Outdoor Products Skyline Pack Review
I had a chance to review the Outdoor Products Skyline 8.0 pack recently and I wanted to share a few quick thoughts.
Dimensions: 21x12x9 in 1,849 cu in (30 L)
Measured Weight: 37 oz (1,053 g)
MSRP: $60
Listed Features
- Internal frame pack with removable aluminum stay
- 2L Hydration Reservoir compatible (sold separately)
- Vertical entry front pocket
- Large main compartment with top & vertical entry
- Zippered waist pockets
- Four side compression straps to balance load
- Deluxe padded shoulder straps, adjustable padded waist belt, & sternum strap
- Two oversized side pockets hold water bottles, maps, etc.
- Dual daisy chains to attach extra gear
Initial Impressions
The Outdoor Products Skyline pack feels like a crossover pack: part school pack and part full-featured backpacking pack. There are ample adjustment and compression straps and an internal frame that you would expect to see on a backpacking bag, but it carries more like a school day pack with a fixed torso length and a yoke that puts the pack lower down to the waist.
When I first wore the pack, I first adjusted the shoulder straps to fit the pack comfortably, but then I noticed the hip belt was very high, snugging right up to my lower rib cage. I had to then re-adjust the shoulder straps and lower the pack so I could use the hip belt correctly. Wearing it this way (so low on my torso) makes it less comfortable for carrying heavy loads, but was fine for day trips.
A dual line of daisy-chain webbing along the back of the pack and the shock cord “net” on the top of the pack provide some areas to lash or clip some extra gear.
The construction and materials are robust and very durable (aka “bombproof”) with thick, strong webbing used for the straps and quality plastic hardware throughout. The back is padded and there is a single removable aluminum stay on the inside.
There is a cool “hidden” zipper on the left side of the pack that runs by the outer pocket that provides access to the inner part of the pack. It’s easy to miss and somewhat curious to use — I’m not sure how useful this is on such a small pack since the contents are easily accessible from the top lid. I never really used it.
There are two large side pockets that have ample room to hold 1L water bottles and other containers. The elastic gusseting helps hold the pockets closed somewhat. The zippered hip belt pockets are very roomy and are perfect for holding a Ziplock® bag full of trail mix, a flashlight, compass, or other mid-sized items.
The pack lacks a floating lid, common on many internal frame backpacks, but does have a zippered compartment on the back. Inside the pack is a very roomy hydration sleeve and a latch. Ostensibly missing is a whistle lock on the sternum strap that I’ve come to expect on all modern packs. While not a huge loss, it is one more item that makes this pack more suitable for short day trips than backcountry jaunts.
The compression straps make it nice to reduce the volume of the pack when I don’t have to carry as many items.
Recommendations
I’ve used this pack around town to carry various items for kids’ soccer games and family trips. I also wore it nearly all day during a Cub Scout Day Camp last week where I really got a feel for the load of the pack. Because of how the yoke is designed and how low I have to carry the pack on my torso (so the hip belt can be used), I found the comfortable weight load fairly low.
I’ve taken low-volume packs like this out backpacking before, primarily in the summer when my weekend pack load is low and very light. This pack, however, doesn’t have quite the volume in the main pack body for all my gear, since some of the volume is taken up by the roomy side pockets and hip pockets. In addition, the pack is fairly heavy in relation to how much volume it offers, due to the rugged materials and extra webbing.
It’s a great pack for throwing around on a day trip and I have no worries about tossing it in the trunk or on the field—something I don’t do with my lighter packs.
Disclosure of material connection: The author (Derek Hansen) was provided with a free sample from the manufacturer for testing and evaluation purposes. The comments in this post (written & spoken) are of my own opinion, which I formed after personally handling the gear. I was under no obligation to publish a review of this item.
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