5.11 Skyweight 36L Outdoor Hiking Pack

The 5.11 Skyweight 36L is an outdoor hiking style backpack designed to carry all your necessities on the trail for a day hike or weekend. Made from 330D Nylon Ripstop in a clamshell design that allows easy access to your gear without having to take everything out. The back panel is contoured and padded for comfort, with air channels built to keep you cool on the trail. The straps are well-padded with laser-cut molle for attaching accessories and adjustment straps to help with support and comfort. The pack includes a detachable waist belt to take the weight off your shoulders. Additionally, the belt has laser-cut molle for the attachment of pouches.

The exterior of the Skyweight 36L pack is feature-filled. Starting at the bottom of the pack, there are straps built in to attach a bedroll or other such item. Just above that is a small, zippered pocket. In the pocket is a blaze orange rain cover for the pack. The rain cover comes with the pack, and it is a nice touch in case of rain or for high visibility while hunting or in an emergency. The pocket is large enough that you could store additional small items for quick access.

The sides of the Skyweight 36L pack include large pockets for water bottles or whatever you want to place in them. They are made of stretchy material that offers tons of options. Located at the top are compression straps to secure the load. The compression straps are a unique design, at least to me, where one side is a “V” strap that is adjustable with quick-release buckles. Along the front edge of the bag are loops for attaching carabiners, trekking poles, and other similar items.

The front of the Skyweight 36L pack features a deep stuff-it-pocket for things you want quick access to. Personally, I like these types of pockets for my rain jacket so that I can just reach in and grab it without having to open the main compartment of the pack. Behind the stuff-it-pocket is a zipper compartment. This pocket is deep, going down the length of the pack, and a small mesh pocket is also in this compartment for small items. On top is a grab handle.

The main compartment is large and opens clamshell style for full access. Inside the main compartment is a small mesh zipper compartment. This compartment is spacious and can easily carry the necessities for a weekend hike. I was able to pack my titanium cook pot, cooking/eating utensils, six freeze-dried meals, poncho, poncho liner, rain jacket, water filter, clothes, snacks, tarp, hygiene kit, sewing kit, first aid kit, two canteens, and other outdoor living essentials. The Skyweight 36L carried these items comfortably with room to spare.

ACCESSIBLE & FUNCTIONAL “Gear loops, front stretch stuff-it pockets, and bottom gear straps allow easy access to essential adventure gear.”

The Skyweight 36L is a lightweight outdoors style pack, weighing about 2.5 lbs. empty with the belt attached. It is comfortable to carry over distances and can haul plenty of gear for weekend plus adventures. I wish I’d had this pack back when I was doing more camping/hiking trips. The Skyweight 36L pack could also function as a travel backpack. Based on my measurements and research, it would just make the standard carry-on size for air travel. For use on a train, I don’t think there would be any issue. I wouldn’t mind if there were another set of compression straps on the lower portion of the pack. The other thing would be the addition of a couple more zippered built-in pockets for organizing small items. Other than that, I have no complaints and enjoy the comfort offered for hiking that the Skyweight provided. MSRP is $200.00 currently marked down to $129.

I’d like to thank 5.11 for providing the Skyweight 36L pack for test and review.