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| The ULA Catalyst on the Yosemite Valley to Death Valley walk |
With the long-distance walking season approaching I’ve gathered
together reviews of the best ten lightweight packs I’ve used in recent years.
These reviews first appeared in The Great Outdoors. I’ve edited them for this
post.
I’ve set 1.5kg as the maximum weight, regardless of capacity, plus
a minimum volume to weight ratio of 20. The latter is the volume in litres per
500 grams of weight. The bigger the number the lighter the pack for the
capacity.
I’m happy to recommend all these packs. Which is best depends on
how well they fit, the weight and bulk you’ll be carrying, and the features you
like.
Gossamer
Gear Mariposa 60 935 grams £280
Capacity 60 litres,
including pockets
Materials 100 & 200D Robic
nylon
Closures fold-over lid
Compartments 1
Back wire
frame, removable foam pad
Sizes 3
Hipbelt padded,
stiffened
Pockets stretch mesh
front, 3 side, zipped top, 2 zipped hipbelt, inner
hydration sleeve
Features ice axe trekking
pole loops, multiple attachment points
Volume
to weight ratio 32
Max. recommended load 16kg
With a big capacity and a supportive harness the Mariposa is suitable for loads up to 16kg.
For trips where many days food has to be
carried or you have extra gear for severe weather or other reason (camera stuff
in my case) the extra space and comfort is welcome.
The support comes from a U-shaped wire frame that locks into the
wide, stiffened, and well-padded hipbelt.
This provides excellent weight transfer to the belt. There’s also a
thick foam backpad with an eggbox shape to reduce condensation. This pad fits
into two stretch mesh sleeves and is easy to remove and replace when the pack
is full making it an excellent sitmat. The shoulder straps are quite wide and
firm too.
The Mariposa has an unusual combined roll-top and buckled lid. It
took me a little while to get used to this but once it was familiar I really
liked it. The zipped pocket on the lid holds a surprising amount. The other
pockets hold everything you might need during the day. I like having a long
pocket on one side – it’s big enough for a tarp or light solo tent - and two
smaller ones on the other. There are plenty of attachment points for other gear
including loops for compression cords and D rings on the harness for clipping on
items like sunglasses.
The pack is made from two different weights of Robic nylon and should
last well.
With loads of 10-15kg I’ve found the Mariposa comfortable and stable.
I used it on the GR5 Trail Through the Alps
and it was fine even with a few more kilos than this.
Six Moons Design Fusion 50 1.2kg £200
Capacity 50 litres
Materials 420/210 nylon Robic
Closures rollover top with two buckles
Compartments one
Back adjustable, framesheet with single
stay
Sizes 2 shoulder yoke, 3 hipbelt
Hipbelt padded, stiffened, detachable
Pockets stretch front, 2 stretch side, 2
hipbelt
Features side straps, lower straps, ice axe
loops
Volume to
weight ratio 27
Unlike most lightweight packs no limit is given for the maximum
weight the Fusion 50 can handle. Instead Six Moon Designs says it will ‘comfortably
carry whatever the pack will hold’, a bold claim. To this end the Fusion 50 has
a back system with a tapered framesheet with a central metal strut. This
transfers the weight well to the hipbelt, which I think is key to the carrying
comfort. This hipbelt is stiff and wide and very supportive, being more like
those found on bigger, heavier packs than most lightweight ones. On a TGO
Challenge crossing of the Scottish Highlands I carried 15-18kg and the Fusion 50
handled it well, my hips and shoulders never feeling sore. The pack proved very
stable on rough ground too.
The Fusion 50 is made from Robic, which is said to be even tougher than
Dyneema. The pack design is good for organising gear as it has six pockets.
It’s wider at the top than the base too, making it easier to find stuff and
keeping the weight higher in the pack, which is better for comfort and
stability. On the TGO Challenge I just managed to get all my gear inside plus
five days food. (Then it was called the
Fusion 65. Now that names is given to a bigger version).
As it is the Fusion 50 is one of the best lightweight packs
around, especially if you sometimes carry more than 15kg.
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L $235
Capacity 55 litres
Materials Dyneema
Closures rollover top with three buckles & stud
fastening
Compartments one
Back plain
Sizes 3
Hipbelt padded
Pockets mesh
front, two mesh side
Features
side straps, ice axe loops, base volume
adjusters, front shockcord
Volume to
weight ratio 35
The Exodus
really is an ultralight pack, at 510 grams for the basic model (there are
optional add-ons), as it has no frame or back padding. I used it for filming
Terry Abraham’s Backpacking In The Lake
District With Chris Townsend DVD and it was fine with loads up to 11kg, the
maximum recommended by Mountain Laurel Designs. The pack has roomy pockets, a roll-top that fastens
with studs and buckles, and plenty of attachment points for the provided
shockcord. Optional hipbelt pockets and a lid are available – these are well
worth having.
The pack
is only available direct from Mountain Laurel Designs in the USA. If you want a
comfortable ultralight pack for loads up to around 12kg it’s an excellent
choice.
Lightwave Ultrahike 60 1.23kg £179
Capacity 60 litres
Materials 420d Dynatech nylon/300d
micro-ripstop polyester
Closures lid with 2 buckles
Compartments one
Back pre-curved 7001-T6
aluminium frame/moulded foam
Sizes 2
Hipbelt padded, stiffened
Pockets 1 lid, 2 side stretch mesh
Features taped/welded seams, side shockcord
compression, two ice
axe/trekking pole loops
Volume to
weight ratio 24
The
Ultrahike has a more traditional look than many lightweight packs due to the
standard style lid, the lack of a front pocket and the material, which doesn’t
have the grid look of Dyneema or Robic. Lightwave says it’s suitable for loads
of 12-15kg, with 30kg as a maximum. I’ve found it handles a little over 20kg
quite well. I used it on my Scottish Watershed walk when I sometimes carried
over a week’s supplies and it was always comfortable. The stiffened hipbelt is
wide and quite thick. The curved frame is rigid vertically but allows sideways
twisting, making for good stability.
The
Watershed walk showed that the pack is tough with little wear visible at the
finish. As parts of that walk were very wet I found the sealed seams very
useful. Very little rain ever got in the pack even though the seams between the
body and the back panel aren’t sealed. With just small mesh side pockets and a
lid pocket the design is fairly minimalist with most of your gear going in the
roomy main compartment. The volume was more than adequate for the summer
Watershed walk and I can fit everything inside for a two-night winter trip. As
60 litre packs go this is one of the bigger ones!
Osprey Exos 58 1.2kg
£150
Capacity 58 litres
Materials high-tenacity nylon
Closures detachable lid with two
buckles
Compartments one
Back curved aluminium
hoop, tensioned-mesh panel
Sizes three
Hipbelt mesh, padded
Pockets external & internal
lid, 2 stretch mesh side, 1 stretch mesh front, 2
hipbelt, internal
hydration
Features top flap for use without
lid, trekking pole attachment, side straps, base
strap,
ice axe loop
Volume
to weight ratio 24
The Exos
58 is unusual for a lightweight pack in having an airspace behind the frame and
a mesh backband against your back. This makes for excellent ventilation of
course and Osprey has enhanced this with open mesh over perforated foam for the
shoulder straps and hipbelt. If you hate getting sweaty this pack will keep you
drier than most others. The rigid frame transfers the weight to the hipbelt
well. The latter is quite thick but not stiffened and the foam is quite soft.
It supports loads up to 15kg okay though, which is fine for a pack this size.
I’ve found
the Exos 58 comfortable to carry but not quite as stable as a close-fitting
pack. I prefer a body-hugging pack but for most backpacking this design shouldn’t
be a problem. Only if you’re going scrambling or mountaineering might it be
significant.
The Exos
58 is a pack for those who like multiple features but don’t want the weight
that usually goes with them. Eight pockets and numerous attachment points make
the pack very versatile. The lid can be removed if not needed. There’s a flap
with buckles underneath to cover the load. Base straps can be used for a foam
pad. Osprey call them sleeping bag straps but that’s not somewhere I’d want to
carry my bag. The fabric seems quite
tough though probably not as durable as Dyneema or Robic.
ULA Catalyst 1.4kg £320
Capacity 75 litres inc. pockets
Materials 210 Robic/Cordura/210 Ripstop
Closures rolltop with three
buckles
Compartments one
Back framesheet
with twin alloy bars, foam pad
Sizes four back
length, five hipbelt
Hipbelt
padded
Pockets
2 side
pockets, 1 front mesh pocket, 2 hipbelt pockets, internal
hydration, internal zipped
Features front shock cord,
side straps, 2 ice axe/trekking pole loops, water
bottle holders, handloops
Volume
to weight ratio 27
I’ve had a
Catalyst for over 15 years. I used the original model on quite a few long walks
including the GR20 in Corsica (a good test for stability) and the TGO Challenge
and always found it very comfortable. I used the current version on my Yosemite
Valley to Death Valley walk. The pack is made from Robic, which feels a little
stiffer and more solid than the Dyneema of the earlier version. The mesh on the
pockets feels tougher too and should resist abrasion and tearing better (there
are several holes in the mesh on my original Catalyst).
The key to
the comfortable carry of the Catalyst lies in the fairly stiff back and the
wide, well-padded hipbelt. Together they are very supportive and easily handle
18kg loads (the maximum recommended by ULA). The pack is very stable too, as I
found in Corsica.
ULA says
the volume is 75 litres. This includes all the pockets and the extension collar
however. The main compartment is more like 50 litres (ULA says 42 but I think
that’s an underestimate). The pockets are very roomy though and I found the
Catalyst suitable for a winter trip in the Cairngorms with fairly bulky gear.
The
Catalyst is quite expensive compared to alternatives but it is one of the
toughest packs tested and should last well.
Nigor Zero G 1.1kg £195
Capacity 53 litres
Materials Dyneema/nylon ripstop
Closures lid with two buckles
Compartments one
Back padded, wire
frame
Sizes 2
Hipbelt padded
Pockets external &
internal lid, 1 zipped front, 2 stretch mesh side, 2 hipbelt,
internal hydration
Features lid & base
volume reduction clips, side compression straps, 2 ice axe
loops
Volume
to weight ratio 24
The Zero G
has a stiff frame and a thick padded hipbelt. The stiff frame transfers the
weight to the hipbelt and I’ve found the pack fine with 15kg. It’s
close-fitting but not too sweaty as there’s a thick mesh covering the foam back
pad that allows some airflow. Stability is excellent.
Rather
than a mesh pocket the Zero G has a huge zipped pocket on the rear. This pocket
does have drain holes but wet items won’t dry as well as in a mesh pocket.
Against that they are better protected. As with any rear pocket I wouldn’t put
heavy gear in it as this could pull the pack away from the body making it less
comfortable and less stable. I suspect there’s more temptation to put heavier
gear in an enclosed zipped pocket than in a mesh one as it looks stronger and
more secure. The angled side mesh pockets are roomy enough for litre size water
bottles and can be accessed when wearing the pack. The hipbelt pockets are
roomy two and have two compartments.
When I
tested the original Zero G I had one small complaint, which was that the lid
flopped down if the pack wasn’t full and the strap buckles were set so high on
the pack that tightening them was impossible. This has been remedied on the
current model and the buckles are much lower down.
The
capacity is said to be 53 litres for the Large size I tested. I reckon that’s
just the main compartment with the pockets adding at least another 5. This is
quite a roomy pack.
Berghaus
Lite Hike 45 925 grams £95
Capacity 45 litres
Materials Robic nylon
Closures roll top
Compartments 1
Back alloy
frame, mesh/foam backpad
Sizes 1
Hipbelt mesh/foam
Pockets 1 stretch mesh
front, 4 stretch mesh side, 1 stretch hipbelt, 1
zipped hipbelt, 2 stretch mesh shoulder strap, 1 zipped inner
Features twin ice
axe/trekking pole loops, twin front/side straps, daisy chain
loops
Volume to weight ratio 24
Berghaus’s
first ultralight backpacking pack is functional and comfortable and the price
is surprisingly low. It has a wire frame that runs across the top and down the
sides of the back and helps transfer weight to the hipbelt. The latter is quite
wide though the padding isn’t very thick. There’s a thick back pad in a sleeve
with space behind it for a hydration bladder. This foam pad can be removed but
it’s not that easy to replace it, especially when the pack is full, so it’s not
something to do regularly. The shoulder straps are wider than usual to help
spread the load. The back, hipbelt and shoulder straps are covered with an open
mesh to minimise condensation build-up. There’s only one back length, 51.5cms,
which is a little short for me.
The
pack design is excellent. There’s no lid, just a roll top with clip buckles.
Inside the main compartment there’s a detachable zipped pocket for valuables
and small items. Other than that, it’s just one big compartment. Outside there
are enough pockets to hold everything you might need between camps so there’s
no need to open the pack during the day. The stretch pockets are all roomy – a
wet tent can be carried in the front one. Berghaus gives the capacity of 45
litres. With all the pockets I’d say it was closer to 55-60 litres. There are
plenty of attachment points for more gear too, including compression straps
that run right round the sides and front , daisy chain loops, and loops for ice
axes and trekking poles.
Berghaus
doesn’t give a suggested weight limit for the Lite Hike. I found that with 10kg
in the suspension system started to sag and the pack didn’t feel as comfortable,
so I reckon that’s the absolute maximum. With 8kg it feels fine.
ULA CDT 735 grams
£170
Capacity 54 litres
Materials 210 Robic
nylon
Closures drawcord sleeve
Compartments 1
Back removable
foam pad
Sizes 4
Hipbelt padded
Pockets front stretch mesh,
2 adjustable side, 2 zipped hipbelt, inner zipped stash,
hydration sleeve
Features side compression
straps, ice axe/trekking pole loops, hand loops,
water
bottle holsters
Volume
to weight ratio 37
Max. recommended load 8.2kg
The CDT is
astonishingly light even for an ultralight pack. Partly that’s because it doesn’t
have a frame, just a padded back, partly it’s the simple design, and partly
it’s because it’s not quite as big as it might seem. The main pack has a
capacity of 34 litres. The 54 litres is when you add on all the pockets. Overall,
I’d say it’s a little smaller than the Berghaus Fast Hike. For the loads it’s
designed to carry, up to 8kg, the size is fine. It’s made from a tough thick
Robic nylon that should prove really durable.
The
removable foam back pad is inside the pack and so not one to remove while the
pack is loaded. In camp it can be taken out and used as a sitmat as it’s easy
to replace. Whilst it helps stop hard objects poking you in the back gear needs
to be packed with care or uncomfortable lumps can form. I found using my
sleeping pad as extra back cushioning makes packing easier. The pack shouldn’t
be jammed tight either or it can form an uncomfortable barrel shape. The
hipbelt and shoulder straps aren’t very thick, but they are quite firm and
support the load well. They’re covered with mesh for sweat control but the back
of the pack is nylon, so a damp back is unavoidable on warm days.
Closure is
via a simple drawcord sleeve with a strap over it. It’s wise to fold the sleeve over a little
when it’s wet or rain can enter. The pockets are roomy and can carry all you
need during the day. The side ones don’t stretch but have drawcords so they can
be pulled in tight around the contents. The huge front pocket easily holds a
tent.
Carefully
packed, the CDT handles 8kg fine.
Osprey Levity 45 760 grams £220
Capacity 45 litres
Materials NanoFly UHMWPE Ripstop x 100D HT Nylon,
30D Siliconised
Nylon
Closures lid with twin
buckles
Compartments 1
Back wire
frame, tensioned mesh backband
Sizes 3
Hipbelt mesh/foam
Pockets 1
outer lid, 1 bellows front, 2 side, inner hydration
Features side compression cords, daisychain loops
Volume
to weight ratio 29.5
The Levity 45 is in
many ways an astonishing design. Ultralight packs at this weight and less have
been around for a while but they usually have fairly simple back systems, often
with no frame or padding. However the Levity has a curved frame and a tensioned
mesh backband, not something I’ve seen in a pack anywhere near this light
before. The frame is quite stiff and
supportive too. The shoulder straps are well-padded but the hipbelt is quite
thin and the wide sections don’t come far round the hips. I found the pack
comfortable with loads up to 10kg. Above that and the weight started to press
uncomfortably on my hips.
The weight of the
pack is kept down by the fabrics and the components. The main part of the pack
is made from silicone nylon that’s so thin that it’s translucent. This is
protected by the pockets and the lid which are made from thicker fabric and
which wrap around much of the pack. These pockets are quite roomy but they
don’t stretch. The lid has a roomy pocket too. It’s fixed in place and only
just covers the pack when it’s really full.
For ultralight
backpacking the Levity is a good pack.
