Patagonia Cragsmith 32L and 45L

I recently had the opportunity to try on the 32L. At 4'11", I really liked the fit of this pack! Should the bigger one fit about the same? Is it wider? I would like to order the larger, as I have a 70m rope and a modest rack, and would like to get everything in, especially if I fly somewhere. Any idea if the larger one can be squeezed down to be a carry on? My son got everything except a rope into his pack, for a week in Yosemite, by carrying his helmet as his "purse", lol. He said it looked like an engine block going through the xray!

Thanks, all. This is the season I will finally get to travel a bit, late summer or fall. Yay!!

Best, Helen

Old lady H wrote: I recently had the opportunity to try on the 32L. At 4'11", I really liked the fit of this pack! Should the bigger one fit about the same? Is it wider? I would like to order the larger, as I have a 70m rope and a modest rack, and would like to get everything in, especially if I fly somewhere. Any idea if the larger one can be squeezed down to be a carry on? My son got everything except a rope into his pack, for a week in Yosemite, by carrying his helmet as his "purse", lol. He said it looked like an engine block going through the xray!

Thanks, all. This is the season I will finally get to travel a bit, late summer or fall. Yay!!

Best, Helen

We ended up getting the 45L S/M, that way we can both wear it comfortably. My wife is 5'3 115ish and I'm 5'11 165, neither have any problems with the sizing. It's also a bit shorter than the L/XL. We have flown in country and overseas with it with no problems. We only sport climb though, but I always have about 20 draws, slings for both of us plus extra, 60m rope, 2 pairs of shoes, chalk bag, extra biners, harness, grigri, atc etc in it and I still have space at the top just in case someone asks me to squeeze it in to be sure it'll fit. Then I also have some extras, headlamp/baby wipes in the top pocket too... I don't put the helmets in for flying because they won't compress at all but for car trips, I can fit both of our helmets in it as well. I place them like end caps on each end of the rope.. We have never been checked or asked to check the size while flying and it has comfortably fit in the overhead compartments. Hope that helps!

I don't have that bag, but I have a 36l, and I wish it were bigger.  70mm, shoes, helmet, draws, shoes, harness, chalk, pas, etc.. something always needs to be clipped externally.  Get the 45.  

I can report more amazing use for this bag - Currently I keep all my gear in there for storage - I leave my half rack (I usually link up more gear from partners when needed), harness, slings and two 70m ropes. I usually clip my shoes and helmet on the outside when I head out the door to the crag. It's holding up very well, a couple scrapes and mud absorbed into the nylon but it still looks great. Everyone compliments how sick this bag is. I fold it out as a rope bag on the ground with room for both. The tie in loops are great too! Keeps the ropes separated and neatly flaked, ready to go! The flap pocket is great to hold my jacket and any other clothing while pulling the rope out of it. The brain has plenty of room for food, med kit and the outer side pouches hold my nalgene and a 0.7 platypus in one and foldable splint and other ancillary items in the other. The waist straps really hug in and comfortable.

10/10 would buy again.

Albi Eds wrote: I can report more amazing use for this bag - Currently I keep all my gear in there for storage - I leave my half rack (I usually link up more gear from partners when needed), harness, slings and two 70m ropes. I usually clip my shoes and helmet on the outside when I head out the door to the crag. It's holding up very well, a couple scrapes and mud absorbed into the nylon but it still looks great. Everyone compliments how sick this bag is. I fold it out as a rope bag on the ground with room for both. The tie in loops are great too! Keeps the ropes separated and neatly flaked, ready to go! The flap pocket is great to hold my jacket and any other clothing while pulling the rope out of it. The brain has plenty of room for food, med kit and the outer side pouches hold my nalgene and a 0.7 platypus in one and foldable splint and other ancillary items in the other. The waist straps really hug in and comfortable.

10/10 would buy again.

But which size? The larger?

Thanks, all! I'm still torn on sizes. My friend pointed out people tend to fill larger packs with too much crap, and, that's a real consideration for me. Extra weight, I do not need.

But? I have to take both rack and rope, at least part of the time. I have to admit, I'm starting to get why people have so many packs, lol!

Best, Helen

Hey Helen,

I have the 45L in a Large size I'm 6' with some long legs so it's a good fit - and I would say if you want to limit the weight of your pack you should go with the smaller one to limit that variable. You should be able to fit all of that no problem if I can fit two ropes and a rack & harness you certainly fit a single rope and rack. If the actual size of the bag straps is to question buy both and try them out and return the one that doesn't fit.

I agree, having too many packs can be too much, because then you have to decide which is best for what use! But I think having one of each size is the way to go and using them for multiple sports across the season. I have a 13L day pack, 20L gym bag, 35L hiking/ski touring bag & multipitch bag, this 45L cragsmith, 70L that can pulled down to 65L Osprey bag for heavy travel and backpacking. Then the monster 100L roller bag for big/international trips. :)

Gotta be shlep the gear somehow.

A couple notes after extensive use of the 45L.

It's excellent to pack and has held up pretty well, only one issue durability wise. That issue is the waist buckle being pretty flimsy and I can only tighten it partially now. Holds a ton of gear easily and well organized.

What I do NOT recommend this for is long, steep approaches. No matter how much you tighten it down it's definitely more awkward than a traditional hiking or mountaineering pack. It doesn't have a sturdy frame so this should be obvious but worth noting. On some of my steeper or longer approaches I definitely wish I was using a pack with a better frame system.

But for short and/or easy approaches it's stellar.

Based on all of this, plus the fact that I do have some small packs, I'll maybe order the 45 and give it a try. I know I like the smaller one, so it's no risk if I do need to go down in size.

Thanks, all! Helen

UPDATE with photos! I bought both the 32 and the 45. Recently, I hauled the 32 on my first fly/drive climbing trip. The 32 had all* my camping and climbing stuff for a five day trip and went as my carryon. A smaller (28L?) North Face Jester (billed as a campus book bag) went as my under the seat bag, with all my clothes, walking shoes, helmet and personal stuff.

*The Disclaimer: I was meeting up with people who were driving, so they brought the rope, rack, all the cooking part of the camping end (I bought groceries on the way), and hauled water.

First, some pack comparisons. Sox helped! He has slimmed down to a, uhhh, "svelte" 17 pounds (from almost 25).

The 45L sports two big additions, a top compartment, and a beefier hip strap with a pouch. Shown, the simpler 32 straps, and the 45 top compartment, empty and with a helmet:





Last, the 32 unloaded is simply a big box with stiff sides all around. The burly zips let you really stuff the thing and still have about the same size. It opens up entirely, which is what I wanted for cragging. It also opens from the top, if you just want to grab the guidebook or something. There is a zip pocket for keys and such, and stretchy side pouches that hold water bottles nicely. Sans camping gear (on the left), it would hold a rope, rack, and the rest, depending on if you need extra clothes or a big rack. I usually just put my helmet on the outside, or, simply put it on. 





Hope this helps! I bought the smallest size, and it is very comfortable for me (4'11"). Obviously, YMMV!

Best, Helen

Nice update Helen. A sweet new color too!

Love that pack!

Cragsmith 45 users: how is the durability of the side mesh pockets? I’m not a fan of these but they seem to be the only way to carry a clip-stick. In all other respects the pack seems ideal for my purposes. 

duncan... wrote:

Cragsmith 45 users: how is the durability of the side mesh pockets? I’m not a fan of these but they seem to be the only way to carry a clip-stick. In all other respects the pack seems ideal for my purposes. 

My side pockets are wrecked. I used to put beer cans in them and they have holes all in the bottoms. One side got caught on a branch or something at one point and it’s ripped about 3/4 of the way down

Edit to add that the zipper on the back is also pretty trashed from overloading the bag wayyy to many times. It doesn’t fold over any more

duncan... wrote:

Cragsmith 45 users: how is the durability of the side mesh pockets? I’m not a fan of these but they seem to be the only way to carry a clip-stick. In all other respects the pack seems ideal for my purposes. 

My side pockets are getting beat up, but are still functional after several years of heavy use and I also carry my stick clip in the side pocket. I sometimes slid it inside the pack and have it come out of the top of the pack, just zip the top closed from each side right up to the stick. 

My side pockets are holding up after about 8 months of heavy use, but I don’t over-stuff them. Stick clip and guidebook are the main things that go in there. Note that Patagonia will repair any of their products for free, so if you rip a side pocket I imagine you could get it fixed. 

My overall take matches what’s been posted, this is a great crag pack. The U-zip and semi-rigid sizes create a bucket-like shape that’s super handy at the crag: open it up and you can just toss stuff in/grab stuff out all day long.

Minor gripes: I wish it carried better. The waist belt is somewhat flimsy, it has no real frame or lumbar pad. When packed full at 30+ lbs it’s hard to get the weight comfortably on your hips for long hikes in. As it’s broken in it’s lost some of the structure it had when new, so I can now feel bulges through the back panel depending how the gear is packed. I also wish it had a deployable top strap or flap to lash rope or helmet to the top of the pack more easily. Overall great for short-approach cragging, but not the best for heavy loads on long approaches. 

My mesh side pockets are both shredded on the one I use for cragging.  I think it is the obvious weakness with the pack and will hopefully be addressed in a future update.  I just slide the stick clip inside and don’t zip the lid fully closed.  This works with the 45l version.

Funny to hear that some people don’t think it carries very well.  I find it to be the most comfortable pack in Patagonia’s line up!  

I load it up with 30+ lbs all the time an often get it to 50 when I’m carrying a huge cinema camera and rigging/climbing gear.

I have had this pack for over a year now & have grown to love it if packed correctly. Best bet is to flake your rope into your pack, throw your shoes in the pocket on the back flap, zip the back up then open the top pocket, throw your harness, draws, cams & helmet on top. I fit a 70m rope, 10-12 alpine draws and a double rack of cams in this pack. If I’m out for a long day I’ll just wear my harness from the car with everything on it to save space for snacks. So, if packed correctly; the 32 is plenty big enough. Can’t speak for a party of two though.

all the chatter about this pack... 

I find that if you butterfly coil your rope and lay it in the pack thru the open back panel first, then just pack everything on top of that until it's pretty full, zip closed and tip up - now open top, press down on contents and you can usually fit a puffy, water, etc on top. I cram all kinds of stuff in the side pockets, like stick-clip, books, wagbags, water, trash, etc. If you want to be particularly lazy, just fill pack, close and drape butterfly coiled rope over the top, using the two side straps to hold it in place - I can't think of a situation where I can't fit everything I need for a day in the 45l. If I'm walking a long way, I typically use a different pack - but this thing rules for cragging.

Thanks everyone who responded. Shame the mesh pockets are an obvious weakness - and one that should have been anticipated - in what is an otherwise fine pack. I'm 'once bitten' as have a Linked 16 daypack, an excellent design hobbled by the mesh back which failed after 6 months use as a commuter bag. The next version had harder wearing back material. Patagonia resemble Apple in using consumers to iron out the bugs in v1.0! 

Since I bought mine new, and it's been through the wars, an update.

I fit everything in the 32, sometimes rope outside, sometimes harness, helmet, shoes outside. This pack has traveled everywhere, and I am not gentle. It's been dragged, thrown, and very stuffed. The whole pack is holding up great....but yes, the

pockets are getting defeated. 

The crux is that they are stretchy. That works great, but, there's not much that will do that, and go flat. These are getting holes, but still function. I'm planning on having the pack repaired soon, there's an excellent sewing business here that's done a great job on other stuff of mine. 

Best, Helen

Hi there, any owners have any long term durability issues with that backpanel zipper?   Just seems like it’s got a bunch of stress on it when loaded up.  
thanks very much.