10 Best Ultralight Frameless Backpacks of 2023

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10 Best Ultralight Frameless Backpacks of 2023


10 Best Ultralight Frameless Backpacks

As ultralight backpacking gear has gotten lighter weight, so have ultralight backpacks. So a lot so, that many thru-hikers, section-hikers, and long-distance backpackers are turning to frameless ultralight backpacks for his or her adventures. Designed for a great deal of 20-25 kilos or much less (together with meals, water, and gasoline), these backpacks and their producers have confirmed to be wildly progressive of their use of cutting-edge supplies, colours, and options.  While backpacking this mild isn’t for everybody, the elevated availability of ultralight backpacking gear and entry to know-how by means of social media has made it extra achievable than ever.

If your goal is to scale back the load of your backpack to shut to a pound or much less, listed below are some methods of attaining that aim.

  1. Use a frameless backpack, because you don’t want the added assist or weight of a body or perhaps a hip belt for masses underneath 20-25 kilos.
  2. Reduce the amount of your pack to 40L or much less. which forces you to make use of lighter-weight and extra compact gear.
  3. Pick backpacks made with ultralight materials like Dyneema DCF, Ultra, or EcoPaokay that are waterproof and extremely sturdy.

Here are the ten frameless ultralight backpacks that we suggest that embody these qualities.

Be certain to learn our Frameless Ultralight Backpack Selection Guide under which explains these tradeoffs in higher element.

Note: If you need an ultralight backpack that has a body or body stays, a fully-featured hip belt, can comfortably carry 25-40+ kilos, however nonetheless weighs between 2 – 3 lbs, see our article, The 10 Best Ultralight Backpacks (with frames).

1. Nashville Packs Cutaway (42L)

Nashville Cutaway

The Nashville Packs Cutaway is likely one of the most progressive frameless ultralight backpacks we’ve encountered in a very long time. It’s a 42L (whole quantity) roll-top with aspect and entrance pockets, in addition to a backside sleeve for trash or hats, buffs, and snacks, and is designed in order that the entire exterior pockets may be accessed on the transfer whereas carrying the pack. While it’s obtainable in quite a lot of ultralight materials, the factor that units this pack aside is the optionally available vest-style shoulder strap system which is hands-down probably the most snug, best-fitting, and purposeful vest-style shoulder strap system we’ve ever used. This is as a result of Nashville has a singular approach of measuring your measurement for one of the best match. You also can get the Cutaway with common shoulder straps as a result of the pack is modular and you may change between them. Read the SectionHiker evaluation.

Available from:
Nashville Packs

2. Pa’lante Packs V2 (31-37L)

Palante Packs V2
Pa’lante Packs is likely one of the unique movers amongst second-generation frameless backpack producers and lots of different of their improvements have been copied now by others. Their V2 backpack contains the unique backside pocket for stowing snacks, layers, and trash, shoulder strap pockets, a stashable hipbelt, adjustable aspect pockets, and a delegated stake pocket. The V2 is accessible off-the-shelf in two torso lengths: 16″ and 19″ and two colours: sand and black.

Available from:
Pa’lante Packs | Garage Grown Gear

3. LiteAF Ultra Curve 30L (45L)

Ultra-Lime-Green
The LiteAF Ultra Curve 30L has a primary physique with 30L of substances storage, with an extra 15L in exterior pockets, totaling 45L. Made with Ultra 200 material and seam-sealed, it’s a roll-top backpack made with giant aspect pockets and the entrance mesh pocket discovered on ultralight-style packs. But the factor that actually units LiteAF other than different ultralight pack makers is the wide selection of garish colours, patterns, and materials they provide. If you’re sick of white, black, or grey-colored backpacks and need a pack that lets your freak flag fly, try their shade palette. The max beneficial load is 20 kilos.

Available from:
LiteAF

4. Waymark EVLV Ultra (35L)

Waymark EVLV Ultra 38
The Waymark EVLV Ultra is a minimalist frameless pack with a roll-top closure, aspect water bottle pockets, a entrance stretch pocket, and daisy chains on the shoulder straps.  It’s made with Ultra, which is waterproof and extra abrasion resistant than Dyneema DCF. The EVLV ranges in volumes from 35-38 liters relying in your torso measurement and is finest suited to base weights (minus water, gasoline, and meals) of 10 lbs. The EVLV is accessible in a number of colours and torso sizes. We assume the development and a spotlight to element on Waymark’s packs are top-notch.

Available from:
Waymark Gear Company | Garage Grown Gear

5. Dandee Pack’s The Standard Pack (35L)

Dandee The Standard
Dandee Pack’s “The Standard Pack” is a sleek-looking 35L frameless roll-top backpack obtainable with J or S-shaped shoulder straps or Vest-style straps with built-in shoulder pockets on either side, a big stretch entrance pocket, backside pocket with a trash port, ice axe/trekking pole attachment system, aspect compression straps, optionally available hip belt attachment factors, a g-hook high strap and sit pad attachment straps. It’s obtainable in three torso lengths: 17″, 19″, and 21″ both as a customized pack from Dandee or off-the-shelf from Garage Grown Gear.

Available from:
Dandee Packs | Garage Grown Gear

6. Superior Wilderness Designs Ultralight Superior (40L)

Ultralight Superior Frameless SWD
The Superior Wilderness Designs Ultralight Superior is an 18.2 ouncesframeless ultralight backpack with 45 liters of capability: 35 liters in the primary compartment and 10 liters on the outside. The pack made is with Ultra, which is a brand new ultralight waterproof materials that’s extra abrasion resistant than Dyneema DCF and XPac. The Ultralight Superior comes with a lycra pad sleeve on the again panel, a foam sit pad that can be utilized as a seat whereas taking breaks, and a 1″ webbing belt. The pack is designed for masses as much as 20 lbs. Several low-priced customizations are additionally obtainable.

Available from:
Superior Wilderness Designs

7. Mountain Laurel Designs Burn (38L)

Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38L Backpack
The Mountain Laurel Designs Burn is a 38 liter frameless rolltop backpack that weighs 16.5 oz. Made with 210D Dyneema Gridstop Nylon, it has a padded hipbelt, S-shaped shoulder straps, deep aspect pockets, and a stable stretch entrance pocket for improved sturdiness (not proven right here). With a beneficial load vary of 18-25 kilos, the factor that units the Burn other than different ultralight backpacks is the standard of its building and bomber sturdiness. The pack has over 50 heavy-duty stitching bartacks and might face up to a number of thru-hikes. Minor customizations are additionally obtainable.

Available from:
Mountain Laurel Designs

8. Gossamer Gear G4-20 (42L)

Gossamer Gear G4-20 Backpack
The Gossamer Gear G4-20 is a 42L frameless ultralight backpack that weighs 25 ouncesand might carry as much as 25 lbs comfortably. The G4-20 has a entrance stretch mesh pocket, two aspect pockets together with one which’s giant sufficient to hold a shelter, an exterior map pocket, and a roll-top closure. Its inner storage capability is 30L with 12L in its mesh and aspect pockets. The well-padded hip belt, which incorporates pockets, just isn’t detachable, however you possibly can ditch the molded foam sit pad masking the pack’s again panel and cut back the pack weight to 21.7 oz. Read the SectionHiker G4-20 Review. 

Available from:
Gossamer Gear 

9. Mountainsmith Zerk (40L)

Mountainsmith Zerk 40
The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 has vest-style shoulder straps impressed by Ultra-running backpacks. It has a roll-top closure, detachable, hip belt strap, a operating vest-style shoulder strap system. Numerous open mesh pockets make it straightforward to retailer steadily accessed gear and meals on the outside of the pack so that you don’t should open it through the day. The pack comes with bear can straps so you possibly can lash a canister on high and contains quite a few exterior gear loops so you possibly can connect further gear to its exterior. While there’s a foam pad in a pad pocket behind the Zerk’s shoulder straps, its main goal is to guard your again from being poked by the pack’s contents. Read the SectionHiker Review.

Available from:
REI | Backcountry 

10. Atom Packs – The Atom (35L)

Atom EP40

The Atom EP40 is made by Atom Packs, a small backpack producer from the UK that has rapidly established a global status. The Atom EP40 is frameless, doesn’t have a hip belt, and has a max beneficial load of 20 lbs. The primary physique holds 35L and the exterior pockets can maintain as much as 10L extra.  It has a roll-top w/high webbing strap, twin shoulder pockets, two aspect pockets, a from mesh pocket, and a backside pocket with a trash port for stuff snack wrappers or hats, buffs, and so on.

Available from:
Atom Packs 

Frameless Ultralight Backpack Selection Guide

Early model of the Gossamer Gear Frameless G4 Backpack - 2011
Early mannequin of the Gossamer Gear Frameless G4 Backpack – Frameless packs have come a great distance since 2011.

Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Backpacks

Many frameless ultralight backpacks are made by hand by cottage producers and may be personalized when it comes to colours, material, or options. Some of the extra established backpack producers or retailers listed above solely supply “stock” backpacks with a set set of options. The benefit of buying a inventory backpack is that it’s normally obtainable instantly and not using a lengthy wait time. If you determined to go the customized route, remember to contact the producer when you’ve got any questions earlier than you order. Most customized backpacks are non-returnable.

Frameless Ultralight Backpack Volume

How a lot quantity do you really want in an ultralight backpack, once you’re actually making an attempt to get your TOTAL pack weight under 20 kilos? It’s arduous to make a blanket advice as a result of it finally comes all the way down to the local weather you intend to hike in and what your clothes, sleep insulation, shelter, diet, and water wants might be. For common three-season situations, most UL backpackers discover {that a} 40L pack supplies greater than sufficient quantity for a 3-5 day journey, together with gear, meals, gasoline, and water. It will get way more troublesome to suit every thing you want right into a 30L backpack, nevertheless, until you possibly can resupply extra steadily, you go stoveless, otherwise you don’t want to hold a lot water. However, given the listing of packs above, there’s not an enormous weight penalty for carrying the next quantity pack than you want, since they’re all so light-weight and you may compress them utilizing a roll-top closure or aspect compression.

Massive External Storage

Frameless ultralight backpacks are inclined to have lots of exterior storage which is accessible whilst you’re nonetheless carrying the backpack. This is as a lot a mantra as a design philosophy with the underlying aim of climbing as many miles as doable (like all day) with out ever having to cease and take your backpack off. Many frameless ultralight packs include pockets sewn onto their shoulder straps, backside stretch pockets so you possibly can attain beneath a pack when worn to drag out snacks or deposit used wrappers, and accessible aspect pockets.

Ultralight Backpack Fabrics

Most ultralight backpacks are made with Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF), XPac, Nylon (Robic, Cordura, Dyneema X, and so on.) In phrases of sturdiness, Ultra is normally probably the most sturdy when it comes to abrasion resistance, then EcoPaokay, XPac and LiteSkin, then DCF, and eventually Nylon, though it relies on the denier or weight of the fabric used. DCF and XPac revolutionized UL backpack manufacturing as a result of they’re so light-weight, however are being rapidly overtaken by newer waterproof materials like EcoPaokay and Ultra that are much more sturdy and ecologically sustainable merchandise.

The largest areas of damage and tear on a backpack is the bottom, the place you set it down on the bottom, and the aspect pockets, particularly in the event that they’re made with mesh. Most UL pack makers have switched to extra sturdy mesh, use extra sturdy stretch mesh that has finer holes and is much less vulnerable to snagging, or have switched to creating exterior pockets with stable materials for higher sturdiness.

DCF, XPac, ECOPAK, Ultra, and LiteSkin are all waterproof supplies so that they gained’t take in water when it rains. DCF has the benefit that it may be seam-taped which tremendously will increase the waterproofing of a backpack. While XPac, ECOPAK, and Liteskin may be seam-sealed, most individuals don’t trouble and line their packs with trash compactor baggage or use waterproof stuff sacks. Very little water will get in anyway. It’s a lot the identical with Robic Nylon and different high-tenacity nylons though they are going to soak via, could make your gear moist, and take some time to dry out. See the next FAQs for extra recommendation and reader dialogue:

Hip Belts on Frameless Backpacks

The hip belts discovered on frameless backpacks will not be load-bearing as a result of there’s no body to switch to load to the hips. This explains why many ultralight packs don’t have them, they’re detachable, or stowable, and solely made with webbing in the event that they’re included in any respect. Their solely actual goal is to offer an anchorage for hip belt pockets or to stop the pack from bouncing in opposition to your torso should you stroll quick.

Since the hip belts will not be load-bearing, all the load will relaxation in your shoulders. When selecting packs, it is best to think about how a lot shoulder strap padding you like and the strap width that you just discover most snug.

Shoulder Straps

An growing variety of frameless pack makers are together with S-shaped backpack straps on their packs, that are extra snug for girls as a result of they accommodate breasts extra comfortably.  Many males additionally discover them extra snug than the J-shaped shoulder straps that had been used beforehand.

There’s additionally an growing use of vest-style shoulder straps on many backpacks which may take some getting used to should you had been born and bred on extra typical shoulder straps. The added width and pocket storage on vest-style packs makes them a sexy characteristic and might help distribute the load throughout your shoulders, particularly in case your pack lacks a hip belt.

Torso Length

Shorter torso lengths are additionally more and more obtainable to accommodate girls, who on common, aren’t as tall as males. However, matching your actual torso size is much less vital on a frameless backpack as a result of the hip belt just isn’t load-bearing. The becoming course of is definitely extra just like becoming a daypack (and not using a hip belt) than an everyday framed backpack, though matching your torso size continues to be a very good benchmark to goal for.

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