CamelBak Sequoia 24 Review

The CamelBak Sequoia 24L is a women's specific daypack made of 420-Denier oxford nylon with an AirSupport™ back panel and dual-wing hip belt. It comes in a single size meant to fit 15 to 19-inch torsos. We previously tested the 22-liter version, and this one is meant to fit 24 liters of gear and includes a 100-ounce (3-liter) hydration reservoir housed in a dedicated bladder pocket.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The CamelBak Sequoia 24 has a dual-wing hip belt that compresses your load to your body — but at the cost of an awkward fitting process. Its shoulder straps are both padded and ventilated with mesh covering strategic holes through the supportive foam. The adjustable sternum strap is convenient and helpfully placed to add comfort rather than make us ladies feel awkward with inconvenient chest placement.

CamelBak's AirSupport™ back panel combines a removable stiffened core with numerous wide channels left between foam panels that maintain decent airflow. However, the back padding was not nearly as comfortable as other packs we tested. The padding dug into our testers' backs and shoulders after only a few moments of being on. The hip belt is comfortable once you get it on, but it is awkward and uncomfortable if you aren't able to adjust it correctly.

Also, it's a little too easy to overstuff, particularly with a full load and a full 3-liter hydration bladder, which then pushed the back of the bag against you, closing off those key airways and feeling slightly lumpy and a bit awkward against your body. And if you want a daypack you can easily wear with or without the use of the hip belt, the Sequoia's dual-wing system is almost impossible to wear conveniently without clipping the hip belt, as those two dual wings splay wildly to each side if not attached to each other. But for a fairly comfortable weight-bearing daypack, the Sequoia 24 is in the middle of the pack.

Versatility

The CamelBak Sequoia 24 has plenty of pockets inside and out. A separate hydration pocket is easily identifiable by its blue zipper pull and comes with the super convenient CamelBak 3-liter bladder and all the necessary holes and clips to manage the hose. A small zippered, fleece-lined pocket on the outside holds sensitive items that shouldn't be scratched. One side holds two large mesh sleeves that could accommodate oversized smartphones, but testers found that since there's no way to secure the pockets, we wouldn't want to put our phones in there anyway. The other side has a large zippered pocket that fits a surprising number and array of objects including compasses, granola bars, and even a whole apple. One side has an adjustable bungee loop with a hook that can easily stow trekking poles.

While the dual-wing hip belt does cinch the bulk of your load close to your back, the pack lacks any additional straps to help tighten down the top of the bag. The side pocket for an extra water bottle is located on the same side as the trekking pole attachment, which effectively makes it so you can only use one of these features at a time. We'd love to see a second water bottle pocket on the other side of the bag. And while this bag has useful features and pockets for full-day hikes, it's so specific to hiking that we have a hard time enjoying it on a bicycle commute or as a travel bag (when we don't want to use the hip belt). For cross-sport and multi-use applications, there are more versatile daypacks out there. But for pretty much anything a day hike might throw your way, the Sequoia 24 is equipped to handle.

Weight

All this padding and support comes at the cost of significant weight. The Sequoia 24 comes in at a whopping 43 ounces or 2.75 pounds, making it among the heaviest daypacks we tested. This weight does include both the 3-liter bladder (without this, the pack is its advertised weight of just 36 ounces) and the metal stiffening rod, both of which could be removed if you're into shedding ounces. No rain cover though, as the Sequoia doesn't have one integrated or stowed anywhere.

Ease of Use

The Sequoia 24 comes in only one size, advertised to fit women with torsos 15 to 19 inches long from nape to hips. The sternum strap sits high across the chest and can easily and quickly move up or down to secure the pack across the most comfortable part of your chest. Pockets everywhere help keep you organized and hold the things you need quick access to within easy reach.

Unlike the previous version of this bag, the Sequoia 22, the Sequoia 24 now features a U-shaped top zipper to access the largest main compartment. While this aesthetic may be more appealing to some, it's significantly less convenient to use because it is small. By limiting the zipper's range that previously extended down the side of the bag to only flipping open the top, it's much harder to locate items on the bottom of your pack without having to pull out things you've stashed at the top. This zipper configuration also limits the ease with which you can place oversized items in your bag — like a laptop, if you're a daypack commuter or traveler. In addition to that problematic shift, CamelBak has added a small fleece-lined pocket to the outside of this bag, which could be convenient but is executed in a way that makes it more of a liability. This little pocket is positioned exactly at the base of the top that flips open with the U-shaped main zipper, making anything you put inside this little pocket solidly in the way of accessing the main compartment. As that little pouch is fleece-lined, it begs to have sensitive-to-scratching items like sunglasses put inside, yet the placement of this loose, flapping pocket inside the pack makes anything you keep in it at risk of being damaged as you pull things from the main compartment. As much as we want to like this new pocket configuration, we much prefer the older, traditional over-the-top zipper style that makes it much easier to pack and access your main compartment items.

Durability

Made of thick, 420-Denier oxford nylon and strong, clean zippers, the Sequoia 24 radiates durability. Reinforced seams and sturdy materials bring confidence to this pack's ability to handle the trials of hard use. Even its color — somewhere between purple and grey — stays cleaner looking than the bright colors of many other women's bags.

Our only potential concern with this bag's durability might be in straining the zippers. Because the pockets and their zippered access points are a bit awkward and oddly placed and shaped, it's a little too easy to pack things unevenly in this bag, artificially straining zippers where there aren't compression straps to take on the tension. With that being said, the zippers — and the rest of the bag — showed no signs of failing during our field testing, this is just one potential concern we have for the bag after a prolonged amount of time and abuse.

Value

There's no way around it, the CamelBak Sequoia 24 is one of the most expensive daypacks we tested. What that extra money gets you is a durable bag and a hydration bladder to go with it. If you're a day hiker who needs plenty of pockets and a hydration bladder, the Sequoia might be for you.

Conclusion

The Sequoia 24 is a dependable bag equipped to haul heavier loads without actually feeling like it weighs you down. It has some useful pockets and comes with a water reservoir and hose to keep you hydrated. Though its shape and dual-wing hip belt are less versatile for certain uses (like carrying a large laptop or wearing without using the hip belt), for earnest hikers who just want to hike, this pack might be for you.