Likes
We liked the size of the tarp that the Arc'teryx Pali features, a 4'x 4' that is one of the bigger tarps in the review. The tarp is a little smaller than those of a Black Diamond Super Chute or a Metolius Rope Ranger, but despite what the Black Diamond Website says, the Pali does have a bigger tarp than the Black Diamond Super Slacker. In the pack-ability category, the Pali was our favorite. First off, it's designed to fit perfectly in the bottom of a Arc'teryx Miura 50 and that is a cool idea. While we didn't get to test it for ourselves, a friend claims it also fit perfectly in their Miura 30. For those who already own a different cragging pack, don't worry; Arc'teryx Pali's compact design helps it fit into nearly every pack wonderfully. It does feature one compression strap that helps, but it's mostly it is the shape of the Pali that makes it such a packable rope bag. The Pali features one padded shoulder strap and like many other rope bags in this review was fine for short carries, but we would not want to carry it for more than 20 minutes. Some testers thought the Pali was slightly more comfortable than other single-strap bags like the Super Chute, Black Diamond Super Slacker or Metolius Ropemaster but others thought them about equal.
Dislikes
The Pali was the least easy to roll up of any rope bag in the review. To call it hard might be a bit much, but it was the least friendly for sure. The inability to carry other things was the biggest downfall of the Pali. What makes it such a compact little rope bag means you can't fit much else in it. A 70m rope barely fits if you are super careful and you can't really get much else in there without overloading it. It's the same thing to a slightly lesser extent for a 60m cord. Another small downside: the Pali features no little pockets for keys or a wallet, making it less convenient if you just want to take the rope bag out for a half day of sport climbing. On the flip side, some might like the clean, simple design of having no zippers.
Value
Being the most expensive rope bag our review is tough to swallow. Is it worth the extra money? It is the most compact rope bag in the review. It does come with a decent-sized tarp that was pleasant to flake ropes onto. It does have the symbol of the Archaeopteryx AKA the bird, famous as the first reptile to develop feathers for flight thus linking birds and reptiles plus a lifetime warranty and an innovative design.
