If you spend enough time backpacking, you may consider switching to an ultralight setup, as it opens the door to longer, faster adventures and allows you to travel more freely. A lightweight tent, pad and sleeping bag are important, but your featherweight setup isn’t complete without one of the best ultralight backpacks. “Ultralight means carrying only what you need and finding comfort in that,” says Sam Schild, an outdoor writer and long-distance backpacker who has thru-hiked more than 10,000 miles. “I find calm in knowing I only need to pack a handful of items every morning, and I always know where everything I need is,” he says.
These are the best ultralight backpacks of 2024.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
Schild recommends buying your backpack last so you can find one that is recommended for your base weight—the total weight of your gear minus food, water and fuel. Once you know your base weight, you’ll need to decide between a framed or frameless pack. “If your base weight … is more than 10 pounds and/or you plan to carry four or more days of food or a lot of water, I’d recommend getting a pack with a frame,” says Schild. If you’re counting every ounce and slimming down your setup as much as possible, you may be able to opt for a frameless pack, which will be much lighter but offer less comfort and support.
Then, you’ll need to decide on the design features that you need and how much you want to splurge. Do you need side water bottle pockets? Ultradurable lightweight material for rugged environments and heavy use? Carefully consider the types of trips you’ll take and how you’ll use your pack. Then, take a look at our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks for every adventurer, below.
Best Ultralight Backpack Overall: Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack
Most Versatile Ultralight Backpack: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack
Best Value Ultralight Backpack: Exped Lightning 45 Backpack
Most Comfortable Ultralight Backpack: Osprey Exos Pro 55 Pack
Best Large Capacity Ultralight Backpack: Granite Gear Crown3 60 Pack
MOST POPULAR
Outdoor Vitals
Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack
Weight: 1.7 pounds | Capacity: 40 liters | Frame: Carbon fiber | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 35 pounds
For a great all-around pack for most ultralight backpackers, Schild really likes the Outdoor Vitals CS40 because it maintains the functionality of a traditional pack without the added weight. At only 1.7 pounds, it weighs less than most other ultralight packs, but it has superior comfort because of its lightweight frame “that works to distribute weight better than other packs in its weight class,” Schild explains.
The air-light carbon fiber frame (which weighs an unbelievable 0.125 pounds) is paired with load lifters that help disperse the weight from your shoulders to your hips so you don’t experience any nagging pains on mile five. The streamlined design is easy to use but not too simple: You can stash your water bottles in the side pockets and your map or other necessities in the front panel. And because of the frame, it’s comfortable even when you’re carrying weight up to 35 pounds. So whether you’re taking the leap into ultralight backpacking or are a seasoned expert, the CS40 a winner.
Gossamer Gear
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack
Weight: 1.8 pounds | Capacity: 60 liters | Frame: Removable U-frame, foam back pad and hipbelt | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 35 pounds
According to Schild, Gossamer Gear is the biggest player in the ultralight pack game right now. While he would use Gossamer Gear’s Kumo—a frameless pack—for a long-distance thru-hike, the Mariposa (listed here) is a more popular option because of its versatility and comfort.
First things first: You can use it both for ultralight adventures and the trips where you need to bring some little luxuries because it has a high max carry weight of 35 pounds (although for truly comfortable carrying, stick with 30 pounds and below.) But while it’s capable of carrying a lot of stuff, it also adjusts well if you don’t bring the kitchen sink. You can take out the frame, back pad, and hipbelt and use the side compression straps to reduce the internal volume when you don’t have it stuffed to the brim. And if you have a foam sleeping pad like the Nemo Switchback, you can swap it in for the existing back pad and save on weight even more. The Mariposa also has pockets to customize how you pack: One side features a large, deep stretchy pocket, while the other side has two pockets stacked vertically for smaller items—catering to those who love their organizational pockets but still want weight-saving design.
Amazon
Exped Lightning 45 Backpack
Weight: 2.6 pounds | Capacity: 45 liters | Frame: Aluminum stay | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 52.9 pounds
Other ultralight packs may run you upward of $300, sometimes $400, but not the Lightning 45 from Exped. Clocking in at over two pounds, many ultralight enthusiasts would technically consider this “lightweight” instead of “ultralight,” but it’s still a solid option for any backpacker looking to make the transition to lighter gear because it is still light and will get you accustomed to a no-frills design.
This pack looks like someone took the suspension system of a traditional backpack and merged it with the simple features of an ultralight pack: The torso height is adjustable via the shoulder straps, the lumbar padding is plush, and it has excellent ventilation because there are no contact points on your mid-back. (If you’ve ever arrived at camp with a damp shirt, you’ll know the struggle. And personally, this is where frameless packs just don’t do it for me.) The roll-top closure and stretchy side pockets are easy to use, and the compression straps can be used to eliminate bulk or carry extra gear like a sleeping mat. So while there’s not necessarily anything revolutionary about this pack, we think it’s a great pick at an even better price point.
REI
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40
Weight: 1.9 pounds | Capacity: 40 liters | Frame: Removable aluminum stay | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 40 pounds
When I worked as a backpacking guide in Yosemite back in 2015, this was the pack of choice for all of my co-guides. That’s because even though it weighs close to two pounds, it’s comfortable to carry—even when you’re loaded down with lunch for 10 guests. Plus, the durable and waterproof Dyneema fabric can stand up to the abuse thrown at it from life on the trail.
As one of the mainstays in the ultralight scene, Hyperlite knows what it’s doing. This pack has stood the test of time and still ranks as one of the best ultralight backpacks even in a burgeoning ultralight market. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t—robust, roomy pockets on the outside (no mesh, because it rips too easily), a removable aluminum stay frame, a roll-top closure, and both vertical and horizontal compression straps to secure the goods. It comes in four different sizes to accommodate a range of torso lengths and hip circumferences. The only downside is that its 40-liter capacity might not be sufficient for long trips or remote thru-hikes without frequent resupply points.
REI
Osprey Exos Pro 55 Pack
Weight: 2.1 pounds | Capacity: 55 liters | Frame: LightWire alloy | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 30 pounds
Not ready to let go of the comfort of a conventional backpack? The Osprey Exos Pro 55 strikes a perfect middle ground. This pack may look familiar. In true Osprey style, it has a slightly arched shape, ventilated back panel, thick shoulder straps and a foam padded hipbelt—all things that add to the carrying comfort. But somehow the brand has shed the extra weight for this pack and brought all these comforts into a package that weighs just a touch over two pounds.
It also has a bit more handy design features than most ultralight packs: The classic top lid compartment has a zippered pocket, compared to the roll-top closure featured on most ultralight packs of today. The interior has a sleeve for a hydration bladder, a feature that many ultralighters deem unnecessary as they carry their Smartwater bottles. But for others, this is a helpful addition that many of the packs on this list lack. If you don’t need these, you can remove the top lid and just ignore the internal bladder sleeve.
REI
Granite Gear Crown3 60 Pack
Weight: 2.4 pounds | Capacity: 60 liters | Frame: Framesheet plus optional aluminum stay add-on | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 35 pounds
Thru-hiking the Hayduke Trail? You’re going to need to carry more water than you can fit into 40 liters of space. Want to bring the kids along? You’ll need to carry extra gear. Sometimes, the most minimal pack won’t cut it, and you need something a little bigger and more burly for long distance hikes. That’s where the Crown3 comes in. At 60 liters, you’ll have plenty of space for only half a pound more than most packs on this list.
And when you’re carrying more stuff, extra features come in handy. The top lid on this pack disconnects and converts into a waist pack that you can attach to the hipbelt for quick hikes from camp. It also has load lifters and double sternum straps so you can adjust the weight dispersal as you hike. And if sustainability is important to you, it comes in an undyed version. Pick up the U-shaped aluminum stay for treks that require base weights north of 35 pounds (sold separately).
Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Flight 30 Ultra Running Pack
Weight: 1.9 pounds with hipbelt | Capacity: 30 liters | Frame: None | Recommended Max Carry Weight: 8 (comfort) to 25 (max) pounds
Want to run part of the way? You’ll need a backpack designed for fastpacking, which is a combination of trail running and ultralight backpacking. Part running vest, part backpack, the Flight 30 is the ideal companion for these trips that provides a close-to-the-body fit so you can move with ease without worrying about the weight on your back.
It’s fully customizable: You can choose between three different harness designs—a shoulder harness (like a traditional backpack), a vest harness (better for running as it minimizes bouncing), or an S-curve harness (best for larger chests and narrow shoulders). Each option has two pockets to store 500-milliliter soft flasks for water. It also has an adjustable torso length and removable hipbelt so you can tailor the fit and function depending on your needs.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted gear team has written dozens of articles on camping and hiking equipment from tents to sleeping bags to, of course, ultralight backpacks. Our stories, which are backed by research, expert advice and (in many cases) testing, include the best daypacks, the best cold weather sleeping bags, how to rewaterproof your gear at home and more.
In addition to researching durability, capacity and key features, we also tapped an expert for advice: Sam Schild, who has hiked more than 10,000 miles as a long-distance backpacker and regularly contributes to gear publications.
We made sure to include ultralight backpacks that our experienced gear editors and writers—which include gear editor Cam Vigliotta and gear product tester Hannah Singleton—have personally tested and highly recommend.
We review this story frequently for freshness. It was last updated in February 2024.
How We Chose The Best Ultralight Backpacks
We researched top-selling and well-reviewed backpacks from the most trusted ultralight names on the market. These include Granite Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Gossamer Gear, Outdoor Vitals and more.
We combed through reader reviews, ensuring each ultralight pack had mostly positive feedback and a solid average rating.
We evaluated each of our top selections based on capacity, durability, additional features and value.
There’s a pick on this list for every type of ultralight hiker, and since everyone has a different budget, we included nicer models and economical picks alike.
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