RADL Launches Pack 01: The Backpack Born on the John Muir Trail

April 20, 2026

New California-based brand debuts a 65-liter pack built for practical durability

(April 20, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/—RADL (RAD-ul) is born. This new hiking backpack brand, founded by Jared Rowley, is officially launching with its debut product: the Pack 01, a 65-liter trekking pack built to outlast anything on the market. As the industry continues chasing ultralight, RADL is bucking the trend by building packs that last.

In the summer of 2021, Rowley took his two oldest children on the John Muir Trail for nearly a month. The first week tested them in ways no amount of preparation could have anticipated. Physical limits were pushed, mental walls were hit. Then something shifted. They found their trail legs, and the struggle gave way to something deeper. They all came home as different people.

It was what happened after the trip that started RADL. The kids came home more capable, more confident, and more willing to take on things they would have avoided before. The experience didn’t just stay in the mountains; it changed how they showed up in real life, and Rowley wanted more people to experience that.

Introducing Pack 01

Inspired by classic trekking design, Pack 01 combines functionality, timeless aesthetics, and rugged construction. It’s made from ultra-durable 900D 100% polyester — heavier-duty than the nylon used by virtually every competing pack at this price point. Every detail, from the aircraft-grade aluminum hardware to the YKK® Racquet Coil Zippers, is overbuilt by design. The result is one of the most robust and reliable packs on the market, engineered for both demanding expeditions and more contemplative escapes.

Pack 01 Specifications:

• Volume: 65 liters
• Weight: 5 lbs 3 oz
• Material: 900D 100% polyester for long-term durability
• Frame: Adjustable, padded back panel, RADL Ultralight Dynamic Tubular Load (DTL) frame – carefully engineered of 5mm aircraft aluminum
• Hardware: Heavy-duty YKK® Racquet Coil Zippers
• Comfort: CCubed breathable foam back panel; adjustable torso fit (18″–23″)
• Colorways: Olive Green, Field Tan, Iceland Blue, Oxblood Red (standard and waxed finishes)
• MSRP: $369 USD — available exclusively at shopradl.com

Pack 01 Key Features:

• Top load opening and U-zip front panel for packing convenience
• Upper and lower dynamic “z” compression for equal weight distribution
• Bear can storage in pack lid for easy accessibility to food while on the move
• Aluminum G-hooks for attaching gear to the front, side, or bottom of the pack
• Internal hydration bladder sleeve with two hose exits
• 9 ultra-durable pockets
• Daisy chains for removable straps
• Large but low-profile adjustable hip belt pockets

“I built RADL around a simple belief: growth happens when you go into the unknown,” says Rowley. “But if you are going to do that, your gear has to be something you trust completely. Pack 01 is built so you don’t have to think about it, so you can stay focused on the challenge, the experience, and what it is transforming you into.”

Effective immediately, Darby Communications will serve as RADL’s agency of record, spearheading targeted PR campaigns to build momentum for the brand’s growth and recognition in the outdoor industry.

For more information on RADL and the latest brand news, visit https://shopradl.com or contact Stacy Kline at stacy@darbycommunications.com.

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ABOUT RADL

RADL is a hiking backpack brand born in Bonsall, California, and inspired by the iconic Dylan Thomas line “Rage Against the Dying of the Light.” RADL is built on the belief that growth happens when someone enters the unknown. Our Mission is to help people get more out of those moments by building gear they can trust completely. Our debut product, Pack 01, is now available. Learn more about the brand and pack at https://shopradl.com.

Contact:

Stacy Kline
Darby Communications
stacy@darbycommunications.com
724.272.995