YETI finally made a proper hiking backpack — here’s how it held up to a summer of testing

Back in 2024, not satisfied with sippy cups and coolboxes, outdoor gear manufacturer Yeti purchased Mystery Ranch, a well-established maker of load-bearing backpacks for the hunting, fire and tactical markets. One of the first fruits of that acquisition is the Yeti Skala hiking pack. Bearing many similarities to some of Mystery Ranch’s packs (only less ‘tactical’ and more lifestyle-y), the Skala range is designed for hikers needing packs for single- or multi-day hikes.

I’ve been using the Skala 32L day pack and the 50L multi-day pack for several months now. I’ve hiked with them, camped with them, travelled with them, flown with them, and even commuted with them. And I’m a huge fan. From the effortless weight distribution to the high levels of adjustability and capacious storage compartment, the Skala is an excellent choice for outdoorsing.

The Skala isn’t totally perfect: it’s kinda pricey and I wish it came with a cover given the bag itself isn’t fully waterproofed. But if you’re in the market for a new pack, I’d still highly recommend this one. Find out more in my full Yeti Skala review.

Yeti Skala review: Specs

Yeti Skala review: Price & availability

The Skala starts at $300 for the 32L day pack, rising to: $325 for the 40L; $375 for the 50L; and $400 for the 60L. This is fairly pricey given you can pick up a 65L North Face Terra 65 for $210 or a 65L Osprey Rook for $196 at the time of writing.

Both the Terra and Rook offer equivalent features to the Skala, while the Rook also comes with a waterproof cover. The Skala, meanwhile, offers an incredible amount of adjustability and customization. While pricey, I don’t think the MSRP is totally beyond the pale either, and if you’re a keen hiker then the Skala’s sheer level of adjustability (and therefore comfort) may happily justify the extra spend.

Each Skala variant is available in men’s and women’s variants, and in either S/M L/XL, to suit different body shapes. The packs are available in gray, blue and a seasonal color — venom green (men’s) and hot bloom pink (women’s) at the time of writing.

Yeti Skala review: Design & storage

The Skala boasts a huge number of design features intended for ease of use on the trail. The Y-shaped zipper — featured on some Mystery Ranch backpacks — is one of my favorite features. It makes the backpack easy to pack, but also makes it way quicker and less disruptive to find something at the bottom of the bag.

There are two drink pockets at the sides which use stretchy material to accommodate both small and large bottles. On the 50L and 60L packs, the side drink pockets are dual access, so you can slide a bottle in from the top or side — the latter is a lot easier to reach while walking.

All sizes have frontal pockets using the same stretchy material. On the 32L and 40L packs these pockets are primarily for general storage, although on the two larger packs they’re big enough to accommodate water bottles, too — on my 50L pack, I was able to fit a 1.2L Thermos flask, a 1.4L Nalgene and a 1L Nalgene in the front and side pockets, with a front pocket spare for a fourth bottle if I wanted. There’s a water bladder pouch inside, just like the North Face Terra and Osprey Rook, but no opening for running a tube outside the bag.

The Skala’s main compartment is extremely spacious, as it’s literally just an open storage bin. When you need to really fill the bag, adjustable straps on the side let the pack expand a little. You can then use the same straps to compress the bag back down — I found this useful when I flew with the Skala and needed to ensure it fit in the plane’s overhead compartments.

I tended to use the 32L pack for most trips, including short camps, hiking and travelling — it fit enough clothes and essentials for several days. For longer camps where I needed to pack cooking gear and sleeping stuff, the 50L was also plenty spacious for 2-3 days, and I’m not a light packer, so I’m sure you could stretch that further.

Unfortunately, there’s no real compartment division save a small pouch at the back, so everything will just be floating around in the pack, but that’s only an issue when using the day packs half full with fragile items in there, like laptops and cameras. This is normal for hiking backpacks.

There’s a spacious top pocket and two waistband pockets, which I found very useful for storing my quick-access items — sun cream, cleansing wipes, my passport, etc. The two larger sizes also have a sleeping bag pouch at the base, allowing you to fit a bag inside the pack. There are also webbing straps underneath for bigger bags or your sleeping mat.

The webbing above the front and side pockets is also very useful for carrying and fastening larger items, like tripods, poles, or snow picks. I made use of this to carry my Insta360 X6’s heavy duty selfie stick when out testing the camera for my review.

The Skala is water resistant but not waterproof. No waterproof cover is included, unlike the Osprey Rook. The 50L and 60L have an extra internal cover under the main opening for increased water and snow resistance. But if you’re going to be hiking in wet weather, I’d recommend taking a bag cover or packing your items in dry bags inside the Skala.

Most of the pack’s outer is made of water-resistant polyethylene, although the lid and base use reinforced TPU nylon for extra durability. My 32L Skala has taken the heaviest use, as I’ve used it for commuting. Although the base is scuffed, it’s showing no signs of serious wear.

Yeti Skala review: Comfort & performance

Almost every aspect of the Skala can be adjusted to fit precisely to your body. There’s a sternum strap which is adjustable up and down on both sides to help you best fit your chest. The yoke and frame are also adjustable so you can tailor the height of the pack perfectly relative to your neck and shoulders. There’s an adjustable waist strap, and straps all over the bag to tighten or loosen individual elements as required.

The result is a wonderfully comfortable backpack. When adjusted properly, the weight is distributed very effectively from your back and shoulders and channeled to your chest and waist, although primarily the latter. That means you can carry more for longer, as your hips are bearing most of the load. Walking and hiking up hills, even with the loaded 50L pack, was a cinch.

I also travelled with the 32L completely full on several occasions — it was often extremely heavy as they were partly stuffed with cameras, my laptop and other tech. The frame channeled all the weight down to my chest and hips, so I experienced no back or shoulder pain while walking. I also loved that the 32L, even when full, was still compact enough to go into overhead cabin storage on a flight to Copenhagen for a press trip.

I also commuted to work on my motorcycle using the 32L day pack. Believe me, on a motorcycle where you’re sat leaning forward, most backpacks start to hurt in under an hour. In fact, with my normal North Face day pack, I can feel circulation getting cut in my arms and hands after just 20 minutes. With the Skala’s phenomenal weight distribution, I’ve been able to ride with no issues whatsoever. I’d even consider using the Skala on short motorcycle tours — any fellow bikers will know that’s high praise indeed.

The Skala’s back and shoulder padding is extremely thick and comfortable, but also breathable. I like that Yeti has designed it to reduce contact, too. No matter how breathable, padding that touches your back always gets hot after a while. Naturally, you can adjust the padding height to find the best fit for you.

Yeti Skala review: Verdict

Admittedly, the Yeti Skala isn’t perfect. It’s pricier than rivals, and I really wish it came with either better waterproofing credentials or a cover. But the Skala has still become my go-to backpack, not just for hikes and camping, but literally everything. The 32L day pack in particular is ideal for everything from commutes to day trips and even multi-day vacations.

What makes this backpack so great are the weight-distributing features and supremely high level of adjustability. These let the Skala effectively spread almost the entire load of the pack to your hips, so you barely feel the weight on your back. Combined with the excellent build quality and ample storage, the Skala is going to be my workhorse for years to come — or rather, it's going to make me the workhorse!