Finest Ultralight Backpacks of 2024, Examined

Ultralight backpackers know that lighter is all the time higher. Whether or not you might be gunning for an FKT or lightening your load earlier than your subsequent thru-hike, selecting a backpack is a very powerful alternative you’ll make. Outside Life has been testing sub 2-pound choices as a part of our check of the most effective backpacking gear, working with testers throughout a spread of physique varieties and match preferences. Over two testing journeys on America’s lengthy trails, we’ve checked out backpacks from Zpacks, Palante, Hyperlite, Nashville, REI, Outside Vitals, Durston and extra.

Like with our tackle the greatest backpacking backpacks, I’ve organized this evaluation by body kind.

• Frameless backpacks, which haven’t any inflexible body construction, sometimes trip greater than framed backpacks. The waist belt can be utilized to safe the pack in opposition to your torso, however doesn’t switch weight to your hips. These backpacks sometimes work greatest for people whose kits are approaching sub-10 pound base weights and/or have robust trapezoids. 
• Inflexible body backpacks have aluminum or carbon fiber stays that assist transfer weight out of your shoulders to your hips. In contrast to different backpacking backpacks, ultralight rigid-frame backpacks sometimes don’t have padding or different help within the again panel.
• Detachable body backpacks permit for customers to change between a rigid-frame backpack stye and a wrap-around fashion (coated in our take of the greatest backpacking backpacks), the place weight is distributed across the size of the torso. 

↓ Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Frameless

↓ Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Inflexible Frames

↓ Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Detachable Frames

How We Examined the Finest Ultralight Backpacks

Choice

Whereas ultralight backpacks have been as soon as the only province of backpackers who had achieved that elusive 10-pound baseweight, at present there are ultralight backpacks able to carrying upwards of 30 kilos comfortably.

We’ve reviewed over a dozen light-weight backpacks as a part of our backpacking gear assessments, however narrowed it right down to the sub-2 pound contenders right here. 

The Testers

To check the most effective ultralight backpacks, OL recruited a testing panel with a spread of expertise ranges, physique varieties, and preferences. We had devoted ultralight backpackers in addition to backpackers that recurrently carry over 30 kilos check choices from Hyperlite, Symbiosis, Nashville, and extra. 

• Adam Tycaster: Over 4,000 miles of backpacking expertise, together with the PCT 2014 and CT 2017. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the Osprey Exos.
• Alex Robinson: OL editor-in-chief; a backcountry large recreation hunter and fair-weather path runner. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the Stone Glacier Evo 3300 and Kuiu Professional 6000. 
• Ashley Thess: OL affiliate gear editor. Over 600 miles of backpacking expertise. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the ULA Ohm.
• Diana Helmuth: Writer of Methods to Undergo Outdoors (Nationwide Outside Guide Award winner). Over 1,500 miles of backpacking expertise. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the Dana Designs ArcFlex Terraplane.  
• Jac “High Shelf” Mitchel: Over 11,000 miles of backpacking expertise together with the PCT 2014, CDT 2016, AZT, 2017, and GET 2017. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the Six Moon Minimalist, Mountain Laurel Designs Burn, and Gossamer G4.
• Laura “Chop Chop” Lancaster: OL employees author. Over 4,000 miles of backpacking expertise, together with the PCT 2014 and CT 2017. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the ULA Catalyst and Osprey Talon.
• Patrice “Regular” La Vigne: Gear reviewer, Denali information, and creator of Between Every Step. Over 7,000 miles of backpacking expertise, together with the AT 2011 and Te Araroa 2014-2015. Earlier go-to backpacks embrace the Gregory Deva and Osprey Aura. 
• Sven “Magic” Anderson: 1,350-mile LASH (PCT) 2022. Mountain climbing with Parkinson’s illness. 

Testing 

Outside Life conducts an annual backpacking gear testing journey that focuses on progressive light-weight and ultralight backpacking gear. These testing journeys happen on America’s nationwide scenic trails, together with a 30-mile stretch of the northernmost part of the Oregon Coast Path and a 40-mile stretch alongside the Pacific Crest Path within the Goat Rocks Wilderness. 

These journeys normally see the testing group protecting 10 or extra miles every day. With our day’s mileage full we take notes on every pack, in addition to the opposite gear that’s being examined, after which swap out for a special mannequin for the next day. This half can get just a little intense as everybody unloads after which reloads all of their gear into a brand new backpack: suppose a typical pack explosion, however on steroids and your whole path household mixing it up. Over time, every pack’s options, flaws, and even persona started to make themselves recognized — High Shelf started to see every pack as one among her youngsters.

Scoring

After taking copious notes within the subject, the testing group then spends a day filling out scoring sheets for every merchandise within the check. We additionally focus on and examine with each other, which is useful for understanding how and why experiences with the identical gear can fluctuate from individual to individual. 

Backpacking backpacks are scored on match, consolation, load bearing, packability, accessibility, and worth. Scores are then averaged among the many testers. 

• Match: Have been the testers capable of alter the pack to suit their our bodies? 
• Consolation: Did the ultralight backpack produce any sizzling spots or soreness whereas mountaineering? Did they stay up for taking it off or did they depart the backpack on throughout breaks?
• Load Bearing: We measured how heavy our backpacks have been every day earlier than heading out to see how nicely they dealt with our typical hundreds, which ran between 15 and 30 kilos. What makes for excellent load bearing depends upon the fashion of backpack, with inflexible backpacks transferring weight to your hips, and frameless backpacks centering weight excessive and tight in your traps. 
• Packability: We checked out whether or not we may match our typical gear package into every backpack and the way straightforward (or tough) it was to steadiness the load.
• Accessibility: How simply may we get at our gear throughout the day? 
• Worth: Was the pack well worth the price ticket for the options it supplies?

Comparability Desk

Beneath is a side-by-side take a look at the specs most essential to ultralight backpackers (value, capability, and weight) together with the common of our testers’ scores. The backpack weights right here come from our testing and, as such, could differ from producer specs. Costs are present as of the date this text was final up to date. Backpacks are organized by body fashion and listed within the order by which we suggest them. 

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Frameless

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Inflexible Frames

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Detachable Frames

The Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Frameless

Frameless backpacks are one of the excessive items of substances in ultralight backpacking. These packs switch no load in any respect to your hips. After they’re working proper, they preserve the burden excessive, nearer to your trapezoids. Some individuals — lots of people — hate this. For one of many frameless backpacks we checked out, a tester commented that it “felt like giving a toddler that wishes to kill me a piggyback trip.” 

However you additionally may shock your self. I doubt my private backpacking package is underneath ten kilos, even when I swap in an ultralight backpack. However I do have a 45-pound toddler, that I typically keep on my shoulders for as much as a half mile at a time. After I first tried one among these frameless backpacks, I used to be stunned by how comfy — and releasing — they felt in comparison with the extra inflexible frames of different fashions. With the ability to transfer my hips with out the constricted feeling of a inflexible backpack body made backpacking extra pleasurable (a minimum of so long as my pack weight was underneath 25 kilos). 

In brief, if carrying your backpacking package excessive in your again supported by your shoulders feels like hell, skip this complete part and hop right down to the detachable frames and inflexible frames. But when that sounds compelling after years of restrictive framed backpacks, learn on. 

Finest Total: Palante Desert

Examined on the Oregon Coast Path by Jac “High Shelf” Mitchell and Laura “Chop Chop” Lancaster

Report Card 

• Match: 4.4
• Consolation: 4 
• Load bearing: 3 
• Packability: 5
• Accessibility: 3.5
• Worth: 4.5

Key Options

• Worth: $270
• Capability: 37 liters 
• Weight: 1 pound, 3.4 ounces
• Unisex Torso Match: 17 or 19” (examined the 17” model)
• Pockets: Two facet pockets, again mesh pocket, two shoulder strap pockets, one undercarriage pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Shoulder straps, sternum strap, waist belt
• Comfy as much as 30 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: 2 years

Execs

• Surprisingly comfy
• Very light-weight
• First rate capability
• Considerate particulars

Cons

• Fewer shoulder strap pockets than different choices we checked out
• Restricted sizing choices

Our most skilled tester, High Shelf, took the Palante Desert out on the primary day of our trek alongside the Oregon Coast Path, protecting virtually 20 miles in a day. She reported that she was stunned at how comfy she discovered the backpack, on condition that its whole weight was resting squarely on her shoulders. However, then once more, she was solely carrying 14 kilos, which included her typical package in addition to three liters of water. And that’s who frameless backpacks, together with the Palante Desert are for, backpackers who’ve already dialed their base weight right down to 10 kilos or much less. 

Whereas the Palante technically has a waistbelt artfully stashed behind the facet pockets, it’s nothing greater than vast nylon webbing. This belt doesn’t successfully distribute to your hips — and we don’t suggest making an attempt — it does assist to safe the load in your again in order that it doesn’t transfer a lot facet to facet whilst you’re trekking. Our tester reported, as anticipated, that a lot of the burden of the pack was sitting on her trapezoids. However she was impressed by the vary of movement this fashion of backpack afforded her. The Palante Desert rides excessive, even for a frameless backpack, which permits for a extra open gait. 

High Shelf appreciated the considerate options designed particularly for this fashion of backpacking. An undercarriage pouch was the right place to stash a bar or two whereas mountaineering. Mesh pockets on each shoulder straps match her telephone comfortably. There was even a delegated stake pouch within the entrance mesh pocket. That makes it that a lot simpler to stack your tent in opposition to the within again of your pack — no pointy bits to shift and stab you within the again whereas mountaineering. One of many facet pockets additionally ran excessive, helpful for stashing mid-sized gear with out having to fret about it falling out. She additionally famous that the principle physique of the Palante Desert appeared to swallow gear, holding rather more than you’ll anticipate given its tiny profile. 

I took the Palante Desert out for a four-night journey in Washington State’s Goat Rocks Wilderness — scouting for our second backpacking gear check — and was equally impressed. The Desert had loads of house for my package (which is fairly light-weight however probably not underneath ten kilos) and 4 days of meals. Whereas I did discover the burden on my shoulders beginning to get a bit previous by the top of the second day, after I did lastly pull out the waist strap — that is undoubtedly not a hip belt — it was rather more useful than I had anticipated in distributing the load and taking the burden off my stress factors. By the top of my trek, this backpack appeared no greater than a daypack, and felt about the identical as nicely. I used to be hooked. 

The Palante Desert is out there in each 210 gridstop (Dyneema) or 400D Extremely, heavier weight supplies than different ultralight backpacks on this check. This could present substantial sturdiness, and makes the sub 20-ounce weight of the pack that rather more spectacular. In the event you’ve been utilizing a frameless (however structured) pack just like the Zpacks Arc Haul or the Durston Kakwa 40 for a while and are able to degree as much as one thing much more minimal, this is a superb alternative.

Finest Worth: Mountainsmith Zerk

Examined on the Oregon Coast Path by Patrice “Regular” La Vigne and Diana Helmuth

Report Card 

• Match: 4.5
• Consolation: 4.5 
• Load bearing: 4 
• Packability: 4
• Accessibility: 4
• Worth: 4.5

Key Options

• Worth: $220
• Capability: 40 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 13 ounces
• Unisex Torso Match: 16 to 19 inches
• Pockets: 4 shoulder strap pockets, 4 facet pockets, one entrance mesh pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Shoulder straps, sternum strap, waist belt
• Comfy as much as 30 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: Lifetime 

Execs

• Inexpensive (contains lifetime guarantee)
• Comfy
• Nice pockets

Cons

• One dimension matches all could not work for everybody
• Considerably heavy for a smaller frameless pack

The Mountainsmith Zerk divided our testers. The dedicated ultralight-pack lovers took one take a look at the double-mesh pockets, the spongy again panel (the one frameless backpack we’ve checked out to make use of a bit of froth alongside the again panel), and thicker nylon physique and grabbed one thing else. It simply didn’t have the options they search for in an ultralight backpack.

The opposite half, who sometimes put on traditional-style backpacks, picked it up virtually instantly. After struggling to pack different ultralight backpacks with little greater than a again mesh pocket and a single shoulder pocket, the double pockets on each shoulder straps and each facet pockets have been a aid. “I used to be anxious that the pack didn’t have hipbelt pockets, however I actually didn’t want them as a result of there have been 4 facet mesh pockets, 4 chest mesh pockets, and one massive mesh pocket plus bungees on the again,” mentioned Regular. “I like pockets and correct group and there was a spot for every part.” 

The versatile cloth of the physique of the pack was straightforward to root round in in comparison with the opposite packs we checked out and the roll-top closure cinched down tight with one easy buckle. Then we informed them that, at $220, it was the bottom priced pack in all the check. That sealed the deal for the worth award. 

Whereas the Mountainsmith Zerk is usually focused at ultralight fastpackers, our testers’ suggestions exhibits that extra conventional backpackers trying to experiment with ultralight gear profit most from this inexpensive choice. The one main draw back to this pack is that it has a one-size matches all torso size that can solely work for a subset of backpackers.

Nashville Cutaway 40

Examined within the Goat Rocks Wilderness by Adam Tycaster, Alex Robinson, Laura “Chop Chop” Lancaster, Jac “High Shelf” Mitchell, and Ashley Thess

Report Card

• Match: 3
• Consolation: 3 
• Load bearing: 2.6 
• Packability: 3.6
• Accessibility: 3.6
• Worth: 2.8

Key Options

• Worth: $326
• Capability: 43 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 2.2 ounces
• Unisex Torso Match: 16 to twenty inches
• Pockets: Six shoulder strap pockets, two facet pockets, one entrance mesh pocket with inside shelf, one undercarriage pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Shoulder straps, sternum strap, waist belt
• Comfy as much as 25 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: 1 yr
• Shoulder straps offered individually

Execs

• One of many lightest backpacks we’ve ever examined
• Extraordinarily customizable
• Versatile pocket design
• Smooth, versatile shoulder straps

Cons

• Uncomfortable when the straps are usually not positioned optimally
• Not acceptable for a brand new ultralight backpacker

The Nashville Cutaway is among the most difficult backpacks we’ve examined at Outside Life. The customization is unparalleled, which introduced surprising challenges throughout testing. However whereas not everybody had a optimistic expertise with the Nashville Cutaway, all of them revered what this backpack was making an attempt to do. 

The largest distinction between the Nashville Cutaway and different ultralight backpacks is that you’ve full management over the location of the shoulder straps and sternum straps. In actual fact, Nashville Cutaway sells them individually so they’ll arrive within the mail unattached. 

Threading the nylon straps by way of the six buckles (three on either side) within reason time-consuming, particularly contemplating they have been chosen to be light-weight and robust — not straightforward to make use of. I took the freedom of doing this at dwelling earlier than heading out with the group on the preliminary backpacking gear check, since I used to be the primary particular person slated to check this backpack.

I’m glad I did. There’s all the time so much occurring throughout gear testing journeys, which may make it arduous to provide extra complicated items of substances the eye they deserve. Besides, as I hiked, I began to appreciate that I may not have adjusted the shoulder straps in addition to I may. I ended up unraveling all of them throughout a break and pulling them in a loop on either side. That improved the carry expertise considerably, however I may inform by the top of my testing day that I nonetheless hadn’t cracked it. Even perhaps another loop in, and the furthermost in straps loosened, would have carried out it. However then it was the top of the day, and the pack went to the subsequent tester, Thess. 

Thess left the straps, each the shoulder straps and the three sternum straps, as they have been when she obtained the pack. To say she was not a fan, could be an understatement — she rated the pack a 2 for match and ended up swapping out noon with Magic (he rated it a 3). He additionally didn’t alter the straps. The tester on the third day — High Shelf —  probably the most skilled in our group — didn’t alter the straps and rated the match as a 3. 

On the ultimate day of our journey, I made a decision to essentially curate the expertise of the tester, Tycaster, adjusting the straps and packing the backpack, which ended up weighing 20.6 kilos. At 13 miles, it was the longest day of our journey, however he nonetheless rated it a 4 for match and a 4 for consolation. “I anticipated to must readjust continually since my different favourite is the Osprey,” Tycaster mentioned. Osprey’s Exos backpack, which we coated in our tackle the greatest backpacking backpacks, has glorious suspension that strikes the burden straight to your hips. “Nevertheless, since I had assist, I barely registered it whereas mountaineering. If I had sat with it, I may make this match completely.”

“The Nashville wants you to spend high quality time thoughtfully configuring its many customizable choices to your particular type,” famous High Shelf. “Your package must be dialed right down to 25 kilos or much less, together with meals and water, to permit this pak a good shot to do what it’s actually good at.” OL backpacking gear testing strives to hit a steadiness between giving the testers’ sufficient time to get to know and use a variety of completely different gear and truly backpacking. On this case, the testers merely wanted extra time than was allotted to undergo the trial and error technique of optimizing it to their body. To some ultralight backpackers, this degree of customization will sound like a dream; to others, it’s a trouble not well worth the bother.

All frameless backpacks appear and feel a bit like shapeless lumps earlier than you begin (rigorously) organizing your gear inside, however this was very true with the Nashville Cutaway. That’s largely because of the cloth used right here — Problem’s EPX70 RS — which is much less stiff than the UHMWPE cloth used on the Palante and Symbiosis packs. The pockets on the Nashville Cutaway have been additionally distinctive, even amongst frameless backpacks. Just like the Palante and Symbiosis backpack, it had an undercarriage pocket, though right here the entry level was subsequent to the again fairly than alongside the facet. 

Every shoulder strap had three pockets, for a complete of six, together with one with a backside up-entry. Curiously, the again pocket was not separated from the facet pockets. This introduced some frustration amongst testers, as the shortage of construction meant that their water bottles or trekking poles saved falling over to the facet. One innovation that was appreciated was the inclusion of a shelf contained in the mesh again pocket. This was helpful to maintain monitor of smaller gadgets that each one too typically fall to the underside of typical again pockets. 

Symbiosis Aspen

Examined within the Goat Rocks Wilderness by Laura “Chop Chop” Lancaster, Patrice “Regular” La Vigne, Diana Helmuth, and Ashley Thess

Report Card

• Match: 3
• Consolation: 1.8 
• Load bearing: 2 
• Packability: 3.5
• Accessibility: 1.2
• Worth: 3

Key Options

• Worth: $300
• Capability: 38 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 8.3 ounces
• Unisex Torso Match: 16 inches to 19 inches (as reported by testers)
• Pockets: One shoulder strap pocket, two facet pockets, one entrance mesh pocket, undercarriage pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Shoulder straps, sternum strap, waist belt
• Comfy as much as 20 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: Restricted lifetime 

Execs

• Loads of capability within the excessive roll-top 
• Retains weight centered in your shoulders
• Excessive S-shape of the shoulder straps was comfy to testers
• Plenty of placement choices for the sternum strap

Cons

• Smaller capability than most testers wanted
• Tight again mesh pocket was tough to make use of
• Just one shoulder strap pocket

After they first obtained their begin, frameless backpacks have been hottest amongst a specific kind of tall and thin fastpacking males. Maybe this was partly as a result of ladies are extra comfy carrying weight on their hips; maybe it’s as a result of a variety of excessive ultralight developments get their begin amongst a specific kind of tall and thin fastpacking males. Regardless of: lighter gear is important for packing within the excessive mileage days that thru-hikers encounter, and frameless backpacks are right here to remain for good motive. 

The issue has been that a variety of frameless backpacks are unisex, which usually signifies that they don’t match ladies — particularly curvy ladies — in addition to they do people with extra streamlined torsos. Symbiosis founder Sarah Berkeley (path identify “Mellow”) struggled to discover a frameless backpack that was comfy to her body, and was impressed to create a extra versatile frameless backpack that was comfy for people with quick torsos and enormous cup sizes. I used to be particularly curious to see if the Aspen Symbiosis appealed to any of the ladies testers which have heretofore been extra skeptical of frameless backpacks. 

Outcomes have been considerably combined. Whereas testers (all ladies) who wore each this backpack and the Nashville Cutaway, discovered this pack to be extra comfy, it nonetheless didn’t reach promoting them on the idea of a frameless backpack. First the great, we had a spread of sizes and physique varieties use this pack and it match everybody. The intense S form on the shoulder straps match comfortably round testers’ chests. The power to maneuver the sternum strap up and down the size of the shoulder straps was extremely appreciated by testers. 

The Symbiosis Aspen additionally does an amazing job of using excessive on the torso, which is probably the most comfy technique to carry weight with frameless backpacks. The one ding right here was that our tallest tester, Helmuth, discovered that she benefited much less from the acute S form of shoulder straps than different testers just because she needed to let extra of the nylon strap out. 

However right here’s the factor about this backpack: In the event you discover carrying the burden of your backpack in your shoulders uncomfortable, the design tweaks of this backpack are usually not going to alter your thoughts. “Carrying the burden on my shoulders made me indignant,” mentioned one tester. Even understanding how this pack was meant to work didn’t sway everybody, with a number of expressing frustration of their notes on the lack of load lifters and the non-weight bearing waist belt. Studying these notes, it was clear that backpack design isn’t the one motive you’re much less more likely to see ladies sporting frameless backpacks within the backcountry: smaller trapezoid muscle tissue imply that ladies are much less more likely to discover the liberty of movement well worth the lack of load bearing potential. 

Testers additionally famous that the inside quantity of this backpack was a lot lower than different frameless backpacks. In case your package is ultralight however cumbersome, this may occasionally current a difficulty. One other wrestle was the stretch alongside the again mesh pocket, which was minimal. A number of testers famous that it was tough to achieve inside and discover issues on this pocket, which is an even bigger difficulty for a minimal pack than for a extra conventional mannequin with a greater diversity of pockets. A brilliant spot was the highest compression strap, which was each extraordinarily lengthy (supreme for one thing like a closed-cell foam pad and even an empty bear canister) and a pleasure to make use of. 

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Inflexible Frames

Outside Vitals CS40 Extremely

Examined on the Oregon Coast Path by Laura “Chop Chop” Lancaster and Patrice “Regular” La Vigne

Report Card

• Match: 4
• Consolation: 4 
• Load bearing: 4 
• Packability: 3.5
• Accessibility: 3.5
• Worth: 4

Key Options

• Worth: $370
• Capability: 53 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 11 ounces
• Unisex Torso Match: 18 to 22 inches
• Pockets: two hip belt pockets, two facet pockets, again mesh pocket
• Adjustment Factors: hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, sternum strap
• Comfy as much as 30 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: Lifetime 

Execs

• Nice again panel padding and air flow
• Roomy again mesh pocket

Cons

• Costly
• Profile is considerably slack 
• Aggressive J straps have been much less comfy for our testers 

There are a variety of positives in regards to the Outside Vitals CS40 Extremely. It’s light-weight, thanks partly to its 200D Extremely exterior. It has an amazing entrance mesh pocket that not solely holds your entire small gadgets, but additionally means that you can see the place they’re — decidedly not the case for all of the mesh pockets we checked out. It’s obtained loads of capability and it carries hundreds fairly nicely, producing solely a minor crick in a single tester’s shoulder after 10 miles and 1,200 ft of elevation achieve by way of muddy terrain. 

However the place this pack actually stood aside from the gang was in its capability to handle sweat alongside the shoulder straps and again panel. Historically, the sweatiest long-distance hikers have gravitated towards Osprey’s packs, together with the 40-ounce Exos, due to its best-in-class again panel air flow. And this isn’t a small level: For some backpackers, again panel chafe generally is a debilitating, hike-ending difficulty. That makes the overwhelming majority of ultralight backpacks a digital nonstarter.

Regular (who says she sweats “simply by wanting on the solar”) took this pack out on day three of the Oregon Coast Path, when temperatures climbed into the higher 70s proper as we hit a destroyed part of path that necessitated some bushwhacking. Not solely did she discover the again panel to be probably the most comfy of every part she tried, however she additionally didn’t really feel any sweat in opposition to her again. That’s as a result of, along with being ventilated, the padding can be raised off the center portion of the Outside Vitals CS40 Extremely, and overlaid with a mesh layer that enables some airflow to maneuver beneath it. In the event you’re used to utilizing an Osprey pack, you is likely to be upset with the extent of airflow supplied, however in case you are in search of an improve from a typical ultralight backpack, it is a large enchancment.

The largest ding in opposition to the Outside Vitals CS40 Extremely is that it seems to be just a little sloppy. The mesh of the entrance pocket is a bit free, the roll-top bunched up, the facet pockets drooped. Whereas that is finally extra an aesthetic concern than a sensible one, at this value level we’d anticipate a backpack to look so much sharper. For this testing group — all ladies — the aggressive J-straps additionally proved noticeably much less comfy than different fashions we examined. In case your chest has any bulk to it, take a look at the Duston Kakwa 40.

Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 40

Examined on the Oregon Coast Path by Jac “High Shelf” Mitchell and Ashley Thess

Report Card

• Match: 3
• Consolation: 3 
• Load bearing: 4 
• Packability: 3
• Accessibility: 2
• Worth: 2

Key Options

• Worth: $400
• Capability: 60 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 2.8 ounces
• Accessible Torso Sizes: 16 to 26 inches
• Pockets: Two facet pockets, again mesh pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, sternum strap
• Guarantee: Two years

Execs

• Very light-weight
• Nice load bearing
• Suits nicely

Cons

• Costly
• Fewest pockets in our check

The Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely is precisely what it guarantees: It strips away every part you don’t completely want and makes use of absolutely the lightest supplies for every part else. And it does that whereas staying true to the wants of thru-hikers: It doesn’t skimp on load bearing, boasting each load lifter straps and carbon fiber stays that present important construction to this pack. 

It does, nonetheless, skimp on options — an excessive amount of, it turned out, for our testers. We also needs to notice that it’s one of the costly we’ve ever examined. Nevertheless it’s additionally one of many lightest packs we’ve ever examined. 

Each of the testers for this pack have been impressed with how nicely the Zpacks Extremely Arc Haul dealt with the hundreds typical of ultralight backpackers, thanks partly to the stiff again panel that helped to distribute weight. They even pushed the burden to 26 kilos by strapping a water bladder to the pack throughout a dry part of the hike. The tester who hauled that load famous that the Zpacks Extremely Arc Haul dealt with the extra kilos nicely given how unideal the setup was. And the changes have been comfy and conformed to the testers’ our bodies the way in which they wished them to. That is, in spite of everything, an ultralight backpack’s most essential job, and the Zpacks Extremely Arc Haul will get it carried out. 

So what didn’t they like? Each testers struggled with accessibility with the Zpacks Extremely Arc Haul, even in comparison with comparable fashions just like the Durston Kakwa 40 and the Palante Desert. There have been no pockets on the hip belts, or on the shoulder straps (Zpacks does promote these as pretty expensive extra add-ons), so to get something out of their packs they needed to cease to take it off. Additionally they had sturdiness issues with among the non-Extremely components of the pack — significantly the mesh on the entrance pocket.

REI Flash Air 50

Examined within the Goat Rocks Wilderness by Adam Tycaster, Ashley Thess, Jac “High Shelf” Mitchell, and Sven “Magic” Anderson

Report Card

• Match: 2.5
• Consolation: 2.5
• Load Bearing: 2.75
• Packability: 3
• Accessibility: 3.5
• Worth: 2.25

Key Options

• Capability: 50 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 15.3 ounces
• Males’s Torso Match: 18 to twenty inches
• Girls’s Torso Match: 16 to 18 inches 
• Pockets: Two facet stretch pockets, entrance pocket (not mesh), two hip belt zip pockets, one shoulder strap pockets
• Adjustment Factors: Hooked up hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, sternum strap
• Comfy as much as 25 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: 1 yr

Execs

• Beneath two pound backpack
• Nice water bottle pockets

Cons

• Stiff, rigid body
• Doesn’t carry heavy hundreds nicely

Testers have been stunned on the finish of the check after I revealed each the burden and the value level of the REI Flash Air 50. At slightly below two kilos, it was proper in step with the likes of the Hyperlite Southwest. Nevertheless it was costlier than testers, accustomed to REI as a best-in-class worth model, have been anticipating. And finally, given the standard of different choices on this listing, they didn’t suppose that the burden financial savings have been justified by the pack’s design at this value level.

In contrast to different packs, testers reported a myriad of small complaints with this pack with no clear sample. Magic reported that it didn’t transfer together with his physique like different backpacks at this weight sometimes do, whereas High Shelf and Thess mentioned that the body felt stiff and rigid. Thess even commented that she struggled with parts of the body digging into her torso, whereas there was a common consensus that the pack didn’t carry nicely even with sub-30-pound hundreds. High Shelf additionally famous that the laminate getting used tended to be a bit sticky in humid climate. 

Two brilliant spots with the REI Flash air was the inclusion of separate water bottle compartments that was a boon for people that don’t use hydration bladders. Testers additionally famous that the hip belt on the REI Flash Air was particularly comfy, with one tester noting that in case you may swap these two options onto the Osprey Exos, you’d have the right backpack. Magic additionally mentioned that the easy-to-access water bottle pockets have been a recreation change for his Parkinson’s.

I used to be a bit stunned at how little the testers responded to the REI Flash Air 50. It has many in style options: roll-top lid, deep pockets on the facet and again, a Y-strap that can be utilized to safe extra gear on high of the pack, shoulder strap pocket. However when the group sat right down to undergo the packs, there was little to say in regards to the REI Air Flash 50 in comparison with different packs that elicited robust emotions in both course. Ultimately, I’m wondering if it was this surprising marriage of options: a backpack that introduced and weighed-in as ultralight however then tried to hold like a conventional backpack that simply didn’t sit proper, leaving the testers feeling that this backpack merely wasn’t for them even when there wasn’t something all that mistaken with it. 

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Detachable Frames

Finest Total: Hyperlite Southwest 40

Examined on the Oregon Coast Path by Ashley Thess with extra enter from Jac “High Shelf” Mitchell

Report Card

• Match: 4
• Consolation: 4 
• Load bearing: 5 
• Packability: 4
• Accessibility: 4
• Worth: 3

Key Options

• Worth: $350
• Capability: 40 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 14.8 ounces (1 pound, 15.9 ounces for DCH150)
• Unisex Torso Sizes: XS to L (15 to 21 inches) 
• Pockets: Two hip belt pockets, two facet pockets, one massive again pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Hip belt, shoulder straps, sternum strap
• Comfy as much as 25 kilos
• Guarantee: One yr

Execs

• Accessible in brick and mortar shops
• Light-weight
• Nice load bearing for its weight

Cons

• Costly
• Sternum strap was abrasive to our tester
• Restricted guarantee

Hyperlite is among the most well-known names in ultralight gear, and it’s one of many few offered in brick-and-mortar shops. So we have been curious to see how it could stack up subsequent to the cottage firms. In the event you check out a Hyperlite pack in an REI and adore it, does that imply it is best to go forward and purchase it? Or would it not be higher to take a chance on one other pack on this listing?

After testing the Hyperlite Southwest 40, we really feel assured that it is best to belief your intestine and purchase that Hyperlite in case you prefer it within the retailer. It’s comfy even with the heavier finish of ultralight hundreds (one tester carried 24 kilos on this pack over 15 miles). Regardless of having solely two aluminum stays and no load lifters, Thess mentioned she was capable of overlook in regards to the pack on her shoulders — the very best of reward, in our opinion.

It additionally scored excessive for its accessibility, because it had the entire pockets (two hip belt pockets, two facet pockets and an enormous entrance pouch held closed with an elastic band) we search for from an ultralight backpack, and not one of the ones that add additional weight with out rising performance.

One factor to notice is that, not like the opposite ultralight backpacks at this value level, the Hyperlite is produced from DCH fairly than Extremely. DCH is a laminated model of Dyneema Composite Material (DCF), which has most of the identical qualities as Extremely. The one concrete distinction between the 2 is that DCH tends to look the more severe for put on over time, though its efficiency is usually unaffected. 

So what are the downsides of this pack? It’s a couple of ounces heavier than the opposite packs in Extremely that we checked out (though lighter than the extra frame-intensive ULA Circuit). Regardless of their widespread availability and ubiquity, there isn’t the choice to change to S straps (though our tester did notice that the J straps have been much less excessive than on different ultralight backpacks). The sternum strap can be solely minimally adjustable, and for Thess it was pitched too excessive. She reported needing to stash a bandana beneath to stop chafing. Lastly, it has a restricted guarantee — just one yr. 

Durston Kakwa 40

Examined on the Oregon Coast Path by Jac “High Shelf” Mitchell and Ashley Thess with extra enter from Laura “Chop Chop” Lancaster

Report Card

• Match: 2
• Consolation: 2 
• Load bearing: 3 
• Packability: 3
• Accessibility: 4
• Worth: 4

Key Options

• Worth: $250
• Capability: 36 liters
• Weight: 1 pound, 11.3 ounces
• Unisex Torso Match: 14.5 to 21.5 inches
• Pockets: Two hip belt pockets, two facet pockets with vertical zip pocket on the left facet, again mesh pocket
• Adjustment Factors: Hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, sternum strap
• Comfy as much as 35 kilos (as reported by the testers)
• Guarantee: One yr

Execs

• Nice pockets
• Essentially the most inexpensive backpack in Extremely that we checked out

Cons

• Lack of construction alongside the again panel requires cautious packing

The Durston Kakwa 40 is an skilled ultralight backpacker’s dream. It’s light-weight (27.3 ounces for a medium). It has sufficient construction to handle heavier hundreds. It’s obtained all of the pockets you’d anticipate (plus one additional). It’s made with Extremely, providing you with that additional sturdiness and extra waterproofness. And it’s extraordinarily fairly priced.

Whereas the Durston Kakwa 40 has a body that’s just like the ULA Circuit, what it doesn’t have is a foam backing. On a lot of the again panel, there’s only a skinny piece of Extremely cloth between you and the inside contents. Thess struggled with the shortage of construction, reporting {that a} bulge in opposition to her again all day was annoying. Like all frameless, or unpadded, backpacks, even barely lower than supreme packing goes to lead to critical discomfort. In the event you’re going frameless for the primary time, take note of the way you’re structuring the gadgets within the Durston Kakwa 40.

High Shelf, conversely, discovered the construction to be virtually too stiff. Whereas it wasn’t uncomfortable, it was extra noticeable than different packs we checked out. After the testing journey, I loaded this pack up with about 35 kilos to see how it could deal with the load. (35 kilos is what it is best to anticipate to hold within the desert with an all-day water carry however an in any other case ultralight load.) Whereas the pack hugged round my physique comfortably at 15 kilos, to get the 35-pound balanced between my hips and my shoulders it needed to perch extra on my hips that was pure. That may be superb for a brief distance (you’ll be consuming all that water, in spite of everything); this isn’t the pack for somebody who plans to constantly carry 35 kilos.  

The testers appreciated the main points of the Durston Kakwa 40. Beneficiant hip belt pockets, facet pockets, and entrance mesh pockets (one of many few in our check that was really see-through) made stashing gadgets on the go a breeze. There was additionally a bonus zip pocket alongside one of many facet pockets for straightforward entry to bigger gadgets that don’t slot in your facet pocket. Our solely ding on the options have been the facet compression straps, which have been considerably tough to tighten and launch.

Methods to Select the Finest Ultralight Backpack

Body or Frameless

Most backpacks, even ultralight backpacks, have some sort of inside body or construction, to help the heavier hundreds that sometimes happen on long-distance treks by transferring among the weight to your hips. In the event you plan to forgo any sort of construction to the again panel of your backpack, then purpose to maintain the whole weight of your backpack beneath 20 kilos. In the event you’d wish to experiment with going frameless with out committing, select a pack with a detachable body.

Packing Your Bag

Packing an ultralight backpack is completely different from packing a conventional backpacking backpack. These backpacks are primarily an enormous tube — pack one thing on the backside that you find yourself needing in the course of the day and also you’re going to must unpack your whole backpack to retrieve it. 

See: Methods to Pack a Backpack

Backpacks with no inflexible again panel add one other complication: In the event you pack one thing stiff or awkwardly formed within the mistaken spot, it’s going to press into your backbone till you cease and rearrange every part. For backpacks that lack again panel help, High Shelf recommends utilizing a vertical stacking method (fairly than a horizontal one) to provide extra construction and help to the backpack. Softer gadgets, just like the physique of a tent, go in opposition to the again panel as an alternative of extra inflexible gadgets, like a cooking pot or meals bag. If you’re completed, take a look at the again panel from the surface and ensure that it has a straight profile earlier than heading out for the day. She famous that a bonus to packing gear into an ultralight backpack is that you just sometimes don’t must pay as a lot consideration to weight distribution throughout the backpack, since every part is already light-weight.

Materials

The just lately launched Extremely materials has upended the world of ultralight backpacks, and there have been quite a lot of backpacks that used this materials as their main physique cloth. What makes Extremely distinctive is its sturdiness and waterproofness (as much as 200 PSI) coupled with its low weight. Different in style backpack supplies are DCH (a variation of Dyneema) and ripstop nylon (significantly Robic, which is very tear-resistant). Notice that no matter materials you select, the mesh pockets are sometimes the primary a part of the backpack to provide out.

Material thickness is measured in denier, sometimes shortened to D. Most backpacks we checked out have been 200 denier, though some have been bolstered or made wholesale out of extra sturdy 400 denier cloth. A couple of have been additionally thinner; in case you select a kind of choices, contemplate the guarantee supplied and the quantity of wear and tear and tear you sometimes put in your gear. 

It has turn out to be more and more widespread for people utilizing packs made fully or partially from Extremely to forgo rain covers, waterproof pack liners (sometimes a trash compactor bag), or each. The water resistance of brand-new Extremely is kind of excessive — as much as 200 PSI. Nevertheless, a visible inspection of the ultralight backpacks confirmed that of the 5 that used the Extremely materials, just one was seam-sealed on the within (the Zpacks Extremely Arc Haul). When queried, ULA defined that it’s because, with sufficient use, seam sealing will come aside and even probably the most waterproof materials will finally moist out. In Extremely’s case, that is partly as a result of it will get its water resistance from a lamination: Anyplace on the pack the lamination begins to fail then turns into a possible entry level for water. Whereas Extremely will tackle much less water weight than different supplies, trusting this materials to supply long-term safety akin to a dry bag is more likely to finally lead to moist gear.

Strap Type

Most ultralight backpacks default to the standard J-strap, fairly than the S-strap generally seen on ladies’s packs. Our testers (all ladies) thought they might be bothered by this, however finally it wasn’t a difficulty (a minimum of for a lot of the packs). There was a desire for the running-vest fashion straps — which hug your physique greater than conventional backpacking straps — on the Mountainsmith Zerk and Nashville Cutaway amongst testers that used these backpacks. 

Torso Size

In contrast to conventional backpacking backpacks, which regularly mean you can zero in on the precise torso size on your body, virtually the entire ultralight backpacks we checked out for this check had a set torso size. Throughout testing, it was clear that at any time when you might be in-between sizes (say you could have a 17-inch torso size and try to determine between a small that matches between 15 to 17 inches and a medium that matches 17 inches to 19 inches) that it’s greatest to dimension down. Testers may sometimes get a barely too-short torso to work superb, however struggled with backpacks that have been too lengthy for his or her body. 

Guarantee

Ultralight backpacks can fluctuate broadly of their sturdiness. A few of these packs you might carry for 10,000 miles; others are going to be shredded by the top of your first thru-hike. In our expertise, the warranties supplied by the producer typically replicate what you’ll be able to anticipate, with probably the most sturdy packs having multi-year or lifetime warranties, whereas much less sturdy packs will cease at one yr. Whereas we didn’t check for sturdiness throughout our part hike of the Oregon Coast Path, we have now included guarantee info as a part of this evaluation, querying producers when their coverage was unclear to supply enough context for long-distance hikers. Needless to say the vast majority of these warranties will cowl repairs to your current backpack, with full-blown replacements solely being supplied underneath choose circumstances. 

FAQs

Closing Ideas on the Finest Ultralight Backpacks

One of the best ultralight backpacks we checked out for this check spanned a spread of types and approaches, reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of UL cottage firm designers. There have been packs missing load lifters, commonplace hip belts, and again panel frames and construction. Nevertheless, with out fail, all testers reported that they have been capable of carry loads of weight comfortably in these packs. The place ultralight backpacks sometimes stymied us was of their method to group and accessibility. Every is exclusive and also you’ll must develop a private relationship with it to zero in on the right packing technique. However we’re assured that in case you’ve been interested by making an attempt out ultralight backpacking, one of many choices on this listing will change the way in which you journey within the backcountry: 

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Frameless

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Inflexible Frames

Finest Ultralight Backpacks: Detachable Frames