The cooler company goes after serious trail miles. YETI’s new Skala Hiking Pack lineup brings premium materials, innovative access systems, and lightweight durability to the backpacking category—challenging established brands with four capacity options designed for day hikes to multi-day expeditions.
It was inevitable and the writing was on the wall for anyone paying attention to the outdoor industry: YETI has officially stepped into the serious backpacking arena. The brand is no longer just in the business of protecting your food and drink. They’re coming for your adventure miles, too.
With the recent release of the Skala Hiking Pack, YETI is entering a category dominated by legacy backpack brands. Building on the success of their Ranchero backpack, the Skala is designed with premium materials and features built to handle serious backcountry miles.
It’s a step beyond the everyday commuter approach of their previous bag lines. The Skala lineup is available in four capacities: 32L, 40L, 50L, and 60L, covering everything from shorter day hikes to longer multi-day excursions.
What Matters Most On The Trail
Weight is what we should care about most when considering backpacking gear. Saving even half an ounce can be a gamechanger when you’re shuffling over tough terrain with a thousand feet left before sunset and camp is still just a flittering hope that lays just over the next hill.
Durability should be second on that priority list when evaluating your next gear purchase, especially when you’re in the market for a hiking pack that will surely be glued to your back for countless miles.
Lucky for us, the YETI Skala has been thoughtfully designed, featuring premium materials while being lightweight and robust enough to withstand the elements. The hiking packs are unmistakeable, with the distinct Pull-to-open RipZip, a feature made popular on the Ranchero.
The RipZip opening allows you to access the middle of your pack with ease, without having to remove any of your gear. This is a huge advantage over other packs on the market that only have top-down access to the main compartment, where getting to your gear can be cumbersome and annoying.
Large gauge YKK Aquaguard zippers are combined with a weather-resistance nylon coating to create a robust closure while integrated internal and external pockets keep your gear organized. A dedicated bottom compartment separates and protects your sleeping bag and an additional hydration sleeve can fit reservoirs up to 3L.
An AlumaLite frame aims to distribute the weight of the pack to your shoulders and hips while maintaining strength and flexibility as you move. Each pack includes a harness that micro adjusts to fit most torsos, while incorporating load lifters to keep the top of the pack closer to your body.
This is a key feature that keeps your full pack from unwanted jostling while hiking, key for balance and to reduce the possibility of rubbing or irritation against your back and shoulders.
To aid in comfort, a vented mesh back panel along with padded and contoured shoulder straps help distribute weight. A patented Guardcore Nylon keeps this pack as light as possible without sacrificing durability, the two key components that make any true backpacker’s ears perk up.
The only omission from the brand? A dedicated raincover. While the pack does tout premium water-resistant materials that will surely hold up to a variety of conditions, a dedicated full-coverage solution offers peace of mind while logging serious backcountry miles. Sure, a poncho from your local surplus store works incredibly well in a pinch, but a purpose-built cover would round out the system.
You’re bound to see a Skala hiking pack traversing trails this season, and rightfully so. It’s conscious design cues accumulate into what appears to be a very capable hiking pack,
Pricing & Availability
Skala is available in four sizes, starting at $300 for the 32L pack. Core colorways include Classic Navy and Ridgeline, with two seasonal colors Desert Bloom and Venom.
Product Specs:
Capacities (men’s and women’s fits):
- 32L - Empty weight - 3.30 lbs.
- 40L - Empty weight - 3.40 lbs.
- 50L - Empty weight - 4.50 lbs.
- 60L - Empty weight - 4.60 lbs.
Pricing: $300 (32L), $325 (40L), $375 (50L), $400 (60L)
Colorways: Classic Navy, Desert Bloom, Ridgeline, Venom
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