Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole Backpacks - What’s the difference?
We’ve tested both the Patagonia Refugio 30L and the Black Hole 32L to see how they compare with real use. Whether you need a durable travel backpack or an outdoor-friendly daypack, choosing the right one can make all the difference.
In this in-depth comparison, we’ll break down the six key differences between these two backpacks—and reveal a few small details that could impact your decision.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which Patagonia backpack is right for you—so you can make an informed choice before you buy.
Video Review
Quick Specs
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|---|---|---|
| Volume | 30L | 32L |
| Materials | 400D Recycled Polyester with DWR coating | 300D Recycled Ripstop with TPU-film laminate |
| Dimensions | 19” (H) x 12” (W) x 6.5” (D) | 20.5” (H) x 11” (W) x 8.3” (D) |
| Weight | 25.9 oz | 26.8 oz |
| Laptop Storage | 15" Removable Sleeve | 15" Laptop Compartment |
| Chest Strap | Yes | Yes |
| Hip Belt | No | No |
| Load Lifters | Yes | No |
| Price |
6 Key Differences - Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole
Patagonia Refugio and Black Hole side by side
1. Design Intention – Where Are You Taking This Bag?
Before we dive into storage, pockets, or laptop protection, let’s talk about design intention. While both of these Patagonia backpacks are great as daily laptop backpacks, they were made with different activities in mind—one is built to be used outdoors, while the other is designed with a consideration for travel.
Patagonia Refugio 30L: Built for the Outdoors
The Patagonia Refugio Daypack is designed for daily commutes, day hikes, and general outdoor use. It’s lightweight, adaptable, and perfect for those who need a backpack that transitions between work, school, and the trails.
Patagonia Refugio 30L - unique features missing on Black Hole backpack
✅ Recycled Polyester Ripstop fabric – The lightweight construction makes this bag ideal for hiking.
✅ Removable laptop sleeve – The dual-purpose compartment functions as a padded laptop compartment during the week and converts into a hydration bladder sleeve with a hose passthrough for weekend hikes.
✅ Side compression straps – Reduce bulk when carrying lighter loads and can be used to secure trekking poles or other outdoor gear.
✅ Bike light loop – A small loop on the bottom allows you to attach a safety light, making it a great choice for bike commuters or walking at night.
Overall, the Patagonia Refugio Daypack is a great choice for those who need a versatile bag for work, school, and outdoor adventures. It offers hydration compatibility, external gear attachment, and lightweight comfort, making it perfect for hikers, bikers, and commuters.
Patagonia Black Hole 32L: Built for Travel
The Black Hole Pack, on the other hand, is built for daily carry and travel. Unlike the Refugio backpack, which focuses on the outdoors, the Black Hole Pack is designed to accommodate common travel needs and has a more rugged construction.
Trolley sleeve on Black Hole Pack 32L
✅ Recycled Polyester Ripstop fabric with TPU-film laminate – Unlike the Refugio’s lightweight polyester, the Black Hole Pack is made from heavier ripstop fabric with a water-repellent TPU-film laminate, making it more resistant to abrasions and rain.
✅ Trolley sleeve – A must-have for frequent travelers, the luggage passthrough lets you easily slide the bag onto rolling luggage for easy transport.
✅ Extra grab handles – Unlike the Refugio Daypack, the Black Hole Pack has an extra grab handle on the front, making it easier to lift from overhead compartments, car trunks, and crowded spaces.
🎯 Key Takeaway:
If you need a lightweight, versatile backpack for daily commutes and day hikes, the Patagonia Refugio Daypack is your best bet.
If you want a more durable, travel-friendly backpack then go for the Black Hole Pack.
2. Size and Fit – Finding the Right Match
Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole on person - Model Height 5’6” (1.67m)
Backpack Height Matters
The biggest size difference between the Refugio and Black Hole is their height.
Here’s the height comparison:
Black Hole 32L → 20.5 inches (52 cm) tall
Refugio 30L → 19 inches (48 cm) tall
We found that this height difference makes the Black Hole 32L feel a lot bulkier when worn, especially on shorter individuals. The Refugio 30L, being more compact, offers a better fit for anyone looking for a more manageable carry.
Pro-tip: If you have a shorter torso and find the Rufugio 30L too long, go with the smaller Refugio 26L. Check out our Refugio 26L vs 30L guide to compare sizes.
Refugio vs Black Hole - The Black Hole doesn’t have load lifters
Comfort & Adjustability
While both backpacks share:
✔ Removable and adjustable sternum straps
✔ Near identical padded shoulder straps
✔ Similar cushioned back panels
The Refugio 30L has one key advantage over the Black Hole: load lifters.
Load lifters are the small straps on the top of the shoulder straps that allow you to pull the bag closer to your back, improving weight distribution. This feature is commonly found in hiking backpacks and makes a noticeable difference when carrying heavy loads.
🎯 Key Takeaway:
Both backpacks include near-identical adjustable sternum straps, shoulder straps, and padded back panels. However, thanks to its load lifters, we found that the Refugio 30L offers a more customizable fit with better weight distribution for heavy loads.
3. Packing Space – Storage Wars
At 32L vs 30L, you’d think the Black Hole 32L would offer more space inside the main compartment—but you’ll see why that’s not the case.
What Fits inside the Main Compartments?
✔ Both have enough space for 3–4 days of travel packing and work well with packing cubes
✔ Both fit about the same amount of books, binders, and notebooks for school
Even though the Black Hole 32L has a taller profile, it doesn't actually add much more space to the main compartment. This is due to the backpack having a sloped design that cuts into the useable space inside the main compartment. As you'll see later, it's the top pocket that adds more useable packing room.
Refugio 30L vs Black Hole 32 - Both can pack the same amount of items in main compartment
Bungee Cord Storage
✅ Refugio 30L includes a built-in bungee cord – Great for holding jackets, shoes, or a blanket without taking up space inside the main compartment.
🔹 But here’s a hidden feature: You can add a bungee cord yourself to the two rows of daisy chains in Black Hole 32L for the same external storage expansion.
This hidden feature makes the Black Hole more versatile than most people realize—but only if you take advantage of it!
Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole bungee storage - you can add bungee cord to the Black Hole 32L
🎯 Key Takeaway:
The suprise here is that both the Refugio 30L and Black Hole 32L can pack about the same amount of stuff inside the main compartment.
Where the Black Hole offers more packing room is really in the exterior pockets (more on that below.)
If you want built-in external storage, the Refugio 30L is the better option. But if you prefer a customizable setup, the Black Hole 32L allows you to add a bungee cord yourself.
4. Pockets – Which Has Better Organization?
At first glance, the Black Hole Pack seems to have more storage options than the Refugio Daypack—but is that actually true? Let’s break it down.
Similarities: What They Both Have
✔ Stretchy side pockets – Both backpacks include two large mesh side pockets that can fit oversized water bottles (in fact, these backpacks have some of the largest water bottle pockets we've ever tested).
Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole - 32oz water bottle inside mesh side pockets
✔ Zippered top pockets – Each bag features a quick-access top compartment for daily essentials. However, the top pocket on the Black Hole is significantly larger, allowing it to fit bulkier items like a compressible jacket or a tech pouch.
This top pocket on the Black Hole 32L is where a lot of your extra carrying capacity comes from.
Refugio vs Black Hole - the top pocket on the Black Hole Pack is larger and includes a key leash
Differences: Where They Stand Apart
✅ Black Hole 32L adds:
Extra flat pocket in the front – This large front pocket provides fast access to items.
Mesh pocket inside the main compartment – Perfect for storing small items you don’t want loose inside the bag, such as pens, laptop charger, or a passport.
Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole - the Refugio is missing a front pocket
✅ Refugio 30L adds:
Pockets on the removable laptop sleeve – The extra pockets on the padded laptop sleeve allow you to keep all of your tech accessories in one place.
We found these pockets great for storing earbuds, external hard drives, charging cables, and laptop chargers.
Patagonia Refugio Pack 30L: the pockets on the removable laptop sleeve
🎯 Key Takeaway:
If you want all your small tech accessories in one dedicated space, the Refugio 30L is the better option.
The Black Hole 32L is better for those who prefer compartments spread throughout the bag with more pockets on the outside for quick access.
5. Bag Shape – Will It Stand?
Now, before we get to the final difference, let’s talk about the shape of each backpack and why it actually matters more than you might think.
✅ The Patagonia Refugio 30L has a more rectangular shape with a flat bottom, which allows it to stand upright on its own when fully packed.
❌ The Black Hole 32L, on the other hand, has a curved, sloped bottom—which means it struggles to stay upright when placed on the ground. Instead, it tips over easily, requiring you to lean it against a wall, chair, or other surface to keep it from falling over.
This might seem like a small detail, but it's enough of a difference that may sway your decision on which bag to get.
6. Laptop Storage – Which One Protects Your Tech Better?
Which Laptops Fit?
Although Patagonia states that each backpack can fit up to a 15-inch laptop, our testing found that both the Refugio 30L and Black Hole 32L can actually fit up to a modern 15.6-inch PC or a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
However, if you have an older, bulkier 15.6-inch PC, you’ll want to go with the Black Hole 32L, as it has extra room to accommodate slightly larger laptops. The Refugio’s removable laptop sleeve, on the other hand, is more form-fitting and may not fit older devices as easily.
Refugio 30L vs Black Hole 32L - photo shows both laptop compartments with a 15.6 inch PC inside
Refugio 30L: Better Laptop Protection
✅ 360-degree padded laptop sleeve – The removable laptop sleeve allows for full padding around the laptop.
✅ Extra cushioning inside the compartment – The laptop compartment itself gives you some additional light padding for an additional layer of shock absorption.
Black Hole 32L: Decent, But Less Protection
✅ Padded compartment, but not as protective – Although the Black Hole’s separate laptop compartment is padded, it didn’t feel as protective. While there’s a foam strip at the bottom, it still your laptop more vulnerable to drops when compared to the Refugio.
🎯 Key Takeaway:
If you want the best laptop protection out of the two backpacks, the Refugio 30L wins with its fully padded removable sleeve.
The Black Hole 32L will still get the job done—but it won’t cushion your laptop as well as the Refugio.
Refugio vs. Black Hole – How to Choose
Patagonia Refugio 30L
Patagonia Black Hole 32L
Both the Patagonia Refugio 30L and Black Hole 32L are great laptop backpacks, but were designed to serve different lifestyles. The right choice depends on how you plan to use it—whether for hiking, commuting, or travel. Here’s a quick recap to help you decide.
Choose the Refugio if you want a versatile daypack that works for hiking, commuting, and everyday carry. The lightweight design, hydration bladder compatibility, and load lifters make it great for the outdoors, while the removable laptop sleeve with built-in organization makes it work-friendly.
Choose the Black Hole if you need a rugged, travel-ready backpack that offers a durable weather resistant construction and more external pockets. The top handles and trolley sleeve make it ideal for frequent travelers. However, it lacks load lifters and compression straps, making it less adjustable.
More Helpful Resources
Patagonia Black Hole 25L vs 32L - An in-depth comparison of two different Black Hole Pack sizes
Patagonia Refugio 26L vs 30L - Find the right size Refugio backpack for you!
Patagonia Refugio 30L vs North Face Borealis - Which bungee backpack is better?
How to Use a Bungee on a Backpack - An easy guide to making the most out of a backpack bungee
