Patagonia Black Hole Pack 32L Review: A Simple, Durable One-Bag Travel Pack

Introduction

The Patagonia Black Hole Pack 32L is the largest of the two sizes this pack comes in, and it shares much of its DNA with the well-known Black Hole duffel line: the same tough TPU-coated fabric, the same solid hardware, but with a large top-opening compartment and a carry system that makes it far more comfortable to wear as a backpack. It is aimed squarely at travelers who want one soft, durable bag that can pull double duty as a hiking pack.

Who This Pack Is For

This pack suits travelers who like simple, no-fuss bags with one large main compartment and just enough exterior pockets. At 32 liters, it works easily as a carry-on on most airlines, and it is light enough for anyone watching their overall load.

One thing worth knowing up front: both sizes measure about 21 inches tall by 12 inches wide when packed the way we tested, and roughly 22 inches tall (56 cm) when fully stuffed. That makes it too tall to work as a personal item, so plan on it occupying your carry-on allowance. Because the bag is soft, real dimensions depend largely on how full you pack it. The 25-liter version keeps nearly identical height and width, with the capacity difference coming mostly from a slightly shallower depth.

Fabric, Hardware, and Water Resistance

The Black Hole fabric is one of the standout features. It is thick, durable, and waterproof, with a TPU coating that gives it a slight sheen while staying more flexible than many fabrics with similar coatings. Note that a waterproof fabric does not make a waterproof bag: we tested it on a paddleboard and left it outside under a sprinkler for about an hour, and it proved relatively water resistant. It holds up well to light rain, but because the seams and zippers are not sealed, it will eventually start to leak when really soaked.

Hardware is typically solid on Patagonia bags, and this one follows the pattern. All four exterior zippered compartments use large YKK zippers, and the adjusters and buckles are high-quality Duraflex brand. None of the zippers are lockable, including those on the laptop compartment, but the holes in the zipper pulls are large enough to lock several pulls together with a TSA lock or a small locking carabiner.

Compartments and Organization

The main compartment opens from the top with a slanted zipper that angles across the bag and ends not quite halfway down. This is a smart compromise: you can peel the lid back to reach gear at the bottom of the bag, but the opening is not so wide that everything spills out.

Around the main compartment sit four exterior pockets:

• A large front slash pocket with a side-opening zipper. It is thin but gusseted, popping out up to two inches so you can fit quite a bit of gear.
• A top brain pocket with roughly three liters of capacity, similar in size to a typical toiletry bag. A fabric flap inside means packing the main compartment fuller reduces brain pocket space, and vice versa.
• A rear laptop compartment (more on that below).
• Two side water bottle pockets made from thin stretchy mesh. They are wide enough to hold more than a bottle; a pair of sandals fits easily. They feel slightly loose toward the bottom, and taller pockets would be welcome, but nothing fell out during testing.

The laptop compartment sits behind the backpack straps and opens with a single large zipper that lays flat. Inside are two sleeves: one for laptops up to 15 inches and a smaller padded sleeve for an e-reader or tablet. Padding is decent, with the thick back padding doubling as the cushioning for the laptop sleeve. There is also about an inch of false bottom at the seam, which keeps your laptop off the ground when you set the pack down. Because the bag doubles as a hiking pack, it is hydration compatible: a bladder fits in the laptop compartment, the hose exits through a hole at the top, and small straps on each shoulder strap secure it.

Carry Comfort

The carry system is deliberately simple: two moderately wide, moderately padded, curved shoulder straps with an adjustable sternum strap, thick back padding, and no hip belt. The straps are not stowable, and the back is fairly flat with little air ventilation, though it does have an additional thinner breathable mesh pad on the back panel, top, and bottom. The foam padding is around five eighths of an inch thick, thick enough to keep the bag comfortable with almost anything loaded inside.

Packing It Up

Loaded for a short trip, the 32L main compartment swallows a lot: a medium compression packing cube fits easily in the bottom, two can stack on top, and there is still room along the side for a minimalist toiletry kit and a small travel towel. Add an e-reader in the tablet sleeve, sandals in one side pocket, and a water bottle in the other, and a realistic full load comes out to roughly 12 pounds (about 5.5 kg).

Fully packed and worn on short trips, the shoulder straps and back padding feel good for the weight involved. It is decently comfortable, though at this size and load, a hip belt would help.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The 32-liter size sits right on the edge of where a hip belt becomes useful. Fully loaded, the bag can get fairly heavy, and there is no way to attach an aftermarket hip belt: unlike some packs with side loops or a pass-through sleeve for a separate hip belt, the Black Hole Pack offers neither option.

Availability is currently the biggest drawback. The pack sits on a wait list on the Patagonia website, and it can take three to four weeks to get one. Aesthetics are also subjective: it looks very much like a hiking backpack, and the shiny TPU-coated fabric is not to everyone’s taste.

Buying Advice

If you want one bag that handles carry-on travel and light hiking, keeps organization minimal but functional, and is built from fabric that shrugs off light rain and rough handling, this is an easy recommendation, provided you can tolerate the wait list and you do not need a hip belt. If you regularly carry heavy loads or want lockable zippers out of the box, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

The Patagonia Black Hole Pack 32L earns its place through simplicity done well: a large main compartment, a handful of genuinely useful exterior pockets, solid YKK and Duraflex hardware, and a carry system that is comfortable for its class. It is not perfect, as the missing hip belt option, unsealed seams, and limited availability all count against it, but for lightweight one-bag travelers, it remains one of the stronger options in this size range.