Ultralight backpacks made with high-tech materials like Dyneema DCF, Woven Dyneema, or Extremely have gotten very costly and are usually not inexpensive for many hikers. Whereas much less waterproof and sturdy, there are nonetheless loads of sturdy ultralight packs obtainable made with Ultragrid, Dyneema Grid, and Robic Nylon which might be completely appropriate for thru-hiking and backpacking. Alternatively, you should buy a decrease quantity and cheaper backpack for those who’ve already diminished your gear quantity and weight necessities, one thing that has turn out to be more and more doable with right now’s lighter-weight and extra compressible gear.
| Make / Mannequin |
Weight |
Value |
| Gossamer Gear G4-20 |
24.8 oz |
$240 |
| Mountainsmith Zerk 40 |
25 oz |
$225 |
| Durston Kakwa 55 |
30.3 oz |
$199 |
| MLD Exodus 55 |
18 oz |
$245 |
| Exped Lightning 45 |
39.8 oz |
$225 |
| Osprey Exos 48 |
42 oz |
$240 |
| Granite Gear Crown 3 40 |
36.7 oz |
$240 |
| Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 |
20 oz |
$180 |
| ULA CDT 54 |
27.1 oz |
$220 |
| REI Flash 55 |
45 oz |
$199 |
Listed below are one of the best budget-friendly ultralight backpacks priced below $250 that we suggest.
1. Gossamer Gear G4-20 (42L)
The Gossamer Gear G4-20 is a 42L frameless ultralight backpack that weighs 24.8 ozand might carry as much as 25 lbs comfortably. The G4-20 has a entrance stretch mesh pocket, two facet pockets together with one which’s giant sufficient to hold a shelter, an exterior map pocket, and a roll-top closure. Its inside storage capability is 30L with 12L in its mesh and facet pockets. The well-padded hip belt, which incorporates pockets, will not be detachable, however you possibly can ditch the molded foam sit pad protecting the pack’s again panel and additional cut back the pack weight.
Learn the SectionHiker G4-20 Assessment.
2. Mountainsmith Zerk 40L
The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 is a 25 ozbackpack made with recycled nylon ripstop. It has a roll-top closure, a detachable hip belt strap, and a operating vest-style shoulder strap system. Quite a few open mesh pockets make it straightforward to retailer often accessed gear and meals on the pack’s exterior so that you don’t must open it in the course of the day. The pack comes with bear can straps so you possibly can lash a canister on prime and consists of quite a few exterior gear loops to connect further gear to its exterior. Whereas there’s a foam pad in a pad pocket behind the Zerk’s shoulder straps, its major goal is to guard your again from being poked by the pack’s contents.
Learn the SectionHiker Zerk 40 Assessment.
3. Durston Gear Kakwa 55L Backpack
The Durston Gear Kakwa 55 is a streamlined ultralight-type backpack made with Ultragrid that’s optimized for thru-hiking and backpacking. It has loads of exterior pockets so you possibly can carry all your daytime necessities with out stopping to open the pack. However the place this pack shines is within the body and suspension system, which does an exceptionally fantastic job of transferring the load to your hips. Sizing is unisex.
Learn the SectionHiker Kakwa 55 Backpack Assessment.
4. Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L
The Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L is a high-volume frameless backpack obtainable in a number of materials, together with a model made with Ultragrid. Weighing 18 oz, it has an ordinary ultralight roll-top design with a stable entrance stretch pocket and facet pockets made with stable cloth as a substitute of mesh for added sturdiness. The Exodus additionally has a sewn-in hip belt and female-friendly S-shaped shoulder straps. The pack’s most really useful load is 25 lbs. Sizing is Unisex.
Learn the SectionHiker Exodus Assessment.
5. Exped Lightning 45L
The Exped Lightning 40 is a roll-top backpack with an adjustable torso size, one thing that’s very uncommon within the ultralight backpacking world however helps present a customized match. Weighing 39.8 oz, it’s made with a water-repellent 210d ripstop nylon which might take severe abuse. It’s a particularly good backpack for carrying cumbersome gear on the outside of the pack, with quite a few exterior compression straps that may be reconfigured as wanted.
Learn the SectionHiker Lightning 60 Assessment, which is almost an identical however increased quantity.
A lady’s Lightning 45 can also be obtainable.
6. Osprey Exos 48/Eja 48 Backpack
The Osprey Packs Exos 48 is a light-weight minimalist pack favored by thru-hikers, part hikers, and weekend backpackers alike. Weighing 2 lbs 12 ozfully configured, it has a inflexible body that makes it good for hauling heavier masses as much as 30-35 kilos. The highest lid might be eliminated if not wanted, dropping the pack weight near 2 lbs 7 ozounces. Ultralight particulars and again air flow make the Exos backpack for climbing in scorching or humid situations. The 48 liter quantity of this pack doesn’t embody its open facet or entrance pockets, so it may maintain much more gear than you’d count on.
The ladies’s model is named the Eja 48.
7. Granite Gear Crown3 40L
The Granite Gear Crown3 40 is a roll-top backpack with an elective prime lid pocket. with a hip belt that may be indifferent to make a bomber fanny pack or a prime lid that may be indifferent to create a chest pocket. It has twin compression straps on the edges and entrance of the pack, making it straightforward to connect cumbersome gear to its exterior. The 40 liter quantity of this pack additionally doesn’t embody its open facet or entrance pockets, so it may maintain much more gear than you’d count on.
Learn the SectionHiker Crown3 40 Backpack Assessment. A
lady’s mannequin can also be obtainable.
8. Gossamer Gear Kumo 36L
The Gossamer Gear Kumo is a frameless backpack made with Robic Nylon that weighs 20 oz. It has 28L of closed storage and 8L of open storage in its facet and entrance mesh pocket. As well as, there’s an exterior pad pocket behind the shoulder straps that holds a foam sit pad (included) and a map-sized zipper pocket within the fold-over lid. The hip belt has pockets and can also be detachable. Gossamer Gear additionally makes a vest-style model of the Kumo known as the
Quick Kumo for fastpacking.
Learn the SectionHiker Quick Kumo Assessment.
9. ULA Tools CDT 54L
The ULA CDT is a 54-liter frameless rolltop backpack with an inside pad pocket. Weighing 27.1 oz, the CDT is a streamlined backpack with 36 liters of closed storage in the primary pack bag and extension collar, with the rest distributed throughout its facet pockets, entrance mesh pocket, and hip belt pockets. Whereas the CDT will not be the lightest frameless backpack obtainable right now, it is likely one of the largest by way of total quantity, it’s obtainable with J-shaped or female-friendly S-shaped shoulder straps, and is available in a really wide selection of torso sizes and hip belt lengths.
Learn the SectionHiker ULA CDT Assessment.
10. REI Flash 55
The REI Flash 55 is a modular ripstop nylon backpack that weighs 45 ozbut might be stripped down to save lots of weight. For instance, it’s a roll prime backpack with a floating prime lid that may be eliminated for those who don’t want it. The Flash 55 additionally has an adjustable torso size, which is a really fascinating function if in case you have points getting match. In case you’ve by no means owned a backpack that’s this light-weight, the Flash 55 is an effective ultralight pack to chop your enamel on as a result of it’s so inexpensive and simply custom-made for various journeys, seasons, or locales. The REI return coverage can also’t be beat, one thing that smaller producers don’t supply.
A ladies’s model is on the market as effectively.
Learn the Part Hiker Flash 55 Backpack Assessment.
Price range Ultralight Backpack Choice Information
Backpack Materials and Sturdiness
Ultragrid, Dyneema Grid, Extreema Ripstop Nylon, and Robic Nylon are all types of strengthened or excessive tensile nylon with wonderful sturdiness information. Ultragrid and Dyneema Grid are principally nylon, however have tremendous sturdy Extremely or Dyneema fibers operating by way of them to create a ripstop grid sample which helps forestall catastrophic tears from occurring. Dyneema grid is the oldest of those nylon variants and has an extended historical past of sturdy use, even earlier than woven or laminated Extremely and Dyneema materials got here on the scene.
As well as, packs are made in a wide range of nylon thicknesses, that are measured by “deniers”, additionally abbreviated as “D” in “210D Nylon Ripstop. Normally, increased denier counts lead to extra sturdy and abrasion-resistant materials.
UL Backpack Frames
Most ultralight backpacks vary from about 40 liters as much as 60 liters in quantity and normally weigh between 20 and 48 ounces. They’re supposed for carrying masses between 25 and 35 kilos and have full frames, body stays, or are frameless. The quantity and weight capability you want will rely on the quantity of drugs, meals, gasoline, and water it’s essential carry. This may differ from journey to journey, or city to city for those who’re a thru-hiker or part hiker, however compression straps allow you to shrink a pack’s quantity from 40L all the way down to 60L as wanted. Usually talking, you need extra “body” for heavier masses, however this is usually a matter of private choice.
Gender-Particular Backpacks
Many ultralight backpacks are actually obtainable in males’s and ladies’s particular fashions, though there are just a few exceptions. Additionally they are likely to have fastened torso lengths and hip belt lengths, though many backpack producers have discovered that adjustable torsos and hip belts or ventilated backpacks give them a major 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 kind.
Rain Covers and Pack Liners
Most ultralight backpacks don’t embody a rain cowl. In case your backpack will not be 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 individuals do each or put on ponchos that cowl themselves and their backpacks.
Roll Tops vs Prime Lids
Among the backpacks listed above are roll tops, and a few have prime lids. Which you select is a matter of private choice. Roll tops might be good as a result of they’re extra minimalist and require fewer webbing straps. However prime lids are useful if it’s essential change hats or gloves often or entry a map and navigation gear. Nonetheless, different packs, just like the Granite Gear Crown3 40 and the REI Flash 55, are roll-tops, however include an adjunct prime lid that you would be able to connect over them. That’s actually one of the best of each worlds.
Backpacking Match
A very powerful issue when selecting an ultralight backpack is match. Preserve making an attempt them 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 straightforward to contact, and wish you to have one of the best expertise doable. What makes an ultralight backpack nice? It suits you, has easy-to-use exterior pockets or daisy chains to connect your personal, and works effectively along with your different backpacking gear decisions.
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