Mountain Hardwear Multi-Pitch 20 Review

The Mountain Hardwear Multi-Pitch 20 has a good collection of features and is made of a durable but unusual material, cotton. While cotton is a common fabric generally, we don't see it as much in the outdoor gear world, and certainly not in backpacks.

Performance Comparison

The durable cotton fabric makes this pack a good choice for desert climbers.

Photo: Ian McEleney

Comfort

The Mountain Hardwear Multi-Pitch 20 is a comfortable pack. It doesn't taper as much as some of the more comfortable competition, but the pack is deeper (it extends farther away from your back) than other models. Because of this it doesn't interfere with arm movement and doesn't short you on volume. The back panel and shoulder straps are appropriately padded.

The back length of this pack is a bit less than some other models, shorter climbers take note. Taller climbers will experience no conflicts with helmets or chalk bags.

The shape of this pack kept it unobtrusive on approaches and descents.

Photo: Ian McEleney

Climbing Utility

The Multi-Pitch 20 has all of the features we like in a small climbing pack. The bladder of a hydration system rides in a pouch that's accessed from outside the pack. We wish the shoulder strap hose guides were a bit more stretchy. The exterior is streamlined, with only a few low-profile attachment points.

Often, top straps are very useful on the approach and descent, but just add another step to opening the pack while we're on route. In this case, the top strap disappears into the hydration pocket when not needed.

The top strap threads through the rear haul point and re-attaches to a small loop on the other side of the pack. It stows away neatly when not in use.

Photo: Ian McEleney

This pack has a lot of pockets. There's one eternal zippered pocket about the size of a guidebook. When the main compartment of the pack is full, this pocket could be hard to use. Inside this pocket is another zippered pocket (with a key clip) that could hold a phone, headlamp, or personal locator beacon. A third zippered pocket is built into the pack lid. For this pocket to be functional the main compartment of the pack must be fully open. Finally, a mesh side pocket for rock shoes or a small water bottle lives in the side of the pack for when it's needed. This can be a nice feature for giving climbers a bit more space when the pack is loaded up.

This pocket-in-pocket hard to access when the pack is full, use it for things you don't need to be readily available.

Photo: Ian McEleney

The pack has two haul points that can be clipped with one carabiner when the pack isn't fully loaded. The shoulder straps are also easily stowed in the hydration pocket, making this pack haul-friendly. The hip belt of the pack is attached with a simple girth hitch and is easily removed. The sternum strap buckle has a built-in emergency whistle.

Durability

The Multi-Pitch 20 is made with fabric that's pretty unique to our test - cotton. The main pack body is cotton canvas with an X-shaped ripstop grid. The bottom has some additional padding and is made of Kevlar. While we don't do any specific durability tests as part of this review, our testers suspect this pack will hold up well to abrasion.

Versatility

This is not the worst looking pack for trips around town or to the farmer's market. The plentiful pockets offer organization for class. A small to medium laptop fits easily inside.

Not counting the second haul loop, there are 8 attachment points on the outside of the pack. These allow the use of quickdraws and slings that climbers are already carrying to be easily used to secure rope, big cams, or other bulky necessities to the outside.

The additional attachment points let use gear we're already carrying to keep a rope or other items from flopping around.

Photo: Ian McEleney

The Multi-Pitch 20 is a bit heavier than the competition. This, in conjunction with the stiffer cotton fabric, make this pack a poor choice for stuffing into a larger pack to carry into the backcountry. This pack has no external ice axe attachment point. Also, cotton is absorbent and slow to dry fabric. This is not the bag to take into an alpine environment when snow or ice (or a lot of precipitation) will be encountered.

Weight

The Multi-Pitch 20 weighs 1.5 pounds (24 ounces, or 680 grams). This is on the heavier end of our review. The durable cotton canvas fabric and plentiful features are the benefit climbers get for that weight.

Weighing the Multi-Pitch 20.

Photo: Ian McEleney

Value

The Mountain Hardwear Multi-Pitch 20 is one of the pricier packs in our test. The cotton fabric also makes it less suitable for alpine applications. For climbers who need a 20L pack to be really versatile and want to take it into the mountains, it's not the greatest value. However, for climbers who are mostly in desert areas and want something durable, this pack is a good value.

Conclusion

We like the Multi-Pitch 20. It offers good durability and a number of useful climbing features. As always, the price of this durability is weight. The sturdy cotton fabric should be kept away from water. All of our testers liked the shape of this pack, but climbers with shorter torsos might especially appreciate the dimensions.

The top strap is one of the best in our review, because it stows away when not needed and the design lets it capture stuff more securely. It's long enough to work even when the pack is full.

Photo: Ian McEleney