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Why We Love This Deal
REI’s now live with its Last-Minute Gifts sale, and it’s the perfect opportunity to score late gifts before Christmas gets here. Apparel is making a huge splash during this event, with big markdowns on packable puffers, hoodies, hiking pants, among other styles, but that doesn’t mean you can sleep on the gear selection. One deal that just went live that’s turning heads is the retailer’s hybrid travel-outdoor backpack—and it’s selling fast at nearly $50 off.
Now just $111, the REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 Pack is the ultimate crossover bag, as it can handle all the backcountry trails and airport terminals you’ll ever visit. It has an impressive 4.7-star rating and extensive, thorough reviews, with owners raving about its performance, organization, and most importantly, its comfort.
REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 Pack, $111 (was $159) at REI
What Shoppers Should Know
- Colors: Black, red/orange
- Capacity: 40 liters
- Number of Exterior Pockets: 4, plus main compartment
- Laptop holder: Fits 15-inch laptop
- Dimensions: 23-by-15-by-9.5 inches
- Weight. 2.8 pounds
- Best Use: Travel, backpacking, hiking, weekend getaways, carry-on
The Ruckpack 40 is first and foremost a travel bag that borrows heavily from the backpacking community and design elements. That’s why you’ll see it in hostel photos, overhead bins, and even backcountry campsites. It features a full-zip clamshell opening, lockable zippers, zip-away straps, and even a sleeve for full-sized laptops, making it ideal for air or trail travel, while the internal frame, padded hipbelt, load lifters, and breathable back panel make it a fantastic choice for backcountry backpacking.
Its above-average 40-liter capacity makes it just small enough to use as a carry-on bag, yet it’s still big enough for an extended weekend trip at a hotel or the campsite. This is why it has quietly become a fan favorite among minimalist travelers and short-stint backpackers. It’s large enough to replace a suitcase, yet remains compact and mobile, and is comfortable enough to wear hiking all day, or traversing the big city.
What separates this from something like a standard JanSport or a competing Osprey backpack is how well it manages load and its overall structure. It weighs less than 3 pounds but still has a spring-steel internal frame and foam padding. These keep heavier loads stable instead of sagging like a traditional pack. Add in a built-in rain cover, compression straps, trekking-pole loops, hydration compatibility, and dual bottle pockets, and you’re getting real outdoor functionality—not just a stylish bag.
Related: New Balance’s ‘Comfortable and Supportive’ 574 Sneakers Are Over 40% Off Right Now
What Shoppers Are Saying
Though there are fewer than 30 reviews, those that were left are quite detailed about the pack’s merits. One shopper said it’s the “versatile travel pack that can stray backcountry,” with the best of them. While they said it’s a travel bag first, its hiking capabilities are “innovative, unique, and useful.” Overall, they noted, “it can be used for any overnight or even a week in the back country if you were pressed.”
Another shopper said it’s “great for travel,” adding that they bought this backpack on a three-week trip to Europe and “it was perfect.”
While there is a bit of time before this sale price ends on Dec. 22, its stock and availability may not. Make sure to pick up your Ruckpack 40 before it’s too late.
