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Yeti’s First-Ever Hiking Pack Is a Technical Tour de Force (and Long Time Coming)

The company’s first foray into hiking packs completes a multi-year ascension into a bona fide bag brand.

Person placing a folded item into a black backpack outdoors on a grassy hillside.Yeti
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By Jack Seemer

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No doubt about it. Yeti is a bag brand now.

Two decades in, the Austin company now offers a robust lineup of everyday backpacks; the internet’s favorite tote; and, most ambitious of all, a new heavy-duty hiking pack called the Skala.

For fans following Yeti’s trajectory beyond ultrarugged hard coolers, the latter is the inevitable outcome of several big moves behind the scenes. These include the acquisition of Mystery Ranch in 2024 and subsequent appointment of Osprey CEO Layne Rigney to oversee its carry division.

The result is nothing short of a technical tour de force, adopting several Mystery Ranch innovations that made it one of the most respected names in the outdoors.

Rip it open

Available in four sizes, the Skala showcases a familiar “RipZip” opening for swift access to the central compartment.

Light gray and navy hiking backpack with multiple compartments open, containing camping gear and an orange container.
The three-way zipper is a Mystery Ranch innovation born from founder Dana Gleason’s desire to make a better ski pack.
Yeti

It’s an idea born out of backcountry skiing, where gloves can complicate someone’s ability to open their pack.

However, its appearance in some of Mystery Ranch’s most beloved military and EDC packs, such as those in the Assault series (not to mention its jump into the Yeti catalog), prove just how broad the appeal is.

yeti ranchero backpack
The zipper was a longtime Mystery Ranch signature, showing up in some of its most iconic designs, such as the Three-Day Assault (pictured).
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

“I think it’s one of those things that it is just a weird zipper until you use it,” Rigney said upon the release of last year’s Yeti Ranchero, which shared the feature.

“We are calling it ‘RipZip’ because, literally, when you get at it and you learn how to do it, it’s a really quick singular motion.”

Blue YETI backpack with multiple compartments being opened by a person sitting on rocky terrain.
The Skala is the second Yeti bag to feature the RipZip. Last year’s Ranchero bag also showcased the feature.
Yeti
Navy blue backpack with a partially unzipped front compartment revealing a blue and yellow item inside.
The larger sizes of the Skala also come with separate compartments for sleeping bags or other gear.
Yeti

Lighten the load

The Skala incorporates Mystery Ranch’s decades of know-how when it comes to effective load carriage and weight distribution.

Two hikers with large YETI backpacks and trekking poles walking on a rocky, snowy mountain trail.
The Skala features a aluminum frame for structural support without added weight.
Yeti

All four sizes feature an aluminum frame, supported by a microadjustable harness to dial in the fit.

Close-up of a person adjusting the strap of a dark blue backpack worn over a quilted jacket and a blue cap.
The harness is adjustable at various points, including straps near the top of the pack.
Yeti

Meanwhile, the vented mesh back panel, contoured shoulder straps and featherweight nylon face fabric all contribute to a comfort-first design that prioritizes the wearer.

Close-up of dark blue fabric with honeycomb textured knit panels on either side of a smooth central strip.
A vented mesh back panel prioritizes comfort for the long haul.
Yeti
Hiker wearing a yellow jacket and large black backpack walking through a sunlit red rock canyon.
The Skala’s nylon face fabric strikes a balance between durability and weightlessness.
Yeti

Availability and pricing

The Skala comes in four sizes, catering to day-hikers and multiday backpackers, alike.

According to the product page, the pack will be available soon in two core colorways, “Ridgeline” and “Classic Navy,” and a pair of seasonal one-offs, “Venom” and “Desert Bloom.”

Prices range from $300 for the 32-liter capacity and cap off at $400 for 60 liters.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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