Patagonia: Environmentally Conscious & Consumer Friendly
Patagonia is known for their environmental responsibility and using a portion of their sales to support causes they hold dear to their heart, most notably, the environment. We’ve been lucky enough to spend some time with a Patagonia Fuego Pack in Channel Blue.
We were able to fit our laptop comfortably in the main compartment on our way to sight see. And no, our laptop is not a condensed netbook. The Fuego Pack can handily hold up to a 17-inch laptop and it also has a padded sleeve to protect it in case you are harassed by crowds of onlookers who stop in their tracks to stare at your attractive backpack. Or you could also take it hiking. But the question begs, why would you take your laptop hiking to begin with? Be at one with nature, not nurture your Facebook page.
Several color options are available, though we enjoyed our choice- the channel blue easily stood out with the color being bright with red trim. There were enough compartments for all our odds and ends and electronic gadgets. We felt oddly organized, despite being the type who lose quite possibly every penny to the bottom of her purse- in my defense, I swear my purse eats every one and is essentially a money monster.
I felt like I could actually find what I was looking for in the Fuego Pack. A zippered pocket gave way to my wallet, a micro-fleeced lined pocket held my Smith Optics, and stretch pockets handled our water bottles. We were as comfortable with our stash if we were traveling a short distance or engaging in outdoor activities. The Fuego uses a unique heat-venting airflow mesh for the shoulder straps and back panel to help you handle your load comfortably. Compression straps help stabilize the load so you feel less like a pack mule and more subhuman for being capable of carrying such a load. The Fuego Pack would not be complete without Patagonia’s water repellent fabric finish, Deluge DWR.
All in all, for $85 on Amazon, we would say this backpack leaves little to be desired. Unless of course, it folds into a tent and can self-sufficiently build a fire to warm you all at the same time. We’ve used cheaper bags, and larger ones, but this model offers a decent balance of features, size, and value.
For those of you traveling and trying to conform to the rigorous ever-changing standards of flight, we encourage you to consider Patagonia’s MLC Wheelie which stands for Maximum Legal Carry-on, allowing the bag to be carried on with even the strictest airline requirements. It weighs 7 pounds, making it the heavy, but holds about 40 L. The MLC is made of polyester material that is 100% recycled and for $200, you can invest in a decent traveling piece. Of course, Patagonia has a full line of other bags to explore as well.
