REI Co-op Trail 40 Pack Review

Overview

The REI Co-op Trail 40 is a 40-liter panel-loading pack built for big day hikes, weekend overnights and carry-on travel. It carries well, opens like a suitcase and ships with a rain cover for $159. It also weighs 2 lb 12 oz in the smallest size, which puts it a long way from the frameless packs most ultralight backpackers carry.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	1,247–1,361 g (2 lb 12 oz to 3 lb) depending on size
Capacity	40–41 L depending on size
Frame	Spring-steel perimeter frame
Access	Wraparound U-shaped zipper plus top access
Fabric	DWR-treated ripstop nylon
Hydration	Reservoir sleeve with hanger clip and hose routing (reservoir not included)
Hipbelt	Two-piece, padded, zippered pockets; accepts the REI Packmod Hipbelt Extender
Rain cover	Included
Exterior pockets	Seven, plus the main compartment
Price	$159

Performance

Carrying comfort. This is where the Trail 40 earns its weight. Switchback Travel’s testers likened it to a backpacking pack: generous padding on the back panel and straps, and a steel frame that supports a full day’s gear. With a full 2-liter bladder, snacks and extra layers in southern Patagonia, the load stayed evenly distributed and comfortable all day. The wide, padded hipbelt moves weight off the shoulders easily, and the load lifters are a rarity at this price and size. A reviewer who has owned the last two generations says the current version is sturdier and has more hipbelt padding. A long-distance traveler who used the pack on the Everest Base Camp trek and through Southeast Asia and Ecuador reported no shoulder fatigue, even with the hipbelt cinched and the shoulder straps let out.

Access and organization. The wraparound zipper is the pack’s best trick. It opens the main compartment from the front, so reaching the bottom doesn’t mean unpacking from the top. Inside are a hydration sleeve, a zippered pocket and a mesh bottle pocket. Outside are an expanding mesh front pocket, side bottle pockets, trekking-pole attachments and zippered hipbelt pockets. Owners report that the side pockets hold a Nalgene securely. One owner wants an elastic top edge or a compression strap to keep a full bottle in place when scrambling.

Load capacity and compression. Most owners treat 35–40 lb as the working ceiling. The long-distance traveler questioned how the pack would hold up beyond about three years if routinely loaded to that range. Trailspace’s reviewer flagged too few compression straps, which matters when the pack is half empty and the panel zipper bears more of the load.

Ventilation. Switchback found breathability lacking. The foam-and-mesh back panel runs warmer than a tensioned trampoline-style suspension, which is the usual trade-off for a pack this close to the back.

Durability. Reports are mostly positive. One long-term owner who commutes by bike and hikes with heavy loads says the pack has held up well, with one failure: the plastic waist buckle snapped after a couple of years.

Weight. The pack carries well but is heavy for its volume. Thru-hikers working toward a sub-10-pound base weight will notice that the pack alone is a quarter of that. Trailspace’s reviewer called it relatively heavy against ultralight designs, and that is fair.

Choosing a Version

The pack comes in S/M, L/XL and XXL–4XL, and the sizes differ in fit rather than features. The S/M is the lightest at 1,247 g and holds 40 L. The L/XL and XXL–4XL both hold 41 L and add about 57 and 114 g respectively. The XXL–4XL has an extended-length hipbelt and wider shoulder straps for larger frames, which is rare among 40-liter packs and the main reason to consider the pack if you wear a larger size. Owners at the edges of the range note the fit can be tight. A 6’2” reviewer found the large slightly small, with the hipbelt riding a bit high. Anyone between sizes should pick by hip circumference and torso length rather than by weight.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Padded hipbelt and shoulder straps carry like a full backpacking pack
• Spring-steel perimeter frame supports loads that frameless packs can’t
• Wraparound zipper gives full access to the main compartment
• Rain cover included, along with hipbelt pockets, a hydration sleeve and trekking-pole attachments
• Sizes up to 4XL, with an extended hipbelt on the largest
• $159 is a fair price for the features

Cons

• 2 lb 12 oz to 3 lb is heavy for a 40-liter pack
• Back panel runs warm
• Few compression straps
• Waist buckle breakage reported after a couple of years
• Panel zipper adds a failure point that roll-top packs don’t have

Who Should Buy This

The Trail 40 suits weekend backpackers, big-day hikers and travelers who want one comfortable pack that works as carry-on luggage and on the trail. It also suits anyone who wants a frame and a real hipbelt on a modest budget, including hikers who need larger sizes. Thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers counting ounces should look at frameless or lightweight-framed roll-top packs instead. Anyone carrying more than about 35 lb regularly should step up to a dedicated backpacking pack.

Verdict

The Trail 40 is a comfortable, practical pack that gives up weight for support and convenience. For weekend trips and travel it is a good buy. For long-distance ultralight use, it is too heavy.