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Big Agnes would not be a name that springs to mind when considering a proper expedition backpack. To be completely honest very similar to choosing footwear we often tend to stick to the brands we know are tried and tested. A backpack can be a very personal item and an ill-fitting pack that causes issues on route will inevitably ruin an otherwise enjoyable trip.

To quickly skip to the end, how wrong we found our initial preconceptions to be,  Big Agnes has really smashed this one away, keeping the simple things as they should be, a triumph of a pack with loads of great features which we will delve into more detail throughout this review.

The most important factor when choosing a pack for us is comfort. As a mountain guide and photographer, we often carry a few more extra bits and pieces than your average outdoor goer. Supportive with a heavy load, and well balanced, we were happy to carry a few extra grams for a pack that offers this. At 1399 grams this is not a light pack by modern standards but certainly also isn’t tipping the scales, and it is around the benchmark for a pack of this size like we would usually carry.

Where these extra grams are usually used up in the shoulder straps, hip belt, back support, and tough fabrics. Big Agnes has distributed this perfectly, becoming one of the comfiest packs we have used in recent years, offering fantastic support during the long walks in to access the eastern Cairngorm Munros and along steep ridge lines in north Arran, places we used the  Prospector 50l. The Cored aluminium perimeter frame and the hoist compression system meant that even with the pack fully loaded with kit for multiple days out the Prospector 50l never felt under strain even over short sections over boulders and scrambling. There isn’t much ventilation on the back panel, not a huge issue for us given the time of year we were using it, but may become a little sweaty in the warmer temperatures. The foam however does form well to the body with the hip-belt being a particular point of interest with lots of adjustments to provide a snug fit and even weight distribution to this area.

Torso length is fixed to either Medium (46cm-51cm) or Large (51cm-56cm). We received the medium size and it was a near perfect fit for us but it would be advisable to have measurements taken before purchasing as there are no adjustments you can make to fine tune the length.

The capacity is about the minimum we required for 3-4 days of wild-camping throughout late winter into early spring, fitting inside all our kit with just enough space for a mirrorless camera, a couple of extra lenses, and a tripod for the all-important night photography this time of year has to offer. Although not specifically a winter pack, we believe it would be perfect for a range of activities throughout the year, with the very generous outer mesh pockets feeling like a pack with more space available than its stated capacity. The pockets on the hip belt alone are very generous, 1.6l in total, easily fitting inside a map and compass, personal locator beacon, and many other useful items.

Included is the unique 7l trash can. We have never seen this before but what a great little surprise. To be honest, it’s far too nice a bag to be used for trash with us opting to use one of our old battered dry bags. Instead, it was perfect to stuff inside our waterproofs and a belay jacket, clipping onto the outside of the pack for easy access.

The roll-top closure has been common on a lot of packs now and is simple and uses less fabric and stitching compared to the more traditional lid. However, it does make access fiddlier especially when fully loaded. To counter this the Prospector 50l has a fully zippered back panel. Access from here is made easy and you quickly grab a piece of kit from any section of the pack and then move on with quick efficiency. It also doubles up as a very nice sit mat with the rest of the pack acting like a backrest. A great feature and one we haven’t seen used much outside of dedicated photography packs.

Materials used throughout are tough, even the mesh sections, with all the strapping a decent width which holds in place and overall, it’s a solid pack. One issue though is a waterproof cover will need to be purchased separately, a bit of a pain and a bugbear with us being a manufacturer who does not include a cover, especially considering the mixed conditions we likely meet over just a few days walking in the UK. Also, for use in winter we do like to use an internal dry sac to help keep kit dry no matter the conditions. This, although will render the zippered back panel unusable, is something to think about.

Our Verdict

Quite the surprise and quite the triumph from Big Agnes. The  Prospector 50l turning out to be a fantastic pack, not trying to re-invent the backpack but instead keeping all the simple stuff correct by offering a very comfortable and supportive pack, with a large main compartment and spacious outer mesh pockets providing more than enough room for most multi-day activities over a wide range of terrain. Whilst also adding in some interesting features such as the zippered back panel, large hip belt pockets, and inclusion of the trash can, a great little extra. It’s just a shame a waterproof cover has to be purchased separately, but this is common with a lot of brands not just Big Agnes and should certainly not factor in your decision when considering this otherwise fantastic pack. 

Trek Scotland is a small family business based in the picturesque village of Tomintoul in the North East region of the Cairngorms National Park. They provide bespoke Mountain Guiding for Single Day Walks and Lightweight Multiday Trekking experiences, including wild camping, in the stunning Cairngorms wilderness and surrounding areas. Whether in the high mountains or lower valleys, their Multiday Treks are equipped with high quality, lightweight camping and trekking gear. They only work with small groups and, whatever your ability, pride themselves on designing your outdoor experience completely to your needs and with professional guidance and expertise. Adventure is waiting... Read more from Trek Scotland