The Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L is a stylish and functional day pack for short hikes and urban environments. It is designed…
Patagonia Black Hole 25 Review
The Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L is a stylish and functional day pack for short hikes and urban environments
It is designed mostly for use as a commuter backpack but has some great features that make it suitable for moderate day hiking adventures on local trails. This pack is unique because it uses Patagonia’s proprietary “black hole” duffel bag design that offers maximum durability without sacrificing functionality. I particularly like that it is made from 100% recycled materials to help lessen our impact on the environment.
Who Is This Backpack Best For?
Who Is This Backpack Not For?
Patagonia Black Hole 25 Review: At-A-Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the subjects that we’ll be covering in this backpack review. Click the links in the table of contents to jump to the appropriate section in this review.
Table of Contents
1. Review Summary
2. Specifications
3. Main Features
4. How We Got the Results
4.1 Comfort & Support
4.2 Weights
4.3 Versatility
4.4 Durability & Design
5. Pros & Cons
6. Testimonials
Price: $129 List | $129.00 at REI & Patagonia Official
Pros: Durable & Sustainable design. Water-resistant & fairly priced.
Cons: No hip belt. Smaller fit. Not suitable for laptops.
Manufacturer: Patagonia
By Stephen John · Owner, Editor & Tester · August 1st, 2020
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Patagonia Black Hole 25 – Rating
OVERALL RATING
76
Review Summary & Conclusion
The Black Hole Pack 25LL is designed to be highly weather-resistant, thanks to its polyester ripstop fabric. Patagonia also built this pack with some good pockets and straps, which makes it easier for you to stay organized on the go.
The company also recognized that hikers need packs that are comfortable enough for carrying heavy loads. Thankfully, they crafted the Black Hole Pack 25L: with padded shoulder straps and a fully adjustable harness to keep your shoulders happy throughout your hike.
That being said, even the best hiking pack leaves something to be desired. After using this pack for short day hikes in a variety of environments, I’ve found that there are some more functional options when it comes to performance on the trail.
This is because the pack lacks a hip belt and is not hydration system compatible. Additionally, for a 25L pack, the Black Hole is a bit heavy, tipping the scales at 650g (1lb 6.92oz).
Ultimately, this is a solid pack for anyone that’s primarily looking for an every-day bag that can also be used for the occasional hike or outdoor adventure.
Specifications
Main Features
Comfort – Patagonia Black Hole 25
For carrying gear on short hikes and around town, the Black Hole Pack provides enough comfort through its well-padded back panel and shoulder straps. However, it doesn’t have a hip belt, which is why it’s not a great choice for any activity where you’d have to carry more than 13.61kg (30lbs) of weight.
Top Lid
Weight – Patagonia Black Hole 25
At 650g (22.9oz), the Black Hole Pack is fairly heavy for a bag of this size. While I wouldn’t say that it is extraordinarily heavy, it certainly isn’t the lightest option. That being said, when you consider that all this weight is due to the thick, durable fabrics that Patagonia used to make this pack, it does all seem well worth it in the end.
Patagonia Black Hole 25 – Inside
Versatility – Patagonia Black Hole 25
This pack essentially an urban daypack that’s been outfitted with some nice features for use in occasional outdoor environments. The DWR coating and thick fabrics give it the durability necessary to function well on a shorter hike. Inside, the pack’s organizational features provide good gear storage options, particularly for people who are commuting to and from work. There are also two separate zippered compartments for better organizing smaller bits of gear. However, due to the pack’s lack of hip belt and incompatibility with hydration systems, it’s not versatile enough for trail running, climbing, long hikes, or other, more technical pursuits.
Patagonia Black Hole 25 – Versatility
Pros
Cons
Build Quality & Durability – Patagonia Black Hole 25
Right out of the box, the Black Hole Pack 25L feels like it’s well made. Patagonia built this pack using 300D fabric, which is some of the thickest you’ll find used in a backpack. I also particularly liked that the 300D ripstop polyester on this pack has a TPU laminate, which helps provide added durability, making it a good choice for frequent use. This pack also has a DWR finish so it is highly water-resistant in mild to moderate rainstorms.
After years of using this pack in a variety of conditions, I have been thoroughly impressed by how well it protects my gear against the rain. While I wouldn’t trust the bag to protect my laptop if I threw it in a river, it does a stellar job at keeping my gear dry in a rainstorm.
I also enjoy that Patagonia decided to make this pack using only recycled materials that are bluesign approved. This means that the pack is an environmentally-friendly option for outdoor enthusiasts.
Testimonials – Patagonia Black Hole 25
– Best pack ever
Im not one to write reviews, but for this product I can say that it is hands down one of the best purchases that I have made, and it fully deserves a review. I purchased my black hole in 2016 and to this day there has been nothing that has gone wrong with it (aside from showing its mileage superficially). This pack got me through college, has accompanied me on over 500+ miles of hiking, been around the world multiple times, and has kept my things dry and safe for all of it. Like a previous reviewer said, it is not completely waterproof, but it does pretty well in a tropical downpour on trail or in the city. I have used this bag for my small item nearly every time that I fly, as it fits under even the smallest economy seats with ease. The side pockets are large enough to hold a 40oz metal water bottle without compromising your internal volume (huge in my opinion), and the elastic still isnt worn out yet! I can not recommend this pack enough. I do not know when my pack will kick the bucket, but I dont think that it will be anytime in the next decade or two. Aloha.
– Taken from: https://www.patagonia.com
– I’ve waited about five monthsI’ve waited about five months before writing this review, just so I could see how the bag held up over time and what I liked/disliked about it. I was surprised at how well the top loading design worked, and the top pocket is the ideal size for small items such as pens, headphones, or a wallet. I used this bag primarily at university, as well as a weekend bag for some travel. It is on the smaller side as far as backpacks go, but I intentionally bought the 25L to prevent me from bringing too much stuff. It would comfortable hold my laptop, two textbooks, and a couple notebooks, with some room to spare. For airlines, it was small enough to be considered a personal item, which was nice. I took this bag on a couple hikes, and decided that this was not one of it’s strong points. The lack of hip belt made a pretty big difference, and I think I will be using a different backpack the next time I go outside. The only downside I can see to this backpack is that it might be too durable for my needs. The material quality and craftmanship is top notch, but I cannot imagine too many scenarios where I would need as heavy duty of a bag, especially for day to day activities. If price is not a concern, this is a quality bag that I expect to last for many, many years.
– Taken from: https://www.patagonia.com
Author
Stephen John
Founder, Tester & Editor
Stephen is the founder of Backpackfanatic. Besides managing daily operations he also edits, designs & tests products.
