Review: Rab Protium 27L Backpack
The Protium 27 litre day pack is exactly as billed; a perfectly sized pack for all-day adventures wherever your feet may take you.
The Rab Protium 27 is a well designed, go-to backpack for exploring and carrying all your essentials for a day outside. Best suited for long hikes, exciting scrambles and casual walks, the pack boasts several handy pockets, equipment attachment points and a comfortable adjustable back system. With 4 different colourways and stylish design, there is plenty of room for stuffing layers for winter or swimming gear for summer dips without feeling too big.
Rab Protium 27L Day Pack: The stats
| Best for: | Long day hikes in all seasons |
| Weight: | 1.06kg / 2lb 5oz(M-L) |
| Waterproof: | Yes |
| Hydration compatible: | Yes |
| Waterproof cover: | Yes |
| Eco-conscious: | 46% recycled fabric and no PFAS |
| Overall rating: |
Features of the Rab Protium 27L Day Pack
Hip belt
Back panel and shoulder straps
The back panel is comfortable due to the vacuum formed, precurved and moulded ABS semi-rigid structure. It is also adjustable using the Air Contour™ back system, so it can be close-fitting to suit different torso lengths. The shoulder straps have a good amount of padding with an adjustable cross-chest strap for added stability.
Internal pockets
There is a small internal zippered mesh pocket with a key attachment point at the top of the pack to keep small items safe. There is also an almost secret zippered top pocket which is deceptively roomy for quick grab tools, torches, notebooks or snacks – this is a brilliant feature. An additional pocket is located just behind the back panel to take a 2l water bladder that can be fixed with a small buckle, and the open top allows the drinking tube to easily wrap around and secure on the shoulder strap. It’s also easy to slide a bladder down even when the pack is filled.
Side pockets
The side pockets are excellent, some of the best I’ve used and are pleasingly secure. The stretchy fine-mesh fabric will easily fit a 1l bottle with enough depth for longer flasks.
Front stash pocket
The front stash pocket is a joy and very handy for stuffing items such as waterproofs, maps, caps or a sit mat. It can also house a bike or climbing helmet if needed. The fabric is a very fine quick drying mesh and will hold outerwear to quickly grab out. It can be secured using a small buckle.
Walking pole attachment, compression straps and gear loops
With two compression straps on either side of the pack, the bottom straps sit over the side pockets with the top ones slightly above to keep stored items effectively secure. The walking pole attachment loops have a quick release pull and are perfectly sized to take poles. The bungee retention system is also really slick and adjustable to suit the pole size.
Rain cover
Stored in a zippered compartment on the underside of the pack is a rain cover. It is secured internally with a Velcro tab so can be removed if needed. It is easy to take out and covers the pack even with walking poles attached. The adjustable bungee and side toggles secure the cover on to the pack in strong winds.
Rab Protium 27L Day Pack review
My first impressions of the pack were that it looked high quality and had everything I would look for, and expect (especially from top quality Rab), in a day pack: roomy main compartment, small pockets on the hipbelt, good side pockets and attachment points, and the front pouch seemed like a useful additional extra. With a great colour (I tested the Tuscan Red option) and styling, I was eager to get out there and put it through its paces.
I wanted to try the Rab Protium 27l as a replacement for an old 30 litre Lowe Alpine pack and it seemed like an ideal option for a hiking trip to Madeira where I knew I’d need a decent day pack to function well over several several full days. I have also used it for day hikes on the southwest coast path and in the Lake District so it has been tested on a variety of terrain, distances, weather and loading. I wanted the pack to be able to carry everything needed for long and often technical walking, take walking poles and a lot of water. It has absolutely met those expectations and I’ve been impressed overall.
I tested the Rab Women’s Aeon 33l daypack last year which was similar, just slightly bigger with a different opening. I was disappointed with those side pockets (too small with an angled opening) but see this newer pack from Rab has rectified that with deep, secure pockets.
General use
The pack is perfect for day hikes, it is big enough for a full day out on the trails and has ample room for everything you need. It can easily take more than you probably need, but I’m a serial overpacker for those ‘just in case’ scenarios! I took the pack to Madeira for 10 long days on the trails where I put a 2-litre bladder in the back, lunch, snacks, waterproofs, an extra layer, flip flops, a towel and swimmers and all the little extras needed, and still had a little room to spare – it really was perfect for this. Not to mention the zippered inside pocket to put the beer or ice cream money in! Knowing you can walk out the door in the morning and be back in the evening carrying everything you could possibly need is reassuring. It’s probably too big for a short walk, however, and would feel a bit overkill. It might be possible to push the capabilities of the pack for a super lightweight overnighter but I haven’t tested this. I really like the different compartments to organise kit into which makes the pack feel roomier than it is, plus the main compartment is zippered which I often prefer to a buckle.
Comfort and fit
I find the pack very comfortable and fits nicely into my back. I have a short torso so I haven’t needed to alter the length but the adjustable system feels easy to use should you need to. The shoulder straps are nicely padded and the hipbelt fits well. I haven’t experienced any rubbing using the pack. My use has been mainly through spring and summer months so sweat management has been tested well! As the pack sits closely to the back there will always be sweating, unfortunately, so the material of your t-shirt is important (e.g. merino) to reduce the moisture. I was impressed with the bladder compartment and comfort – sometimes with a full pack the bladder feels like it presses into the back panel but I didn’t experience this at all.
Versatility and durability
This pack contains 46% recycled fabric and no PFAS. Even though I have put the pack through its paces it’s difficult to judge durability over only a few months of use, but knowing the top quality of Rab products I have no doubt this will last a long time. Aside from hiking, the pack could be used everyday for other activities, commuting or going to the shops, but it really is perfect for those long walks. It also fits under an aeroplane seat so can be used as carry-on luggage.
What I love the most about the Rab Protium 27L Day Pack
What I like the most about the pack are the two deep side pockets and the front stuff pouch. Water bottles and flasks feel very secure, and it’s so handy to be able to put a map, cap, sit mat or waterproofs in the outer pouch.
What I don’t love so much about the Rab Protium 27L Day Pack
Despite having great attachment points at the bottom and sides for walking poles, if the pack isn’t full, the poles tend to flap about – I feel like there could be another toggle or clip. To combat this I cinch them in with the side compression straps which is disappointing as they clearly aren’t designed for this, but it’s a solution and won’t always be the case as mostly I would be using the poles.
Verdict
This pack is best suited to those who want to walk all day long in all seasons and need to carry the essentials to be self-sufficient out on the trails. I’m really impressed with the pack, it does everything I would expect a modern day-pack to do and looks great. At £130 (at time of writing, July 2025) though, it is on the more expensive side, so would be an investment for those who want something more technical and committed to big hikes. With that in mind, and the slight irritation with the hiking pole side attachments, I would give it 4.5 out of 5.
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Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.
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