Peak Organization for Backcountry Tools, Gear, and Supplies: Mountainsmith Mayhem EVO 30L Review

The places I like to hike are generally poorly blazed and aren’t easy to find on a map. That way, I get to wander around, foraging and grooming overgrown trails, with the reward of hanging my hammock without being bothered. Because of this, I need to be able to carry axes, saws, ropes, wedges, and the kind of tools most people don’t take on average day hikes.

Recently, one of my favorite pack makers, Mountainsmith, has been releasing products designed to exceed the needs of the average hiker. The EVO line is made from durable materials with a focus on organization and adaptability. What’s more, the EVO line is designed to be field-repairable. That way, if something gets screwed up when you’re out there, you can fix it.

In October, Mountainsmith released its Mayhem EVO 30L. An update to its original Mayhem pack, the Mayhem EVO 30L is a 30L pack designed to be a mission-ready workhorse. It was built for backcountry professionals, survivalists, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts.

The pack has ample internal storage as well as external storage. It also has lashing points and a high focus on expansion and accessibility. At 30 L, it’s good for both dayhikes and overnights.

In short: The Mountainsmith Mayhem EVO 30L ($240) is designed to be that one pack that you can use for everything, all the time. It offers a high level of organization, great durability, and is field-repairable. Mountainsmith decked this pack out with bells and whistles, thoughtful details, and great design. This technical, versatile pack is great for day trips and overnights, and will last for years of adventure.

Compare the Mountainsmith Mayhem EVO 30L to the packs on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks.

Mountainsmith Mayhem EVO 30L Backpack Review

Backstory

I’m very familiar with the Mountainsmith brand. I have used its lumbar packs and backpacks since I was in high school. Out of all of the pack brands out there, Mountainsmith has been the brand I have relied on the most.

Earlier this fall, I reached out to Mountainsmith, looking to check out its Tour EVO for another project. I needed a pack I could carry day to day that could easily convert from work to play and back again. During that conversation, I got the download on what the whole EVO line was about. My timing couldn’t have been better. The Mayhem EVO was launching the very next week.

This pack has transformed my approach to life in general, but more so in the outdoors. I feel like the Mayhem EVO 30L was the scratch I needed for a long-standing itch. The only people this pack is overbuilt for are those who prefer a quick mile hike on a paved trail. Everyone else will find the benefit in a pack that adjusts to your needs, all year long.

Layout & Design

Organization

The level of organization and accessibility that the Mayhem EVO 30L provides both inside and outside is pretty amazing. From its clamshell-style opening to pocket and lashing points, your ability to fine-tune the way you carry your clothing, gear, food, and water is almost limitless. Even the shoulder straps have expandable pockets and loops, as well as some top-notch routing for your water bladder tube.

Materials

In terms of materials, the shell is made from DWR-treated 420D ripstop nylon. That creates a durable and abrasion-resistant surface that is also impervious to adverse weather conditions.

Doubling down, Mountainsmith decided to include a Hi-Vis 150D HD Poly Liner in the pack. That acts as another durable barrier to the elements and abuse.

Hi-Vis orange is a secondary theme to this pack and the rest of the EVO line. Aside from the interior of the pack, you can also find it on touch points, as well as the front panel, which can be flipped around to expose the bright coloring and alert hunters, rescue teams, and other individuals out on the trail where you are. Bright linings also make it easier to locate things inside the pack when it’s dark.

Features

The Mayhem EVO 30L has also been designed for larger tool and gear carry. With options to lash down skis and snowboards, as well as axes, chainsaws, and rope, this pack blurs the line between average user and seasoned professional. However, in doing so, it doesn’t favor or alienate one or the other.

The pack is capable of rope and A-frame ski carry for backcountry pursuits. The front panel of the pack allows for pass-through for snowboard carry, blade-down chainsaw carry, and hand tool carry, and is removable.

Both side bottle pockets have field serviceable bungees, the front panel zippered pocket has an expansion gusset, and the bottom panel has compression straps for additional load carry. There are even hypalon-reinforced ice axe and mixed tool storage sleeves on the lower panel of the pack.

First Impressions

As someone who changes up what they need for outdoor gear all the time, it’s nice to find a pack that doesn’t need to be swapped out to adjust to those changes. The Mayhem EVO 30L is so advanced in terms of modularity, adaptability, and accessibility that I have found myself overwhelmed by the possibilities of what I want to do with it. There are only so many hours in a day and days in a week when I can be in the woods wandering around or sleeping on the ground.

That said, when I first received the pack, I dumped all of my gear into it. Even though it was unbalanced, I found the pack to be comfortable. I also felt the immediate benefit of the double sternum straps, as they distribute pressure much better than a single strap. During those last sluggish legs where I just want to get back to camp or the truck, those will be a benefit.

The one thing the Mayhem EVO 30L does not have (that the 45L does) is load lifters. I am not sure if this is because Mountainsmith didn’t think they were necessary on a pack with a capacity of 45 pounds or if it was just confident in the design of the pack, compression straps, and waistbelt. The only way to figure this out is by using the pack where it was intended: in the middle of nowhere.

Out in the Field

I’ve never been on skis or a snowboard. However, I’ve logged some impressive miles snowshoeing. That being the case, I was stoked when the timing lined up for our first snowstorm. I planned to head out with the Mayhem EVO 30L to see how it performed.

The front panel of the pack expands so that I could transform it from a central storage pocket. This let me port the snowshoes from the snowless parking lot to the trailhead, where the snow was still lofty.

Hiking in the snow and snowshoeing are more demanding on your body than your standard hike. The last thing I wanted to feel was the bag hanging off me. And it wasn’t! For the 3 miles out and 4 back, the pack stayed snug to my back and moved where I moved. Even when I found myself scrambling over a rocky spot on the trail, the pack didn’t add to my off-kilter momentum.

There are so many pockets and lashing points that it’s really up to you how you want to pack and use the Mayhem. I haven’t had a lot of experience with shoulder straps that have pockets on them. However, I found many uses for them, as well as the lashing points.

Additionally, the singular pouch on the belt made for a great spot for gloves and a ProBar. It’s nice to have essentials in a place where you can easily access them on the move.

I look forward to packing this out for a night or two on the trail. For now, I’ll continue to use it as a technical pack to help keep the trails clear until spring. That’s when the trail crews around here get back to work.

Future Expansion: Chest Rigs

Mountainsmith will be releasing its Timber EVO in small and medium sizes this upcoming spring. Designed to work independently as smaller lumbar-style packs or pouches, the Timber EVO line can easily be attached to the shoulder straps of the Mayhem EVO line to function as a chest rig.

Chest rigs gained popularity among hunters and survivalists many years ago. They provide easy access to necessary items, historically including a handgun, binoculars, and other essentials that you want to obtain with no time to spare.

Other brands have created their own versions of these bags over the years. But Mountainsmith’s addition to its lineup is another indication that the brand is focused on creating viable solutions for die-hard outdoor enthusiasts and professionals.

Mountainsmith Mayhem EVO 30L Backpack: Conclusion

I really like the direction Mountainsmith is going in with its EVO lineup. Aside from the overall muted, natural tones, there’s a commonality across the line. This can be found in accessibility, organization, durability, and adaptability.

The overall look and feel might make a pack like the Mayhem EVO 30L seem “tactical” to some. Additionally, minimalists will find the pack to be the antithesis of their ethos.

However, everyone else might find all the answers they need in a pack like this. Even now, after packing it out in various configurations, I am still finding new ideas on how to carry what I need.

Compared to other and past products in the Mountainsmith lineup, the EVO line is burly by design. It comes with a lot of extra bells and whistles. Thankfully, this doesn’t add to the bulk of the pack. There’s also the carryover focus on organization and adaptability. That has been a gold star for Mountainsmith since its inception.

I also appreciate the Hi-Vis layers and touchpoints. They clue hunters in that it’s a fellow human rustling around out there and not the main ingredient to their next batch of venison stew. They also make things easier to identify inside the pack in the dying light past sunset.

If you want a basic daypack, the Mayhem EVO 30L is probably overkill. However, the sky is the limit for people heading out on a variety of adventures who want to rely on one pack throughout the year.