REI Alpine Daypack Review

Still in my backpacking closet after years of heavy use, my REI Alpine pack is starting to show its age and it hasn't been the best daypack I've ever had, but it's been a lot better than many of them. The pack had stood up to some pretty heavy use and some unfriendly conditions over the years, but at the same time, there have been a few failures on the pack that I think mainly occurred because of the pack's design, not because of the heavy use.

The Alpine is a fairly simple backpack with one large main compartment, two side pockets and a front pocket that has a compression pocket between it and the main pack. In addition to the front compression pocket area, there are compression straps on the side of the pack to help compress and stabilize any large or bulky loads. There's also a large hydration pocket inside the pack should you have one to use and both of the side pockets feature ski slots so you can carry skis on the Alpine. There are also two ice axe/tool loops on the pack should you need them to carry any gear. While the Alpine is not an internal frame backpack, there is a something of a frame to provide basic support. The back of the pack features a metal rod that encircles the entire back of the back, providing a measure of support. The pack is mostly made of water and abrasion resistant polyester with the bottom area of the pack made from slightly thicker and tougher polyester for increased durability. The waterproofness of the pack is generally quite good, but water will leak in around the zippers and if you've scratched up the pack or worn it in quite well, there's likely to be areas where water will leak through.

The curved shoulder straps are padded and are adjustable in two directions and the shoulder straps themselves can be tightened up to have a more snug fit on your shoulders. There is a sternum strap on the Alpine to help the shoulder straps ride more comfortably. There's also a foam-padded waist belt, although the foam padding only extends slightly around your waist - the front of belt is simply a nylon strap.

Experiences

When I saw the Alpine on sale at REI, I picked it up since it felt comfortable, was decently priced, and had the REI name on it, which generally means it's made well and should last for quite some time. After regular use, I noticed a few things I didn't like about the pack: 1) the main pocket zippers don't allow the pack to be open all the way, making it hard to pack bulky items because the compression and the packing isn't always even; 2) the sternum strap, at least for me, is placed too high on the shoulder straps; 3) the waist belt really don't hold any weight, instead it just holds the pack against you; and 4) the design of the pack with regards to the front pocket's attachment to the main backpack invites failure of the backpack.

The last problem however is serious and eventually did lead to the failure of the pack. The front pocket's bottom is sewn directly onto the main pack compartment, however to create the compression pocket, the rest of the front compartment is allowed to be free. It's connected to the main pack by a single latch at the top, which is joined to the main compartment with a plastic binding. The problem is that the main front bracket can break and will break under what I'd consider moderate to heavy use. In three years of using the Alpine regularly for both winter and summer trips, the connection started to fail and completely failed the beginning of the 4th year. It's not a catastrophic failure because of the other two compression straps, they can make up and hold the front pocket up. However, it leaves the top loose and you don't get quite the same compression capability between the front pocket and the main backpack.

That said, I did take the pack to REI and got the problem fixed but still ended up getting a new daypack because of the other issues, specifically the comfort. The pack has been comfortable to wear, but I've never really thought it had the best fit. Since then I've used the Alpine here and there when I've needed an extra pack and I doubt I'll end up getting rid of it anytime soon since overall I think it is a good pack.

My Take

The REI Alpine is a well-made, generally comfortable, and overall decent daypack. For me it survived a few years of heavy use with just some scratches until the front bracket holding the front pocket to the main backpack broke. Thankfully - with REI's warranty on their gear, I can have it fixed or replaced for free. That said, there are a few flaws in my mind, specifically the location of the sternum strap and the design of the openings on the pack. None of these are critical though and do not really detract from the capabilities of the pack.

I believe the basic Alpine daypack has been discontinued from REI's product line, but there are other variations of the Alpine daypack (generally larger versions) that are available at times from REIand you might find an Alpine through other retailers or in a gear swap.

All in all, considering cost and quality (and the REI warranty), the Alpine has been a good daypack. It isn't perfect, but it did serve its purpose and is a bag I'll continue to use in the future.