Scott Patrol E2 30L Review

The Scott Patrol E2 30L features the Alpride E2 system, which is currently the lightest electronic airbag system available. Additionally, the Patrol E2 features a streamlined, thoughtful design. The construction focuses on being a great backcountry pack first and an airbag second, which makes it a solid choice for big days in the mountains. Although aesthetics are an afterthought, they still matter when you're spending a pretty penny on these packs – along with its technical features, the Patrol E2 is among the most stylish packs in our lineup.

Performance Comparison

Utility

The Patrol E2 has the capacity to carry everything we needed for medium-long days in the mountains. We were also impressed that we could pack for an overnight trip at a full-service hut without issue. The Patrol E2 has one of the best rescue gear pockets of any pack we tested, with a bright orange zipper that's easy to grab even with thick gloves. The pocket itself is large and can easily carry a larger shovel blade and a 300 cm probe. The main compartment seems on par with the claimed interior size of 30 liters, and it's easy to utilize the space well.

There is one point where this otherwise stellar pack lost points: the hip belt. The biggest issue is that if snow or ice gets into the belt buckle, it won't open or close properly. This is a near inevitability on stormy days or when you have a lot of transitions during your tour. It led to a bit of a headache when we couldn't get it on and off quickly, and it could be a safety issue if the buckle isn't properly and reliably closed when the airbag is deployed. The attachment for the leg loop system works just fine, but it isn't as easy to use as other packs in the lineup that utilize a carabiner attachment system.

Airbag System

This is a metric where the Patrol E2 – and other packs that utilize the Alpride E2 system – really shine. The newly redesigned Alpride E2 is 25% lighter and 40% smaller than its predecessor, the Alpride E1. That makes for a massive weight and bulk savings that pay dividends into the Patrol E2 design. Using both an internal charge and backup AA alkaline batteries, the E2 system can withstand very cold temperatures, charge in less than 25 minutes, and detonate multiple times on one charge. This system ensures that your battery can keep going for a very long time, and you can practice deploying the airbag without having to refill a canister. The AA batteries themselves can actually passively recharge the supercapacitor as well, essentially topping off the internal system between charges.

The only challenge we had with the airbag system was minor and standard for most of these packs because the airbag unit is located at the bottom of your pack – it's tough to turn on and off with your pack fully loaded. Especially for the Patrol E2, which has a clamshell shape, you'll explode your kit all over the side of the mountain if you try and turn it on while you're out there. Save yourself the hassle and turn it on in the morning; it has a long enough battery life on one charge to ensure you're good to go all day.

Weight

The Patrol E2 was nearly the lightest pack in our review lineup, missing the top spot by only an ounce. It weighed in at a modest 5.7 pounds, only a couple of pounds heavier than even standard, lightweight backcountry touring packs with no airbag. However, by cutting weight, the Patrol E2 inevitably is slim on a few features that we normally like to have in a backcountry pack.

Designers didn't cut out anything crucial, but this pack doesn't include the same extra comfort and utility features that other packs do, for only a couple of grams more. Scott is now offering an ultralight version of this pack, with an even more slimmed-down feature set and a featherweight but ultra-durable Dyneema exterior – we're looking forward to testing one out in the future. But for now, the Patrol E2 mostly strikes a nice balance with weight and utility. If you want to keep your kit light, this airbag could be a great option for you.

Comfort

This admittedly wasn't a high point of the Patrol E2, but that's not what it's designed for. The back panel of the pack is well-articulated and comfortable on long climbs, and it fits a range of users – both men and women, from 5'3" all the way to 6'0" – surprisingly well. Its design encourages airflow on sweaty climbs, and the shoulder straps move well with our bodies on long bootpacks.

Once again, the low point of this pack is directly related to the hip belt. The strap is thinner and less padded than most, so it's not as firmly planted on your hips as other packs for fast downhills. Additionally, we found it nearly impossible to adjust while it was buckled, making it challenging to achieve a snug, comfortable fit.

Features

The Patrol E2 is a utility-focused pack with thoughtful placements for carrying technical gear. Not only can it comfortably carry a rope, two ice axes, and your skis, but it also features sewn-in daisy chain gear loops down the back for modified storage. Both ski carry options are incredibly stable, and we thought it had the most secure diagonal carry of the pack lineup.

The one extra feature we'd love to see in this pack is a hip belt pocket. They aren't much of a weight penalty, and are super handy in the backcountry for stashing essentials like a scraper, multi-tool, skin wax, sunscreen, snacks — you name it. We think just this little feature would give this pack more utility.

To be fair, our lead tester for this pack is a woman, and ladies don't get as large of pockets in their ski pants as men, so we have fewer places to stash our essentials. Perhaps for some users, this lack of a hip belt pocket is a non-issue. You can also stash some smaller items on whichever side is empty in the zippered sleeve for the trigger handle, which can be switched to either right or left.

Should You Buy the Scott Patrol E2 30L?

If you're looking for a lightweight pack that includes a top-of-the-line airbag system and thoughtfully designed technical features, the Patrol E2 is our top pick. You're particularly suited for this pack if you're inclined to take your airbag pack ski mountaineering in the spring, into glaciated terrain, or out for long missions. Even for everyday human-powered adventures in avalanche terrain, this modestly sized pack has the capacity to carry everything you'll need for most days in the backcountry.

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