 This Product
Patagonia Black Hole 25 | |||||
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| Awards |  | |  | ||
| Price | $64.50 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $44.22 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $30 List $29.99 at Amazon | $85 List $90.00 at REI | $40 List $29.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Best weather resistance, versatile, easy to adjust, good organization | Functional, plentiful storage, water-resistant fabric, inexpensive, versatile | Inexpensive, external USB port, several pockets | Collapsible, unique design, three ways to carry, functional storage, lightweight | Inexpensive, great organization, professional profile and style, easy to use |
| Cons | Lacks laptop protection, smaller fit | Not super stylish | Thin shoulder strap padding, jangly zippers | Lacks protection, water resistance is lacking, not good for heavy loads | Poor water bottle holder, no battery pack with charging station, questionable quality |
| Bottom Line | A fantastically water-resistant bag that offers great versatility and performance | This spacious backpack offers functionality and value that is unmatched | An affordable laptop backpack with a lot of different pockets for adaptable carrying capacity | A collapsible and unique option with ideal features to accommodate wanderlust | A feature-laden option that does the trick for a super low price |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Black Hol... | The North Face Bore... | Matein Travel | Cotopaxi Tasra 16L | Tzowla Travel |
| Laptop Protection (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Storage (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Patagonia Black Hol... | The North Face Bore... | Matein Travel | Cotopaxi Tasra 16L | Tzowla Travel |
| Volume (L) | 25 L | 28 L | 28L | 16 L | Not listed |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs | 2.7 lbs | 1.7 lbs | 1.0 lb | 1.8 lbs |
| Number of Compartments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Dimensions | 21 x 11 x 6.5 in. | 19.75 x 13.5 x 8.5 in. | 18 x 12 x 7.8 in. | 17 x 10.5 x 5.5 in. | 19.29 x11.8 x 5.43 in. |
| Number of Large Pockets | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Number of Small Pockets | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Key Clip? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reflective Material? | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| External Side Pocket(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| External Water Bottle Holder? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Fits Laptop | 15" | 15" | 15.6" | 15" | 15" |
| Hip belt | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Sternum Strap | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
One of the facts of an active working lifestyle is that you tend to become very familiar with every weather scenario that your region tends to materialize. For us, this meant testing in a high elevation mountain town in the late fall where the fickle weather can be sunny and warm one day and then rainy and snowy the next. Having a bag that is weather resistant is crucial for keeping your electronics safe and dry when commuting in the elements. The Black Hole was just the right blend of trendy and functional to accomplish this task.
This model didn't take home the highest scores in the laptop protection department, but one nice feature is that it also includes a smaller padded tablet or small electronic device sleeve as well as the larger padded sleeve for your laptop. One function that stood out is the buckle to secure your laptop in place in the carrying sleeve; this gave peace of mind that the laptop won't slip out or excessively move around too much while in motion. The buckle is especially handy while carrying smaller laptops in the padded sleeve.
We appreciate the features of this pack. The straps are padded and very comfortable, which helps when the pack is loaded heavily or with cumbersome items, and there is a sternum strap for added stability. While the heavy molded back panel made for a comfy commute on most days, it did get warm on longer bike commutes and isn't super breathable. We also wish for a hip belt when carrying heavier items.
The large single chamber compartment made it easy to access and load everything from kale to climbing shoes. The interior drop-in organizer pockets help store small items such as pens and earbuds that might otherwise get lost in the bottom of the large main compartment. This contender also includes two mesh water bottle pockets on the outside of the bag, although the lightweight mesh was not as resilient as the durable fabric that encompasses the rest of the bag.
It also features a smaller semi-padded pocket for smaller items like a tablet or portable electronic device. A tube port lets the laptop sleeve double as a hydration sleeve, and there are side stretch pockets for water bottles. It fits a full-size Nalgene, but you have to cram it in there. The plethora of functions makes it versatile for all sorts of activities.
The feature that stood out about the Black Hole is the large webbing strap on the front that provides a briefcase-style carry. This detail is nice when loading the bag into or out of our vehicle quickly. The top-loading design makes it easy to load and pack our gear, be it books and papers or an extra change of clothes. It even fit gym shoes, along with everything else we needed for the day. The sternum strap can be clipped to any of four positions along a daisy chain on the straps, offering great versatility, but not the same on-the-fly adjustability as other designs. The bonus, however, is that the sternum strap will not slip.
Patagonia does not list a waterproof rating for Black Hole 25, stating "The pack is not waterproof. It will be water resistant". With that said, it is incredibly water resistant. It features a TPU film laminate and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. It will keep your gadgets dry even in the worst of simulated downpours.
Patagonia boasts a polished look about their products, which often suit multiple tasks. The Black Hole 25L is no different. With its sleek, streamlined design and a large single chamber compartment, it can be sported in and out of the office. Although the look made it feel a little more outdoorsy, the Black Hole 25L fits all kinds of occasions.
This bag is pricey. Even though this is on the pricey side, Patagonia's Ironclad Guarantee stands behind this product, replacing it under any condition. We'd say this is a high-value backpack, despite the high price.
The Patagonia Black Hole 25L is a highly functional pack, especially for the outdoor-minded individual. It has plenty of room for all your gear and gadgets, keeps your electronics dry and organized and is in it for the long haul.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
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