REASONS TO BUY
Incredible weight-to-volume
Packs into its own pocket
Accessible price
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks durability
No hipbelt
Less ideal for heavy loads
Venture Pal 35L Review
This budget backpack offers plenty of space for light-duty day trips, whether traveling or hitting the trail
Credit: Zach Lovell
RELATED: Best Daypacks of 2024
Our Verdict
The Venture Pal 35L is an impressively lightweight daypack that's among the least expensive options on the market today. With an advertised 35 liters of capacity, this is a bag that can fit layers and just-in-case items easily, making for an excellent travel or trail companion, especially considering its weight-to-volume ratio. Uniquely, this backpack was designed to fit inside one of its pockets, boasting excellent packability when the bag isn't in use. This option lacks a hip belt and doesn't offer any built-in back support, so we'd recommend this to shoppers who intend to keep their packing loads on the lighter side. Additionally, the lightweight fabrics aren't the most durable, making this an option that's best suited for more casual adventures. Ultimately, the Venture Pal 35L is worthy of your consideration if you're in need of a lightweight daypack and are shopping on a tight budget. Don't miss our article on daypack review to see how this option stacked up against the competition.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Venture Pal 35L | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Buy on a Tight Budget | Best Bang for Your Buck | |||
| Price | $26 List $21.99 at Amazon | $60 List $59.95 at REI | $65.00 at Amazon | $40 List | $44.73 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A high-volume backpack that boasts a lightweight design at a staggeringly low price | The updated Flash 22 is lighter than ever while still providing excellent performance for many types of activity | This smaller daypack emphasizes movement over durability | A comfortable daypack for hikes or commutes to work | This lightweight, durable daypack can handle rugged terrain with ease |
| Rating Categories | Venture Pal 35L | REI Co-op Flash 22 | Cotopaxi Batac 16L | Decathlon Quechua M... | Gregory Nano 18 |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Versatility (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Weight-to-Volume Ratio (15%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Venture Pal 35L | REI Co-op Flash 22 | Cotopaxi Batac 16L | Decathlon Quechua M... | Gregory Nano 18 |
| Advertised Volume | 35 L | 22 L | 16 L | 20 L | 18 L |
| Measured Weight | 10.5 oz | 14.0 oz | 11.6 oz | 26.9 oz | 17.5 oz |
| Weight per Liter | 0.30 oz/L | 0.64 oz/L | 0.73 oz/L | 1.35 oz/L | 0.97 oz/L |
| Back Construction | Nylon, no foam or structure | Removable foam pad | Nylon and polyester, no support | Contoured plastic sheet with a removeable rod, foam outer with ventilation | Perforated CLPE foam |
| Hydration Compatibility | Internal sleeve that can be used for hydration, but no pathway for the hose | Internal hydration sleeve | Internal sleeve that can be used for hydration, but no pathway for the hose | Interal hydration sleeve, holds up to 3L | Independent hydration sleeve with its own zippered compartment |
| Hip Belt | None | Broad, ventilated but not padded. | None | Broad, padded, with pockets | 3/4" webbing |
| Number of Pockets | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Description of Pockets | 1 main zippered, 2 external zippered, 2 mesh side pocketed | 1 main zippered, 2 mesh side pockets, 1 side zippered pocket, 1 top pouch | 1 main zippered, 1 internal mesh zippered, 1 exterior side zippered, 2 mesh side pockets | 1 zippered outside pocket, 1 main zippered, 1 small inside pocket, 2 mesh side pockets, 1 hip belt pocket | 2 main zippered, 1 external zippered, 2 mesh side pockets |
| Materials | Nylon | 70D nylon, polyurethane coating | Ripstop nylon and polyester | Polyester, polyamide, elastane, polyurethan coating | Nylon exterior, 210D CryptoRip nylon body, 420D high density bottom |
| Outside Carry Options | 2 exterior straps | Ice axe loop and bungee holder, 10 loops for additional straps or attachments | 6 daisy chain loops | 1 trekking pole/ice axe holder, 5 additional daisy chain loops that can accept more straps or attachments | 4 loops that can accept more straps or attachments, 2 exterior straps |
| Whistle | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Key Clip | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Other Notable Features | Incredibly lightweight for its capacity, folds up into its own pocket, reflective tape on exterior | Removeable foam back panel doubles as sit pad, removeable sternum, removeable Packmod bungee | Unique color schemes | Very wide opening for easy packing, removeable hip pocket, breathable padded back | Durable top grab loop, thickly padded back and shoulders |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The penny-priced Venture Pal 35L is a unique offering in the world of daypacks. Typically, the larger the pack, the heavier it is, but this model is one of the lightest and largest packs we've reviewed. While there are some setbacks in certain metrics, the Venture Pal offers a great deal to the budget shopper.
Performance Comparison
We spent weeks testing the Venture Pal alongside its competition.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
We tested this metric by wearing each option for several weeks on hikes, work commutes, fishing trips, and even rock climbs. Then, we took each model on a similar one-hour hiking circuit, measuring the amount of sweat on our t-shirts afterward. We also examined how well we could move while wearing each pack. Lastly, we investigated each option's ability to be adjusted and how well each pack fits various upper body sizes. The Venture Pal came in towards the back of the pack, but in certain contexts, it offers decent comfort.
While we loved many aspects of the Venture Pal, it isn't the most comfortable if carrying more weight. Without any built-in back support or a hip belt, its overall score in this metric didn't surprise our testers. This lightweight pack also didn't offer many breathability features, causing a bit more sweat in testing. Despite these setbacks, if we kept the pack load on the lighter side, we had minimal complaints and enjoyed wearing this pack for extended periods of time. Additionally, this option had minimal movement restrictions, which was common in any of our packs with less or no support. While the volume of this pack is one of the largest in our lineup, it's crucial to only fill the Venture Pal with bulkier, lighter items to keep the pack comfortable.
The Venture Pal 35L can't handle much weight, but it boasts excellent freedom of movement.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Versatility
We tested this metric by simply wearing each pack for multiple types of outings across several weeks and taking detailed notes along the way. This pack came in above average in the lineup.
As a lightweight and minimalist daypack, this option excels in casual-use settings where weight is a priority, whether hiking or traveling. As one of the lightest and most voluminous packs in the lineup, this is a great option to carry bulkier loads, such as clothes, as long as the overall weight is on the lighter side. We could easily fit the Venture Pal in our travel luggage for smaller outings while on the go, and it also worked well as the just-in-case pack to leave in our cars. If looking for a pack for activities that involve heavier loads, we'd look elsewhere, given that this option lacks any hip belts or support system.
Many subtle design considerations make this a versatile pack for the outdoors or city life, such as this reflective tape backing when traveling on a street at night.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Ease of Use
We tested this metric by spending weeks with each product in the field across a variety of activities. We also examined how well each option could be packed and how easily each feature could be utilized. This option came in about average.
This simple, no-frills design was intuitive and friendly to pack or fold up into its pocket. The included pockets were also effective and useful, making for quick and easy organization. Unfortunately, the minimalist design of the Venture Pal offered little in adjustability, causing a reduction in its overall ease-of-use score, though as we've previously mentioned, if you can keep the weight down, this pack performs very well.
We were very impressed that the entire pack fits into this exterior front pocket, even offering a carrying handle.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
We tested this metric by weighing each pack and dividing the weight by the manufacturer's reported volume size, ultimately determining each option's weight per liter. Lastly, we investigated the overall feel of each pack's pockets and additional compartments, also comparing/contrasting the reported volumes of each daypack. This option clearly came in at the front of the pack.
Given that this option weighs only 10.5 oz and boasts 35 liters of space, the Venture Pal offers one of the best weight-to-volume ratios we've ever seen. The weight per liter comes to a staggering .30 oz/liter, which is typically reserved for extremely expensive, technical packs utilizing a featherweight material like Dyneema. When also considering this pack costs as much as a burger and fries, it further earns our respect. If weight and weight-to-volume are priorities of yours, this belongs on your finals list.
Simply put, the Venture Pal stands out the most due to its packability and low weight.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Construction Quality
We tested this metric by pushing each pack in urban and mountainous environments, making note of any durability concerns along the way. We then loaded up each pack with 20 pounds, dragging it on a trail for 20 feet and sizing up the damage. We also put dry clothes in each bag, sealed it, and sprayed the pack with a hose for one minute, examining the level of saturation from the clothes. Finally, we performed a deep dive into each pack's materials and long-term user complaints. This option isn't the most durable and didn't score highly in this metric.
The lightweight construction of the Venture Pal comes at the cost of durability. In harsher environments, including rock climbing and off-trail hiking, this pack quickly showed signs of abrasion, which was in line with our findings during the drag test. It also didn't offer much in the way of water resistance, getting its contents soaked during our hose test. Sometimes, you can't quite have it all, and there are still many redeeming qualities of the Venture Pal.
The lightweight construction of the Venture Pal made for a much less durable pack.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Venture Pal 35L?
The Venture Pal offers decent overall performance at a price less expensive than a meal at a sit-down restaurant. If you're shopping on a budget and/or are prioritizing weight-to-volume, this pack boasts exceptional value. We'd recommend that you look elsewhere if you need your daypack to handle rougher environments or heavier loads, but many shoppers will be happy with the Venture Pal for casual use.
What Other Daypacks Should You Consider?
If you're looking for another lightweight option, take a look at the Cotopaxi Batac 16L, though it's substantially smaller than the Venture Pal 35L. If you're hunting for another budget option, check out the REI Co-Op Flash 22, an excellent lightweight pack with more versatility.
—Zach Lovell
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