Backpacking packs and backpacking gear have gotten a lot lighter weight lately resulting from improvements within the supplies and materials out there to backpack producers. Most 40-60L ultralight backpacks now weigh between 2 and three kilos. The ones we checklist beneath all have frames or body stays and may normally carry between 25 and 35 kilos of backpacking gear, meals, gas, and water. If you have to carry greater than that, you’ll need a larger backpack. Less than that, you’ll most likely wish to get an excellent lighter, frameless, ultralight backpack.
Here are the ten greatest ultralight backpacks within the 40L-60L vary that we suggest.
Be certain to learn our Ultralight Backpack Selection Guide beneath and the linked FAQs for much more recommendation and reader suggestions. SectionHiker has a global status for its complete males’s and girls’s backpack critiques and we’re enthusiastic about serving to our readers discover the very best backpacks for his or her wants.
1. Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L Backpack
The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L is an ultralight ventilated backpack with a suspended mesh again panel to maintain you cool in sizzling climate. Made with waterproof and very sturdy Ultra 200 and 100 cloth, the 20.9 oz Arc Haul Ultra 60 is a seam-taped roll-top backpack with facet water bottle pockets and a entrance mesh pocket for exterior gear storage. The torso size is adjustable by elevating and decreasing the shoulder pads, whereas the hip belt is obtainable in a number of lengths. Daisy chains on the shoulder straps and hip belt allow you to simply customise the pack with accent pockets, together with ones from different pack producers. The Arc Haul Ultra can haul as much as 30 lbs comfortably. A Woman’s mannequin can also be out there. Read the SectionHiker Arc Haul Ultra 60L Review.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest (55L) is a streamlined and sturdy backpack good for any form of out of doors journey from thru-hiking to wilderness backpacking. Made with super-strong however ultralight Dyneema Composite Fabrics, it’s seam-taped and successfully waterproof, with strong exterior pockets for elevated sturdiness. The body on this roll-top pack consists of two aluminum rods, known as body stays, that may be bent for a {custom} match. Weighing 2 lbs 2.5 oz, it has a most really helpful load of 40 kilos. We suggest getting the black-colored model as a result of it’s extra sturdy than the white-colored one. The sizing is unisex. Read the SectionHiker.com 3400 Southwest Backpack Review.
The Granite Gear Crown 3 60 is an ultralight-style roll-top backpack that’s well-suited for thru-hiking, part mountain climbing, and multi-day backpacking journeys. Weighing between 32.6 oz to 44.6 oz with all of its non-obligatory parts, it has the entire options you’d anticipate together with an non-obligatory high lid (there’s a roll-top beneath), a big mesh entrance pocket, and facet water bottle pockets. What makes this pack distinctive is an adjustable size hip belt so that you get a {custom} match, the flexibility to hold a bear can canister underneath the highest lid, and wrap-around compression straps that make it simple to hold cumbersome gear. The Crown 3 60 has a most really helpful load of 30-35 kilos. A ladies’s mannequin of the Crown 3 – 60, can also be out there. Read the SectionHiker Crown3 60 Review.
The Osprey Packs Exos Pro 55 is a brand new ultralight model of the famed Osprey Exos Backpack, a longtime thru-hiker favourite, which sheds practically one pound of pack weight. Weighing 2 lbs 2.6 oz totally configured, the Exos Pro 55 has a ventilated mesh again panel, an adjustable torso size, and inflexible perimeter body that makes it good for hauling heavier hundreds as much as 25-30 kilos. The floating high lid will be eliminated if not wanted, dropping the pack weight to 2 lbs even. Ultralight particulars and again air flow make the Exos Pro 55 a super backpack for mountain climbing in sizzling or humid situations. A ladies’s mannequin is obtainable known as the Osprey Eja Pro 55.
The ULA Circuit Backpack is a well-liked multi-day backpack for thru-hikers and weekend backpackers. Weighing 37.3 ounces, this 68-liter backpack has a load-carrying capability of 35 kilos and is obtainable with males’s or ladies’s particular shoulder pads and a unisex hip belt. The Circuit has a roll-top favored by long-distance hikers, with a entrance mesh pocket, two giant facet water bottle pockets, and two giant hip belt pockets. Lightweight, however bomber robust, this pack can final by way of a long-distance hike and are available again for extra! Read the SectionHiker Circuit Backpack Review.
The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is a good pack for backpackers who’re lightening their hundreds as a result of it has loads of storage. It’s intuitively organized for multi-day thru-hikes and part hikes with loads of exterior pockets and coated storage. The Mariposa has a light-weight aluminum body able to carrying 35 kilos comfortably, and interchangeable hip belt sizes can be found, guaranteeing match. It’s made with Robic nylon which is nice for on-trail use, however it’s your decision one thing extra sturdy for more durable terrain. Weighing 1 lb 14.5 oz, it has a singular facet quiver pocket that’s excellent for storing a tent or hammock. The sizing is unisex. Read the SectionHiker Mariposa 60 Review.
The REI Flash 55 Backpack (newly up to date in 2023) is a 2 lbs 13 oz ultralight-style roll-top backpack with an non-obligatory high lid. The pack has the entire normal options of an ultralight-style backpack together with a entrance mesh pocket, facet water bottle pockets, and hip belt pockets. There are two issues that set this pack other than others. First, it comes with pockets and straps (known as “packmods”) that may be eliminated with out having to resort to scissors and may save an extra 7 oz of weight. Those identical pack mods will be moved round to tailor the pack to your wants. The Flash 55 additionally has progressive facet water bottle pockets that make it very simple to achieve your bottles, with snap closures to safe tall bottles in the event you use them. A ladies’s particular mannequin can also be out there. Read the SectionHiker REI Flash 55 Review.
The Gregory Focal 58 (ladies’s Facet 55) are multi-day backpacks with mesh-backed trampoline-style perimeter frames able to hauling 30-35 kilos. Weighing 2 lbs 9.3 oz, totally configured, the floating high lid and included rain cowl will be changed by an ultralight climate flap, dropping the pack weight near 2 lbs 6.5 oz ounces. A entrance stretch mesh pocket, facet water bottle pockets, and again air flow make the Focal and Facet good packs for mountain climbing in humid climate. The greatest distinction between the Osprey Exos and Eja above, and Gregory Focal and Facet is that the 2022 Exos and Eja have an adjustable size torso. Read our Gregory Focal 58 Backpack overview or our Gregory Facet 55 overview.
The Waymark Gear Lite 50 is a light-weight inside body backpack made with EcoPak EPX200 that’s appropriate for multi-day backpacking and thru-hiking journeys. Weighing 32.8 oz, the Lite 50 has a typical UL rolltop design with a sewn-on hip belt, a entrance mesh pocket, and sturdy facet pockets, together with two facet pocket configurations to select from. The pack is obtainable in a number of colours and the stitching and development are completely top-notch, making the Lite 50 an actual contender for backpackers that need a light-weight roll-top pack made with waterproof cloth. Note: the seams on this pack aren’t seam-taped, so a pack liner continues to be really helpful. Read the SectionHiker Waymark Gear LITE 50 Review. Sizing is Unisex.
Atom Pack’s The Mo EP50 is a 32.1 oz ultralight backpack made with EcoPak EPX200 . It has an inside body consisting of a plastic framesheet and a single aluminum keep. It has an ultralight type roll-top construct with a 4″ twin adjustable hip belt and S-shaped shoulder straps. The Mo is obtainable in an off-the-shelf model with a set function set and an enhanced custom-made mannequin which features a backside stretch pocket. The seams on this pack aren’t seam-taped, so a pack liner is really helpful. Atom Packs is positioned within the UK. Sizing is unisex. Read the SectionHiker Mo EP50 Review.
Most ultralight backpacks vary from about 40 liters as much as 60 liters in quantity and normally weigh between 2 and three kilos. They’re supposed for carrying hundreds between 25 and 40 kilos and have full frames or body stays. The quantity and weight capability you want will rely upon the quantity of drugs, meals, gas, and water you have to carry. This can differ from journey to journey, or city to city in the event you’re a thru-hiker or part hiker, however compression straps allow you to shrink a pack’s quantity from 40L right down to 60L as wanted. Generally talking, you need extra “frame” for heavier hundreds, however this is usually a matter of private desire.
See the next FAQs for extra recommendation and reader dialogue:
Gender-Specific Backpack Features
Many ultralight backpacks at the moment are out there in males’s and girls’s particular fashions, though there are just a few exceptions. They additionally are likely to have fastened torso lengths and hip belt lengths, though many backpack producers have found out that adjustable torsos and hip belts or ventilated backpacks give them a big aggressive edge. Many ladies desire S-shaped shoulder straps and female-specific hip belts as a result of they mildew higher to a “curvier” feminine type.
Backpack Fabric Durability
Most ultralight backpacks are made with Nylon and it’s variants embody Robic Nylon, Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF), XPac, EcoPack, and Ultra. In phrases of sturdiness, Ultra is normally probably the most sturdy when it comes to abrasion resistance, then EcoPak, XPac, DCF, after which Nylon, though it will depend on the thickness of the fabric used. In addition, there are various several types of Nylon and thicknesses, that are measured by “deniers”, additionally abbreviated as “D” in “20D Nylon Ripstop. Usually, greater denier counts end in extra sturdy materials.
Cost
Dyneema (DCF) packs are the costliest when it comes to value, then Ultra, EcoPak, XPac, after which Nylon.
Backpack Covers and Pack Liners
DCF, Ultra, EcoPak, and XPac are waterproof supplies so you will get by and not using a backpack cowl if you want. That mentioned, the shoulder pads and hip belts on all backpacks aren’t waterproof and can soak up some water, however your gear will keep dry even in the event you don’t!
Most ultralight backpacks don’t embody a rain cowl. If your backpack is just not waterproof and rain is probably going the place you propose to hike, we suggest you get a backpack rain cowl or line the within of your backpack with a plastic bag. Some folks do each or put on ponchos that cowl themselves and their backpacks. See the next FAQs for extra recommendation and reader dialogue:
Roll Tops vs Top Lids
Some of the backpacks listed above are roll tops and a few have high lids. Which you select is a matter of private desire. Roll tops will be good as a result of they’re extra minimalist and require fewer webbing straps. But high lids are useful if you have to change hats or gloves continuously or entry a map and navigation gear. Still, different packs, just like the Granite Gear Crown3 60 and the REI Flash 55 are roll-tops, however include an adjunct high lid that may you connect over them. That’s actually the very best of each worlds.
Backpacking Fit
The most necessary issue when selecting an ultralight backpack is match. Keep making an attempt ones on till you get a torso size and hip-belt that matches you completely. Return insurance policies and warranties matter. Stick near producers that assure their merchandise, are simple to contact and wish you to have the very best expertise doable. What makes an ultralight backpack nice? It suits you, has easy-to-use exterior pockets or daisy chains to connect your individual, and works effectively together with your different backpacking gear decisions.
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