The Petzl Bug Multi-Pitch Pack: A Review

If you’ve ever been on a multi-pitch climb with a little minimalist pack that was not designed for multi-pitching, perhaps you, too, have encountered some of the following inconveniences: uncomfortable straps, zippers with tiny pull-tabs that can be frustrating to deal with when you’re pumped or have cold fingers, zipper opening orientations that seem to be designed solely to dump your gear when you’re on a hanging belay, and a flimsy exterior that threatens to tear when it comes against rock.

Petzl’s latest iteration of the Bug multi-pitch climbing pack solves all of these issues and more. It also works well as a day pack for romping around the city – in fact, it’s a brilliant little carry-on for travel, making it a good companion on your next climbing trip. At first glance, you might think it’s just a regular backpack designed to appeal to any gorpcore enthusiast. And while it’s true that it’s an eye-catching design that comes in black, orange, and smoked blue, the Bug is also incredibly functional as a multi-pitch climbing pack.

 

The Bug is only 18 litres, but its thoughtful design makes it a workhorse. It has comfortable padded straps, a sternum strap, and an adjustable, removable waistbelt, perfect for keeping the pack tight to the body while climbing. While the waistbelt isn’t as comfortable as a padded one, it adds comfort during a long approach or descent. There is a removable helmet holder – a feature that really comes in handy – and an adjustable strap for attaching a rope to the top of the pack. The pack weighs only 665 grams.

I’ve been using the Bug for a few weeks now, and one of my favourite features is its durability. Using a pack that isn’t specifically designed for multi-pitch climbing can be dangerous, particularly if you’re looking to haul the pack between pitches. The Bug’s burly material and haul loop leaves little concern when dragging the pack up over rough rock. The other feature I really like is the placement of the zippers, both on the main large opening of the pack and all of the extra little pockets. The main opening is on the top of the pack, meaning that your contents will be secure when opening your bag at a belay, and there are two interior pockets that won’t dump your contents when you need to open them. The only pouch you need to watch out for is the one on the front panel, because the zipper is vertical. But it’s deep, and the zipper is strong, so once your items are stowed away, there’s no risk of them falling out.

I also like the shape of the pack and all of the added straps designed to effectively increase the capacity of its “18 litre” design. It feels comfortable to wear when climbing. It’s the right size for a day of multi-pitching, and the side compression straps and stitched daisy chains on the front come in handy for securing a rope or other items to the pack. It would get the job done for cragging, but it wouldn’t be my first choice because a lot of the contents of my pack would be on the outside of it (e.g. rope, helmet, extra shoes). But after a multi, it’s great having a way to secure your things for the descent.

I didn’t expect I would, but I have taken to using the Bug as a backpack for toting my things around. The padded hydration pack sleeve doubles as a laptop case, and the internal zipped pockets keep my things secure. The front panel is made of a rubber material, adding to its durability – it also has the added bonus of making the pack water-resistant. The Bug is a cleverly designed multi-purpose multi-pitch pack that I would recommend to anyone.

 

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