Minimalist V2 Review by Monica Stapleton

It’s been a few months since my season started back in Zion. With half of my workdays being patrol-based, a good backpack is a crucial part of my day-to-day operations. I’ve been hiking exclusively with the Minimalist V2 pack this season, and so far, I’m a big fan.

First of all, POCKETS! I understand that many ultralight packs out there skimp on pockets to cut weight, and I’m here for it when ounces matter, but that’s simply not the case for work. We already carry a boatload of heavy stuff. Radio, extra batteries, maps, 10 essentials kit, emergency blankets, first aid, layers, wag bags, etc etc etc. What matters more to me is being able to find what I need in a timely fashion should a park visitor have a blister, or worse, an untimely bathroom emergency. I LOVE love love the pockets on the S-Curve harness. My radio fits perfectly, and instead of being in a side pocket where I have to fumble around to grab it, I can do everything I need to without even taking my pack off. The hip belt pockets fit my oversized iPhone, plus keys, snacks, chapstick, and even a small tube of sunscreen. I keep park maps in the lid pocket where they lay flat and don’t get crumpled up in the bottom of my pack by week’s end. The front stretch pocket fits a standard climbing helmet, and I don’t have to worry about it falling out while I scramble around on an approach.

On a normal day, I don’t come close to maxing out the capacity of the pack. It’s still super comfortable and doesn’t feel flimsy or awkward on my back. On bigger days when I am carrying ropes or overnight gear, the bag is like a black hole of space. I’ve been hugely impressed at the adjustability of the pack and its ability to carry oversized loads when all straps are blown out to maximum capacity. On a recent overnight patrol my hiking partner and I found an abandoned backpack that had been left from a visitor during a Search and Rescue operation in 2023. My pack was already filled with all my personal overnight gear, yet I was able to stuff three more sleeping pads, a tent, and some other odds and ends in the pack. When returning to our headquarters, we weighed our bags. The extra stuff put my bag at approximately 50 lbs. While my shoulders were certainly feeling it at the end of the day, I was generally impressed by the pack’s ability to manage such weight. I wouldn’t ever intentionally pack the bag beyond the recommended 35 lbs., but it seemed to handle it just fine in a pinch.

I have used this pack in a vast array of desert environments and have been really happy with its performance all around. I did make the mistake of taking it on some canyoneering trips and the side pockets were ripped up very quickly. That being said, this bag isn’t purpose-built for the abrasion that occurs in those environments, so I suppose that’s to be expected. But hey, when you find a backpack that’s comfortable, you wanna wear it all the time! If you travel in locations similar to the southwest, I’d consider going with the more durable sailcloth material. 

Overall, I’d recommend this pack to anyone as an everyday carry when organization is important, or as a backpacking bag when your capacity needs vary. When choosing what pack I’m going to use this summer, this is the one I’m typically reaching for. If you make the super smart decision to add this bag to your line up, I have a feeling you’ll do the same.