Got feedback? Thanks for that question, Glen. Im also curious about how you would fill one up from a very shallow water source. These features allow it to carry minimal weight or to be easily packed with a massive load. Pack was loaded to about 25 lbs., including everything water, food, etc. I have now done close to 50 day hikes up to about to 7 hours with 35-40 lbs. Curious about how you approach all this. Marketed as a 60-liter pack, the Mariposa can carry up to 64 liters when stuffed to the brim. Im a fan of the older Atmos 65, which was lighter, as well as the newest update of the Atmos, the Atmos 65 AG. spring. The packs from brands youve noted that weigh 15-20 ounces are frameless packs. But I really dug the way both felt. Brandon has hiked both the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail, essentially back-to-back, with only four months off in between. By combining an incredible weight-to-volume ratio with a surprising level of carrying comfort, the Arc Blast is excellent for ultralight enthusiasts. The Dyneema used in its construction makes it one of the most durable and water-resistant packs we've tested. In other words, an ultralight pack just may be perfect for you. At just over 2.5 pounds, they have smart features like good compression, a removable lid, voluminous exterior pockets, and a handy trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap. Ive included some models that weigh over two pounds because, as written above, of their versatility for lightweight backpacking, too. I enjoyed your well-researched article. Another pack with a super simple design and a reasonable price tag is the Ultralight Adventure Equipment CDT, which costs just about the same as the Virga. While stripping the pack down is an excellent feature for light loads, a kit that allows you to strap bulky but light items to the outside is a bonus when you need to carry big loads. Ill keep an eye on this brand and may find an opportunity to test and review one of their packs. The answer is that most are surprisingly durable. More comf than some. There is no way I can get a bottle into the side pocket of the Hyperlite. Not only is it a pack with great value, but it is also an easy introduction to the world of ultralight equipment. We love how much you can stuff in the Gossamer Gear pack pockets compared to the small volume of the Ohm's exterior pocket. Youll see its one I have discussed in response to other comments below. Whether youre a beginner or seasoned backpacker, youll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my 12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip and A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking. If you dont have a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read part of both stories for free, or download the e-guide versions of 12 Expert Tips for Planning a Wilderness Backpacking Trip and the lightweight backpacking guide without having a paid membership. If you regularly carry a bear canister of this size, the Gossamer Gear Mariposa is compatible with this can. Better than any osprey or Gregory pack Ive ever used. I walked out with 12 lbs and no food a little over a week later. When covering big miles on the trail, features like easily accessible side pockets for your water bottles, waist belt pockets for snacks, and a convenient place to keep maps handy are a huge benefit. The Atmos felt better with more weight compared to the Exos, which makes sense. For each of these packs, we judged load-carrying comfort for two loads: 15 and 30 pounds. In the past six years, we've tested over 25 models. Last November (2018) I downsized from my beloved custom made McHale to a HMG Southwest 4400. The Osprey Exos 48 and the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest earned excellent adaptability scores because of their ability to carry heavy loads well with tons of external lashing options. A bear canister only fits into this slender pack vertically, making it a little less-than-efficient to pack. Depending on how much weight you intend to carry, there are three other, more-versatile backpacks that weigh just a few ounces more than some of these, yet carry more weight comfortably and have more features: the Granite Gear Perimeter 50 (read my review), Granite Gear Blaze 60 (read my review) and The North Face Banchee 50 (read my review). To this end, we think that if you are focused on durability or if you know you're rough on your gear, you'll want to think about choosing a pack with an aluminum frame versus carbon fiber. ), which Osprey says carry up to 25 pounds. This could be a great choice for those who have been in the ultralight game for a while and want to upgrade. The Chicken Tramper was average in terms of its weight to volume ratio. I also noticed that the G4-20 sizes each span four inches of torso length; thats about as broad a fit range as youll see in a non-adjustable pack. These three packs are the easiest to strip of their frame and waist belts if and when you want to take 12 pounds or less. While, in general, we are not a big fan of lids for ultralight packs, they do create one key advantage: the ability to carry bulky items on top of the main compartment secured under the adjustable lid. Ready to go backpacking? Hope that answers your question. As a baseline, to achieve an above-average score, we estimated that a pack must last for a least one thru-hike of a trail like the PCT or Appalachian Trail. Id put it at 20 pounds, maybe 25 pounds at best, and that assumes the user is very diligent about loading the pack to achieve optimal distribution of weight and keeping hard or sharp objects from poking into the thin, flexible back pad. I like to have a bottle to drink out of in camp; the bottle in my packs side pocket may be empty while hiking. Great article. While it is the case that you'll need to treat your pack with care (it is your home on your back! Seealso my 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack, Video: How to Load a Backpack, all ofmy reviews ofbackpacking gear and ultralight backpacking gear, my picks for The Best Backpacking Gear of the year, and my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for numerous stories with my picks for best gear and tips on buying gear. Let us know! Get the Exos & be able to look up. I have tried the air suspension systems from Osprey, Deuter and Gregory, the new Arcteryx Bora. Thanks for the article. A frame helps shift most pack weight onto your hips, which is far more comfortable than having weight hang off your shoulders. Lining your backpack with a contractor's plastic garbage bag, or better yet, a trash compactor bag has long been a great option to ensure your kit stays dry during long rainy days on the trail. The Arc Blast is a slimmed-down ultralight machine with no bells or whistles. Hi, Im Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. ), and the womens Eja 58 and Eja 48, have long ranked among the best ultralight backpacks. While on a thru-hike or a week-long adventure in the backcountry, your total bulk and weight will fluctuate up and down. This review highlights budget-friendly models and our top-ranked packs, as well as niche products. Do you need an ultralight backpack? for medium pack with small belt) has more capacity than many two-pound packs, including seven roomy external pockets, most of them made with more-durable fabric than mesh. There are many exciting small brands that have popped up in this category of outdoor gear over the past few years, and we've had fun assessing their latest products. This pack balances comfort with an emphasis on lightweight design in a way that is unparalleled. I have used frameless packs from various brands that employ the same basic design, including on aseven-day thru-hike of the John Muir Trail, when we had our base pack weight (everything but food and water) under 15 pounds. We also spent time in Patagonia and the Sierra High Country. The models available from ZPacks are the best we've seen. I wish there were better lash loops for putting a something (such as an ultralight dinghy in my case) on the bottom of the pack. 40 to 50 pounds? 9 oz.) Hi Bill, Zpacks is worth a close look. I agree that dedicated ultralight backpackers will not likely ever carry a pack weighing more than about 25 pounds (and 30 pounds max), and do not need a two-pound pack if their base weight is under 10 pounds. How can we improve GearLab? I did add two water bottle holsters as I prefer them over bladders. 2lbs is not ultralight. In our experiments, we measured the volume of the main pack, the main exterior pockets, and the lid (when present). For anyone carrying a total pack weight over 20 pounds, I recommend a pack with an internal frame. I havent looked at one for years but they seemed kind of clunky at one time. We recommend this pack to any experienced ultralighter looking to strip a few ounces off their Big Four base weight. We generally have to go from A to B to C, not A to C. In my case, thats moving from a 35 pound loaded pack to a 20 pound loaded pack for a 3 nighter. A pack whose design allows the frame and waist belt to be easily removed for very light loads is more adaptable. Im glad you like the Hyperlite pack. The pack has ample room in the side pockets for stoves, bottles, and food, while the mesh pocket is large enough for a few extra layers. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Porter 55 does all of these things with style. ULA packs All good suggestions, thanks Kyle, and Ill note the story recommends the classic Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, which Ill post a full review of soon. Theirtrampoline-style back panel permits cooling air circulation. It took a little while to arrive at our testing facility because it was hand-made to fit our lead tester's dimensions. For example, the Granite Gear Virga 2 was one of the lightest options (10 g/L) but was also one of the least comfortable to carry a lot of gear with. Ive got the Talon 44 & Stratos 34. It hits the mark for me with the organization available in the multiple pockets. The Chicken Tramper 35 Ultralight is well worth the wait. Read review: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Porter 55. I see a variety of bottles in the photos in this article. The Exos carries loads over 20 pounds with ease and excels when loaded down with over 30. from my 50 & 70 l Golite packs. The pack has also seen a carrying capacity increase from 52 to 55 liters. And after 7 hours in a constant West Coast rain hike there was not a drop of moisture inside. When backpacking in a place with frequent water sources, I like to carry a filter bottle like the Lifestraw Go, which I cover in this review; its convenience enables me to carry very little water weight. I used the Exos 58 on the Camino de Santiago last April- GREAT PACK! McHale packs. Some ultralight backpackers assert that only packs weighing under about two pounds empty are truly ultralight packs. or Exos 48 ($220, 2 lbs. I didnt care so much about the loss of hip pockets as I carry snacks, phone, etc. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. However, this means that they are virtually glorified stuff-sacks with shoulder straps in terms of features (a.k.a. Made from Dyneema Composite Fabric (DFC), it's incredibly durable, though the fabric is a bit stiff and crunchy. It makes sense that a handmade pack with thoughtful features and incredibly durable materials would come at a cost. Thank you for your suggestion and please keep it up. It has quick, one-zipper access to the main compartment, and five external pockets (lid, side, and hipbelt). Ultralight Adventure Equipment consistently makes top-notch gear for the ultralight enthusiast, and the CDT is the latest addition to their fleet of durable, lightweight, hardworking packs. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. no lid) contributes to air circulation. Handmade to suit your exact torso dimensions. These packs, in general, can carry both light loads and heavy loads comfortably. The plan was to thru-hike the Trans-Catalina Trail for a true test at the end of March, but the world had other ideas. If you go with one of the packs listed in this article, youre pretty much guaranteed to stay stuck in the lightweight (11-15lbs) baseweight category. The Exos provides ample support and weight a bit more than other packs in this fleet, so consider the Granite Gear Virga 2 for an incredibly light and inexpensive model. But again, I havent hiked in one yet. For many backpackers, that represents the range of pack weight they either carry on most tripsor could carry on most trips, with smart packing and reasonably light gear. Our adaptability score also considers ease of use with a bear canister. The weight-to-volume ratio is a measure we use here to compare packs and luggage of differing volumes. I currently have the Hyperlite 3400 Windrider and the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50. The weight-to-volume ratio is the most significant contributor to total scores, accounting for 35 percent. I likely will never be a true ultra light packer. Osprey says these packs are definitely for committed ultralighters, primarily thru-hikers who are carrying extremely minimalist kitsin other words, for lighter loads than the Exos/Eja. Youre welcome, Glen, and I appreciate the thoughtful question. I currently own an Osprey 4 lb. A frameless pack with a lightly padded hipbelt that also lacks structure does not support weight; the pack essentially hangs off your back, requiring your back and shoulders to bear the weight. Keep posting your reports, and thanks for that. Packs like the Gossamer Gear Murmur, the ULA CDT, and the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest all have a similar feature set, including a roll-top closure and three external shove-it pockets on the outside. A relatively recent update includes changes to the straps, pockets, and waist belt. 5 oz. The Mariposa had our favorite stretchy back mesh pocket, which was large enough to store extra layers, snacks, and other items we wanted to quickly access. 9 oz. Although an ASTM standard exists for measuring pack volume and many pack manufacturers perform ASTM testing, some report the capacity of only the main pack as the nominal measurement, while others include pockets. Typically weighing roughly between under two pounds and three pounds empty, ultralight packs have support for carrying 25 to 35 poundsmaking them ideal for more than just ultralight backpacking. A pack that is made of incredibly light fabric will probably be less durable than one made from robust 200D nylon ripstop. Many backpackers might answer no when their answer should logically be yes. These packs arent just for thru-hikers. The Gossamer Gear Mariposa also earned top scores in this category with its well-placed side pockets, over-the-top closure mechanism, and large mesh back pocket. Please add any thoughts you have if youve used one of the LiteAF packs. We independently test weight and volume measurements, as manufacturers have been known, at times, to fudge these numbers. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider ($355, 1 lb. Thanks for the reply. Thanks for that report, John. When it did arrive, we were immediately impressed by its overall design and its apparent durability. Short answer: If your pack weight maxes out at 20 pounds, or maybe 25 pounds, and/or youre very fit and not bothered by the inherent comfort and support limitations of a frameless pack, the G4-20 may work great for you. Click here to leave a tip for The Big Outside! (Some of the comments at the bottom of this story delve into that.) Overall, Id say that experienced thru-hikers should definitely look into LiteAF packs. A top-loader with a roll-top closure that clips with two straps to the packs front side, the Mariposa has abundant space for five to seven daysand conceivably moreof food and three-season, lightweight gear, including a full-size bear canister (inserted upright; it will not fit horizontally). While most manufacturers pick and choose which elements they think are the most useful, Osprey provides nearly every storage, lashing, and compression feature you can imagine. Carrying gear for clients ends up boosting your pack weight a bit and, while I wouldnt want to carry 40-45 pounds in this pack on a multi-day hike, it performed very well for a four-hour day hike with the added weight. All these options are convenient but also contribute to the pack's relatively heavier weight. 4.6 oz., but its spacious at 68 liters, and its roll-top closure extends farther than many competitors, giving you more capacity when needed. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. We loaded each pack up with a standard three-season kit and five days of food in the BV500 to see how well it fits inside and how much room is left over for the rest of your stuff. Do you have any experience with LiteAF packs?! Adapting to the roll top vs a lid or brain has proven easy with the big pockets. These competitors have multiple ways to add things, like a closed-cell foam pad, to the outside. I like to use the standard 1 liter Nalgene bottles (which are only 3 ounces each of you dont mind the softer opaque ones), but I am flexible. And theyre made with recycled fabrics. There are always trade-offs in design. No frame so you wouldnt want to go over 20 lbs, but the product is awesome. Osprey. Thats why it and the womens Aura 65 AG are on my list of The 10 Best Packs for Backpacking (https://thebigoutside.com/gear-review-the-10-best-packs-for-backpacking/). The Osprey Exos 48 is also important to mention in this metric. The best of these packs will see you through many thousands of trail miles! Ha. Then, we weighed each pack with all modular components in place. Missions in the mountains require packs that can handle two main things. metric gets straight to the point; how much does this pack weigh relative to the volume it carries? The most complex lab testing with these products is our independent measurement of pack volume; since nominal volume measurements from manufacturers are difficult to compare, we decided to perform our test. Ive spent decades on the trail and Im more impressed with this pack than I have ever been with one. The mens and womens REI Flash 55 ($199, 2 lbs. The Exos frame didnt hit my head at all when looking up. It was loaded to 34.4 lbs day one. Not a big deal for me. There is a class of framed, genuinely ultralight packs being made right now by KS Ultralight, Atom Packs, SWD, LiteAF, and a few others. I like to use Aquamira when I am really shaving ounces. If I test it in the backcountry, I will post a review of it. Wondering why these options were ignored? 5 oz., 60 L Volt and am looking to shed weight for 4-5 day section hikes on the AT. (1 lb. Highly suggest. No less comfortable than any other pack Ive owned. I wonder about its comfort compared to the HMG 3400 Windrider, which I mention in this article and reviewed here, and it looks like you may get a better value from the 3400 Windrider, depending on which features you want added to the LiteAF 46L Curve Full Suspension Custom Pack. Sea to Summit's ultralight Sil-Nylon bag is also an ideal choice. The Hyperlite Southwest provides durability, water resistance, and a solid design. I always appreciate an article about ultralight pack options, BUT all of your suggestions were mainstream vendors with weights 30+ oz. On the other end of the spectrum lies the ZPacks Arc Blast 55. You'll encounter re-supplies and weekend trips where you'll sometimes need to carry a substantial load, but other times you may carry less. I took the pack out on a 13ish-mile out and back, including a sketchy off-trail scramble up a pass and back down the other side. The roll-top on the Chicken Tramper didn't compress as much as the Hyperlite packs, making it a bit less adaptable. is not only a steal, but it sports nice design features for ultralight backpacking, including a rolltop closure, six external pockets, customizable compression straps, and removable features to trim several ounces. 15 oz.) I just finished an 88 mile, 8 night, 9 day trip with the ArcHaul 65. When it comes to materials, the Gossamer Gear Murmur is made of some of the most delicate we've seen in this review, and that should be considered when thinking about this product. Or get the Atmos and be able to carry more better. The tensioned, ventilated back panel allows air movement across your sweaty back. Gregorys attention to comfort in its ultralight backpack is evident in the aluminum perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and an HDPE framesheet that lend the pack substantial rigidity, distributing most of the load across the hips. Cuben fiber pack liners are the state-of-the-art in super light and durable waterproof pack liners. I am curious how you handle water (water bottles or bladder systems) with ultralight packs (this can be an issue with all packs I suppose). It has a removable, U-shaped internal stay that gives the pack the support and comfort for carrying 25 to 30 poundsperhaps up to 35 pounds for some backpackersand comes in three unisex pack and interchangeable hipbelt sizes. Keep in touch, I appreciate the feedback. As another of your commenters mentioned below, this specific design is rated for about 20 pounds, but I definitely doubled that on at least one day trip this winter. I can get one of these in and out of the side pocket of the Gossamer Gear, even though it is a bit of a struggle. Check out the bladders I recommend in this review (scroll down). The Osprey Exos 48 combines durability and excellent features at an outstanding price. With a measured weight of 21.3 ounces, it's a great deal lighter than most in our fleet. ULAs 400 Robic fabric is highly durable, and the pack has a huge external front pocket. I am also concerned about the placement of the ice axe loop, being in the center of the base of the pack. The semantic argument aside, packs that light are generally frameless. Comfortable with both light and heavy loads. A steel, internal perimeter frame plus a contoured hipbelt make it comfortable carrying up to 30 pounds. Jane Jackson and Brandon Lampley spearheaded this review, bringing to the table a wealth of related experience. The cinch top closure also takes some getting used to (imagine a simple stuff sack) and does not completely protect from the elements. Ive had ZPacks on my radar for a while and Ill take a close look at the ArcHaul 65. Close to the same volume 70 litres but more than five pounds lighter. Im sure your observations about getting bottles in and out of side pockets while wearing the pack ring true for many people. Second, it must be burly, which means it needs to offer protection from abrasions and keep its contents safe from rain and snow. Love both, but am looking for something alittle bigger for some really long hikes. I like having a hard-sided bottle to drink from in camp, anyway. We liked this pack's size, as it is a bit more versatile than some of its larger siblings from Hyperlite. Anything bigger than that can present compression problems, which leads to loose gear moving around while hiking, which is bad. The pack performed exceptionally well. Atoms packs However, that pack is a bit heavier now and really built for carrying heavier loads. These packs sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like good compression and attachments for trekking poles or an ice axe. I prefer ultralight packs with some kind of frame structure, like those in this review, including the Exos series, that will distribute the packs weight in a way that your body can carry more comfortably for hours on the trail, day after day.