Best Ultralight Backpacks Of 2019

Welcome to the Best Ultralight Backpacks Of 2019. Ultralight is a widely used term in the hiking/backpacking community. It’s also a term where no real technical standards exist defining the true meaning of ultralight. Many backpackers will say that ultralight is having a base weight of 15 pounds or less. Base weight is the weight of your backpack, the gear inside and outside of it, excluding things like food, water, or fuel that will change depending on the trip length.

I look at ultralight as being weight conscious. Like I mentioned in this blog post here, ” What To Pack In Your Backpack.” my goal is to carry the least amount of weight possible without compromising certain creature comforts and my safety. So I don’t want to want to overpack unnecessary bulky items that I have to lug around steep mountain faces that will wear me down, but I also don’t want to go to ultra-minimalist like the Revenant and roam the forest with only a sachel and a knife.

One place to start shaving extra pounds is through the backpack itself. Many years ago, ultralight packs had a reputation of sacrificing durability for weight, but nowadays, these ultralight backpacks are incredibly durable with comfortable features and ridiculously low weights.

In this review, I focused on backpacks of 35 liters and higher for the intended use of overnight and multi-day backpacking trips.

 

Hyperlight Mountain Gear Southwest

Pros:

• Low weight of only 2 pounds
• Bombproof durability that can handle severe abuse
• Unused space in pack compresses down small making usable for day hikes.
• Practically waterproof
• Side pocket accessible with the backpack on
• Available in different models like the Windrider and the Junction that have various exterior features

Cons

• Price
• Non-adjustable shoulder straps
• No ventilation for your back. Dyneema material can make your back sweat even more.
• Thin hip belt and it is not adjustable

This is hands down my favorite and best ultralight backpack period, and now my go-to pack for just about any adventure. With its roomy main compartment and generous exterior storage options, this pack can easily carry enough gear for a multi-day adventure. Also, with its ability to compress down unused pack space, it works well as a day hiking pack too. I used to use a smaller 20-liter pack for day hiking and even as a travel bag because it fits well on aircraft, but this backpack can compress down to the same size, it’s Dyneema composite fabrics make it virtually indestructible, and it even weighs less.

Check Best Price For Hyperlite Mountain Gear

ULA Circut

Pros

• Built tough
• Thick supportive hip belt with generous hip belt pockets
• Hipbelt is replaceable and adjustable.
• Can be custom built with different shoulder strap configurations, colors, and monogramming

Cons

• Angles side pockets cause larger water bottles and items to fall out if you bend over or do any rock scrambling
• Mesh material on the back collects sweet and debris like lint and leaves

The ULA Circut is a notorious backpack for through-hikers of the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Coast Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. It’s popular because it will last an entire thru-hike, and it is comfortable for heavier loads. The ULA is a 68-liter backpack that also can compress down unused space. With that much available space, you can carry a lot of gear. If you are a backpacker who carries over 35 pounds, this backpack can carry that weight comfortably, and it is built tough

Check Best Price For ULA Circut

Granite Gear Crown 60

Pros

• Price
• The hip belt is sturdy, comfortable, and fully adjustable.
• The top lid is removable and can be used to streamline the backpack or attach to the removable hip belt and function as a fanny pack or summit pack.
• Has back ventilation with the foam designed back panel

Cons

• The mesh used on the side pockets and back compartment part tear easily.
• Snap buckles are very thin and could break easily under abuse
• Overall durability

The Granite Gear Crown 60 is an excellent backpack at a great value. With is multiple exterior straps, there seem to be a thousand different ways to attach gear to the outside of your pack. The Crown 60 carries higher loads comfortably, and the side pockets are large and deep enough to carry multiple water bottles and or gear without the fear of your items falling out. The lower compression straps can be threaded through the side pouches allowing you to compress the lower parts of the pack without sacrificing the usability of the side pockets.

Check Best Price For Granite Gear Crown 60

Gossamer Gear Mariposa

Pros

• The sizeable vertical side pocket is a unique way to carry extra gear on the exterior of the pack. Most hikers I have seen use the compartment to carry a shelter.
• Robic nylon on this pack is more durable than others.
• Multifunctional back pad can be removed and used as a sit pad
• Sturdy and replaceable hip belt with generous side pockets

Cons

• Price
• You have to pay extra for the hip belt
• If you sweat a lot, the foam back padding will absorb your sweat, making it unusable as a sitting pad.

Where the Gossamer Gear Mariposa shines is with its unique exterior storage. With 7 exterior pockets, you won’t find a lack of space to store gear. The unique and large vertical side pocket is ideal for carrying a shelter. This is a considerable benefit during inclement weather. You can grab your tent quickly without having to open up the main compartment of your backpack, keeping your main compartment items dry.

The Mariposa is sturdy enough to carry weights up to 50 pounds! The back pad can double as a sit pad, but I found in scorching weather if you sweat a lot as I do, the rear foam pad absorbs the sweat like a sponge. It was so bad that when I took the pack off and then put it back on again, I felt my cold and gross sweat pressing against my back. I had to lay the pad out in the sun to dry before using it again. Still, this backpack is sturdy and those exterior storage compartments are addictive.

Check Best Price Gossamer Gear Mariposa

 

Want to know what to pack on your next hike?

Follow this link to learn about the must-have day hiking essentials.

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Z Packs Arc Blast

Pros

• It weighs 17 oz
• Dyneema fabric, just like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest, it is durable and practically waterproof.
• Mesh tension system on your back provides some ventilation
• Customizable ” add ons” to dial in the perfect backpack storage
• Side pockets are solid, not mesh, and have drain holes in them.

Cons

• Price
• Not a fan of the ” snake ” style compression straps
• Does not compress down unused pack space since there are no side press down straps

The Z packs Arc Blast is designed for the more experienced hiker who has their kit dialed in. This pack is a charm for weights of 35 pounds or less, but over that, it begins to lose comfort. Most of that is due to the thin should straps and the design of the backpack. However, the Arc Blast features an elevator-style shoulder strap system to help you get that perfect fit. Many of the packs on this list do not have adjustable shoulder straps. 

 

The Z Packs Arc Blast uses Dyneema fabrics, which makes it highly water-resistant and insanely light. There are many additional accessories that you can add to the Arc Blast, but that comes at a price. Overall it is an excellent pack for the serious hiker

Check Best Price Z Packs Arc Blast

Osprey Exos

Pros

• Lightweight
• Price
• Removable top lid
• Ventilated suspension system
• Osprey’s Lifetime Guarantee

Conns

• No hip belt pockets
• Hipbelt non-adjustable

Osprey is a behemoth in the backpacking arena. Their backpacks are of exceptional quality and backed by their lifetime guarantee. The Exos is an ultralight pack that features comfortable shoulder straps and a ventilated back mesh suspension system. The Exos can carry heavier loads, and it is quite comfortable on your back

The drawback of the Exos is there are no pockets on the hip belt. Hip belt pockets are a handy place to carry headlamps, snacks, keys, chapsticks, cell phones, or anything you want to grab quickly. Why there are no side pockets on the hip belt is a mystery. 

Check Best Price For Osprey Exos

 

Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus

Pros

• It is a frameless pack. Making it lighter and less stiff than others and fewer components that may break
• Can reduce the pack down to 38 liters from 58 liters if you want to
• Beefy hip belt

Cons

• It’s frameless. You will have to pay close attention to how you pack the items in the pack.
• No back ventilation
• Ultra minimalist. Better for loads of 25 pounds or less

The Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus is a frameless backpack that weighs only 16 ounces. It is the only frameless backpack featured on this list. When using a framed pack, the frame itself supports the weight of the backpack and provides its structure. When using a frameless backpack, the items inside become the supporting device for the backpack. Frameless packs can save you weight, but you must know how to pack your items. They are also intended for very light backpacking loads and are not designed to carry heavy loads.

The Exodus has numerous exterior attachment points that make this bag convenient and easy to disburse weight across the pack, making it surprisingly comfortable for a minimalist backpack.

Check Best Price For MLD Exodus

 

Gregory Optic

Pros

• Price
• Lightweight
• Suspension System Backpack providing adequate back ventilation
• Removable top compartment ( brain ) to streamline the pack Super comfortable shoulder straps

Cons

• Mesh on outside of pack tears easily
• In my case, due to the suspension system, I found it challenging to reach my water bottles in the side pockets. This may not be an issue for longer armed individuals.

The Gregory Optic is similar to the Osprey Exos. The Optic has a well thought out design and has the most comfortable shoulder straps of all the models above. The Optic does a great job of transferring weight from your shoulders to your hips, making heavier loads a breeze. The Gregory Optic is a fantastic backpack, and with its budget price tag, it hits a sweet spot between quality and price.

Check Best Price For Gregory Optic

 

Want to know what to pack on your next hike?

Follow this link to learn about the must-have day hiking essentials.

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