American Mountain Guide Mike Soucy tests the Patagonia Crag Daddy Pack 45L
I have been using the Patagonia Crag Daddy Pack 45L for ~20 days of rock guiding and personal climbing in the Front Range of Colorado. I’ve used it for approaching multipitch climbs as well as carrying large loads of toproping equipment to the base of the crag. Approaches have been up to two hours long, both on- and off-trail.
Testing the Patagonia Crag Daddy Pack 45L in the granite wilds of Colorado. Photo: Mike Soucy
This is a great pack for rock guiding because of its comfort and quick access. It holds a distinct advantage over my previous crag pack, a top-loading rucksack, because I can access my gear much more efficiently through the front zipper.
The durability of the pack, so far, has been excellent. I’ve hauled it through brush, and used it as an improvised rope tarp with no major signs of wear. Based on my experience beating up climbing packs, this one will hold up to many seasons of guiding and recreational use. I really like the super-beefy front zipper; it gives me confidence when trying to close an overstuffed pack. The only remaining question mark for me would be the durability of the stretchy mesh side pockets, which have torn on every other pack that I’ve owned (not yet a nick on these).
I am 5’9” with a medium-length torso, and the Sm/Med pack fits me perfectly. The internal frame and extra padding on the back panel, waist belt, and shoulder straps make for a comfy ride. The only disadvantage to this extra padding is that it does not ventilate well and makes my back sweat.
Due to the simple but supportive frame system, this pack carries like a Cadillac. Which can be both good and bad—super cushy, but not very tight with the handling. If your approaches generally stick to the trail, I would highly recommend this as your crag pack. If you tend to do a bit more scrambling or off-trail travel en route, then a more streamlined, responsive-fitting pack would be preferred.
The extra features on the pack are well designed and useful. There are two smaller accessory pockets, one internal, one external. Each is designed to securely carry keys, sunscreen, topo, snacks, etc. Also, the external rope straps work well to secure the rope over the top of the pack, and I do really like the stretchy-mesh side pockets for water bottles and flip-flops.
Bottom line: I’ve never had a dedicated “crag pack” in my quiver before, but the Crag Daddy 45L has converted me. It’s functional, comfortable and convenient. I won’t be using it for all of my approaches, but it certainly has taken some of the stress off of my top-loader in the past few weeks.
Specs:
Price: $179
Volume: 45 liters
Weight: 42 oz
Frame size tested: Sm/Med
