I am not a gear head.
If the thingy does what it says it will do, that’s good enough for me. So when it came to choosing a backpack for my climbing gear, I really didn’t think much of it. I had a pack that functioned at a basic level—it held my gear—but that was about it.
But it wasn’t until I started using the Trango Crag Pack that I realized just how much my old pack sucked. Before using the Crag Pack, I truly thought that everyone arrived to the crag with aching shoulders, sore hips, and a gallon jug of water in hand (because how could you fit water in a pack full of climbing gear?).
This is the first piece of gear that when someone asks me,
Hey, how do you like that thing?
I reply with more than,
Meh, it’s a backpack.
I actually want to tell people about this pack because it’s awesome.
Crag Pack Pride. Photo: Spenser Tang-Smith
And hey, wait! Before all of the dirtbags stop reading, let me start by telling you that the Trango Crag Pack is only $99. Now that that’s out of the way …
Perhaps the most defining feature of the Crag Pack is its simple design. Trango has foregone piling on the bells and whistles that other packs brag about, and instead created a product that just simply works. These packs have one main compartment that can easily fit a rope, single rack of cams or quickdraws, a harness, a few extra layers, and water. There is also a roomy mesh side pocket that will hold your stinky climbing shoes, a pocket that’s perfect for holding a guidebook, as well as a large brain compartment for snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, and first aid supplies.
Related: Must-Know First Aid Principles & Why Every Climber Should Get Training
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With my old pack, I was always arriving at the crag with sore shoulders and hips. I chalked it up to getting old—but soon realized that with the Trango Crag Pack, my body felt pretty good even after a long hike (I am still getting old, though). The generously padded waist, back panel, and shoulder straps really help keep the weight in your pack feeling comfortable and evenly distributed.
Another nice touch to the Crag Pack is that it comes with Access Fund wag bags for packing out trash or poop, as well as a detachable rope tarp. Both of these items have come in handy quite a few times.
Related: Climbing Ethics: Vital Decision-Making Scenarios
And just in case you were wondering, if you just so happen to run over your Crag Pack with your car, it will survive. Last week as I was leaving the parking lot of the Monestary in Estes Park, I was in such a trance from the heat that I forgot to put my Crag Pack in my car. Instead, I left it propped against the back tire. I backed up, ran over the pack (thought that surely I had run over a rock or a bush) but after driving for a few minutes, I realized that my pack wasn’t in the car. I drove back to the parking lot and found it lying there, flattened like road kill but totally fine—not even a scratch. Needless to say, these things are pretty sturdy.
More details on Trango’s Crag Pack in this this video:
So if you’re in the market for a new climbing pack or need a gift for someone that they’ll love you for, I would highly recommend the Trango Crag Pack.
Trango Crag Pack
