that punches above its worth level to be a flexible pack that’s nice for transit or the path.

What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?

The REI Ruckpack isn’t the one price range journey pack. See our full gear information for our favorites.

Osprey Nebula 32 Review: Our different Budget Buy, the Nebula 32 is nice for shorter commutes or weekday commuting.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Review: The Farpoint 40 is one other wonderful alternative for these searching for a pack that may work for day journey climbing.

Patagonia Black Hole Pack Review: Similarly sized, the Black Hole has elevated sturdiness and climate resistance.