Reviews You Can Rely On

Yates Rock Sac Haul Pack Review

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yates rock sac haul pack haul bag review
Yates Rock Sac Haul Pack
Credit: Yatesgear.com
Price:  $395 List
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Manufacturer:   Yatesgear.com
By Chris McNamara ⋅ Founder and Editor-in-Chief  ⋅  Feb 21, 2010

Our Verdict

The Rock Sac Haul Pack has been discontinued.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Water-tight
Many features
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive

The Yates Rock Sac Haul Pack is a great bag. It has a good water-tight closure and bomber construction. It is super-durable and is a great size for either cragging or taking on a steep El Cap route. I love this bag and am very happy with it. However, at $395, you could almost buy three of the similarly-sized Black Diamond Touchstone Haul Bag.

If price is a concern, Metolius, Black Diamond, and Fish all have good bags this size in the $100-$150 price range. It is hard not to recommend the Metolius Quarter Dome Haul Bag instead. It is less than half the cost and almost as good.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Likes


It has all the features you need in a haul bag: bomber construction, removable carrying system and water-tight closure. I came to appreciate the weather-proofing of this bag this while belaying Tommy Caldwell in a storm on Mescalito. We had some other bags without the water-tight closure system that did not stay so dry.

The suspension is comfortable. It is a great crag pack as long as you are not hiking too far or it is not too hot outside (there is not much ventilation for your back). Because it is made of thick urethane, it always stands up on its own, even when empty. This is convenient when at the base of a wall or the crag because it means you don't have to constantly prop it against something. Also, since the hauling straps are removable, it becomes convenient as a pack; you don't constantly have to deal with organizing the hauling straps.

Dislikes


The only big problem with this bag is its price about $250 more than other bags its size. Also, for a bag this expensive it would be nice if it came with removable hauling attachments. I had to add my own by buying some slings.

Best Application


This is a bomber bag at a very convenient size that has many applications other than climbing. I once used a bag this size for climbing the Salathé Wall in one bivy with lightweight sleeping bags (it was middle of summer). But for most big wall applications it will be a "sidecar" to your other, larger haulbag. It also makes a great cragging bag or bomber luggage for traveling. And, as I mention above, it's my transportation bag for SuperTopo books from the Global Shipping Headquarters to my USPS/FedEx shipping center.

Value


This is an awesome bag but you sure do have to pay for it. If you climb a ton of walls it is probably worth paying the premium to have such an awesome and bomber bag. But the price tag is double or triple that of other options.

Chris McNamara