New Crag Bag Recommendations

Hey folks! I'm looking for recommendations for a new crag bag. I've been hauling my sport stuff in an Osprey Transporter 40 I got second hand, which has worked fine in scenarios where I've got the draws, my buddy has the rope, and we're set. It's not the most comfortable, and before I got into climbing I didn't hike or anything, so adjusting to hauling a pile of stuff around on my back has been a thing. Now I'm getting into trad climbing, and can tell that this bag isn't going to cut it. Even if I could additionally shove a rope and my whole rack in it, the extra weight is going to make it murder. 

For reference, I'm not tiny, but am only 5'4" (164cm) and about 145lbs, so some monstrously sized thing isn't ideal. Looking for something reasonably tough, sized for that amount of gear but I don't expect it to be an ultralight or anything, and as comfortable as hauling X many pounds on your back can reasonably be. Internet searches suggest, among others: Osprey Mutant, Black Diamond Creek, Patagonia Cragsmith, Mountain Hardware Crag Wagon, etc.

Black diamond creek.

I have the Black Diamond Creek 50, and I think it kind of sucks. I would probably look into a Patagonia or Mammut crag bag. 

I like the blue ice octopus

To each their own - I love the creek 50. LOVE IT. But I recognize that hating on BD is the cool thing to do.  

I have the 45l Cragsmith and really like it. Bomber durability, back zips open when you have a rope strapped on top, and I have abused mine for >2yrs and the only damage I have is a few small holes in the stretchy mesh on the sides and surface scuffs. Carries heavy load pretty well too. 

Jack V wrote:

I have the 45l Cragsmith and really like it. Bomber durability, back zips open when you have a rope strapped on top, and I have abused mine for >2yrs and the only damage I have is a few small holes in the stretchy mesh on the sides and surface scuffs. Carries heavy load pretty well too. 

From all my reading, I was leaning toward this one, or the Crag Wagon.

grug g wrote:

To each their own - I love the creek 50. LOVE IT. But I recognize that hating on BD is the cool thing to do.  

I dont hate on it because it's BD. I hate on it because when it's on your back, you have access to NOTHING. No key, no chapstick, no water bottle. The accessory pocket is super deep and hard to keep things organized. Also, weighing 155 lbs, the waist strap is absolutely maxed out, so I assume it may be useless for OP who is smaller. And the size zip is meant for easy access but it's far from a full-open zip. The Mammut and Patagonia bags are superior in almost every way, with the exception of the great volume of the BD. 

I spent a lot of time looking around at packs to decide which features I liked most and what I wanted out of it. I ended up getting a Mammut Trion 50L. Other options that I really liked but ended up not getting are Mammut Neon gear, MH Crag Wagon, and Patagucci Cragsmith. For me, some of the important things were a spot for a water bladder, a hip belt, a frame, multiple access points, a brain, water bottle sleeves, and lash points. My main partner has a BD creek and I loathe having to grab things from his bag because I'm just blindly reaching for things. 

Tower 47 by Mystery Ranch if you are ok with a little extra weight. Expensive and a bit heavy, but the absolute Cadillac of crag bags imo. Carries incredibly well.

Crag Wagon and its not particularly close. Exterior is indestructible, the fabric that contacts your body is extremely comfortable when hiking with a shirt off, rope haul on the top is money and a half, access to quickly get into the different packing strata from the top or side is very easy, somehow doesn't even get dirty even though mine is the tan/white one. Its just the best for cragging. 

The last cragging pack you'll own! Carries well. Bomber durability.

https://www.metoliusclimbing.com/freerider-pack.html

Depends on what features you're looking for. I really wanted a comfortable, durable enough bag, with a zipper that went around all the way to open up the whole pack for easy organization. The Crag Wagon 45 hit all those points, and was on sale. I also looked at the Cragsmith, but that one was $60 more. 

Couple of things I noticed about the bag though. The new model's material is not as thick or durable-feeling as the previous one. Not sure if it's just cosmetic or actually will wear out quicker. Has been holding up for a couple of months of trad use.

It also doesn't have a hole for a hydration pack, so I have to bring a bottle with me now. Ok for cragging. 

Rope tarp that came with it is great, and getting the rope sinched up top is super easy. I use a couple of slings to keep the sides in place. My partner set up a criss crossing strap instead. 

Tl;dr: Crag Wagon 45 good for trad

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

MH Scrambler has served me well. Osprey mutant is a classic. Osprey kestrel seems just as good if you're not lugging it up the wall.

The Blue Ice Moonlight 55 or 35 (aka the Creek killer) is best I have used, and they come in two sizes S/M and M/L.

It has an easy access pouch, which makes it much more user friendly than the Creek, which I agree with the poster above who found that aspect of the creek really annoying.

Kevin DeWeese wrote:

Well it would have been this one if it'd been funded

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oaksoutdoors/oaks-outdoors-yosemite-pack

For the amount they were trying to raise it should also belay a climber. 

Another vote for MH Crag wagon. Can access stuff through top or front flap, and it's very comfortable.

I have a 60L MH crag wagon that I'm trying to sell. Only about a year or so old. Will post it here shortly. If anyone in this thread is interested. 

drew A wrote:

I have a 60L MH crag wagon that I'm trying to sell. Only about a year or so old. Will post it here shortly. If anyone in this thread is interested. 

Yeah, get after it. I think a 60 is just far too large for me, but I'm sure someone will want it.

I'm 4'11", and really like my Patagonia Cragsmith 30 (32?). It's simple clamshell opening is easy to cram a metric shit ton into. Fully unzip it, cram stuff in, zip one side, roll it on that side, squash like mad while pulling other zip.

Get someone who knows what they're doing to adjust ALL the carrying straps for you. Mine carries very nicely. It might not fit everything in, but it should do fine with a rope on the outside, or helmet outside. A coiled rope will drape nicely on top, either strapped that way, or even just draped on your shoulders and the pack. We aren't supposed to hafta do rope AND rack, after all.

Mine has been dragged, dropped, and tossed pretty regularly. The only wear is the stretch mesh pockets. Finally getting holes in those, but still work for water bottles. The rest isn't pretty, but not worn out anywhere at all.

Somewhere on MP I posted pics of what this pack managed to do, for a carryon piece traveling, with both climbing and camping gear loaded.

Watch at crags you frequent. If you see something that looks promising, just ask if you can sling it on. That's how I ran across the Cragsmith, seeing that clamshell design out in the wild!

I am just cragging though. Sometimes longish hikes in, sometimes scrambly approaches, but still far from what one would require farther afield.

City of Rocks is my go to rock, just for reference.

Best, Helen

Patagonia crag bag. Carries a double rack and rope and extra kit easily. Opens on the top and also with a clamshell, back-pad upwards to keep your shirt clean on the exit. Nice interior pockets. Tough exterior.