Black Hole Mini MLC Pack 30L

Packed three pants and three shirts in the Mini MLC 30 for ten days of van life in Scotland and it worked great, though not for trail hiking.

“I just did 10 days of Van life in Scotland with the black hole MLC 30 and my bf had the 45.”

Found the Mini MLC's waist belt does very little, so her shoulders burned on two trips; the tech panel is a waste without a laptop.

“brought mine on two trips that didn’t have a ton of walking (LA and Chicago, so mostly airport walking and walks to/from hotel) and my shoulders were burning.”

Says the Mini MLC is fantastic.

“Mini MLC is fantastic. Really good.”

Used the Mini MLC on recent trips and confirms it fits under the seat, even on a regional jet.

“I have used the Mini MLC on recent trips and can confirm it fits under the seat.”

Loves her Mini MLC, her bag for most weeklong trips.

“I do love my mini mlc.”

Loves her Mini MLC and took it as the only bag on a two-week budget-airline trip; it was great.

“purchased (& love) the Patagonia MLC mini. I recently took it on a personal item only two week trip flying on a budget airline. It was great.”

The Mini MLC is his go-to bag; he built his whole one-bag kit around it and fits 10 days of synthetic clothes.

“For me the MLC is my go to bag, I have built my entire one bag contents around the bag itself and painstakingly curiated what I bring.”

Found the Mini MLC held as much as his previous Pakt 35L.

“I previously had a Pakt 35L but I found that the MLC mini held just as much.”

Calls the Mini MLC incredible; his only complaint is the lack of a second bottle pocket.

“The only complaint I have about my MLC, is the lack of a second bottle pocket.”

Still living in SE Asia with the Mini MLC, loves it more with each use and calls it the best decision.

“I'm still living in SE Asia and I love it more and more with each use.”

Her favourite: the Mini MLC fits a lot, has a hip strap and can fit underseat on many airlines if not fully stuffed.

“Patagonia Mini MLC 30L. My favourite because it can fit so much and has a hip strap to help with weight distribution.”

At 4'11" finds the Mini MLC very comfortable and glad she bought it for a 6-day trip.

“the Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC (30L) is so comfortable for me. I recently took it on a 6-day trip - I'm so glad I bought it!”

Loves her Mini MLC on a 6-day trip with multiple outfits and shoes.

“I love my Patagonia Mini MLC - on a 6 day trip with it currently with multiple outfits and shoes.”

Loves the MLC 30 enough to gift one to her husband; fits a ton, organizes better than the Allpa and goes under the seat.

“I love my MLC 30, I gifted one for my husband and he really likes it too.”

Loves her Mini MLC with a hip belt and side bottle pocket; at 5'4" it is the biggest she would want when fully packed.

“I love my Patagonia Mini MLC and it has a waist strap that can convert to a messenger type strap.”

Loves the Mini MLC: cute, with a bottle pocket and waist strap, and enough for longer trips with weekly laundry.

“LOVE my mini mlc. cute. bottle pocket. waist strap. done.”

Her family loves the Mini MLC: it looks great, holds a ton, is super lightweight and has passed as a personal item.

“Everyone in my family is in love with our MLC Mini. It looks great, holds a ton, and is super lightweight.”

Moved from the Farpoint to the Mini MLC and loves it, fitting almost the same amount.

“Farpoint to mini mlc was my recent move as well. So far love it. I feel like I can almost fit the same amount of stuff in my mini mlc”

Is really happy with his Patagonia Mini MLC 30L.

“I’m really happy with my Patagonia MLC Mini 30L.”

Owns the Mini MLC in green and highly recommends it for its clamshell design, laptop section, bit of organization and removable waist strap.

“Can highly reccomend the Patagonia mini MLC, it ticks most of your boxes, be that a clamshell design, laptop section, a little bit of organisation etc and has a removable waist strap which I really like”

After trying the TP3, Peak Design bag and Alpaka, landed on the Mini MLC, which had every feature he wanted and almost nothing he did not need.

“I’ve tried the Aer TP3, Peak Design Travel Bag and the Alpaka travel bag and ultimately landed on and love the Patagonia MLC Mini. Slightly smaller than what you’re looking”

Finds the Mini MLC 30L amazing, far lighter and more flexible than the TP3 and it has fit all the US personal-item sizers he tried.

“The Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L has been amazing for me personally. Way lighter and more flexible”

Uses the Mini MLC 30L with a sling for shorter trips, with the MLC overhead, and can do two weeks comfortably with mid-trip laundry.

“Shorter trips I go for just my sling and my MLC mini (30L). MLC goes in the overhead, sling stays on my person. If I do laundry mid way I can do two weeks comfortably”

Took the Mini MLC 30L on his first trip with a packing list and review, and loves it.

“I went on my first trip with it recently - you can find a packing list and trip review on my profile. Love love love it!”

A 5'0 woman with both the Allpa 35 and MLC 30: the MLC is her favorite, more comfortable fully loaded with a separate electronics sleeve and fits under US seats.

“The MLC is BY FAR my favorite travel bag. It strikes the best balance of organization, capacity, and mobility/comfort.”

Uses it for trips of more than one night and says it has held up well and is still in good condition.

“Yeah I’ll use it if I am going away for more than one night. It has held up well, still in good condition”

Would keep his Mini MLC and sell everything else: far from perfect but versatile, with Patagonia's easy lifetime warranty.

“I have owned the Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L since Last Summer and I have to say if I can only own one backpack I would keep my Mini”

Likes the big side handle for messenger-style carry, though the side bottle pocket digs into the main compartment.

“personally I like the handle, it makes side carry a lot easier compared to pd.”

Kept the MLC over the Peak Design after testing: it fits more, packs better with a camera and shoes, and he found it more comfortable.

“I kept the MLC and sold the Peak after testing.”

Did not find it comfortable when loaded: the hip belt is useless and there are no load lifters.

“I didn’t find the mlc comfortable when loaded, the hip belt is useless and there are no load lifters”

Loves her Mini MLC and found it the most comfortable bag she tried.

“I love my Patagonia mini MLC, I found it to be the most comfortable! I’m 5’5” with good shoulders. :)”

Compared the Mini MLC with the Aer TP3 and Thule Aion and found the Mini MLC best for his needs; its only miss is the lack of compression straps, so it stays a bit bulky.

“All the three are good but the Patagonia is best for my needs”

Loves the Mini MLC because there is no admin panel or laptop compartment eating space, though the lack of exterior quick access bugs him.

“I love the Mini MLC because it doesn’t take up space like that, but the lack of exterior quick access bugs me.”

Thinks the Mini MLC is close to perfect for most needs, only nitpicking the big Patagonia logo.

“I really think the Mini MLC is close to perfect for what most of us need. I wish it didn't have the massive "Patagonia" on it as I prefer a”

Calls the Mini MLC fantastic, preferring it to the larger MLC, and likes the sleeve that slips over a suitcase handle.

“Otherwise the mini MLC is fantastic, I like it even more that the larger MLC.”

Swapped a Thule Aion that had uncomfortable straps for the Mini MLC and finds it suits him much better.

“I did end up swapping for a mini MLC and I find it does suit me much better. The Thule was a good bag, just not the one for me personally.”

Has taken the Mini MLC under the seat on Southwest several times since it is malleable, but it was his first nice bag and he is thinking of selling it.

“I've had multiple instances on Southwest where I brought the Patagonia Mini MLC 30 L (more like 28) and put it under the aisle seat and actually asked the flight”

Owns the Mini MLC but rarely uses it because the pocket layout does not work for him and may resell it.

“I have that same Patagonia bag and haven't ending up giving it much use. It's a nice bag, but the pocket layout just doesn't work well for me. I should probably consider reselling it at some point.”

Took the new Mini MLC as a one bag on an overnight business trip with plenty of room, carried with the shoulder strap, and loves its flexibility versus a rolling suitcase.

“I just took my new mini MLC as a one bag option on a quick overnight business trip and it had plenty of room for everything I needed to bring”

Took the Mini MLC 30L on a two-week Scotland and Ireland trip and found it fantastic, liking its space and organization slightly more than a North Face Base Camp Voyager.

“I took the Patagonia 30L on a 2 week trip to Scotland and Ireland. It was fantastic.”

After hating his Thule Aion for weight distribution, he switched to the Mini MLC, which carries more and whose weight does not bother him.

“I got a mini MLC and I’ve been using it eversince. I can carry more than my Thule and the weight does not bother me. Organization works for me”

On a five-week Japan trip with the Mini MLC 30, which has quickly become his favorite travel bag and is surprisingly comfortable compared with his CTB35 and Topo travel bag.

“Currently, I’m using the Mini MLC 30 for a 5-week trip in Japan, and it’s quickly become my favorite travel bag. I also own the Evergoods CTB 35 and the”

Really likes the Mini MLC, which fits as much as his Aer but is lighter and more comfortable, though he misses a few pockets such as the front Switch pocket.

“I have it! I really like the bag, it fits just as much as my Aer TP3 and is lighter and more comfortable. There are a few pockets I miss”

Bought and returned it as too small for his needs, with one large black-hole opening that made organization hard.

“Patagonia MLC mini 30L: too small for my needs. One large “blackhole” like opening which made organization hard for me.”

Loves his Mini MLC: a space maximizer with nice exterior materials and great value at $200, though more a travel bag with straps than a real backpack for hours of wear.

“I love my Patagonia MLC mini, it's a space maximizer for its size, with nice exterior materials and sufficient interior materials. At $200 it's great bang for the buck.”

Took the MLC 30 to Europe a couple of times and loved it.

“Took the MLC 30 to Europe a couple times this year and loved it.”

Uses the Mini MLC as a personal item on Air New Zealand flights under the seat with no questions asked and calls it a pretty great bag.

“I have a Patagonia mini MLC, it fits on Air nz flights under the seat, even the smaller ATR72s. Pretty great bag”

Has owned both the Peak Design and the Mini MLC and prefers the Patagonia, though it has only one bottle holder and few attachment loops.

“Mini MLC is great though not perfect.”

Loves his Mini MLC and uses it all the time.

“I love mine and use it all the time”

After comparing it with the Peak Design and a ULA Dragonfly he found the Mini MLC the most optimal: carry-on friendly, comfortable and roomy, though the materials feel less premium.

“I found the Patagonia the most optimal for my needs.”

Has owned both the Mini MLC and the Peak Design 30L and would recommend the Patagonia.

“I’ve owned both and would recommend the Patagonia out of the two.”

Owns the Mini MLC and really likes its laptop compartment, which takes a 15-inch MacBook Air plus an iPad or Kindle.

“I have it and really like it: seems to work well to take my 15” MBA as well as an iPad or kindle.”

Chose it for its tech compartment and sack-like main space and is very pleased so far.

“I went with the MLC Mini because I really liked the tech compartment configuration and the lack of compartments/pockets otherwise - I prefer something that is just a "sack" so”

Loves that the laptop sits fully apart from the main compartment, and that the hip belt can be detached to make it a duffel.

“I have the Patagonia Mini MLC & I love the organization it offers by having your laptop completely separate from the rest of the bag. By it not eating into”

Finds the 30L Mini MLC already a bit too big and wants to trim his packing for a smaller bag.

“my 30L MLC mini is already kind of too big and I want to trim my packing down even more to use a smaller bag”

Bought and compared seven bags and kept the Black Hole Mini MLC 30L: took it on a week-long international trip as his only bag with no complaints, liking its single big compartment, comfort, hip strap and secure water-bottle pocket.

“The black hole mini was the bag I liked the most after testing and took it on a week-long international trip using it as my only bag with no complaints”

Owns the Mini MLC but prefers the Osprey Daylite 26+6: finds the laptop compartment wasted without a laptop since it eats space and adds weight, though the longer body suits his torso.

“The laptop compartment on my mini MLC is wasted on me - it just cannibalizes space and makes the bag heavier”

Preferred the MLC over the Osprey 26+6: the tech compartment fits his laptop, travel monitor, router, battery pack and cables, and he prefers its default 30L size to the Osprey's expanded mode.

“I carry a laptop and like the tech organization.”

Has flown Spirit and Frontier with the Mini MLC and been sized on Frontier eight or more times, always fitting as long as it is not overstuffed.

“As long as you don’t overstuff the mini MLC, you should be fine for Frontier and Spirit. I’ve flown both and been sized on Frontier probably 8+ times and it’s always fit”

Moved from an Osprey Porter to the Patagonia pack and considers it an upgrade in design and carrying comfort.

“i consider it an upgrade. the design of the pack itself, and comfort carrying are superior imho too the osprey”

Calls it probably still the number one 30L bag: lightweight, comfortable compared with others he has used, and no European or Asian airline has complained about it as his personal item.

“Lightweight, comfortable (compared to many other bags I’ve used), and no airline (euro-Asia) has complained about it being my personal”

Three months living out of the Mini MLC 30L: excellent, with great build quality and just enough ruggedizing.

“I've been living out of the 30l mini MLC for 3 months now. It's excellent for all the reasons you described. I also love the build quality. Just enough ruggedizing.”

Likes the Mini MLC's versatility but finds the thin straps can't handle weight and now prefers thick wide straps like GORUCK's.

“I really like the Mini MLC’s versatility, I just think it can’t handle the weight with those thin straps. It’s not bad just not great. I prefer thick wide straps now like Gorucks.”

Finds the MLC great but wishes the straps had more padding, as carrying it can be taxing on the shoulders even with the hip belt.

“The MLC is great, but I wished it had more padding on the straps. Carrying this back can sometimes be taxing on shoulders, even with hip belt in place”

Extremely happy with it as a one-bag novice: used it as a personal item on a series of Frontier flights and for 2-4 night trips it replaced his rolling carry-on.

“I'm a one bag novice and I have been extremely happy with my Patagonia MCL 30l.”

Testing the MLC: it packs great, but the straps are what kills it for him, the hip belt adds suspicion for personal-item sizing and the sternum strap doesn't work well.

“The straps are what kills me about it, can't really rely on the hip belt since it adds suspicion for personal item and the sternum strap really does not work”

Loves his Mini MLC and finds it perfect for what he needs.

“I love my Mini-MLC, glad you do as well. It’s absolutely perfect for what I need.”

Calls the Mini MLC 30L a great bag but sold it for preferring a pack without the interior mesh cover and worrying it is too tall as a personal item on strict airlines.

“My Patagonia MLC Mini 30L hasn't been used since getting my Tortuga Expandable, and I actually now have it listed for sale! It's a great bag, but I prefer the lack of an interior mesh cover.”

Likes the big bucket main compartment of the MLC and used it for two weeks straight without big issues, but would like more admin organization.

“I think the MLC os alright, used for 2 weeks straight with no big issues”

Just got the MLC and finds it comfortable on a long walk and well thought out, though she wishes for load lifters and had to adjust the sternum strap way down.

“I just got an Mlc & packed it up. It seems comfortable to wear on a long walk; it’s definitely not a hiking pack. I think it would have benefited from load lifters”

Likes the Mini MLC: easy to pack with the big clamshell and mesh divider; wishes for a front admin pocket and load lifters and beefier straps after a trip with a laptop and iPad.

“I have the mini-MLC, and I like it. easy to pack (big clamshell), and also has a mesh to zip up the main compartment, and give you additional space between”

Is extremely happy with his Mini MLC.

“Where's the Patagonia Blackhole Mini MLC? I am extremely happy with it.”

At 5'5" and a short torso it is about the biggest bag she can carry without looking huge, checks all her boxes, and she is traveling with it now and loving it.

“I have a short torso (29” inseam) and it’s about the max I can get away with and it’s checked all the boxes for me. I’m actually traveling with it right now and am loving it.”