REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable with heavy loads
Affordable
Good pockets
Easy to use
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier than most
REI Co-op Traverse 60 Review
This is a comfortable and affordable backpacking pack, but it's on the heavier end of the weight spectrum
We think this is a good value for a comfortable and durable backpacking pack.
Credit: Sam Schild
RELATED: Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2024
Our Verdict
The REI Co-op Traverse 60 is a great backpack for beginners and experts alike who are looking for a durable pack that can handle a heavy load and don't care about pack weight. The shoulder straps and hip belt wrap around to the back panel of the pack in one continuous piece of material, making the pack feel like it is giving you a hug. It supports heavy loads comfortably and keeps the weight anchored securely to your back without chafing or rubbing. There are enough pockets on this pack to keep all your gear organized, but all those pockets contribute to a high overall pack weight.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
REI Co-op Traverse 60 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $259 List $259.00 at REI | $264.57 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $340.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $300 List | $199 List $199.00 at REI |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This pack is inexpensive and comfortable, but it's heavier than most packs | This super-light pack caries loads like a pro and has just about every feature you could ever want | This now classic pack offers incredible ventilation, an awesome set of pockets, and a hug-like suspension | This comfortable yet supportive pack has an extremely functional set of features and is one of the lightest in our test | The Flash 55 is a great value, with excellent features and a great weight to volume ratio at an affordable price |
| Rating Categories | REI Co-op Traverse 60 | Granite Gear Blaze 60 | Osprey Atmos 65 AG | Ultralight Adventur... | REI Co-op Flash 55 |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | REI Co-op Traverse 60 | Granite Gear Blaze 60 | Osprey Atmos 65 AG | Ultralight Adventur... | REI Co-op Flash 55 |
| Measured Weight | 4.3 lbs | 3.0 lbs | 4.6 lbs | 2.8 lbs | 2.8 lbs |
| Weight per Liter (oz/L) | 1.15 oz/L | 0.80 oz/L | 1.13 oz/L | 0.60 oz/L | 0.81 oz/L |
| Advertised Volume | 60 L | 60 L | 65 L | 75 L | 55 L |
| Organization Compartments | Lid, front pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Lid, front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Lid, front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Lid, front mesh pockets, 2 side pockets per side, hip belt pockets, shoulder strap pocket |
| Access | Top, bottom | Top, front | Top, sides, bottom | Top | Top |
| Hydration Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Materials | 300D recycled ripstop nylon | 100D robic nylon w/ DWR coating | Main Body: Recycled 210D honey comb nylon Accent: Recycled 210D high tenacity nylon Bottom: Recycled 500D high tenacity nylon |
400 Robic fabric | Main Body: 100D ripstop nylon Bottom: 420D nylon |
| Measured Volume (main compartment) | (not measured) | 55L | (not measured) | 55L | 45L |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The REI Co-op Traverse 60 is a comfortable and durable pack for carrying heavy loads in the backcountry. It is a product for the outdoor enthusiast who loves a simple, not overengineered design in their best backpacking backpack.
Performance Comparison
At an overlook in Arapaho National Forest.
Credit: Sam Schild
Comfort
This pack ranks among the most comfortable options within our lineup. It has two external aluminum struts that transfer the weight of the pack to the hip belt. This frame design works well to load the weight onto your hips, but the real highlight here is the way the shoulder straps and hip belt integrate into the back panel.
The cushioned shoulder straps and hip belt wrap around the backside of this pack utilizing the same material. This creates an excellent overall fit and feels like the pack is wrapping its arms around you.
We loved the way the shoulder straps and hip belt wrap around onto the backside of the pack.
Credit: Sam Schild
The torso length is adjustable on this pack. This ensures an ideal fit for the shoulder straps and hip belt can be obtained. Fitting it to your torso length is essential for making this back as comfortable as it is.
The Traverse 60 also comes with moveable compression straps so you can compress the pack where it needs to be in order to draw the load closer to your body. This keeps the pack from moving around and will help you maintain your balance.
The moveable compression straps are a good feature for variable loads.
Credit: Sam Schild
Ease of Use
This pack has a lot of pockets, but less than the previous version of the Traverse that we tested. There could probably be one or two fewer pockets on this pack and it still would have enough storage, though.
It has a bottom access zipper pocket to get into the bottom of the pack without opening the lid. And, it has a removable divider to keep the bottom compartment separate. It is possible to reach the water bottles in the side pockets while wearing this pack, too. There are actually two side pockets on each side, one of these side pockets is lower and tilted forward to make reaching your bottle easy.
There are two water bottle pickets on each side of the pack, and we were able to reach the water bottle in the lower water bottle pocket.
Credit: Sam Schild
This pack uses two different materials for the hip belt pockets. One of the pockets is a stretchy material and the other one is ripstop nylon. This is an interesting feature that seems unnecessary, but it's nice to have a stretch pocket for certain items, even though the stretch mesh is less durable.
The top lid of this pack also doubles as a daypack. And, the stretchy front pocket is big enough to stuff a jacket, some snacks, and whatever else you'd need to stuff in an outside pocket. The light-colored material on the interior of this pack makes it easy to see inside. And, the top opening stays open enough to make packing efficiently easy enough.
Weight
At 4.25 pounds, this is one of the heavier packs we tested. This isn't the ideal pack for any ultralight backpackers out there. If you're considering this pack, you might want to consider whether or not you need all the pockets and other features on this pack that make it weigh well over 4 pounds.
But, a heavy pack means it will likely be more durable. The 400-Denier recycled nylon material used in this pack will certainly be less prone to tearing than the 100-D material used on some of the lighter weight packs we tested.
We liked the thick durable material for rock scrambling and bushwhacking, but think we'd prefer hauling a lighter pack through a boulder field next time.
Credit: Sam Schild
Adjustability
The REI Co-op Traverse 60 comes in four sizes. The torso size is adjustable with velcro, which is easily accessible and allows for size tweaks of any increment. Each individual size is adjustable to accommodate three inches of torso length and a massive range of waist sizes.
On the medium pack we tested, the total waist belt length measures 54 inches. Our main tester has a 30-inch waist and he was able to snug the waist belt down to fit with some room to spare. There is also a large torso with a small waistbelt size, which we think is a great feature for all the tall skinny people out there.
The waist belt adjusts from 30 inches to 52 inches.
Credit: Sam Schild
Value
We think the REI Co-op Traverse 60 is a good value. And if comfort is a top priority, this is a great value. It is less expensive than many packs we tested, but not the least expensive. There are more expensive packs that performed slightly better overall, and some more expensive packs didn't perform as well as this pack. There weren't many packs that rated higher in the comfort category, no matter the price.
Conclusion
This pack is a contender for the most comfortable pack. Though it isn't the most comfortable pack out there, it's close. It offers tons of features, perhaps more than it needs to. And, all those features do make it quite heavy. In any case, if you are in the market for an affordable, versatile backpack that will keep you organized while out for the weekend or more, the REI Traverse 60 is worth looking into.
—
Sam Schild
You Might Also Like
