Customer Reviews Patagonia Refugio Pack 28L

After reading all the reviews for this backpack both on Zappos and on the Patagonia website I was a little nervous to purchase it. Most reviewers commented on the decline in quality from the last model, while others posed the worry that it was uncomfortable in the strap area and also awkwardly narrow and deep. Let me say that I am a huge fan of the Refugio 28L. I purchased it in Fatigue Green and I am currently in love with the shade of green and how well the color of the detailing goes with it. The material does not feel flimsy or thin at all...on the contrary it feels like I could stuff it with all my college books and hiking gear. The material feels firm and sturdy without it feeling overly tough, and the space inside is perfect for any college student looking for a spacious backpack with a lot of pockets. The laptop pocket is big enough to carry a large laptop, and the extra pockets all around fit my iPhone 6 and other things comfortably. Overall, if you are looking for a comfortable backpack with great padding and extra room for books, notebooks, and other school supplies, then this is definitely a good fit. Will definitely be using this for traveling and other adventures!

Very versatile back pack. Will be using it for hiking with the family as well as anytime I am traveling. Definitely enough space to fit a reasonably sized laptop and the various compartments help keep me organized!

This is a fantastic day pack. Super light weight, great pockets and storage. Holds my macbook pro, notebooks, a down vest, all the essentials. Great colors and love that the chest straps adjust both ways (in other words, you can make them loose or tight, and also adjust them vertically to go higher or lower, depending on how you're carrying your pack). The zipper pulls are a bit lightweight and the exterior pocket and laptop pocket have uni-directional zippers. Usually backpacks have dual zippers, but I'm finding this actually works for me, as I've yet to leave my backpack half open, which I've often done with previous packs that zip both directions. One thing to note, the small sunglasses pocket up top is no longer lined, it's just nylon. Not a huge deal, because there is a key fob in the front pocket - but need not throw keys and phone and sunglasses all into the little pocket, as they will move around on the nylon and scratch each other. I've looked at other backpacks of a similar size, like the Tumi Knox backpack for 3 times the price (which by the way, does not cover the zippers and leaks water) and for the money this is a winner. I'm ordering a second one in another color.

Perfect! Lots of zippered pockets. A bit smaller than I expected but good for a medium-sized woman.

Great backpack but it could be a little bigger. The zippers are the best part; some of the best on any product I've ever used. The material is lightweight and the straps are very breathable. The fit is good and I'm a big person - 6'4, 200lbs.

It's a 28L backpack by Patagonia. I owed Patagonia one because the Critical Mass bag I bought 10 years ago has hauled some impressive heavy loads and is worn, but still rock solid. I owed Zappos the buy because I bought the first one here. So far, the thing is nice, very comfortable, can carry without hurting the shoulders. One thing though..That 'on the person' mock up must be a guy that's around 5 foot even because on me it sits about 2/3rd's of the way down my back and nowhere near my rear end. All in all, I love it so far. It's got the Patagonia fit and finish that my CM bag does, so, once again, I scored with Patagonia and Zappos.

I'm not sure how, but this pack seems to hold everything I can think of. There are many pockets to keep things organized. I was initially worried about feeling like the pockets would make it less functional than a bag with one huge opening, but keeping things sorted helps me store tons of stuff while still being able to access all of it.

Very functional, stealth day pack. Also great for small laptop, portfolio binder, etc. My only wish for an upgrade would be that Patagonia use a higher quality zipper system. Zippers working okay now, but will they stand the test of time. We'll see...otherwise, great day pack.

This backpack has now gone to Europe, Patagonia Chile, many times to Mexico, and various places across the U.S. It's time to write a review now that I've given it the true test of travel. I can jam so much stuff into this pack and the construction continues to stand up to whatever I do to it. It has just the right compartments so I can categorize what goes where, and find things easily. It takes my laptop and iPad, camera, jacket, passport, cosmetics, and often some shoes or boots, a book or two, plus all the things I want to keep close to me when I'm traveling my air. It's comfortable to wear when full to the brim, the zippers have held up beautifully, and I couldn't recommend it more highly if you're looking for something a step up from a day pack.

I really enjoy this backpack. I mostly use it to carry a 13 inch MacBook Pro, a book, and a water bottle on my commute. The most I've ever fit into it was my laptop, work clothes (collared shirt, tie, slacks), and a pair of shoes (size 12). With all that stuff, it was pretty full with all that stuff, but manageable.

This is the best backpack I have ever owned, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I use it daily for commuting to work; I have traveled with it on long class trips through DC as a chaperone; and I've used it as a day pack on trips to several Central American countries. Through all of these uses, it has served me exceptionally well. It's laptop sleeve has held my 12" Lenovo and now holds a 15.4" MacBook Pro. In both cases,they remain safe, secure and easily accessible. It holds both of my pint sized Nalgene bottles without dumping them out, and the design of the straps keeps everything in place and comfortable. I did notice the pinching from the shoulder straps when it was brand new, but once the straps were a little broken in, it became very comfortable. Overall, I would buy this pack again in a heartbeat.

This backpack is durable and fashionable, I love it! Also I have not had a bad experience ordering from Zappos, I usually get my stuff really quick so that is pretty cool!

I received a Zappos.com credit to purchase back to school items in order to facilitate this review and all opinions are my own. This backpack is amazing. Seriously. It fits TONS of school supplies. However, it also fits lots of office gear. It has a laptop slot in it. It's padded so your tech gear is protected. There are two other pockets … one is big enough for textbooks and binders … and the other one can hold books, chargers, and a wallet. I love the exterior pockets for water bottles (avoid interior leaks!). It's also great that the bag has pockets for pens and other small accessories. It's padded on the back, so even weighed down it's comfortable. There is also a small zippered pocket the top of the bag … with a soft interior … perfect for your phone! The bag comes in fun colors. I chose a whitish/tan and it has purple accents. Awesome for school, but also sophisticated enough for working or attending meetings. Patagonia bags are the best … you can really beat on them and not worry about them breaking or giving out. They are durable and really stand up to wear and tear of hiking, kids, and everyday wear and tear. Well worth the money. You’ll have it for years to come.

This backpack is amazing. Seriously. It fits TONS of school supplies. However, it also fits lots of office gear. It has a lap top slot in it. It's padded so your tech gear is protected. There are two other pockets...one is big enough for textbooks and binders....and the other one can hold books, chargers and a wallet. I love the exterior pockets for water bottles (avoid interior leaks!). It's also great that the bag has pockets for pens, and other small accessories. It's padded on the back so even weighed down it's comfortable. There is also a small zippered pocket the top of the bag.....with a soft interior...perfect for your phone! The bag comes in fun colors, I chose a whitish/tan and it has purple accents. Awesome for school, but also sophisticated enough for working or attending meetings. Patagonia bags are the best .you can really beat on them and not worry about them breaking or giving out. They are durable and really stand up to wear and tear of hiking, kids and every day wear and tear. Well worth the money. You ll have it for years to come.

I bought this backpack at the beginning of my freshman year of college. It's lasted all 4 years and it still looks brand new. It's comfortable and cute with plenty of practical pockets. Great purchase.

Great quality and look! Perfect for traveling with a laptop or hiking. Two side pockets fit large water bottles as well.

This bag is great for everyday use or travel. I've used it for carrying books, used for traveling internatinoally, and for hiking. I was able to fit a Jambox speaker, laptop, a few books, clothing, and a number of other items in this bag for my last trip abroad. It's comfortable, has a lot of room and pockets, and looks great. I've only had it for a month so not sure about durability but it feels strong and looks like its built to last. Definitely a buy!

I really like this bag. The main zipper is a little hard to work, like the fabric covering it sort of gets in the way or something, and the straps are a little stiff, but it's new, so hopefully that'll go away. Otherwise it's great. It fits my 15.4" laptop, all my notebooks, water bottle, pens and snacks, and I can keep an umbrella in the odd vertical zip compartment on the front.

I bike to work every day, so I need a versatile bag that's comfortable to wear, and can resist the elements. This pack does not disappoint. It's not too big, nor too small, and it's comfortable to wear no matter how much or little you pack into it. On a regular day, I carry my laptop and miscellaneous accessories in it, but I can also fit a spare pair of shoes/boots, packages, or whatever else I need to carry back and forth. Contains plenty of pockets for organization. Highly recommended.

Love this backpack. Straps are very supportive and plenty of compartments. The laptop sleeve fits my 17" macbook.

Best backpack ever! Bought it for college -- keeps my 15" laptop safe and dry in rainy Mississippi downpours. In fact, it keeps everything safe and dry, and I'm definitely impressed by its waterproofing -- just make sure you zip up properly. I've often spent a day soaked through with everything in my pack desert-dry. I've even spilled coffee on half of the bag and inside the side pocket and it just rinsed off, like new. I like to bike around campus, and the chest strap is perfect for keeping everything together when I'm late to class...I've used the back daily for the past 4 months, and everything's held together fine. Each part of the product still functions perfectly and looks almost like new, besides a bit of wear on the lower seams, to be expected. It holds everything I need for a schoolday -- my laptop, a few books/notebooks, and all the essentials -- and if I'm leaving for a weekend, I just unbuckle the side straps and expand it to hold enough clothes for a few days. Since it's 28L, it might not be suited for the college student that likes to carry around his or her entire bookshelf, but why would you want to subject yourself to that torture anyway? Go digital, it saves paper and your back! When I was looking for a college backpack, the Refugio stood above the rest. It's more sleek (and comes in more colors) than most generic-brand backpacks, is definitely waterproof and reliable, and more affordable than North Face backpacks. Patagonia's waterproofed textile is more flexible and less "plastic-looking" than most other waterproofed backpacks. If you're looking for a backpack for school, travel, pretty much anything -- stop looking and get this one.

This bag exceeds expectations in every way. The bag is for my son (high school). The quality of the stitching and the capacity of the bag is outstanding. My son loves the design and comfort.

Awesome backpack! I'm a college student and this backpack holds all of my stuff. Really comfortable!

Small and delightful. One of the only cool purple ones I could find. I am a professional student, and I do not carry a lot of books with me but have my laptop with me at all times. This backpack is on the small side but is perfect for everyday stuff. If I had a ton of books or folders, it wouldn't be ideal. Lots of pockets for organization and places to hook carabiners on for keys etc. I have a MacBook Pro 15" and it's perfect size, keeps the computer off the ground in the pouch! No wraparound waist buckle but I never used those so they're not just hanging all over. I do use the front clip and it's adjustable which is nice. I do wish the straps were squishier, kind of stuff, but I would buy this backpack again!

A great backpack. We use it as a diaper bag so it gets a lot of daily use. It seems to be holding really well so far but only had it for a couple months. Love the color, style, and all deep pockets.