Backpacks

Rab Protium 35 Pack | Review

The largest pack in Rab’s new Protium family of packs for fast and light mountain missions. Expect versatility, durability, and lots of nifty details.

The Rab Protium family includes packs for all kinds of situations and load requirements, from small 18-litre options for fast and light forays, all the way up to the Protium 35-litre, a pack that’s designed for those big days out that require lots of kit. I’ve been testing it out through spring, most recently on some days out in the mountains of Eryri, loading it up with everything I’d need to keep me warm, dry and well fed and watered.

The Top Line

It’s acutely designed, very comfortable and great with heavy loads, and the sliding back system and multiple adjustment points let you get a totally refined fit. I’ve been impressed with the quality overall and I can see it lasting a long time. All in all, it’s a great pack if you want a daypack that can carry a lot of stuff.

Buy The Rab Protium 35: £112 at Absolute-snow.co.uk

Jazz, on the left, with the Rab Protium ND 25 and Will, on the right, with the Protium 35. Photos: Dave Macfarlane.

Context of Testing

I assessed this as a pack for day hiking but I can actually see it as being useful for bigger trips. I could see myself using this on something like the Camino de Santiago, where you’re only carrying your clothes and daily supplies but not any bulky sleeping equipment. Similarly, I can also see it being very handy for hut-to-hut trekking. I dabble in a bit of ultralight hiking and I’ve been able to get my whole minimalist camping set-up packed into this, though it only leaves me with space for a couple of day’s worth of freeze-dried meals.

Key Features

Back system: This has a well-designed, breathable back system with an ergonomic fit and easy adjustment, so all back lengths are catered for.

Waterproof cover: The main fabric is water resistant but it has a rain cover in the base for protection from heavy downpours.

Stretch mesh: This creates bucket loads of extra storage space – and keeps gear within quick and easy reach.

Options galore: This comes in an ND (Narrow Dimensions) fit that caters well for women. There are also multiple variations in capacity.

Comfort

Rab and their sister brand Lowe Alpine are pack experts. I’ve used almost countless products from them over the years as part of my job as a gear tester, and the back systems always tick the right boxes. There’s simple length adjustment that you can easily slide into place, and the back panel is nicely pre-curved for an ergonomic and stable fit that stays close to your body. I personally prefer these types of back systems over the suspended ones as I find they tend to be more balanced and stable. They also take up less space when stowed in a cupboard or in a duffel bag when you’re travelling. I wouldn’t say there’s much tradeoff in terms of ventilation either as the back panel has thousands of tiny perforations that, from my experience, bring plenty of breathability to the table.

On the front of the harness, you’ve got fairly wide and gently padded straps that I’ve found can distribute heavy loads well. Again, there are those perforated holes to allow airflow. A sliding sternum strap, which has an integrated whistle, then lets you refine the fit quickly and easily.

I think what stood out about the back system and harness overall for me is that it manages heavy loads well, but also moves comfortably with every twist, turn and flex of your body. During a scramble up Snowdonia rhyolite with this on my back – heavily loaded – it felt well balanced, comfortable and unrestrictive.

Material

Rab are totally transparent on the materials that go into their products. Each product comes with a Material Facts section that breaks everything down for you. For the Protium, 49 percent of the fabrics are derived from recycled materials. The main material is a hard wearing ripstop, which I’ve found to be tough enough to withstand pretty heavy abrasion while scrambling.

Buy The Rab Protium 35: £112 at Absolute-snow.co.uk

I’ve found it has good water resistance too – enough to see off light rain easily – but you’ve also got a waterproof cover that’s stowed in the base. Every time I’ve used this pack, I’ve always kept my important gear (electronics, down jacket etc) in dry bags. From my experience, rain covers are good for most weather – but on the worst of days, moisture will find a way in!

Keeping Kit Organised

The main compartment on the Protium 35 is accessed underneath the top lid, which is fixed and not floating (so you can’t really cram in loads of extra gear underneath it. There are no other access points into the main compartment. The pocket on top of the lid is quite large and easily big enough for stashing a map or a guidebook. There’s also a pocket under the lid, this is a little smaller, but I’ve found there’s still room in it for all my small essentials, including a pair of gloves, a head torch, battery pack and compass. This underlid pocket also has a key clip inside it.

The stretchy pockets on the front and sides can swallow a heck of a lot and they’re great for keeping things within easy reach too. I’ve found myself stashing my down jacket in the front one, or sometimes my waterproof jacket and trousers. The side pockets aren’t quite big enough for an open cell foam mat, but they’re the perfect size for a large pair of gloves or for a Nalgene bottle. You could also store a down jacket or waterproof in these.

There’s stretch mesh on the hipbelt pockets as well. This not only makes it easier to cram in things like a big pack of jelly babies, but it also means you can store slightly damp gloves or a buff inside them and they’re still going to have airflow.

Hydration

The Protium 35 has a bladder sleeve that’s located on the outside of the pack. I personally prefer packs with exterior sleeves as they make refilling much easier and therefore less of a chore! That’s the case here.

Carrying a Pole or Ice Axe

There are nifty attachment points either side of the pack where you can attach a helmet, ice axe or a pair of trekking poles. These feel secure and reliable. I haven’t had any issues with items becoming loose.

Other details on both packs – you’ve got an external bladder sleeve, making refilling super quick and easy, and secure attachment points either side of each pack for a helmet, ice axe or trekking poles.

Verdict

All in all, the Protium 35 comes across as a thoughtfully designed, hard-wearing pack that’s well suited to a range of hiking styles and objectives. It’s comfortable, practical, and adaptable – and I can see it staying in my rotation for a long time to come.