Best Hiking Daypack: Patagonia Nine Trails 28 - Gear Hacker

Table Of Contents

  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Storage 80% 80%
  • Accessories 70% 70%
  • Weight 80% 80%

Price: $160

Dimensions: 20.8” x 9.8” x 6” / 52.8 x 25 x 15.25 cm

Weight: 992g

What We Like: The main compartment opening system and hip belt construction.

What We Don’tFragile exterior mesh material and no trekking pole loops.

The Nine Trails 28 is Patagonia’s larger hiking daypack. It is made in the way that stands true with their brand: simple, well built, and effective. Made with soft and durable nylon and a well-constructed hip belt, the Nine Trails 28 easily moves with your body as you move through the backcountry. The stretch mesh pocket and large main compartment opening allow great gear access. Where the pack does miss the mark is the lack of trekking pole accessories. It is also on the more expensive side of the price bracket⁠—though Patagonia is one of the most environmentally-friendly gear companies on the planet and they stand by their gear for life. For many, this makes the brand worth the premium that it commands.

We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund Gear Hacker. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!

Compare to Similar Products

See Our Best Hiking Daypack Review 2021

Best Hiking Daypack: Deuter Speed Lite 24 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Srorage 90% 90%
  • Accessories 100% 100%
  • Weight 80% 80%

Pros

External Gear Loops

Stash Pocket

Good Hip Belts

Cons

Maybe Too Long for some Torsos.

Dimensions: 22” x 11” x 7.1” / 56 x 28 x 18 cm

Weight: 794g

Best Hiking Daypack: Osprey Stratos 24 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Comfort 100% 100%
  • Storage 80% 80%
  • Accessories 80% 80%
  • Weight 70% 70%

Pros

Great Harness System for Size

Integrated Rain Cover

Cons

Sticks Out Far from the Body When Fully Packed

No Stash Pocket for Layers

Dimensions: 22” x 12” x 12” / 56 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm

Weight: 1247g

Best Hiking Daypack: Kelty Redwing 32 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Sierra.com

  • Comfort 70% 70%
  • Storage 100% 100%
  • Accessories 70% 70%
  • Weight 60% 60%

Pros

Great Price

Good Back Padding

Shoulder Straps

Cons

Too Many Pockets

Dimensions: 22” x 14” x 11” / 56 x 35.5 x 28 cm

Weight: 907g

Best Hiking Daypack: Gregory Miwok 24 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Comfort 60% 60%
  • Storage 80% 80%
  • Accessories 100% 100%
  • Weight 80% 80%

Pros

Lightweight

Slender Construction

Cons

No Internal Frame

Dimensions: 20.5” x 10.5” x 9” / 52 x 26.5 x 23 cm

Weight: 822g

Best Hiking Daypack: Camelbak Fourteener 26 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Comfort 70% 70%
  • Storage 70% 70%
  • Accessories 100% 100%
  • Weight 50% 50%

Pros

Innovative Hip Belt System

Hydration Reservoir Included

Cons

Weight

Bulky Build

Dimensions: 21.3” x 11.8” x 10.2” / 54.1 x 30 x 26 cm

Weight: 1275g

Best Hiking Daypack: REI Co-op Flash 22 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Rei.com

  • Comfort 50% 50%
  • Storage 60% 60%
  • Accessories 70% 70%
  • Weight 90% 90%

Pros

Extremely Lightweight

Very Inexpensive

Cons

Limited Support

Thin Shoulder Straps and Hip Belt

Dimensions: 18” x 10” x 8” / 45.7 x 25.4 x 20.3 cm

Weight: 368g

Best Hiking Daypack: Osprey Talon 22 - Gear Hacker
Buy Now at Backcountry.com
  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Storage 70% 70%
  • Accessories 90% 90%
  • Weight 80% 80%

Pros

Lightweight

Biking Centered Accessories

Cons

Harness System

Dimensions: 20” x 11” x 11” / 51 x 28 x 28 cm

Weight: 793g  (M/L) 595g  (S/M)

Best Hiking Daypack: Mystery Ranch Scree 32 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Storage 80% 80%
  • Accessories 80% 80%
  • Weight 60% 60%

Pros

Opening System

Internal Storage

Gear Loops

Cons

Price

Limited External Pockets

Dimensions: 26” x 14.5” x 11” / 66 x 37 x 28 cm

Weight: 1406g

Best Hiking Daypack: Patagonia Nine Trails 28 - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Storage 80% 80%
  • Accessories 70% 70%
  • Weight 80% 80%

Pros

The Main Compartment Opening System

Hip Belt Construction

Cons

Fragile Exterior Mesh Material

No Trekking Pole Loops

Dimensions: 20.8” x 9.8” x 6” / 52.8 x 25 x 15.25 cm

Weight: 992g

Patagonia has been creating streamlined packs for almost 40 years. Their first packs were purposely under-accessorized but innovative for their time. Now, Patagonia has packs purpose-built for almost every activity, from their amazing Black Hole Duffels to their climbing focused Ascensionist packs. The Nine Trails is designed for hiking, and it excels at this discipline. It is not complicated but ready to go wherever you need it to go. 

Patagonia has designed a female version of the Nine Trails as well for additional comfort on a female frame. Patagonia designates any equipment or clothing designed for a female with a “W.” Some people prefer equipment designed for the opposite sex, so while trying on gear, give everything a shot to find the perfect fit. 

The Nine Trails pack is available in several sizes as well. These packs use the same harness system, and the different sizes mainly play a role in the storage capabilities of each pack. The Nine Trails family includes sizes of 8L, 14L, 20L, 28L, and 36L. The 8L pack is a waist pack, which is great for trail running or cross country skiing. Meanwhile, the Nine Trails 36 comes with the same zipper set up as the mid-sized packs but also includes a top lip for additional storage. The larger the pack, the longer it will allow you to stay out in the backcountry.

Best Hiking Daypack: Patagonia Nine Trails 28 - Gear Hacker

Ventilation and Suspension

The Nine Trails 28 has a three layered back panel consisting of mesh, foam, and a flexible plastic sheet to create support while offering ventilation and comfort. The back panel sheet is removable, which can be a great feature if you are not carrying a heavy load or need to fit awkwardly shaped items in the pack. The shoulder straps use a perforated foam to keep air moving around the shoulders. The hip pads have a generous amount of padding to stay comfortable throughout the day.

The sternum strap is removable and adjustable, however, the hip belt is not removable. The pack also includes load lifters. This is a well-built harness system that will make you forget you are carrying anything on your back. The Nine Trails 28 comes in two sizes as well, S/M and M/L for different torso sizes, so it is important to try it on before buying to ensure you get the right fit for your body. 

Best Hiking Daypack: Patagonia Nine Trails 28L - Gear Hacker

The Deuter Speed Lite 24 comes with a lightly padded hip belt. The hip belt features zippered pockets for more storage and the ability to keep your pack on while accessing these items. Overall for the weight and size of the pack, this harness system is top of the line and will not let you down. 

Storage

The main compartment on the Nine Trails 28 uses an asymmetrical zipper system that runs almost to the bottom on the left side of the pack. This gives extra access to items that are packed near the bottom and makes everything easier to find. Inside of the main compartment is a small zippered valuables pocket to keep keys and other items safely tucked away. There is also the hydration bladder sleeve with a center hydration hose access point. 

Best Hiking Daypack: Patagonia Nine Trails 28L - Gear Hacker

On the front of the pack is a stretch mesh stash pocket, great for shoes or additional layers. It can be opened and secured by two buckles that are on different sides of the pack. The top panel of the Nine Trials 28 features a “hideaway” zippered pocket. The sides of the pack include two stretch mesh water bottle pockets, and the hip pads both include a zippered storage pocket in which to stash your favorite snack. 

The Nine Trails is missing designated straps for holding trekking poles, but they could be placed in one of the side stretch mesh pockets and kept in place with the compression straps on the side of the pack. As mentioned earlier, this is a streamlined pack that does not overwhelm with accessories. 

Material and Weight

The Nine Trails 28 is made with a highly durable 210D Cordura Ripstop Nylon. The pack is treated in a polyurethane coating and a DWR finish to help it shed moisture. The coating will help keep the pack going through years of use and abuse. It weighs 992g, which is great for a pack of this size and for the material that is being used. 

Best Hiking Daypack: Patagonia Nine Trails 28L - Gear Hacker

The stretch mesh can get damaged quite easily in rougher terrain, but this is true of the stretch mesh on any pack. 

 

The Bottom Line

Patagonia has done it again, creating another well-made pack for mountain adventures or taking the dog for a walk in the local forest. Built to last and not over complicated, the Nine Trails 28 will last almost a lifetime and will not disappoint. The price, $160, is a bit high, but that price affords you a lifetime warranty, the highest quality materials, and the knowledge that your pack was built in the most environmentally friendly way possible. 

 

Compare Prices From Retailers Below

You help support Gear Hacker by purchasing from our retail partners.

We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund Gear Hacker. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!