You can test a backpack by stuffing it full and hiking through the Ardennes for a weekend. ThruDark chose Mount Everest. In May 2025, co-founder Anthony ‘Staz’ Stazicker took the first Orbital 30L prototype to the summit. Record ascent included. That’s apparently how you do it when you think you’re ready.
Now, over a year later, the packs are available. Because ThruDark only releases things when they’re ready. “It’s ready when it’s ready” is their design philosophy.Annoying if you’ve been waiting, but you understand the logic.
The Pinnacle series: for just being outside
The Pinnacle 28L and 42L are built for hiking. Material: Robic 210D Hex Nylon made from recycled nylon, fifty times stronger in tensile strength than standard nylon. High-wear zones get 840D ballistic nylon. Both packs include a rain cover rated at 10,000HH+, stowed in its own dedicated pocket.
The 28L is the daypack. Adjustable back panel, hip belt with zip pocket, sternum strap with emergency whistle. Everything you need, nothing you don’t. The 42L is for longer trips: floating top lid, sleeping pad straps, more adjustment options for heavier carries.
The Orbital 30L: for when it gets serious
The Orbital is a different pack for a different type of use. Dyneema-reinforced ripstop (8% Dyneema, 49% polyester, 43% nylon), waterproof rating of 9,700HH, EVA back panel that sheds snow instead of absorbing it. Ice axe attachment. Helmet cover. Integrated RECCO technology for when mountain rescue needs to come find you. Load tested to 13kg.
Louis Tinsley took it to Zermatt after Everest. Jason Fox tested the Pinnacle on the set of SAS: Who Dares Wins. Not the most average testers, but sure.
Available at thrudark.com.
What you want to know
- What’s the difference between the Pinnacle and the Orbital?
The Pinnacle (28L and 42L) is for hiking and multi-day trips. The Orbital 30L is built for alpinism and ice climbing, with Dyneema material, a snow-shedding EVA back panel and integrated RECCO technology for emergencies in remote terrain. - Why does ThruDark choose Robic nylon over standard nylon?
Robic is a reinforced nylon variant with fifty times higher tensile strength and two and a half times more tear resistance than standard nylon. ThruDark uses only the recycled version, which at this technical level isn’t a compromise but a deliberate material choice. - What does RECCO actually do in the Orbital?
A RECCO reflector sends back a signal when mountain rescue sweeps the area with a detector. You don’t have to do anything yourself. It works even if you’re unconscious and significantly increases the chances of being found in terrain where a distress signal or phone no longer works. - Is the ThruDark Orbital suitable for trail running or fastpacking?
No. The Orbital is optimised for technical climbing with loads up to 13kg. For trail running or fastpacking, the Pinnacle 28L is the more logical choice. - Where can you buy the ThruDark backpacks?
Via thrudark.com. ThruDark sells direct only, no dealers, no retail.
