For the better part of a decade, ThruDark has been the British performance brand defined by two things, tactical apparel and a Special Forces backstory. Now it’s aiming that same operator credibility squarely at the trail.
The brand just dropped a trio of technical packs, two Pinnacle hikers and an Orbital climber, and to prove the packs were built to take a beating, the crew at Thru Dark put these things through the ringer.
Built by Operators, Validated on Everest
For the uninitiated, ThruDark was founded in 2017 by Anthony “Staz” Stazicker and Louis Tinsley, two veterans with a combined 27 years in the British military, 18 of them in UK Special Forces. We’ve tested a ton of their gear over the years, and the “designed by people who don’t get a second chance on their kit” angle has always been part of their DNA.
Case in point, Stazicker has actually summited Everest, part of a charity push that took his team from London to the top and back in seven days. The packs logged development time on Everest, across the Alps, and out in the Moroccan desert, which is a more serious résumé than anyone could really expect from a consumer backpack.
The Pinnacle Pair
The Pinnacle line splits into a 28L for fast day hikes and a 42L for multi-day hauls. Both are cut from fully recycled Robic Hex Nylon, which ThruDark claims carries 50 times the tensile strength and 2.5 times the tear resistance of standard nylon.
Additionally, the high-wear zones get reinforced with burlier 840D ballistic nylon on top. The 42L is the workhorse here, with a floating top lid, detachable sleeping-pad straps, and under-lid cinch straps for a coiled climbing rope.
Both also get an adjustable back panel with 75mm of torso play, a sternum-strap emergency whistle, and a detachable rain cover rated to a properly soggy 10,000HH+.
The Orbital Goes Vertical
The odd one out, and arguably the most interesting, is the Orbital 30L. Where the Pinnacles chase trail miles, the Orbital is a dedicated alpine pack built from a Dyneema ripstop matrix for serious tear resistance.
It comes loaded with ice-axe attachments, rope-management straps, snow-shedding EVA back panels, and, best of all, integrated RECCO rescue tech. This is the reflector system that helps search teams locate you under avalanche debris. It’s also rated to 9,700HH and load-tested to 13kg, further proving that Thru Dark is building these for adventure.
Spec Sheet
Brand: ThruDark
Range: Pinnacle 28L, Pinnacle 42L, Orbital 30L
Pinnacle Fabric: 210D Recycled Robic Hex Nylon (C0 DWR), 840D ballistic nylon reinforcement
Orbital Fabric: Dyneema Ripstop Matrix
Waterproofing: 10,000HH+ rain cover (Pinnacle) / 9,700HH (Orbital)
Back System: 75mm adjustable torso length (Pinnacle)
Pinnacle 42L: 1.7kg, 67 x 31 x 24 cm, load tested to 14kg
Orbital Tech: RECCO reflector, ice-axe attachments, EVA snow-shedding back panel, load tested to 13kg
Colors: Olive Green or Obsidian Black (Pinnacle), Antimony Grey (Orbital)
Origin: Made in Vietnam
Warranty: 5-Year Overwatch + lifetime repairs
Price: $235 (28L) / $275 (42L) / £190 (~$255) (Orbital)
Pricing & Availability
All three are available to order now directly through ThruDark, with the Pinnacle 28L running $235 and the 42L set at $275. The Dyneema-clad Orbital 30L lists at £190 (roughly $255), and fair warning, these are shipping on a slight delay, with pre-orders fulfilling from early July.
Recap
ThruDark Pinnacle & Orbital Backpack Collection
ThruDark’s Special Forces founders push their expedition-tested credibility into hard goods, with three packs spanning a recycled-Robic day hiker to a RECCO-equipped alpine climber.
