The Finest Ultralight Backpacks of 2024

Ultralight backpacking is exploding in reputation. With informal backpackers and seasoned thru-hikers alike focusing an increasing number of on a lighter base weight, the choices for a streamlined, ultralight setup on path have expanded dramatically.

There isn’t one blueprint for what makes an ideal ultralight pack, and it actually does depend upon what you’re comfy with. To assist slender down the alternatives, we interviewed quite a lot of educated thru-hikers and put numerous fashions to the take a look at to seek out the perfect ultralight backpacks on the market. Ultralight climbing isn’t for everybody, however in case you’re seeking to pack gentle or tackle intensive mileage by foot, you’ve come to the correct place.

Our crew collectively examined legions of those glorified tubes for the creation of this information, with present creator Chris Carter having put over 10 totally different fashions via grueling checks up to now yr alone. An alumnus of the Triple Crown trails in america, he’s worn a seemingly everlasting groove in his shoulders from schlepping ultralight backpacks throughout the nation — and received’t accept simply any ol’ vessel. He is aware of the significance of balancing sturdiness, weight, and performance when scoping out the perfect ultralight backpack to your journey, and allowed solely the crème de la crème into this roundup.

Whereas there isn’t a single ultralight backpack for everybody, we’ve famous among the helpful options and specs of every of our suggestions that can assist you discover the perfect ultralight backpack to your wants. On the finish of our record, remember to try our comparison chart, buyer’s guide, and frequently asked questions.

Editor’s Observe: We up to date our Ultralight Backpacks information on March 21, 2024, so as to add the brand new Black Diamond Betalight 45 — a pack hewn from the most recent ultralight and ultratough textile on the block: Problem ULTRA cloth.

The Finest Ultralight Backpacks of 2024

Ultralight Backpack Comparability Chart

How We Examined Ultralight Backpacks

The GearJunkie crew ranges from informal weekend backpackers to full-blown thru-hiking dirtbags and has put 1000’s of hard-earned miles on a wide range of totally different ultralight backpacks in a spread of circumstances and landscapes. We all know what it’s wish to get to the tip of the day with a sore again from a poorly becoming or overloaded pack. We’ve subsequently tried to whittle this record all the way down to the best possible fashions that received’t weigh you down, but in addition supply a cushty trip over big-mile days.

Editorial Director Sean McCoy led the cost with this information again in November 2020, curating our preliminary number of 9 packs. A life-long hunter, backpacker, and all-around outdoorsman, Sean is aware of the significance of balancing weight with operate on ultralight aims within the backcountry.

Senior Editor Chris Carter took over this information in August 2022 and has been combing on-line catalogs, attending backpacking gear exhibits, and consulting his Rolodex of seasoned thru-hiking dirtbags to carry you the streamlined number of 15 worthy packs you see immediately. Chris has vital expertise placing varied ultralight backpacks via torture and torment, having thru-hiked the Triple Crown of lengthy trails in america, and continues to backpack all over the world. He’s navigated the sinking unhappiness of a mid-hike pack failure, and is aware of the significance of selecting a mannequin that matches your wants, and can final the gap.

Each gram counts when making an attempt to pare down your base weight. So, whereas testing these packs, we thought of elements comparable to sturdiness, worth, useability, and performance of every accent and have to find out the standard of the pack. After weeks of placing every mannequin via the wringer on quick and light-weight backpacking journeys, we really feel assured recommending every of those backpacks to these wishing to push the restrict and lighten their load on lengthy trails.

Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select the Finest Ultralight Backpack

We’ve all had that second of frustration as new backpackers the place we understand we’ve overpacked, and ponder chucking half the gear we introduced off the following overlook.

It’s the highest of the primary climb of the day, sweat is pouring off you, your shoulders wish to kill you, and all of the sudden that 5-pound tent you thought can be important begins sounding quite a bit much less superior. You get dwelling, noticed your toothbrush in half, and begin to analysis.

Should you’ve determined to drag the plug and be a part of the ultralight cult, there are some issues it is advisable think about. First, it needs to be executed fastidiously as you’re nonetheless headed into the backcountry with this equipment, and must be ready for all of the surprising twists and misadventures mom nature likes to throw our manner.

Don’t focus an excessive amount of on going light-weight that you just sacrifice important parts of security within the wild, or carry a setup that’s going to crumble after 2 days on path.

A dependable ultralight equipment begins with a purposeful, stable backpack. With so many choices in the marketplace, it may be exhausting to determine what to go along with, and it is best to take into consideration the weather that you’ll encounter in your journey, and the extent of consolation you need, earlier than making a call. Beneath we’ve damaged down a number of elements to think about when selecting the perfect ultralight backpack to your journey, which hopefully streamlines the method.

Ultralight Backpacks Material Choice and Climate Resistance

Ultralight backpack producers have the tough problem of providing a particularly light-weight package deal whereas additionally being sturdy sufficient to carry as much as months of abuse on tough trails via unhealthy climate. For that purpose, these packs are constructed with the most recent, most sturdy supplies in the marketplace, which regularly explains the excessive price ticket.

A few of the most typical materials present in ultralight packs are Dyneema Composite Material (DCF), Extremely, ECOPAK, X-PAC, and nylon (comparable to Robic or CORDURA). Every of those materials has totally different advantages and makes use of, which impression the load, sturdiness, and climate resistance of the packs they assemble.

Many individuals have a look at ultralight packs and assume they’re waterproof, since they usually resemble the traditional roll-top closures of dry luggage, or are made with shiny reflective materials. Whereas the material of a few of these packs is extremely water resistant, you’ll nonetheless wish to add extra rain safety to your gear for when the climate turns foul.

Our testers like to make use of separate ultralight Dyneema dry bags for contents that completely want to remain dry (comparable to electronics, a primary assist equipment, a puffy jacket, and a down sleeping bag), with a big light-weight pack liner that at all times stays within the backpack, defending all the things. The 2 hottest waterproof pack liners are Nylofume luggage, comparable to this one offered by Gossamer Gear.

We’ve discovered this to be the perfect, lightest, and least expensive, manner to make sure that your gear stays utterly dry. And also you don’t should waste time desperately becoming a rain cowl over your pack as a freak storm sweeps in, as the within contents are already protected. Simply ensure there’s nothing too essential within the exterior shove-it pocket.

Normally, Extremely, ECOPAK, DCF, and X-PAC are waterproof to some extent, although the packs that use them might not be seam-taped, and water will seep via in extended unhealthy climate. Most hikers who use these packs will nonetheless use a pack liner or cowl in vital rain to maintain their gear dry. Supplies comparable to Robic nylon, then again, will take in water slowly over time and permit your pack contents to get moist.

The introduction of DCF and X-PAC to the backpacking scene represented a reasonably vital bounce in ultralight cloth know-how resulting from their unimaginable strength-to-weight ratio. Packs such because the Zpacks Arc Blast have secured their spots because the lightest packs of their measurement vary due to DCF, with the flexibility to hold a great deal of as much as 35 kilos whereas sustaining a formidable, ultralight weight.

Ultralight Backpack Quantity Choice

The amount of your ultralight pack is a vital a part of the choice course of, and relies upon closely on how dialed in your base weight is. Ideally, you wish to have a sub-10-pound base weight whereas sporting ultralight packs, which incorporates all the things apart from consumables (comparable to meals, gas, and water).

That is largely as a result of, with a purpose to obtain such a low weight, ultralight backpacks are typically not as sturdy or supportive as conventional, heavier backpacking backpacks.

Overpacking them will lead to sooner deterioration over time, and so they simply received’t maintain the load as comfortably in your again. For that purpose, you wish to ensure the gear you’re packing can also be as ultralight as attainable if you will be utilizing an ultralight pack.

For many ultralight hikers, a 40 L pack will present sufficient quantity for a protracted weekend journey, or a 3- to 5-day push between cities on a thru-hike. This may at all times depend upon the local weather and terrain you plan to hike via, however for common three-season use, 35 L to 40 L ought to suffice. Some packs, like Hyperlight’s Windrider 55 can broaden or contract deal to accommodate totally different volumes of masses.

As hikers obsess additional over each gram of their packs, really dedicated ultralight backpackers can whittle their total thru-hiking equipment to suit into 30L or smaller packs, however this comes with some notable sacrifices.

Utilizing easy tarp shelters (or perhaps a rain poncho) in lieu of tents, going stoveless, or carrying much less meals helps to avoid wasting weight, however not everybody is able to take that leap.

Hip belts on Ultralight Backpacks

For a few causes, many ultralight backpacks have a detachable hip belt or no hip belt in any respect (comparable to LiteAF’s Ultra 30L, which have non-compulsory hip belt additions). That is primarily present in frameless ultralight packs. Many hikers who’ve already dialed their base weight nicely beneath 10 kilos discover that they’ll save much more weight by leaving the hip belt off, with out sacrificing an excessive amount of consolation.

With frameless ultralight packs, hip belts aren’t as load-bearing as conventional packs, as there isn’t a body for the load to be transferred to. The hip belt actually solely helps hold the pack near your physique whereas climbing, stopping it from jostling round, because you optimally can be carrying a weight that received’t overly fatigue your shoulders.

Whereas most ultralight packs will nonetheless have a hip belt, they may usually not be as padded as conventional packs (such because the hip belt on Mountain Laurel Designs’ Exodus 55L), and you might have the choice of eradicating them totally. You possibly can nonetheless discover nice ultralight choices, such because the Granite Gear Crown3, which have stable suspension, air flow, and help at the price of a barely heavier package deal.

It’s essential to consider the consolation degree you’re in search of in your pack, and the way far you’re keen to go to chop extra weight.

Packing an Ultralight Backpack

You wish to pack an ultralight backpack in a lot the identical manner that you’d pack a conventional backpack, nevertheless, there are some extra issues which are essential to notice. Specifically, ultralight packs can not carry the identical weight that conventional packs can, so it is very important have as minimal and light-weight a equipment as attainable. This is not going to solely delay the lifetime of your ultralight backpack however will make it really feel much more comfy over the lengthy haul.

As beforehand talked about, you’ll ideally have a base weight that’s underneath 10 kilos. Beginning on the backside of your pack, place your lighter, fluffier objects like a sleeping bag and different parts of your sleep equipment. These will function a “pillow” in your lumbar on high of which a few of your heavier objects can sit.

Bulkier, heavier objects comparable to your cooking equipment, meals, and tent, ought to go in the course of the pack and be located as near your again as attainable. By placing these things in the course of your again, you alleviate a major quantity of stress out of your shoulders or decrease again, which is especially essential with ultralight backpacks.

Lastly, on the high of your bag, you wish to pack lighter objects that you could be want to make use of all through the day, comparable to a midlayer or rain jacket.

Since ultralight backpacks additionally are inclined to have much less padding than different packs, you wish to be extra conscious of how your gear is becoming inside your pack, with a purpose to keep away from issues poking uncomfortably into your again.

When packing extra featured, framed fashions — like Osprey’s soft Exos Pro 55 — you don’t should be fairly as cautious, because the load isn’t jutting straight into your again. Most ultralight backpacks pressure you to consider carefully about how your gear meshes within the pack, so it doesn’t sit uncomfortably in opposition to you, however this isn’t as large of a consideration when the body separates the load out of your again.

These framed fashions additionally assist you to carry heavier masses, since extra of the load is transferred to your hips via the inflexible construction of the body. Moreover, compression straps work significantly better on framed backpacks than frameless ones, as there may be built-in construction to compress the load in opposition to. This implies you’ll be able to usually obtain a tighter, much less wobbly package deal whereas bounding alongside the path with framed packs.

Worth

Getting ultralight gear within the mail can generally be a disconcerting expertise. You simply dropped $300 on this package deal and you may barely really feel it in your fingers!

Whereas it could appear flimsy and fragile, most ultralight backpacks in the marketplace are constructed with the main ultralight and ultradurable supplies on the market and may take fairly a beating. There are some parts to think about, nevertheless, when selecting the best pack for you.

If going as gentle and quick as attainable is your greatest concern, and you’ve got the finances to have the ability to substitute gear because it deteriorates, selecting an ultralight pack purely for its weight may very well be choice. If you need an ultralight choice, but in addition plan on placing it via a little bit extra torture and need some consolation alongside the best way, you may wish to have a look at a extra sturdy, barely heavier mannequin.

Shopping for an ultralight pack is an funding that has the potential to vastly enhance your backpacking expertise. The flexibility to journey gentle and quick not solely will increase the quantity of wilderness you’ll be able to take pleasure in in a given time however may also cut back the beating your physique takes on a demanding backpacking journey, permitting you to hike additional and restrict accidents.

Ultralight Backpacks: Execs & Cons

The Good

Ultralight backpacking means conserving your total load low. Your base weight, together with all of your gear — besides consumables like meals, water, and gas — must be underneath 10 kilos.

And that’s the place these packs shine. They’re gentle themselves, thus including little or no weight to your again, however additionally they carry gentle masses comfortably and may stand as much as affordable on-trail use.

The Unhealthy

You actually need to maintain your weight down with these packs (Stone Glacier Terminus excluded). Most of them received’t serve you nicely in case you load them heavy, in order that they’re rather less versatile than extra strong backpacks.

The place does this matter? Should you personal only one backpack and plan to make use of it for climbing, ski mountaineering, and mountaineering, you’ll wish to look elsewhere.

Additionally, a few of these packs aren’t tremendous sturdy for off-trail climbing, so remember to scrutinize supplies carefully in case you plan to make use of them whereas bushwhacking.

In the end, you’ll have to determine in case you’re keen to commerce creature comforts for minimal weight. For individuals who’ve made the leap, the above are among the greatest ultralight backpacks in the marketplace.

FAQ

Ask 100 hikers about their favourite ultralight pack and also you’ll get a dozen totally different solutions. However like all backpacks, an important side is that it suits your physique completely and is adjusted correctly! Should you don’t know tips on how to match a pack, it’s value a visit to an outside store to speak with a certified salesperson.

Should you can hold your packing weight low, sure, an ultralight backpack is well worth the funding for a lot of hikers. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that ultralight packs require the person to know tips on how to pack effectively to maintain their load weight fairly low, often lower than 25-30 kilos.

Should you anticipate your gear will weigh greater than that, an ultralight backpack will in all probability not be a good selection, as many received’t help heavy masses very nicely.

Your base weight is the load of all of your gear not counting belongings you eat comparable to water and meals. So it consists of issues like your range however doesn’t embrace the meals you cook dinner.

Most ultralight backpackers think about a base weight of 10 kilos to be measure of ultralight backpacking. Get it down to five kilos, and also you’re within the superlight backpacking vary. For extra informal, light-weight backpacking, you’ll be able to stretch the load as much as about 20 kilos.