Nemo Resolve ‘Endless Promise’ Backpack Review: An fully recyclable backpack that is built to last.

The Resolve by Nemo was designed from the ground up to stay out of the landfill. Constructed from Nemo exclusive materials, this pack is meant to be used, abused, easily repaired, and ultimately recycled once it does reach the end of the trail. This is my review.

Today we’re taking a look at the 25L Resolve backpack from Nemo’s Endless Promise Collection, which is a suite of products design to last a lifetime, and then be recycled if need be. As mentioned above, the Resolve is built from Nemo exclusive, entirely recyclable materials, and I’ll focus on that more in just a moment. The pack includes two adjustable water bottle pockets, padded shoulder and hip straps, an adjustable fit back panel, a large internal compartment, a hidden stash pocket, and a moveable compression strap that can attach to either the bottom or the sides of the pack. The pack weighs 2 lbs. 6 oz, and retails for $179.95.

Back to those recyclable materials. Primarily, the pack is built from CERO, a ripstop nylon base with a PET layer layered underneath for added strength and durability. This is used for the body of the pack, pockets, and basically all the “fabric” sections. CERO is solution dyed, which requires far less water than traditional dyes, an is also weather and wear resistant. The shoulder straps, hip straps, and back panel are all padded with CCubed foam; a unique low density, fully recyclable foam material that is designed to wick moisture and dry quickly.

What I liked

The resolve is a comfortable pack. The back panel uses a unique combination of horizontal ribbed padding flanked by mattress like memory foam pads on each side. The ribs run down the center of the pack and are formed into a triangle like pattern, while the thicker panel like pads rest against the spine. This protects the spine and shoulders against equipment inside the pack. The shoulder straps are relatively wide with a 1/8th inch or so of CCubed foam padding, which does a good job of distributing the weight across the chest and shoulders, preventing pressure points and friction. The hips are padded, but only around the section that sits against the back and backside of the hips, but still provides enough padding to prevent chafing and soreness. The pack does have a spring steel internal frame that helps hold the shape of the pack under weight, and it’s strong enough to keep the pack from folding in on itself. This frame is so well shaped and concealed from the generous back padding that I actually had to double check that there was a frame present at all, which is certainly a positive. The pack fits snug and is well molded to feel more worn than carried, which is a win.

Organization is good with this backpack. The main compartment is large enough for all the basic hiking essentials, while inside is a convenient bladder pocket, as well as a zippered storage pocket for smaller items. There is a fairly obvious “hidden” pocket on the top that is great for phones and glasses, with it’s padded exterior and soft lined interior. The two water bottle pockets are expandable and can be adjusted to fit large layers, large bottles, or cinched down to secure smaller bottles or accessories. There are two chest pockets that are large enough for small phones or snacks, and removable compression points that could hold rope, soggy layers and much more. It’s a lot of organization options for a small pack, without going over the top. It’s basically all the organization I typically need, and nothing I don’t, which is ideal.

Durability of the pack is fantastic. The fabric on display is thick, rugged, and holds up impressively well to being scraped across rocks, sticks, and just being tossed in and out of cars. The tear strength in particular seems particularly high, likely a product of the layered design of the CERO fabric. The straps in general are burly and confidence inspiring, while the stitch quality is top notch. All the high stress areas are reinforced, and the clips and cinches all seem rather robust. The fabric sheds water naturally, and seems to resist water and dirt much better than average, making clean up quite easy. It certainly holds true that this is a pack that is built to last, and I expect this to last at least a decade of heavy use, if properly stored and cleaned.

Trail stability is quite good. The chest straps and hip straps help keep the pack secure, while the frame keeps everything inside extremely close to the spine, minimizing sway and unnatural leverage. The external lashing connections can be used to pull the pack into a tight bundle, which helps keep things in place and stable. Climbing, jumping, scurrying, jogging and crawling underneath low branches all felt effortless, with the pack moving as I did without swaying or shifting. This design minimizes energy loss while on the move, which can make long days on the trial less fatiguing. It’s a great pack for those who like to be fast, nimble, or just don’t want a loose fitting pack draining energy from their stride.

visually, the Resolve is a great looking pack. High contrast is paired with environmentally neutral colors, and paired with sleek, modern lines devoid of bulk and extraneous bit and bobs. The materials have a modern look and eye catching thatch like texture which is quite pleasing. It’s clean, sleek, and the fabric provides a high quality look and feel that is undeniably premium. I like it a lot.

What I didn’t like

Despite the pack being relatively comfortable, it does have a couple minor shortcomings. The frame doesn’t extend far enough above the shoulder straps to create a true load lifter suspension, so the weight does dominantly sit on the shoulders. This is generally fine as long as the pack weight is kept under 25 pounds, and the shoulder and chest pads handle the weight well, distributing the weight across a decent area. Still, over time this could create shoulder and neck tension, especially with a heavier load. I haven’t had any issue with smaller loads, thankfully. The pack does actually include load straps, but they’re basically useless aside from stabilization with the pack frame sitting this low. It’s a minor issue and not a big deal with a pack of this size and assumed cargo weight, but worth mentioning for those who may intend on loading up heavy equipment.

The back padding is laid out in a peculiar way. While the padding is extremely comfortable and the ribs do evaporate and dry quickly, the layout is actually such that it traps hot/humid air and perspiration in the triangle like pocket the ribs create. The ribs create trapped pockets of air, while the padding on each side essentially insulates and creates a bit of a hot/sweaty spot along the black panel that persists as long as the pack is worn on warmer days. It does dry quickly once the pack is removed, but ventilation in reality is fairly limited and there isn’t much of a way for fresh air to reach that center section. Still, I wouldn’t say it’s bad in this aspect, in fact it is fairly average when it comes to ventilation. The engineers were onto something with the design, it just needs some tweaks.

The chest straps are surprisingly slick to the touch, and actually create a slipping problem with the chest adjustments. I found myself constantly needing to readjust the chest straps to prevent the should straps from sinking into my arm pits as the straps slowly slid through the friction loops, which can create pressure points and friction. It never caused me any pain or discomfort, but I was never able to keep the pack adjusted just the way I preferred. This can be mitigated by waxing the chest straps or by applying something like a close pin to prevent this from moving, but neither is an ideal solution. I would like to see this strap replaced with something grippier, or perhaps the plastic adjusters themselves could be replaced with something with less tolerance and more friction.

Overall

The Resolve is a unique pack at a time when so many are starting to all feel the same. The focus on build, longevity, and the ability to recycle the entire pack is a refreshing change from the ever more whimsy, fragile feeling packs that can be shredded by a simple twig or fall. It provides an excellent balance of durability, weight, and functionality, while never trying to take any aspect too far. The organization is fantastic, comfort is good, and aside from a bit of minor heat buildup along the bottom and some slippery chest straps, it’s a very solid pack that will surely last decades on the trail. While I had a few complaints about the Resolve, they were nothing I couldn’t ignore or forget about while on the trail. It’s also priced quite well given the build quality, making it a pack that I can easily recommend.