Patagonia’s Latest Rugged Backcountry Pack Is Accidentally Perfect for Travel and EDC Commuting

With sizing that meets TSA carry-on guidelines, a clever storage scheme and unique clamshell access, this bag is way better for travel than intended.

Black backpack with red and silver avalanche safety tools partially visible in the front zippered pocket.

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By Sean Tirman

Published November 4, 2025

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Updated December 2, 2025

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Patagonia is no stranger to making quality outdoor gear. The issue is that the brand sometimes fails to recognize the potential of its offerings beyond their intended purpose.

For instance, the brand dropped a fishing accessory bag earlier this year that turned out to be a stellar, versatile EDC travel bag.

While a travel-specific version of the iconic Black Hole was also recently launched, the brand has just dropped another surprisingly trip-friendly pack … one that wasn’t designed with jet setting in mind.

It’s called the Patagonia PowSlayer Backpack, and it might just be a dark horse pick for the best travel bag of the year.

Two views of a black Patagonia backpack with red zipper pulls, one holding an orange Black Diamond ice axe and the other holding a white helmet. — The bag’s external mounts are meant for snow gear, but they can store other things, too.

From snow to shore

It needs to be said that, as its name suggests, the PowSlayer was designed with snowsports in mind. As such, it has a bunch of exterior mounts, like axe loops and a helmet hauler, and internal pockets for snow gear.

The thing is, those features can be used for a bunch of other stuff. For instance, the helmet system can be repurposed for stashing your travel jacket, and the axe loops can hold over-ear headphones or other gear you need easy access to during travel.

Black technical backpack with padded back panel, adjustable shoulder straps, and hip belt on a red background. — The padded straps help ease the bag’s load, while the hip belt offers some handy, easy-access storage.

The bag also has padded shoulder straps with a sternum strap and hip belt. Not only is the padding good for lightening the load on the user’s shoulders, but the straps add some security when you’re wandering airports or city streets and the hip belt has some extra zippered quick-access pockets ideal for EDC gear.

Plus, the sizing of the bag fits most airlines’ carry-on sizing restrictions. Technically, the Large size (which doesn’t change the capacity) is slightly bigger than most carry-on restrictions, but I’d bet you could squeeze it aboard anyhow.

Black Patagonia backpack with padded straps and hip belt, open to show packed clothes and ski goggles on top. — The clamshell back panel is highly unique and could be a game-changer for bags of the future.

Sicky gnar-gnar

The bag has another feature that makes it exceptionally travel-friendly — one you might not expect from an EDC commuting or travel backpack, albeit something hugely valuable in both those contexts. That is, it features a surprising clamshell opening.

Instead of opening from the front side of the pack, the back panel features a wraparound zipper that allows users to access the main compartment. This is beneficial for several reasons.

[The clamshell back panel is] a game-changing feature that offers both convenience and security in spades.

First, it makes internal access much more secure when you’re in transit. Nobody can simply unzip the back while you’re wearing it. Second, it maintains the bag’s overall shape whether opened or closed. Instead of causing the bag to fall open, as is common with traditional backpack zippers, the back access keeps the bag’s overall structure intact.

This means you can lay it on its back and open it fully without disturbing the contents. It also means you could feasibly set the bag up on its bottom and access the inside that way. In either case, it’s a game-changing feature that offers both convenience and security in spades.

Person wearing a dark gray backpack with red zipper pulls and black straps over a green hooded jacket. — The Small and Medium sizes of this backpack meet most airlines’ carry-on standards (and you could probably squeeze the Large aboard, too).

Pricing and availability

The Patagonia PowSlayer Backpack is now available in three sizes (all with the same capacity) and two colors (Black and Barnacle Blue) on the brand’s site for $249.

Black Patagonia backpack with red zipper pulls and padded shoulder straps.

Patagonia PowSlayer Backpack

What was designed as a backcountry pack has quickly established itself as a capable travel bag, thanks to a few features that work as well off the slopes as they do on the mountain. The PowSlayer’s dimensions meet TSA-guidelines, which is a great start for seamless travel days. Exterior mounts and internal storage originally designed for snow gear make great on-the-go organization no matter where the road takes you. Padded straps and a clamshell back panel round out the bag’s wanderlust-friendly features.

$249 at Patagonia

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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