REI Co-op Traverse 35 vs Patagonia Terravia 28
Quick take: The REI Co-op Traverse 35 carries more (35 vs 28 liters); the Patagonia Terravia 28 is lighter (1.6 vs 3.25 lbs).
Which one to buy
Half the weight is the headline. The Patagonia Terravia 28 weighs 1.6 lbs and the REI Co-op Traverse 35 weighs 3.25 lbs, a 1.65 lb gap for 7 L less volume. Both are frameless, one-size daypacks, so neither moves weight onto your hips, and for most day hikers the lighter, cooler-running Terravia is the better pack.
The Terravia's advantages show up on the trail. Its back panel and shoulder straps are ventilated, while the Traverse's contoured foam sits flat against your back and carries warm on humid climbs. Its PU-coated recycled ripstop shrugs off showers on its own, and the hydration setup is good: a center pass-through that routes the tube over either shoulder, plus stretch side pockets you can reach with the pack on. It also slips under carry-on sizers easily for travel, and Patagonia's Ironclad Guarantee and repair program stretch its useful life. Its sweet spot is around 15-16 lb, with one reviewer carrying about 16 lb up a 5,300-foot climb without complaint.
The Traverse is for when 28 L isn't enough. Its 35 L covers a compact summer overnight and suits cold-season days when layers bulk up. Its 400D recycled shell over 210D ripstop is the tougher fabric for scrapes. Hold it around 20 lb, since with no frame anything heavier hangs off your shoulders. That's a few pounds more than the Terravia's comfortable range, bought with nearly double the pack weight.
Only the Terravia includes a rain cover, stowed in a pocket at the base. It isn't seam-sealed, so a liner is still sensible in sustained rain with either pack. If you want more room without giving up the Terravia's design, Patagonia sells a 36 L version that adds an internal frame, which closes most of the Traverse's case.
REI Co-op Traverse 35
Worth it if you regularly need 35 L for winter layers or a rare summer overnight, and pack weight matters less than volume and tough fabric.
Patagonia Terravia 28
For most day hikers: lighter by 1.65 lbs, cooler against your back, water-resistant fabric, an included rain cover and one of the strongest warranties in outdoor gear.
| Spec | REI Co-op Traverse 35 | Patagonia Terravia 28 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179 | $179 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (21) | 4★ (16) |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 35 L | 28 L |
| Weight | 3.25 lbs | 1.6 lbs |
| Max Load | Not specified by the manufacturer | Not specified by Patagonia |
| Torso Fit | One size | One size |
| Material | 210-denier ripstop nylon with 400-denier recycled nylon shell | 100% recycled nylon ripstop with PU coating |
| Back Panel | Contoured foam pad | Breathable panel with ventilated shoulder straps |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | REI satisfaction guarantee: returns within 1 year for members (90 days for non-members); defects in materials or workmanship returnable at any time | Patagonia Ironclad Guarantee |
Pros & cons
REI Co-op Traverse 35
- ✓35 L is the largest capacity in this daypack group and genuinely covers a light overnight.
- ✓A 400D recycled shell over 210D ripstop is a durable combination for the price.
- ✓$179 undercuts the Osprey Stratos 34 by $36 for 1 L more.
- ✓REI's return policy and in-store fitting.
- ✓Recycled content in the main shell fabric.
- ✓The extra volume suits shoulder-season days when layers bulk up.
- ✓Contoured foam pad rather than a flat panel.
- ✓Widely stocked and easy to service or return.
- ✗52 oz is near the top of the daypack group, heavier than several 55 L backpacking packs.
- ✗No frame at 35 L, which is a lot of volume to carry on foam alone.
- ✗REI publishes no maximum load figure.
- ✗Foam pad construction ventilates poorly on a pack this size.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets.
- ✗No rain cover included.
- ✗At 35 L and this weight, a light backpacking pack may serve better.
- ✗One size only.
Patagonia Terravia 28
- ✓1 lb 9.6 oz for 28 L is light for a pack using a durable recycled ripstop rather than ultralight nylon.
- ✓100% recycled nylon ripstop made in a Fair Trade Certified factory, which is verifiable rather than a claim.
- ✓Patagonia's Ironclad Guarantee is among the strongest warranties in the outdoor industry.
- ✓The breathable back panel and shoulder straps address the usual frameless-pack sweat problem.
- ✓Three volumes from 22 to 36 L on the same design.
- ✓The 36 L roll-top version adds an internal frame for heavier loads.
- ✓PU-coated ripstop plus an included rain cover that stows in a pocket at the base of the pack.
- ✓Patagonia's repair programme extends the pack's usable life well beyond most competitors'.
- ✗Frameless at 28 L, so the load sits against the back with no transfer to the hips.
- ✗Patagonia publishes no maximum load figure.
- ✗The hipbelt has only small side pockets, sized for small items.
- ✗$179 is expensive next to the REI Trail 25 at $100.
- ✗One size only, with no torso adjustment.
- ✗The 36 L size has no published US price.
- ✗Patagonia's pack range gets less design iteration than its apparel.
REI Co-op Traverse 35 vs Patagonia Terravia 28: common questions
Is the Traverse 35's extra 7 L worth carrying almost double the weight?▾
Only if you use the volume. The Traverse handles a compact summer overnight and keeps going to around 20 lb, while the Terravia's sweet spot is 15-16 lb. For ordinary day hikes, the 1.65 lb saving is the better deal.
Which of these daypacks runs cooler in summer?▾
The Terravia 28. It has a ventilated back panel and shoulder straps, while Traverse owners say its contoured foam sits flat against your back and carries warm on humid climbs.
Does the 36 L Terravia make more sense than the Traverse 35?▾
It can. The 36 L roll-top Terravia adds an internal frame for heavier loads at 2.19 lbs, still lighter than the Traverse's 3.25 lbs. Patagonia hasn't put a current US price on it, so check before deciding.