PATAGONIA ASCENSIONIST PACK 25L

Today we look at the Ascensionist pack from Patagonia.

Fundamentally this has been designed as a one-day climbing backpack and as you can see from its features it has a variety of attachments for ropes, ice axes and other mountaineering equipment.

However, I wanted a pack that I could use to carry my filming equipment while out on the trails.It needed it to be versatile, lightweight and hard wearing.And the Patagonia Ascensionist Pack certainly seems to tick those boxes.

So not one to let convention get in the way, I decided to test it out and see if it was the pack for me.

Let have a closer look

Build Quality

The pack itself is made from a combination of highly durable ripstop nylon fabrics and also features a durable water repellent finish.

So this means it can handle most things on the trail from scrapes with close tree lines and bushes to the occasional downpour.

You don't want half you expensive equipment falling out or being saturated mid-run.

Features

The main buckle is made from aluminium and due to its design is super strong and also is fast to connect while still remaining secure.

Beside the main buckle is two main ice axe loops but they could also be used for climbing poles as both the top and bottom loops are adjustable

There is a extra large handle that can be used easily with gloves.

The harness system is simple and effective providing a chest strap and main waist band.The chest strap can be adjusted via the aluminium connections to suit your needs.

The pack has two main storage areas.

The main pack itself which can be easily accessed by pulling open the lid and the toggle.From here the internal pack is easily accessible and I found the extra width made packing and unpacking really simple.There is also an additional pocket on the top of the lid.

This is really handy for storing those items you want to access quickly. Be it maps, food, electronics or your wallet.Having this pocket alleviated any needs to open the main pack for those quick access items.

Testing

I travelled to Nepal early this year and took the Patagonia Ascensionist Pack with me to primarly carry my camera gear.

Due to its streamlined form and its hard wearing materials, It held up well on the trails

The chest and waist straps allowed it to be secure while on the move.It was easy to use and comfortable throughout the day.

Potential Issues

It did get quite hot when running with it but as it is not designed for running this is a common issue with this type of backpack.

For running usually we use one that has an air gap between the pack and your bodyThis can be done by using smart materials that allow air to flow between pack and back or a physical mesh divider.

As this pack does not have this feature, of course, it will heat up.

Also on closing the lid the twine is left on the outside and needs to be tucked back in. It would be great not have to do this.

Conclusions

This pack is great for anyone looking for a streamlined and adaptable day pack.

It is made to a very high standard.It was specifically designed with alpinist in mind but can be used for a range of activities from trekking, mountaineering or mountain biking and is equally useful as a general daypack.

Due to its streamlined design and low profile, it will be a great addition to you while being active in those colder environments.

And it allows for good capacity to bring along your most needed items.I would not recommend this for long trail runs due to the heat build up but for my application it was perfect and it has now become a go-to item for me when filming out on the trails or needing a mid-size day pack.

Price

RRP is : $149.95 AUDComes is a variety of colours.For more information on the

Patagonia Ascensionist 25L Pack

and a listing of all available packs from Patagonia go to:

www.patagonia.com.au

Until next time.Happy Running!

Douglas