Thanks for sharing your observations and experiences, Bill. I do agree that pushing UL packs to their max comfortable weight limit can run the risk of discomfort—although, of course, your food weight does drop about a couple of pounds per day, so sometimes I just overload a pack knowing that within a day it’ll be feeling fine.

Good luck with your pack shopping.

My biggest backpacks are 4-6 nights solo in the Wind Rivers in September. Some true ULers may be appalled at a base weight of 16 lbs, but that isn’t the same as summer High Route “bring light gear and hope for the best” journeys. It requires warmer than average clothes, a 10F WM Versalite, bear spray, Ursack, phone and Garmin Mini 2 added to the base weight. So my starting weight is closer to 28-30 lbs and 60L volume is about right. Safety first.

Tried the ULA Circuit. Nice pack, but didn’t fit and ate the return cost. Didn’t find the shoulder straps all that comfortable either (edge-bound seam). That’s part of the problem buying from cottage suppliers. Looking at SWD Rugged Long Haul 50. The Gossamer Gear has mixed reviews near 30 lb, but it’s certainly popular as is the Circuit. The Seek Outside Gila is another option in the “almost UL” packs at 3 lbs. Carries 50 lb comfortably (though I wouldn’t want to do that).

Proper weight transfer to the hipbelt, a properly cushioned belt and shoulder straps, and operational load lifters are non-negotiable items for me. At 66 I like enjoying my backpacks.

Thanks again and look forward to your future articles.

Thanks for the suggestion, Ian. Six Moon Designs is definitely on my list of packs to try out.

Thanks for sharing that assessment, Kerri. Enjoy the pack.

Hi Rade,

While the side compression straps on the Osprey Exos form a Z-compression that crosses over the side mesh pockets, I found that in no way obstructs the pockets: You simply adjust the side compression to allow space for a bottle or whatever you’re placing inside the pocket. As noted in my full review of the Exos, it’s easy to reach inside the pockets while wearing the pack.

The full review of the ExosGossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is just $25 more than the Exos 58 and while it doesn’t carry quite as much weight as the Exos 58, it is a full pound lighter. There’s a clear distinction between the packs primarily in that regard, as well as different organization and features.

Thanks for your suggestion about metric specs, I like it. Good luck.

I’m considering one of the light & ultralight packs, and from your list I was looking at Exos and Mariposa. Exos looks good, except for those side compression straps. I think they will obstruct side pockets, what was your experience? Mariposa is pricy, and I don’t know how good is the ventilation on your back. Except for these ones, Minimalist V2 and Crown 3 60L look interesting, do you have some experience with them?

It would be great if you quote measurements in metric system too, it would be much easier for some of us to follow your posts.

Best regards

Hi Mike,

I haven’t yet reviewed one of the Zpacks models but I have my eye on that brand.

All good suggestions, thanks Kyle, and I’ll note the story recommends the classic Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, which I’ll post a full review of soon.

Hey Tom, thanks for the detailed report, that’s excellent. I’m glad you like the Hyperlite pack. I do agree with your overall assessment, including the carrying comfort and features; and using a bladder, I don’t mind if a bottle is impossible to extract from a side pocket when wearing a pack.

Now enjoy getting out to use it more!

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. Pack was loaded to about 25 lbs., including everything… water, food, etc. I thought it carried GREAT. No less comfortable than any other pack I’ve owned. More comf than some.

I don’t miss having a brain, especially since the hip pockets are so generously sized, and the mesh side pockets are great. The hip belt has a lot of structure / rigidity, which kept the load from sliding down and kept things comfy as well. I was concerned about getting a Nalgene in and out of the side pocket. This is due to the top of the pocket coming up quite high on the pack’s side, but I found that if I pull out of the left shoulder strap after undoing the hipbelt and sternum strap, I can do it. Not a big deal for me.

I do like the fact that once I can access it the pocket is loose enough to accommodate the bottle even with the pack stuffed. This compares favorably to a lot of more luxe packs–e.g. Osprey. I also was pleased with the ventilation on my back even though we are in a heat wave.

The back of the pack is rigid enough that it did not smother me, and I think that short vertical footprint (i.e. no lid) contributes to air circulation. 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. I am also concerned about the placement of the ice axe loop, being in the center of the base of the pack. I think this will make it difficult to attach an ice axe if there is a good amount of gear in the center mesh pocket, which would not be uncommon when traveling in snowier conditions–e.g. spring.

Thanks for your article!!! It motivated me to upgrade (downgrade?) from my 50 & 70 l Golite packs.

Tom,

Check out the bladders I recommend in this review (scroll down).

You need a hard-sided water bottle like a Nalgene to scoop water from a shallow pool, just like you would from a lake (because a soft/collapsible bottle would go flat when you try to immerse it, with the air being pushed out rather than replaced by water). You need a pour-over spot on a creek to fill a soft bottle or dromedary. I like having a hard-sided bottle to drink from in camp, anyway.

Thanks for the reply. I’m curious what bladder system you recommend? I haven’t looked at one for years but they seemed kind of clunky at one time. I’m also curious about how you would fill one up from a very shallow water source

Hey Tom,

I’m sure your observations about getting bottles in and out of side pockets while wearing the pack ring true for many people. Sometimes it’s partly how a pack fits your torso, but with some packs, the side pocket position makes it impossible for most people to reach it with the pack on. It may be a little more common with smaller and lighter packs because they’re often closer to your body, but I’ve seen that in larger packs, too. With smaller and ultralight packs, especially, when the pack’s loaded to the hilt, it may push into a side pocket’s volume capacity and make it harder to fit anything into it.

I usually use a bladder, which eliminates the problem of the side pockets. I like to have a bottle to drink out of in camp; the bottle in my pack’s side pocket may be empty while hiking. 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 hope that’s helpful.

True words, Tom.

I agree Mike. We generally have to go from A to B to C, not A to C. In my case, that’s moving from a 35 pound loaded pack to a 20 pound loaded pack for a 3 nighter. Thats probably A to B. I’ll get to C some time but currently pretty happy about being at B!

Great article. 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). I see a variety of bottles in the photos in this article. I currently have the Hyperlite 3400 Windrider and the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50. I like to use the standard 1 liter Nalgene bottles (which are only 3 ounces each of you don’t mind the softer opaque ones), but I am flexible. 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. There is no way I can get a bottle into the side pocket of the Hyperlite.

I think even a smaller, thinner bottle would be a real struggle for me due to how high the netting/pocket comes up on the side of the pack. It seems like the manufacturers/designers could do a better job with this, or, if they are designing the pack with a particular bottle or bladder in mind, then maybe they should let buyers know about. Curious about how you approach all this.

BTW, bladder systems seem kind of antithetical to ultralight to me. I like to use Aquamira when I am really shaving ounces.

Thanks for sharing that, Becky.

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the comment. 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. But there are packs covered in this review that are widely considered ultralight packs. I’ve included some models that weigh over two pounds because, as written above, of their versatility for lightweight backpacking, too. My intent is to help backpackers across a wider range of interests and pack weights than just dedicated ultralighters.

The other consideration for an aspiring ultralighter is that the capacity of these packs is far too large for an ultralight kit; even accounting for a 5-6 day food carry (without a bear can). A sub-30 litre internal capacity with an additional 10 litres external capacity is usually the right amount of space. Anything bigger than that can present compression problems, which leads to loose gear moving around while hiking, which is bad.

There is a class of framed, genuinely ultralight packs being made right now by KS Ultralight, Atom Packs, SWD, LiteAF, and a few others. If your kit is sitting at or around a 12 pound baseweight, investing in a genuinely ultralight pack is going to get you closer to that covered 10 pound baseweight, and is worth the lead time wait.

If you go with one of the packs listed in this article, you’re pretty much guaranteed to stay stuck in the “lightweight” (11-15lbs) baseweight category. It’s difficult to lug a 2+lbs pack around and achieve an ultralight baseweight.

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the question. You’ll see it’s one I have discussed in response to other comments below. You’re correct that the packs I’ve spotlighted all weigh around two pounds or more because they are internal frame packs. The packs from brands you’ve noted that weigh 15-20 ounces are frameless packs. The presence or absence of a supportive internal frame has defined that weigh differential since frameless packs were first mass produced more than two decades ago.

As I write under the Ultralight Packs Defined section of this story (above), frameless packs are very minimalist, with a comfortable carrying capacity of about 20 pounds and 25 pounds at best, and that assumes the user is very diligent about loading the pack to achieve optimal distribution of weight. A frameless pack with a lightly padded hipbelt essentially hangs off your back, requiring your back and shoulders to bear the weight.

I prefer ultralight packs with some kind of frame structure, like those in this review, because they distribute the pack’s weight in a way that your body can carry more comfortably for hours on the trail, day after day.

A frameless pack can work for an ultralighter whose base pack weight is under 10 to 12 pounds. For anyone carrying a total pack weight over 20 pounds, I recommend a pack with an internal frame.

Hope that answers your question. Thanks for the comment.

Thanks, Aaron, I appreciate the suggestion. I’ve had ZPacks on my radar for a while and I’ll take a close look at the ArcHaul 65. If I test it in the backcountry, I will post a review of it. In general, look for more reviews of ultralight backpacks at my blog.

Keep in touch.

Hey Tucker,

Thanks for sharing those detailed observations from your experience with the LiteAF 35L Curve Fast Track Pack. The company’s sales model has some appeal, as you say. I’ll keep an eye on this brand and may find an opportunity to test and review one of their packs.

Keep in touch, I appreciate the feedback.

Hey Michael!

I have been testing the LiteAF 35L Curve Fast Track Pack throughout the winter here in Tahoe. 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. Nevertheless, it has exceeded my expectations as my trusted pack for guiding snowshoe hikes here all winter.

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. Carrying gear for clients ends up boosting your pack weight a bit and, while I wouldn’t 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.

I was initially skeptical that it didn’t include a hip belt, but the way they’ve designed the shoulder straps really does wonders to keep the pack weight close to your body’s center of gravity. Overall, I’d say that experienced thru-hikers should definitely look into LiteAF packs. You’ll need to have your kit really dialed down, but the ability to customize your pack order (as you mention) is a great service for those that just can’t seem to find a pack on the market that is manufactured with all of the features and specs they’re looking for.

Hi Tucker, no, I have not used the LiteAF packs. I have noticed them and they do look interesting, and quite similar to the Hyperlite Mountain Gear packs in design and materials. I like the LiteAF a la carte system for ordering a pack, which does apparently require a wait time while they build your pack. 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. But again, I haven’t hiked in one yet.

Good luck, thanks for the question. Please add any thoughts you have if you’ve used one of the LiteAF packs.

Hi Bill, Zpacks is worth a close look. But reference my exchange of comments with Glen, below, for my observations about frameless packs, which are the only packs that weigh under two pounds.

Thanks, Matt.

Matt

You’re welcome, Glen, and I appreciate the thoughtful question. With somewhere between 20 and 30 pounds in your pack, or maybe even more at times, I believe you will enjoy your trips much more if you’re carrying a pack with a frame. I’ve used the Exos quite a bit, both the newest version and the previous generation, and it’s a fine backpack. There are others in this review also worth considering, and fit has a big impact on comfort. Good luck and keep in touch.

Many thanks for your experience, Michael. I can get my base weight under 20 pounds, but with food um…, I agree, it’s not worth being uncomfortable. I tried a weighted Exos and it was like carrying air. I didn’t care so much about the loss of hip pockets as I carry snacks, phone, etc. in my cargo pants pockets. Though I wish other brands offered a quick-stow system for trekking poles that didn’t require having to doff my pack. The Exos cover flap is an improvement, but still not as good as a roll top closure for reducing/compressing the pack size on the trail.

Oh well, we’ll just have to wait until someone “perfects” a pack. Ha. Thanks again for the great article.

Thanks for that question, Glen. While I have not used the Gossamer Gear G4-20, I have used frameless packs from other brands that employ the same basic design, like some of the early GoLite ultralight packs; I used one of them on a seven-day thru-hike of the John Muir Trail, and we had our base pack weight (everything but food and water) at under 15 pounds.

Frameless packs are very minimalist, and I think 25 to 30 pounds is an optimistic expectation for its comfortable carrying capacity. I’d 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. A frameless pack with a lightly padded hipbelt (that also has no structure) does not support weight, it essentially hangs on your back, requiring your back and shoulders to bear the weight, however it may be distributed.

I prefer ultralight packs with some kind of frame structure, like those in this review, including the Exos series, that will distribute the pack’s weight in a way that your body can carry more comfortably for hours on the trail, day after day. A frame helps shift the large part of a pack’s weight onto your hips, which is far more comfortable than having weight hang against your shoulders. I think many people would notice the difference, especially with more than 20 pounds in the pack.

I also noticed that the G4-20 sizes each span four inches of torso length; that’s about as broad a fit range as you’ll see in a non-adjustable pack. If your torso falls in the middle of the range, it may fit you very well, but torsos at the top or bottom of the range may find the fit less than optimal.

Otherwise, I do like the general design of the G4-20, which is similar to others in this review, like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider, which does carry 30 pounds or more comfortably.

Short answer: If your pack weight maxes out at 20 pounds, or maybe 25 pounds, and/or you’re very fit and not bothered by the inherent comfort and support limitations of a frameless pack, the G4-20 may work great for you. Personally, I’ll accept the nominal additional weight of a frame in a backpack for the better comfort and greater weight-carrying capacity, which has the additional benefit that I can also use it on trips where I’m necessarily carrying 25 to 30 or 35 pounds.

Hope that’s helpful. Good luck.

Thanks for that report, John. As you probably know but for the benefit of other readers, the 2400 Southwest uses the same basic design of the 3400 Windrider that I review in this article, and has the volume for lightweight backpacking trips. An awesome pack. Keep posting your reports, and thanks for that.

Last November (2018) I ‘downsized’ from my beloved custom made McHale to a HMG Southwest 4400. Close to the same volume 70 litres but more than five pounds lighter. The suspensions are similar with a pretty basic but very effective hip belt. The 4400 does not have load lifters which I have not missed. Adapting to the roll top vs a lid or brain has proven easy with the big pockets. I did add two water bottle holsters as I prefer them over bladders.

I have now done close to 50 day hikes up to about to 7 hours with 35-40 lbs. the HMG is performing amazingly. I love the simplicity and adjustability of the simple bag and roll top. I also use the HMG Pods which are more space efficient than stuff sacks. And after 7 hours in a constant West Coast ‘rain hike’ there was not a drop of moisture inside. Plus no rain cover to deal with.

I prefer packs that snug to my body. Yes I perspire under the pack but the system works. I have tried the air suspension systems from Osprey, Deuter and Gregory, the new Arc’teryx Bora. I can’t find a comfortable fit and constantly like I am being pulled backwards.

HMG, in my view, have a winning formula.

Thanks for the suggestion, Lisa. I’m a fan of the older Atmos 65, which was lighter, as well as the newest update of the Atmos, the Atmos 65 AG. However, that pack is a bit heavier now and really built for carrying heavier loads. That’s why it and the women’s Aura 65 AG are on my list of The 10 Best Packs for Backpacking (https://thebigoutsideblog.com/gear-review-the-10-best-packs-for-backpacking/). I prefer a lighter pack for thru-hiking or any ultralight or lightweight backpacking.

Yes, Edward, I’m sure it was excellent for the Camino. I’ve heard really good things about that trek.

Hi Regan, I understand your dilemma, the Atmos AG 65 and Exos 58 are certainly both great packs, but for different purposes. Besides deciding based on how each fits your torso, I think your question comes down to how much weight you intend to usually carry: 30 pounds or less? Go with the Exos. 40 to 50 pounds? You want the Atmos. I suggest you know the weight of your usual gear, food, etc., before making that decision.