I absolutely love this backpack. At first I thought it would be to small but after receiving it, it fits everything i need!! It fits 3 binders 2 notebooks and one more book plus my laptop; its a little tight but it works!! Its super comfortable. We take it skiing with us and it works great! (but keep in my mind i tend to stay on the blues and green... Read Mores)! highly recommend!
This was a great investment for me! I love to have a backpack that I can use daily and it can withstand wear and tear and weathering, and it is also excellent to use in the outdoors. It is big and small at the same time, it can hold a TON of stuff for my college course load and has very roomy exterior pockets, but on the other hand it is a good siz... Read Moree that I don't feel overpowered by its size, I haven't gotten a chance to use it for hiking yet but I love the roomy pockets on the side and the multiple compartments to hold all different types of stuff like snacks and water. No complaints from me!
I love this bag so much. I mostly use it for school and I usually take almost all my binders and my computer. It hasnt ripped yet and I have had it for a year. Im always using it and I think it is perfect for anything you are doing. I throw it around. I took it to Florida and
it got soaked(ocean water and pool water), but it didnt discolor at all. ... Read MoreI would absolutely recommend this bag to a friend.
I never had a backpack that was designed to fit a woman. I really love it. Very comfortable. Lots of room inside too. I ordered light gray because I know the sun is drawn to black and I thought it might get hotter. Looking forward to hiking with it. I love all Patagonia products. They are the best!
I never had a backpack that was designed to fit a woman. I really love it. Very comfortable. Lots of room inside too. I ordered light gray because I know the sun is drawn to black and I thought it might get hotter. Looking forward to hiking with it. I love all Patagonia products. They are the best!
I had an old Patagonia backpack that I used all throughout college and traveling - I didn't think it was possible to become emotionally attached to a backpack, but I had fallen in love with it - and when I was going through my Marie Kondo phase I unfortunately donated it. I had been thinking about getting a new one since that tragic day and fi... Read Morenally bit the bullet - and this new pack is JUST AS AMAZING!! I love that it's a ladies size so that it's proportional to my body. I love the colors (the red and blue look awesome together), and LOVE all the zippers and pockets. It's durable and I know this will last a long time. I am a very happy customer!
We love our Patagonia products. This backpack didn't work for us because it (and it seems all) smaller packs no longer have waist/hip straps. I realize we're not hauling around 50lbs of gear in a day pack, but when we're hiking, climbing boulders, ducking branches, it's nice to have a little extra stability via a waist strap so ... Read Morethe pack doesn't shift and make you feel unstable. Quality of the pack looked great and well-designed. Bring back the waist strap and we'll be back for our next pack.
I am a college student who also likes to have a backpack durable enough to take on day hikes and traveling as I do a lot of those things. This is great! It feels like I've been looking forever for a backpack small enough to fit my frame whilst still being able to carry my 15 inch laptop and all my books. I'm pretty tiny (5 ft 1, 105lbs) s... Read Moreo a lot of backpacks tend to swallow me or hurt my back. This one is great ,I've had it for a year and nothing has worn down. i've taken it to several countries, continents, and hopefully up a few mountains. Great little pack! If you're petite or have a narrow/slender frame, this is great. If you're average or above average i'd go with the "men's" size.
This bag is perfect for bringing to/from work and has replaced my older Patagonia bag that I used in college. I am 5'5, 120, but have a very short torso, around 14 inches, wearing a small in most Patagonia tops. While I have loved my other backpacks, they always hung below my bottom and felt too bulky for the amount of items I was packing in m... Read Morey bag. This one is much more compact, but I can still fit all of the items I need for work (change of clothes, lunch, etc.). Since the bag isn't too deep with the shorter torso length, I don't lose my items in the depths of my bag! The water bottle pockets are incredible, the first time I have found a bag that fits my 32oz hydroflask without effort, yet doesn't fall out. The front outside zipper is very useful for items I need to quickly grab.
Bought second one of these as it’s perfect: lightweight, great
compartments, quality construction/materials, great colors, perfect fit. I highly recommend this product.
I wanted a smaller size backpack with enough pockets to store small to medium sized items for travel for travel in Europe. This worked perfectly! I’m so glad Patagonia has this size for women
The backpack is perfect! Such an upgrade from what I previously used. The pockets are perfect sizes and I love the zippers. Plus the larger compartment has a built in laptop sleev and ipad sleeve. The second largest pocket has little compartments inside, great for holding wallet, gum, pencils, etc. I love how it has cup holders. Most importantly, t... Read Morehe cushioning on the back and shoulder straps is so comfy
The back of the backpack ruins every piece of clothing I have. It pills like crazy. Another top reviewer Hayley mentioned this but I was stubborn and got it anyway. (Check the one-star review she left, many people upvoted it) It's a prevalent issue with this backpack. Unfortunately I wish I noticed this a long time ago because so many of my sh... Read Moreirts and pants were ruined before I realized it was this backpack that was the cause :(
Hi Janice, thanks for taking the time to write us a review! We're really sorry to hear about the way the the backpack has created pilling on your clothing. Your satisfaction is always guaranteed so you're welcome to [return](https://www.patagonia.com/returns.html#searchterm=return).
November 11, 2019
Comfortable and compact bag that
Comfortable and compact bag that holds everything you need for a day trip.
I purchased this to take as a day bag to walk around and explore Mexico and it was perfect!! Even did a waterfall hike and the bag got wet but nothing in the inside was wet at all!! Would recommend to anyone looking for a lightweight bag. I’m going to use it as my daily commuter as it is the perfect size. I also love the side water pockets as they ... Read Morewere wide enough to accommodate my hydro flask with plenty of room
This note is for design team. Please add extra padding on the bottom. Sides are ok.
Great backpack but I dropped my bag and the laptop got damaged at the corners.
Ive owned various Patagonia backpacks over the years and this one is the perfect size for commuting and as a day pack. It fits my computer and my lunch for work, and layers and sustenance on my days outdoors! Shoulder straps are nicely cushioned and water bottle clips on the side are perfect for keeping things in place.
I’m using this backpack for college in a rainy city and it holds up wonderfully. It has the perfect amount of space for my items without looking bulky or hurting my shoulders!
I really like the size of 26L and feel that its perfect for my daily commute. However, the straps were too narrow and not supportive enough. I felt the weight more heavily than I would have liked, so I returned the pack.
Thank you for providing your feedback on this item! We're sorry to hear it did not work out for you. If we can answer any questions about your return, please [Contact Us](https://www.patagonia.com/customer-service.html#searchterm=contact%20us).
September 27, 2019
Women’s Refugio pack 26L
Great backpack! I’m using it as a student and a teacher and it’s wonderful.
I use this backpack for college, it’s perfect for my laptop and tablet. if you have a lot of books, you may need a larger size. as a petite person, i like how this pack fits.
This backpack is super good quality and great for college students who need a sturdy bag to carry books and for anyone who travels. I love the smokey violet color. I do wish it had a few more small pockets within the front pocket for smaller items. Overall great quality and design!
It is the perfect size (I'm 5.3) and it fits everything I need for work (laptop, notebooks, lunch, sweater, water bottle). The design is sleek and professional looking. I especially like the outside water bottle holders; roomy but elastic so you know nothing will fall out.
I was looking forward to using this pack on the trail and commuting to work in the city, but have been very disappointed. It's heavy and cumbersome and holds very little. The compartments are rigid and do not accommodate much gear at all. I sweat a lot while wearing it due to the thick material and it's not very breathable, despite the me... Read Moresh. I was shocked how much I dislike this bag.
Sturdy material and plenty of pockets. Fits my laptop with ease and has room for other notebooks and things. What I love most is even with the amount I carry daily (Laptop, notebooks, two drinks, gym things) it never feels too heavy.
I use this every day for college. It has lasted through cold and snowy winters and through hot and humid summers. It holds multiple books, my computer, and four 5 subject notebooks. I also used it to go to and from practice as well. Very durable, comfortable, and accommodating. The many pockets and hydration pockets are also very useful.
This pack is classy enough for the office, includes just the right amount of functional bells and whistles, and it’s good for a day of biking around town.
This backpack has enough room for my everyday college stuff (laptop (15"), toiletries, binder, pens + pencils, wallet, etc.) plus it's great for my size!!! I am only 4'11 and i love it. It is not overbearing on me like most backpacks are and comfortable on the shoulders. I recommend (:
I use this bag mostly for commuting to work. Taking my lunch, laptop, anything else I might need for the day. Let’s hope I don’t have anything planned after work because it definitely won’t fit in this bag. Also I am apparently not as skinny or as short as everyone who wrote a review. The chest strap goes into neck if this bag is full.
I do like ... Read Morethis bag for how flat it is but it just doesn't fit enough stuff for the day.
Before buying the backpack, I didn't know whether to get the men's or the women's cut. As a female, I ultimately went with the women's cut and I had to remove the clips at the top just because they did not suit my needs and would not clip together because of the width of my shoulders. The bag is smaller than I originally expecte... Read Mored, but it makes me not over pack when bringing it on vacations. The sizing is perfect for me when carrying all my notebooks and binders for that day. It does get a full rather quickly. I found that I cannot put more than one large binder, and two notebooks in it with a water bottle on the side without my back starting to work. The padding on the right strap is also almost gone because that's where I grab it when putting it on my back. Overall a great backpack I plan on using for a while.
We wanted a diaper bag that we could use after the diaper stage and we found this in the women’s Refugio day pack. So many compartments to keep us organized. Very supportive and makes carrying lots of stuff super comfortable. I’m 5’4, 120 pounds and fits great!
My rating is for the older model as I haven't bought this new version of the Refugio. I have one from a few years back and i LOVE it. It is ideal for my work day as it fits my computer and my gym clothes perfectly. I'm using it so much that it is getting a bit dirty and one zipper is not working as smoothly anymore... I was thinking of up... Read Moredating to a new one but I'm really sad that my two favorite features seems to be missing
- small top pocket for my keys,wallet and work badge at the top
- separate compartment for my laptop (with it own zipped area) at the back
will the next version see those compartment come back? should I wait for the next Refugio?
I bought this back pack at the beginning of my Graduate program. I have back problems so it is very important for me to have a high quality back pack. This one was amazing! With all the stuff I carry it felt so light. The only problem I have is it is not big enough for when I want to carry my workout stuff to campus. Other than that its very durabl... Read Moree. Ive taken it hiking and the dirt is easy to wash off.
I bought this bag a few months ago for travel. My other backpack didn't have outer water bottle pockets and it was driving me nuts! Now I'm able to carry a water bottle on one side and an umbrella on the other (just in case). Depending on the duration of my trip and if I'm checking a bag,26L can be a little too small,but it's he... Read Morelping me pack lighter and keeping the load more manageable. I sometimes wish it were maybe 1 inch deeper. I recently sprained my shoulder,so now I'm using it every day on my work commute (instead of my cross body bag) and I love it. The fit is great for a petite person--I'm only 5'2'' with narrow shoulders--the torso isn't too long and the straps fit well. I'm able to stash all my belongings,including a small purse loaded with my wallet,keys,etc.,my large sunglasses case,snacks,and sometimes even my lunch (if it's small enough). I usually have some room for a few other items,like a rain shell. I wish the tablet pocket were slightly wider,as I can't fit my iPad in it...this means I have to choose between my computer and iPad when I travel but that's usually okay as it's not part of my daily commute. All in all it's a great bag! I wish it came in slightly larger women's version and maybe even a smaller one too that could completely replace a purse on days when I'm running errands (like a 10L?). Regardless,I give it two thumbs up!
Nowhere in this description did it say a height recommendation and I wanted a smaller pack. I'm 5'8' with decent shoulders and the whole strap configuration is too small for me. The padding ends at my armpit so the buckle digs in there. The sternum strap sits above my collarbone and digs into my neck. They say it's removable but... Read More I don't see how. Straps are close set and sit on my neck instead of my shoulders. I love the design features and the lovely fuchsia color. Bummed it doesn't fit.