Yeti Panga Backpack Review

Storage Review

The Yeti Panga 28 Backpack - A Waterproof Fortress for all Your Outdoor Gear (continued)

Ergonomics: When I first looked at the Panga it didn’t look like it was going to be very comfortable with the squared shape and flat back. This back panel is molded with a large Yeti logo, and while it is flat, it does offer some flexibility when worn on your back and is surprisingly comfortable. There were times when I was on lengthier hikes that I wished that the rear-panel was more breathable, but it does dry quickly, and provides a nice buffer from anything that you have loaded into the pack’s interior.

The back of the pack is molded and while it could be more breathable it is surprisingly comfortable

The primary backpack straps are quite wide, helping distribute weight seamlessly across your shoulders and chest. Yeti bundles both a chest strap and waist belt for additional stability when you traverse longer distances. I found the chest strap really beneficial for helping reduce pressure on my chest when hiking with a fully loaded pack, and both of these straps can also easily be removed and stowed when not in use.

The Panga Backpack offers excellent ergonomics

Durability: The Yeti team did a great job building a backpack that can stand up to nature. This starts with the primary ThickSkin™ shell which is basically a TPU laminated shell over the entire backpack, including an extra reinforced bottom.

The bundled chest strap and waist belt help secure and balance the load pressure on longer more strenuous treks

This material proved to be both puncture and abrasion resistant and while my test pack has started to take on some character and is definitely dirty from all my outdoor tests, all it takes is a little soap and water to clean off the exterior. I’ve even resorted to just blasting the entire pack with a hose after inshore trips. Matching the exterior shell’s durability, the straps and hardware used throughout the Panga backpack are also top notch.

Even Hawaiian lava rock did nothing to damage the Yeti Panga's outer shell

Over the span of the last six months I never experienced a single strap, buckle, or zipper failure, and as advertised this Yeti pack proved to be an effective shield from even the harshest elements. The Panga Backpack’s beauty is the simplicity in design, and there is little to nothing here to fail.

The metal hardware is simple, elegant, and durable

Price & Applications: The one thing that most people don’t think about in the same sentence as Yeti is the word “cheap,” and just about all of their products target the premium segments in their respective categories. The Yeti Panga backpack is no different, and retails for $299 dollars, and while not what most would consider inexpensive, it does fall right in line with the premium offerings from competitors like Patagonia, who offers their 100% waterproof TIZIP® equipped Stormfront 30L pack for the exact same price.

The Yeti Panga Backpack proved to be a great companion for adventure travel

When I compared the Yeti Panga with the Patagonia Stormfront there are areas where each of the bags excel. The Patagonia Stormfront is significantly lighter at 1lb 13oz. and comes with two web-loops on the outside to attach a rod tube, and as a bonus the pack is also compatible with some of the company’s other garments including their convertible vest. The Yeti Panga, while heavier, does feel a lot more robust in construction, and the exterior frame offers more rigidity to keep everything organized where things tend to float around even more in the unstructured Patagonia Stormfront. I also liked the backpack straps better on the Yeti Panga, and felt they offered more support when carrying heavier loads.

Though the Panga is excellent for fishing applications it is good for so much more

Through my travels with the Panga backpack I only grew to like it more and more. Is it perfect, no, but as far as waterproof backpacks go it very well might be the closest to perfection. Once I invested in a few internal bags and cases to properly organize all my kit I found the Panga’s cavernous interior to be more than enough space for even long haul trips.

Have Panga will travel. This pack carried all my tackle, cameras, computers, and even a drone while traveling over the last six months. Now I rarely travel without it

Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Yeti Panga Backpack 28 Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Built like a tank, the Panga's durable nylon and TPU coated construction is both puncture and abrasion resistant	9.5
Performance	The Panga's storage is easily accessible with the HydroLok zipper and yet it is 100% waterproof. There is a lot of storage in this bag and it performed well across a wide range of outdoor activities ranging from fishing to hiking and beyond. The semi-rigid exterior actually helps with packing and organization.	8.5
Price	At $299 dollars the Panga Backpack certainly isn't cheap but it is a high quality bag worthy of the investment	7
Features	Many competing water-resistant and waterproof packs seem like they are engineered as a backpack first and foremost and provisions are made to improve water resistance. The Panga Backpack on the other hand has clearly been engineered to love the elements and live in and around water. The HydroLok zipper and ThickSkin Shell are both durable and reliable and the addition of lashpoints make it possible to add options later, and the only thing really missing are rod tube straps	8.5
Design (Ergonomics)	The backpack straps are comfortable and I was impressed how good the pack felt even when fully loaded on long hikes	9
Application	Great for so much more than just fishing, the Panga is great for any outdoor activity where you need to keep your gear close at hand and yet be ready for anything that mother nature wants to throw at you. Unlike other packs the Panga will thrive in wet environments	9.5
Total Score		8.66
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus Minus
+ Extremely well built, the Panga Backpack is everything we have come to expect from Yeti	- Main compartment is spacious but is best utilized with smaller packing cube organization
+ Great ergonomics, the primary straps are comfortable and the Panga comes with removable chest straps and waist belt	- No rod holder straps
+ Spacious overall capacity and optional lash points outside can make use of optional Sidekick Dry accessory bag	- At $299 the Panga Backpack is still an investment, but the price is inline with the competition
+ 100% waterproof design stands up to the elements and protects all your gear
+ Great for fishing, hiking, adventure travel and countless other outdoor pursuits

Conclusion: Yeti over-engineers just about everything they make, and has earned the respect of anglers and outdoor enthusiasts with their hard coolers, and more recently their packs and drinkware. Some people question why Yeti products are so expensive, and the answer is design and quality. I remember at ICAST when the company introduced the LoadOut Bucket and people thought “a bucket, really?” Yet once people got to check out Yeti’s take on a bucket, with all its many options, and they started to say “damn, that is a nice bucket.” The same can be said about a lot of the company’s drinkware, while they are not cheap they are well built and provides features that you just don’t find on other bottles and tumblers, like a 3-finger grip cap, or a magnetic sliding latch for example.

The Panga Backpack is clearly designed to live around the water. It is everything that we have come to expect from Yeti. Go outside and play hard... the Panga Backpack 28 can take it!

In the case of the Panga, this is likely the last waterproof backpack you will ever need, and though the bag retails for 300 dollars, chances are that whatever you are putting inside is an even more significant investment. The Panga was built to live in the water, and having the peace of mind that you can freely wade into the river or unexpectedly get splashed by a wave, and know that all your valuable tackle and electronics are completely protected is what helps inspire the confidence to just go out and focus on enjoying the outdoors. Play hard... the Panga can take it!

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