Patagonia Lichen: Basin Green Hole Pack 25L

The good - great design, always a head turner and a conversation starter. Material feels solid. The waterproofing hasn't been fully tested but it can definitely survive a drizzle.The bad - for what it is, it has very little internal pockets especially being advertised suitable for the outdoors. The hole for the water bladder hose is oddly placed in the middle, and it *will* rest on your neck instead of following the bag's frame. When fully loaded, my upper back gets sore pretty quickly vs my Deuter Futura 32L.To be honest, I'm still on the fence on this one. So far I like having this bag more than my dislikes for it, when used as a day bag. But if you're looking for a bag for short hikes/walks, perhaps look elsewhere first.

7+ years

I've had one of these backpacks for 7 years and decided I needed a second backpack. (one for work, one for workouts). I tested a lot of backpacks and none were as good as this one and had all the features I've come to love.The top pocket is so useful--makes it easy to get a bus/subway ticket in and out without having to set down the bag, for example.The new bag is doing great work, though it is a bit slimmer than the 2015 model and has a little less of the waterproofed/water resistant fabric (i.e. not the whole body is made of it).

A near-perfect travel and EDC backpack!

I find myself coming back to this backpack time and time again. In my opinion, it is a near-perfect balance of form, function, weight, durability, and weather-resistance.The black hole material has held up to years of domestic and international travel and the only visible "damage" are some scuffs on the shiny surface of the bag. You could argue that the scuffs improve the look of the bag and acts as a sort of patina. The bag has never come close to ripping or falling apart at all.The big surprise to me was the weight of the bag. Since the material was robust and durable, I was expecting it to be a little heavier. To my surprise, it was extremely light which made it very comfortable to carry. The weight and comfort of this bag made me grab for it whenever I knew ... MoreI find myself coming back to this backpack time and time again. In my opinion, it is a near-perfect balance of form, function, weight, durability, and weather-resistance.The black hole material has held up to years of domestic and international travel and the only visible "damage" are some scuffs on the shiny surface of the bag. You could argue that the scuffs improve the look of the bag and acts as a sort of patina. The bag has never come close to ripping or falling apart at all.The big surprise to me was the weight of the bag. Since the material was robust and durable, I was expecting it to be a little heavier. To my surprise, it was extremely light which made it very comfortable to carry. The weight and comfort of this bag made me grab for it whenever I knew I would be exploring a city and on my feet for long periods of time.I'm onto my third purchase of this bag (because I keep giving the bags away for other people to try) and I will continue to purchase this bag from Patagonia.

Black Hole 25L Review and sample packing list

Love this backpack. Super sturdy and so far very rain and element resistant. No real organizing pockets for stuff, but plenty of room and perfect size for travel. I just use small packing bags for chargers and such and it works fine. I fly a lot and often on small jets and this is the perfect compliment to a typical carry on.My packing in this backpack for my current trip includes:MacBook Pro M1 16" (very tight, it just barely fits in the laptop sleeve)MacBook Pro 15.5"Chargers (computer, iphone, iwatch, headphones etc)Note Book (moleskin, not binder)over ear headphonesear podsGlasses casegum, snack bars etc22oz water bottleextra T shirt, underwear and socksMedium weight jacketPassport, keys etcsmall 1st aide kitmedicationsAll this ... MoreLove this backpack. Super sturdy and so far very rain and element resistant. No real organizing pockets for stuff, but plenty of room and perfect size for travel. I just use small packing bags for chargers and such and it works fine. I fly a lot and often on small jets and this is the perfect compliment to a typical carry on.My packing in this backpack for my current trip includes:MacBook Pro M1 16" (very tight, it just barely fits in the laptop sleeve)MacBook Pro 15.5"Chargers (computer, iphone, iwatch, headphones etc)Note Book (moleskin, not binder)over ear headphonesear podsGlasses casegum, snack bars etc22oz water bottleextra T shirt, underwear and socksMedium weight jacketPassport, keys etcsmall 1st aide kitmedicationsAll this and still have room left over. The bag can easily fit under the seat on even small jets (like the CRJ 700)Worth every penny. Highly recommend.

Delamination is a problem

I have had this bag for 7 years. I use it for work to carry laptop, books, etc. Pro: It does hold a lot of stuff. Con: It has delaminated severely--by around year 5 or so, it was peeling in certain spots, and by year 7, its peeling is severe, widespread, and unsightly. The zipper on the top pocket is also popping open and no longer keeps items safe. I have a black hole mini messenger bag that has seen gentler use but is beginning to experience the same delamination problem. As a backpack, it was never particularly comfortable for a long walk, but great for my application.

Great backpack for college students

I bought this for my freshman year of college, and was not disappointed. After a year of daily use, it is still as good as new. It is a great size for my 15 inch laptop, iPad, water, and a few notebooks/textbooks. The narrow figure that is close to your body makes it feel lighter than bulkier bags of similar contents, and the material provides great protection from light rain (which is when I get compliments on it; mostly people saying they wish theirs had some rain protection). When you walk miles each day between buildings outside, this is a great option!

Just What I Needed

The Black Hole is an excellent, roomy (for its capacity), well-made, attractive pack. Very comfortable and packed with practical pockets. I needed a frameless pack for day use and to supplement carryon bag during air travel. This fit the bill perfectly, and I love the red wax color. On first trip to Mexico coast—already two comments of “backpack envy.” Cleanline Surf, based in Seaside OR, is definitely worth patronizing. Small, established business. Excellent service. Next day delivery. Carefully packaged. Even a personal note, treats and stickers placed in the box with the pack.

Saves Money in the Long Run

I originally purchased this backpack my freshman year of college after a torrential Arizona monsoon destroyed over a hundred dollars worth of books from water damage in my non-waterproof backpack. Using this in several severe rain and snow storms, I feel confident recommending this to anyone looking for something to protect their valuables from the elements. I will say that one thing that should be remembered is that this backpack is not a drybag by any means. While the back and sides of the bag are covered by the DWR coating, the side that touches your back does not seem to have the same level of waterproof-ness. This side is still somewhat water resistant and will be fine as long as you are wearing the bag and not completely submerging it while kayaking or ... MoreI originally purchased this backpack my freshman year of college after a torrential Arizona monsoon destroyed over a hundred dollars worth of books from water damage in my non-waterproof backpack. Using this in several severe rain and snow storms, I feel confident recommending this to anyone looking for something to protect their valuables from the elements. I will say that one thing that should be remembered is that this backpack is not a drybag by any means. While the back and sides of the bag are covered by the DWR coating, the side that touches your back does not seem to have the same level of waterproof-ness. This side is still somewhat water resistant and will be fine as long as you are wearing the bag and not completely submerging it while kayaking or rafting.The capacity of this bag is outstanding, I am able to fit a weeks worth of groceries inside when I need to and the weight is distributed quite excellently on the straps.Durability is also outstanding. I have scraped this bag on very sharp lava flow tunnels and fallen on it while snowboarding with little to no damage to the DWR coating. I have had this bag for 3 years now and don't forsee a need to replace this for a very long time. Great job Patagonia.

Tough. As. Nails.

For the past three years, this bag has gone just about everywhere with me. It started as my 'daily driver' for my senior year of college where it received some light abuse. It's been a carry-on for numerous flights, come to work with me every day (not just the office, mind you, but construction sites and manufacturing floors), and it's stood up to the occasional adventure as well. Now I wouldn't recommend this as my number one choice for a long hike, it does just fine for some casual exploration, or for a day of skiing. The water resistant fabric has saved my laptop, documents and my lunch from being soaked plenty of times. The elastic water bottle pockets are still just as secure as ever, even after holding my water bottle and coffee mug nearly constantly.The ... MoreFor the past three years, this bag has gone just about everywhere with me. It started as my 'daily driver' for my senior year of college where it received some light abuse. It's been a carry-on for numerous flights, come to work with me every day (not just the office, mind you, but construction sites and manufacturing floors), and it's stood up to the occasional adventure as well. Now I wouldn't recommend this as my number one choice for a long hike, it does just fine for some casual exploration, or for a day of skiing. The water resistant fabric has saved my laptop, documents and my lunch from being soaked plenty of times. The elastic water bottle pockets are still just as secure as ever, even after holding my water bottle and coffee mug nearly constantly.The single best thing I like about this bag, is the fact that it doesn't ruin my shirts. I can't tell you how many backpacks I've had that have just created endless pills on the lower back of my favorite fleece or hoodie. I haven't experienced any of that while wearing this.Suffice to say, this is a great option for a 'daily driver' backpack. It does everything I need, with just the right amount of pockets, and after 3 years of moderate abuse, the only signs of wear is the dirt I haven't washed off yet.

Why did Patagonia discontinue Women's size??

I bought the Women's version of this pack (23L) a few years ago and I use it almost every day. I purchased this pack for my stepmom this Christmas from REI because I love the 23L pack so much and have been so impressed with how well it fits for people with a shorter torso and smaller frame. I didn't realize that Patagonia only makes the full 25L version and not the smaller size anymore. When my stepmom tried it on, the length of the pack and straps were far too long, so we returned it. We scoured the internet and found a 23L pack being sold on eBay and purchased that instead because it is discontinued everywhere else. I hope Patagonia, brings back the version for smaller bodies!! I love everything about the pack otherwise!!