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Overall I love this pack. It's pretty lightweight, not ultralight but it's within a couple ounces of packs that cost easily twice as much. It carries very comfortably and I was able to fit all my gear for a 4 day trip. The top is a little funky but it works and is fine once you get used to it. Shoulder straps are super comfy and I love th... Read Moree side and front pockets. My only real complaint is the grab handle is insanely small. I wear size M gloves and can barely get three fingers in it.
It's a roomy bag that will fit a good amount of gear and found it comfortable with some weight in it.
Though, I don't think this bag is suited for hiking (at least for me) for the following reasons:
- The side mesh pockets will get tight when the main compartment is full and will stretch quite a bit to hold a 32oz bottle. There's no... Read More fabric other than the mesh to hold the bottom of what ever you store in it.
- The waist belt pockets are small and made out of mesh (same as the side pockets). Putting anything with mildly sharp edges like a small multi tool, will cause some anxiety that it will eventually rip.
- The top flap could use a bit over hang to make easier to close the bag but not a big deal
This bag always can fit more than I think it can, and it's very lightweight. It took me a bit to find a Patagonia bag that had all the little things I wanted, so I'm glad they came out with this. The hip and chest straps are super comfortable and they help me travel so much easier. Laptop sleeve and lots of external storage are great too.... Read More
The only thing that can be a little frustrating is how the main opening is still a little narrow even when the drawcord is fully loosened, which, combined with the overall long shape of the bag, can occasionally make it difficult to find things when fishing inside it. Either a wider top opening or maybe a zipper pocket going down the side might help with this?
The Altvia has been my everything pack from work to short trips to the gym to day trips, hikes, short backpacking trips, and long road trips. It has held up well through a few years of intense wear.
This bag could easily be a five star product, it has all the feature you will need for a casual hike but only one incomprehensible flaw though.. The waist belt pocket, it is too small and you can't even fit a map in it. They could have added molle attachment strap for us to use..
Hi kw, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Feedback like this is crucial to knowing what is and isn't working for our customers. We'll be sure to take your constructive criticism into consideration going forward.
In the meantime, please feel free to begin a [return](https://www.patagonia.com/returns.html) if your not happy with the performance of your gear.
I searched for awhile for a backpack that I could bring as a carry-on for my trip to England and this one fit the bill. The frame itself is ~22" so it satisfies the size requirements for most airplanes if you don't stuff it to absolute capacity. Waterproof shield is in a great little pocket at the bottom of the pack and easy to store. It ... Read Morecomfortably fit all the clothes I wanted to bring with my toiletries as well. I'd have to agree with the others that the pockets on the hip belt are far too small to store anything like a cell phone but I suppose it's better to include them than to not. Fit is great for my shorter midsection, but also fit my 5' 11" husband comfortably as well. If you are a light packer and are looking for a small backpack to bring for a trip, I'd say this would work very well.
Great pack. The size is great and fits a good amount of fresh clothes and gear for single or multi day trips. I have used it on the trail and even fly with it as a carry-on easily. Materials are durable and there are enough pouches for storage on the outside as well.
Wanted to totally love this pack and for the most part I do, but a few things keep me from giving it 5 stars. The good: Im 5-9.5 inches and the large fits my torso perfectly. The interior volume is great, the side stretch pockets are great, the back non-stretch pocket is good. Shoulder harness is good and waist belt is surprisingly good for its wid... Read Moreth and design and does take weight off my shoulders. Back panel is a solid 4 but doesnt breath as much as I would like especially as I tested it in 50 F sunny weather in AZ high desert (4500 feet) and my two layers of merino wool pullovers (100 weight and 150 weight) got pretty damp on each of several 5 mile hikes. The not so great: pockets on waist belt are well designed and constructed but only big enough for car keys, a small wallet and a energy bar; forget putting your mobile phone in it unless you use an old flip phone; that said the pockets dont interfere with the waist belt support. Back panel could be a bit more breathable or arched slightly more so that it doesnt press against my back. If Back pocket panel material were stretchy material it would accommodate a helmet and clothing more easily. Interior zip pocket is too small length wise and volume - barely holds a wallet and keys and no room for smart phone. Pack top opening is great; quick and easy to open and close but even when fully open i felt like I wanted it to open just a little more to make it easier to put gear in and get to stuff at the bottom of the pack. Exterior zip pocket lays kind of funny when pack is half full and is kinda tight to get things in and out - could have given it slightly larger volume on top. Key fob length in exterior zip could be longer. Top of interior plastic frame protrudes slightly on left and right sides of pack and angular construction makes it a bit awkward. Its a solid simple and clean design that needs a bit more tweaking to give it 5.
Thank you so much for this detailed review, Marc! We're sharing your thoughts with our design team.
February 19, 2023
Perfect for Fly Fishing
I travel for fly fishing a bit. I put one fly rod on each side in the bottle holders and they are completely secure. This thing holds a ton and is so comfortable.
I used this for a weekend trip to London - it was the perfect size. The outside pockets were surprisingly stretchy even when the bag was fully packed. It was also super comfy to wear while walking through the city.
All around amazing pack! Comfy, solid amount of capacity, and a wonderful minimalist design! The hipbelts are on the smaller side but I actually like that:) I did fit a 6.1 in iphone in them but it wouldnt be good if you check your phone often lol The grey and black is better in person;)
My Altvia 36l pack has worked out really well so far in its first 35 miles of hiking and backpacking. It is super comfortable and is sturdier than it looks; I packed a bear-barrel, sleeping bag, tarp and a bunch of ultralight camping gear for three days in the Adirondacks and even though it was completely stuffed I was still able to put water bottl... Read Morees and gear in the elastic outer pockets. And, it remained comfortable because of the adjustment capabilities and the ergonomics of the waistband and shoulder straps. Super light without a big load, able to carry a big load and I love the color! The only thing that I havent really tested is the ski bungees in the sides, they dont look like they would hold much because they are so light. The walking pole holders work great. Worth a try if you like ultralight hiking/backpacking.
Thank you so much for this detailed review, Neil! It sounds like you've been able to really test this pack on your adventures. We so appreciate your feedback!
February 6, 2022
Practical design, great capacity for 7+ days
I bought this for casual traveling not hardcore use. The size is great for a 7-10 day getaway via airplane that included light fly fishing tackle. Convenient exterior pockets and though the main compartment isnt the best for accessing gear, it got emptied at the destination anyways.
Used this pack for 8 day trip on Wonderland Trail then a 10 day trip in Tetons. It performed well, had enough room for what I needed to carry and survived the beating I gave it on two large trips
love this pack's comfortable fit with proper hip straps, but it's lightweight enough to feel like a minimalist fastpack. use it for bike commuting, short backpacking, skimo and around town bag
Pack is perfect for 4-5 days of travel. No issue with size for airline overhead bag storage.
Design is basically a vertical duffle bag so packing bags for gear really help organization. An improvement would be additional zippered interior pockets.
This back pack is amazing, fit everything I needed and fits perfectly. I used it for a week of intence hiking and loved it, for some reason the straps started to wear down on the lower clip, disappointed in that but all around a wonderful bag
Overall I like this pack a lot. It's lightweight but holds up surprisingly well to a good-sized load. It's easy to travel with and comfortable to wear for a while. I think my only comment is the drawstring closure. It's an interesting concept to not have an actual "brain" at the top of the pack that flops over the opening, ... Read Morebut something about this design is a little awkward. It works just fine and I am happy with the pack, but this one thing is just a tad odd. I also wish it was waterproof; it would be a great pack to use on my river trips in Alaska.
Hi Christa, we're so pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L. WE wanted to let you know that the pack features a convenient rain cover to help keep your pack dry. You can learn more about the awesome features on the Altvia here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdJUl_8YhVo.
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