RADL Pack 01 Review
Hello hikers, I’m Tamara with Wildland Trekking. The world of hiking backpacks can feel wholly oversaturated these days, with so many brands and models to pick from. Therefore, it can be tricky to recognize what a new brand brings to the table. But, that’s what we’re here for, and I recently had the chance to test the Radl 01 Backpack in the Grand Canyon.
In this review, I’ll cover what this new brand offers, how their 01 pack performed in the backcountry, and what sets this backpack apart from the legion of competitive alternatives. Let’s start with the pack and its key features, then move on to its performance scores.
Award Winning Trekking Adventures
Since 2005, Wildland Trekking has been providing all-inclusive, guided hiking and backpacking trips across the USA and the world. Explore your world with the hiking experts!
01 Pack Quick Look
Let’s take a look at the 01 Pack’s basic specifications to set the stage for testing it in the backcountry.
- Price: $369.00
- Capacity: 65 Liters
- Material Information: 900D 100% polyester
- Weight: 5 lbs. 3 oz.
- Waist Belt?: Yes, 59 in. length
Intended Use
RADL built the 01 Pack to be your bombproof tank of a trekking pack. The thick 900D fabric, sturdy build, and voluminous interior all scream for multi-day backpacking expeditions into the unknown. While not lightweight enough for most thru-hikers or peakbaggers, the robust design can hit the bullseye for hikers who want extra support, pockets, and features, and aren’t afraid of a slightly heavier pack to get them. As mentioned, the robust material and hollow-aluminum frame, while heavier than other options, make this pack nearly indestructible and absolutely capable of tough environments and use.
Notable Features
The Radl 01 is brand new and therefore has several unique features that we should look at in more detail.
Bear Can Compatible Top Lid: makes it easy to carry your bear canister without taking up valuable space inside the backpack. The canister nests perfectly under the curved lid for easy packing.
U-Zip Front Panel: makes it easy to access the pack’s interior without pulling everything out through the top.
Massive Hip Pockets: are a refreshingly cavernous space to store snacks, phone, camera, or any other accessories you need on the trail.
RADL Company Background
RADL stands for Rage Against the Dying of the Light, from the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas. One of the poem’s themes, pushing against adversity and facing it with courage, is embodied in RADL’s guiding ethos to produce gear that enables explorers to push forward. RADL focuses on producing rugged gear that can stand up to anything while embodying the beautiful simplicity of traditional gear.
This idea was conceived after a family backpacking trip in 2021. The result is simple, aesthetically pleasing, yet high-performing gear that should push into the backcountry with ease and uncompromising reliability.
THE TEST – QUICK OVERVIEW
I tested the 01 Pack while guiding multiple Grand Canyon trips. As you'd expect, temperatures were generally warm, and conditions were dry.
While I didn't get a chance to put the RADL wax coating to the test, I definitely had ample opportunity to see how the tough material could hold up to an abrasive, rocky environment.
The Review
Now that we’ve covered the basic specifications for the 01 Pack and some company background for RADL, it’s time to dive into the complete review! I’ll cover important categories for the pack below (such as comfort, durability, weather resistance, and so on), and give each category a score from 1 to 5 (scoring key below). Along with the score, I’ll also go into detail about my testing experience and why I assigned that particular score. So, let’s see how the pack did!
Scoring Key
1/5: Poor
2/5: Tolerable
3/5: Fair
4/5: Good
5/5: Outstanding
Weight/Bulk – 3/5
Let’s nip this in the bud right from the beginning. The RADL 01 Pack isn’t a lightweight pack, and more importantly, it isn’t intended to be.
At about 5 lbs 3 oz, the 01 Pack is burly and bold. I definitely felt this extra heft while hiking, and this pack wouldn’t be my first choice for thru-hiking or mountaineering. However, for classic backpacking, the heavier design is a reasonable compromise for the extra durability and spacious volume.
We’ll look more at these compromises in the next sections. Let’s start with durability.
Durability – 5/5
This pack is a tank!
After two months of regular hiking in the Grand Canyon area, the 01 Pack has held up beautifully. No blown seams, no holes, no abrasions, and no tears. I can definitely feel the ruggedness of the pack’s thick 900D material, and fully expect this pack to last for years.
On RADL’s list of values, the very first one is “unyielding,” and it definitely seems that the 01 Pack nailed this target. The zippers, seams, and buckles all seem well-built and quite robust. No complaints whatsoever about durability, and I easily acknowledge that this can be a worthwhile tradeoff for the heavier pack weight if durability is a high priority.
Fit/Comfort – 4/5
Unlike most backpacks out there, the RADL 01 Pack seemed to have a break-in period.
I attribute this initial stiffness and slight discomfort to the pack’s substantial build and thicker material choice. But after I pushed through a couple of sweaty hikes, the backpack definitely molded itself to me and became much more comfortable.
The thick foam padding on the shoulder straps and back does an excellent job cushioning your pack weight. I also found the foam reasonably breathable during my hot hikes in the Grand Canyon. The adjustable back length and plushly padded hip belt also helped me lock in a fit that worked for me and felt quite supportive even when carrying heavy loads.
Organization – 4/5
Overall, the 01 Pack offered great organization options.
The brain and hipbelt pockets offer decent space for items you can access easily throughout the hike. The main space is also easy to access and pack as efficiently as possible. Part of that easy access is due to the very useful U-zipper, which allows you to get into the pack’s innards without having to go through the top lid. So nothing groundbreaking or super unique in this department, and the 01 Pack organization relies on tried-and-true methods.
My only feedback here is that I personally like a large exterior mesh pocket on the front of my hiking packs. I find this a handy stash spot for extra layers, rain jackets, or wet gear I don’t want to stuff into the main pack body with the rest of my equipment. Maybe RADL will add this feature in the future!
Weatherproofing – 4/5
I tested the waxed version of the 01 Pack. With that material finish, I expect the pack to hold up quite well to inclement weather. However, the Grand Canyon did not oblige with poor weather to test that hypothesis, so I’m not 100% sure yet.
But the waxed version seems well suited to shed a backcountry drizzle or rainstorm. That said, the pack isn’t waterproof, but it should go a long way toward protecting my gear wherever my adventures take me.
Of course, a waxed pack means that, sooner or later, I’ll need to reapply the wax.
Ease of Use – 3/5
This pack was solidly average when it came to ease of use.
The top lid bear can nook is easy to figure out, and the back and shoulder strap adjustment methods are pretty standard. However, I did struggle with the two side pockets. While the pockets are meant for top and side access to easily pull out water bottles while on the move, I found the design quite finicky and hard to wrestle my Smart water bottles out.
Overall, this is a fairly minor critique and something I can definitely chalk up to growing pains for a new brand and new pack design. That said, I do hope they smooth out this pocket design in the future.
Adjustability – 4/5
The straps and back adjustments are easy to figure out and fine-tune.
The 01 Pack doesn’t quite seem to have the range of adjustability as other brands on the market. This is due to the fact that the 01 Pack takes a one-size-fits-most approach, where there are no S, M, or L torso/back length sizing options. This results in a smaller range of torso sizes that this pack seems to fit, and I definitely recommend reviewing the minimum and maximum back length before ordering.
For my part, the 01 Pack isn’t a “perfect” fit for my torso size. But the easily adjustable straps allowed me to get pretty darn close, hence the good score for this category.
Price – 4/5
I’m not giving the RADL 01 Pack a good score in this category because it’s cheap. On the contrary, this is a fairly large investment at $370. However, I’m giving it a good rating because I believe it’s delivering significant value for the price you pay.
The build quality, features, and materials are all top-notch. This is truly a well-built pack, and I feel that the price point accurately represents the quality you receive in return. So yes, it’s a significant investment in your backpacking gear closet, but know that I fully expect this pack to reliably have your back for years and years.
Overall Quality – 4/5
Quick Summary
We’ve covered a plethora of pack characteristics in this review! Therefore, we’ll review the highlights and condense my findings down to the main pros and cons below.
Pros:
- Gorgeous design
- Waxed and regular material choices
- Classic design that’s not over-complicated or technical
- Easy to adjust
- Comfortable with heavy loads
Cons:
- Heavy
- No exterior mesh pocket on front (but side pockets are huge)
Final Thoughts
My first impression when I unboxed the RADL 01 pack was how gorgeous this backpack is. It’s simple and sleek, with a classic backpacking vibe that the waxed canvas material perfectly accentuates. Within that aesthetically pleasing design is a robust, almost indestructible build that held up incredibly well to a season of intense guiding in the Grand Canyon. This pack doesn’t utilize fancy new ultralight materials or complicated strap/organization methods. Instead, the RADL 01 Pack aims to take classic backpacking to a new level of bombproof reliability, and I believe they completed that goal with gusto.
Honestly, my only feedback for the RADL 01 pack focuses on smaller issues because there simply isn’t a huge dealbreaker with this backpack. Namely, I think the exterior organization could use a little smoothing out, with easier-to-use side pockets and perhaps a large exterior mesh pocket for easily accessible layers (or a place to air out wet clothing). But again, these are minor critiques, and I firmly believe the RADL 01 delivers outstanding value for the price you pay. I can’t wait to see future offerings from this new brand!