The category of “crag packs” has come a long way over the past decade, as companies continue to refine and reimagine what a pack should deliver for outdoor climbers. “Cragging” is jargon that refers to casual single-pitch climbing (sport or trad), so crag packs should cater to the needs of this activity. There are few things crag packs need to be, and some things they don’t: 1) they should fit all of your climbing stuff easily 2) they don’t need to be the most light and fast packs ever made 3) they should make it easy to move short distances between pitches at a crag. The Mammut Neon 55 satisfies all of these needs in a robust, durable, well-made design that has stood up well over the past few months of sport cragging.

Mammut Neon 55 

  • Large flap zipper access to main compartment
  • Fully accessible through top opening or large back panel access, even with a rope mounted
  • Flat-based standing backpack
$190 from Mammut

The Mammut Neon 55 loads via the rear panel or the top. I’ve noticed a bunch of climbers using rear-panel loading climbing packs at the crags these days. The Patagonia Cragsmith seems to be one of the more popular packs of this kind out there, but I’ve also seen this style of pack from Sterling and others. I used the Patagonia version when it first came out and liked a lot. Over the years it’s been refined and improved, though it’s retained its 45L volume throughout.

There is much to like about the rear-panel-loading style of cragging pack, but I’ve always felt that the 45L size was just barely big enough to actually fit everything: rope, rack, shoes, harness, water, jackets/clothing, and more. Technically, I can get everything I want to bring into 45L, but it’s tight. That’s why I was so stoked to check out the Mammut Neon in the 55L size.

I don’t like wrestling my gear into sacks of any kind. Subduing objects with my body weight just to get a zipper to close is annoying. I’ll make an exception for traveling to avoid baggage fees, but I don’t necessarily feel like wrestling gear every time I move between pitches multiple times a day.

With the Mammut Neon 55L, I don’t need to worry about being precise when I’m packing up. I can be the hot, sloppy mess that I am and just throw everything into the pack, zip it up, and be off to the next route. If you’re like me and find 45L a tight fit, the Mammut Neon 55L is the only “cragging pack” I’ve come across that gives you that extra volume.

There are plenty of places to store accessories: a sleeve inside the back panel, and two zippered pouches on the top lid. The pack also comes with a rope tarp. If your pack is truly full, then you can carry a coiled rope on the outside of the pack, utilizing exterior straps.

All in all, I really appreciate the quality of the pack’s build, and its thoughtful design features.