Customer Reviews Patagonia Refugio Pack 28L

I purchased this bookbag for school. The colors are a touch darker in person than what they appear on the website -- I thought the straps and such were a dark brown, but they're actually olive colored. The bag is great though, I think the straps are comfortable, there are plenty of pockets, including a laptop sleeve and an iPad/tablet sleeve (these are separate) as well as 2 side pockets and a top pocket for like sunglasses or something. I am able to carry my laptop, 2 casebooks, 2 notebooks, and some misc. stuff in the front pocket (wallet, laptop charger, etc) with ease.

My car got broken into one night and the only thing they took was my backpack with all my work utensils in it. I was devastated, been using the same backpack for approximately six years. After searching for a long time (two weeks) I came across the Refugio by Patagonia and it looked nice. I was a little hesitant for the simple fact you only get a couple pictures and do not really know how it truly is. I received it today and it is sick! This bag holds all my crap and it holds it snug. The pack is a perfect size and feels comfortable while being worn. Patagonia has done a great job as well with the smaller front compartment and the access for pens, cards (IDs), keys, etc. I love this bag and it feels as though it is rugged and will last for a long time. I also respect the company Patagonia for the simple fact of the way they conduct business and all the environmental contributions they have donated over the years. Read up on them sometime and discover what certain businesses do to help our Earth.

Love my new backpack! I use it mainly for school (laptop, spirals, books, etc.) and have found that it fits a surprising amount of stuff. I would recommend this to those searching for something new.

I bought this backpack mostly for the space to fit my 17.3 inch laptop, and I am not disappointed. The laptop pocket fit my laptop without the sleeve with room to spare, but when I but the sleeve in as well, it reached capacity. This bag has enough room to fit my laptop and the entire contents of my purse with plenty of room to spare! I would highly recommend this bag to anyone who is looking for a backpack that has lots and lots of carrying capacity.

I just got back from a three-week trip through India and this backpack was perfect. It has a good amount of space without being bulky; it has useful pockets inside and out; a laptop sleeve. It is very sturdy. The colors are decent, but not my favorites. I highly recommend this bag!

Great everyday backpack. I bought mine to carry books/computer back and forth from school. Nice durable construction. Plenty of pockets to hold all your stuff.

Great pack, great price, great manufacturer and great store (Zappos). Hardest part of buying online is "seeing" the product before you buy it. I have many things that I did not envision accurately prior to buying. Zappos includes a return label with purchase, in a box sealed in a way that you don't ruin it when you open so return, if you have any reason to, is simple, unquestioned and friendly. Love Zappos!

Serious versatility. Just arrived and I'm already in love with this backpack! Biology major materials fit with laptop. Storage for water, camera, and phone. Do not pass up!

Killer backpack. More pockets than a kangaroo and wicked neat colors. Stash and go; a tablet, phone, jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, running shoes and a small dog.

This backpack is perfect. Patagonia is a great company and Zappos has the best service hands down. I ordered on a Thursday night and received it the next day! The color is mostly grey like the picture but there is a hint of green in some light though which I think is a plus but you can't tell from the picture provided. A good deal and it fits everything I use it for (15-inch MacBook Pro, iPad, textbooks, etc.) and I look forward to taking it with me camping this summer. It is very durable.

I love this backpack! The color is so vibrant and its spacious. I put my 15 inch laptop, 2 1 inch binders and my college books in it. It was comfortable to wear also. Great buy, worth the money!

I purchased the backpack for both work and personal travel. It has great storage for all your odds and ends. It also fits my MacBookPro, notebooks, files & my iPad no problem. Overall, this is a great backpack.

I purchased this backpack to replace a North Face backpack of similar size. The Patagonia one is excellent quality, but I feel like it is not designed as well. The zipper pulls are smaller. The side straps get in the way of the main opening zipper. Overall, it is OK, but if I were starting over I would have stayed with North Face.

I really liked the look of this backpack and it fit everything I needed to carry for business (computer, iPad, file plus personal items), but unfortunately the straps are VERY hard and a bit too close together for me. I am petite, but found the straps dug into my neck/shoulders once I put any weight in it. Had to return despite loving the look. :( It is possible that the straps will soften up, but I needed it immediately to wear for long periods and it would have hurt.

I tried this backpack on last night and could feel it pulling and cutting into my shoulders but I thought maybe it would be wear better with weight in it. I was wrong it got worse. I'm a 5'4" female and a college student. I only had one textbook (I left out the giant one this morning), my laptop (fits my 15" ultra thin Asus perfectly), a notebook, and some pens and by the end of the day I could no longer stand the discomfort it caused to my shoulders. It's like the straps are too close together at the top. That being said it is a cute pack and it does not lay awkwardly when worn. I liked the pockets in the front and the lined zip pocket up top. I also like the across the chest strap because you can move it up or down so it doesn't smoosh your chest awkwardly. Unfortunately, it was too uncomfortable so it has to back.

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.