YETI finally made a proper hiking backpack — here’s how it held up to a summer of testing

A split image showing the Yeti Skala being used in real life on the left, and being worn in a studio on the right.

Back in 2024, not satisfied with sippy cups and coolboxes, outdoor gear manufacturer Yeti purchased Mystery Ranch, a well-established maker of load-bearing backpacks for the hunting, fire and tactical markets. One of the first fruits of that acquisition is the Yeti Skala hiking pack. Bearing many similarities to some of Mystery Ranch’s packs (only less ‘tactical’ and more lifestyle-y), the Skala range is designed for hikers needing packs for single- or multi-day hikes.

I’ve been using the Skala 32L day pack and the 50L multi-day pack for several months now. I’ve hiked with them, camped with them, travelled with them, flown with them, and even commuted with them. And I’m a huge fan. From the effortless weight distribution to the high levels of adjustability and capacious storage compartment, the Skala is an excellent choice for outdoorsing.