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Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack Review

Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack Review

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is a lightweight ultralight-style backpack that weighs 30.5 oz. It’s ideal for weekend backpacking and long-distance trips, particularly if you prefer a backpack that has lots of pockets and a frame, like a more conventional backpack, but weighs half as much. The Mariposa is also available in a wide range of sizing options, including short torso lengths, long torso lengths, and interchangeable hip belt sizes. This is welcome news to short people, tall people, and square-shaped people who don’t fit into the round holes dictated by conventional backpacking companies.

Specs at a Glance

What Makes the Mariposa 60 so Unique?

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 has been on the market for over 10 years and undergone many design changes during its lifetime. While those changes have improved its durability, carrying capacity, and quality, the pack’s personality and widespread popularity have stayed the same. What is it that makes the Mariposa 60 so beloved by the people that use it? I’ve long pondered that question since I bought my first Mariposa 60 back in 2008 to hike Vermont’s Long Trail.

If there’s one thing that’s remained constant during the Mariposa’s evolution, it’s the configuration of its side pockets, with one long tent pocket on the left and two smaller pockets on the right side of the pack. This pocket layout is unique and lets you move some of the bulky gear that usually hogs up the main compartment, like a tent and or a Jetboil, to an outside pocket, making it much easier to pack the gear that you don’t need during the day and want to keep dry and safe inside the pack.

This pocket layout also can help change the way you think about your backpacking gear and how to categorize it by function or frequency of use. I often recommend the Mariposa to hikers transitioning from a heavier conventional backpack to an ultralight-style one for just this reason, and because a 60L pack is large enough to carry your pre-existing gear list without forcing you to leave anything behind.

The Mariposa 60 is now available in this very attractive green color in addition to the classic grey
The Mariposa 60 is now available in this very attractive green color in addition to the classic grey.

But the Mariposa isn’t for everyone. For all of their benefits, the pack’s external pockets can be difficult to adjust to if you don’t carry a tent or you’ve been weaned on ultralight-style packs that have symmetrical water bottle pockets. They also make it impossible to add functional compression straps to the pack, which can make it awkward to carry less than full loads with the Mariposa. You can still attach gear to the outside of the backpack, as I illustrate below, but the compression capability is lacking.

Backpack Organization and Storage

The Mariposa 60 has seven external pockets and a main storage compartment.

  • Front stretch mesh pocket
  • Left-hand tent pocket
  • Upper right accessory pocket
  • Lower right water bottle pocket
  • Over-the-top map pocket
  • Two hip belt pockets

Front Stretch Mesh Pocket

The front stretch mesh pocket is a good place to store wet items and extra layers you want easy access to during the day so you don’t have to stop and open the main compartment. The mesh weave is open so it drains well and it’s gotten much tougher over the years, so it has good durability. The mesh is reinforced with 200D Robic nylon like the rest of the pack bottom so it won’t rip or abrade when you set it on the ground. There’s also a drain hole at the base so it the reinforced portion won’t collect water in the rain.

Long left pocket is perfectly size to hold a tent. Shown here with a Tarptent ProTrail Li.
The long left pocket is perfectly sized to hold a tent. Shown here with a Tarptent ProTrail Li.

The Tent Pocket

The left side of the Mariposa has a long tent pocket, 14 inches deep and open at the top, which is ideal if you carry a one or two-person tent. But you can really put anything you want into it, like a hammock/tarp or larger items that you want to segregate from the rest of your gear. For example, if your tent gets wet at night, or soaked with internal condensation, this tent pocket is a good place to store it separate from your other dry gear. It also makes it convenient to pull out to dry in the sun if you stop for a rest break.

The tent pocket also works well with tents that have components that make them hard to pack sideways in the main compartment, like the tents made by Tarptents that have carbon fiber struts in the corners. However, the contents of the tent pocket cannot be reached when you’re wearing the backpack, so it’s not a particularly good place to put a water bottle unless it’s being held in reserve.

The lower right hand pocket can hold 2 Nalgenes or Smartwater bottles
The lower right-hand pocket can hold 2 Nalgenes or Smartwater bottles

Right-hand Accessory and Water Bottle Pockets

The Mariposa has two right-hand pockets, one on top and one on the bottom. They’re both 8″ tall and open on top with an elastic band to keep their contents from popping out. The bottom pocket is designed specifically to hold two, one-liter water bottles, including 32 oz Nalgenes or Smartwater bottles. Water bottles stored there are easy to reach and replace while wearing the backpack. Both of the right-hand pockets also have drain holes to avoid collecting water in the rain.

I often carry my cook system in the upper right-hand pocket, especially if it’s wet, or a toiletry kit for easy access during the day. It’s also a good option for carrying snacks or a damp water filter/squeeze system.

The top pocket is good for storing maps, hats, and light gloves.
The map pocket is good for storing maps, hats, and light gloves.

Map Pocket

There’s a map pocket in the fold-over lid that’s also handy for storing your personal effects. It extends the width of the fold-over lid, so it’s actually quite large, but whatever you put inside it has to be flexible to wrap over the top of the main compartment.

Hip belt pockets

The hip belt comes with two large zippered pockets that are solid-faced for durability and water resistance. I usually use these to store my compass and a folded-up map, Aquamira water treatment drops, and bug dope, but they’re also large enough to store a smartphone or a point-and-shoot camera.

The hipbelt pockets are large enough to store a Smartphone, snacks, nav tools, etc.
The hip belt pockets are large enough to store a Smartphone, snacks, nav tools, etc.

Main Compartment

There’s a hydration pocket in the main compartment, where you can hang a water reservoir if you choose to use one. The hydration port is centered between the shoulder straps and covered to prevent rain from leaking in. Using a hydration system is not a bad way to carry water in a Mariposa because it can be tricky to balance the load across the right-hand water bottle pocket and the left side tent pocket if you have a very lightweight tent and carry two liters at a time.

The main compartment is cavernous and unstructured. I usually line the Mariposa with a white plastic compactor trash bag to help protect my gear from moisture even though the Mariposa’s Robic nylon fabric is quite water-resistant. A white compactor bag can also make it easier to find gear inside the pack.

The Mariposa has an aluminum frame stay that runs the length of the pack and slots into the hip belt.
The Mariposa has an aluminum frame stay that runs the length of the pack and slots into the hip belt.

But the closure at the top of the main compartment is a bit clunky. There is a plastic clip used to cinch close the top of the extension collar before you can fold the over-the-top flap over it. I still find it unnatural to use compared to a drawstring or a roll top. Gossamer Gear does make a pack with a rolltop though, the 40-liter G-4 20 (reviewed).

The extension collar must be gathered with a small clip instead of a drawstring, before you fold the map pocket:lid over top of it.
The extension collar must be gathered with a small clip instead of a drawstring, before you fold the map pocket/lid over top of it.

Backpack Frame and Suspension

The Mariposa comes with a lightweight frame stay that slots into sleeves on the pack of the pack and terminates in the hip belt. It’s optional so you can remove it, but it’s so lightweight and improves the pack’s handling so much, I’d recommend keeping it in. The current model comes with the frame preassembled, which is good because it can be tricky to get it to slide properly into the hip belt. That is another reason not to remove it from the pack if you don’t have to.

The framestay slots into the hip belt to maximize load transfer. It also has internal stiffeners to prevent buckling under heavier loads.
The frame stay slots into the hip belt to maximize load transfer. The hip belt also has internal stiffeners to prevent buckling under heavier loads.

The frame stay is pre-bent so most people will not have to modify it, but it can be customized if required. The frame stay gives the Mariposa a max recommended load weight of 30-35 pounds and keeps the pack from collapsing on itself when it’s loaded up.

The pack also has an integrated sit pad that pads the frame stay so you don’t feel it through your back. It’s easy to pull out and sit on to keep your bum warm or dry when you take a break or cook dinner. It’s a signature feature of Gossamer Gear’s overnight packs although now copied by many other pack manufacturers.

The Mariposa includes load lifters which I consider important on higher volume backpacks, starting at about 50 liters of capacity. Without load lifters, a heavily loaded backpack can have the tendency to pull you backward and off-balance. Load lifters help counter the backward tilt of a heavy pack, bringing it closer to your back, and shifting more of the weight onto your hips.

The sit pad is easy to pull out for a dry place to sit during rest breaks.
The sit pad is easy to pull out for a dry place to sit during rest breaks.

While the Mariposa is unisex, Gossamer Gear has done a lot of work in recent years to make it more comfortable for women by adding softer foam and spacer mesh to the inside and top edges of the shoulder pads and hip belt. The resulting pack is exceedingly well-padded and comfortable to wear, but a little bit too soft and cushy for my taste. Most people really like the padding though because it conforms well to their hips and doesn’t slip.

The hip belt is tensioned with a conventional pull-back mechanism while the sternum strap buckles together in the middle to help eliminate painful pinching. The sternum strap slides up and down along webbing straps attached to the shoulder pads so you can adjust its height in an infinite number of ways instead of only being locked into preset positions.

While Gossamer Gears packs are unisex, the shoulder straps and hip belt have extra padding to make them comfortable for women.
While Gossamer Gear’s packs are unisex, the shoulder straps and hip belt have extra padding to make them comfortable for women.

Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack

Comfort
Weight
Suspension
Features
Adjustability
Sizing
Durability

A Backpacker Favorite

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack is perfect for hikers transitioning from a heavier backpack to a lighter weight one because it provides plenty of storage and pockets to organize your gear.

Shop Now

External Attachment and Compression System

The Mariposa 60 is noticeably light on side compression straps and external attachment points because the side pockets get in the way of having them. However, there are tiny webbing loops purposely distributed around the perimeter of the pack that lets you create your own compression or attachment points with some cord and a cord lock. Gossamer Gear sells a convenient accessory cord kit for just this purpose.

While the Mariposa lacks side compression straps, you can thread cord through webbing loops that surround the pack to create customer attachment points.
While the Mariposa lacks side compression straps, you can thread cord through webbing loops that surround the pack to create custom attachment points.

There are 8 x 2 such webbing loops sewn into the seams of each side of the backpack along with 4 plastic rings on the over-the-top flap that you can anchor cord to. There are another 4 plastic rings on the front shoulder straps along with two hydration hose keepers, which are good anchors for the accessory pockets that Gossamer gear sells.

For example, here’s how you can attach snowshoes to the side of a Mariposa
For example, here’s how you can attach snowshoes to the side of a Mariposa.

You can route accessory cord through those webbing loops and plastic loops in many different ways. For example, you can rig up:

  • Rig up a pair of parallel cords on each side to carry snowshoes or a foam pad.
  • Criss-cross a cord on top of (over) the front mesh pocket to dry wet clothing.
  • Secure tie a solar panel to the map pocket so it drapes down the front of the pack.

The possibilities are really endless and help overcome the fact that the side pockets make it hard to provide two tiers of webbing-based side compression straps.

You can also secure awkwardly sized gear under the top pocket.
You can also secure awkwardly sized gear under the top pocket.

With a little imagination, you can use also the top fold-over pocket to sandwich awkwardly shaped gear like a foam sleeping pad, cylindrical tent body, or a low-volume Bear Boxer Bear Canister (also sold by Gossamer Gear) onto the top of the main compartment, making it easier and more convenient to carry. This doesn’t work with a full-sized canister, however, which will fit vertically inside the Mariposa.

The Mariposa has the requisite ice ax loop as well as trekking pole tip holders found on most packs but does not include shaft holders for either making them a bit hard to use unless you have some of that cordage around.

Philip Werner at a river crossing in Scotland
The author backpacking across Scotland with a Gossamer Gear Mariposa Backpack a few years ago.

Comparable Internal Frame Backpacks

Make / ModelWeightGender
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L30.5 ozM
Granite Gear Crown 3 60L36.7 ozM | F
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 3400 (55L)34.9 ozM
Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50L28.6 ozM
ULA Circuit 68L41 ozM | F

Recommendation

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack is perfect for hikers transitioning from a heavier backpack to a lighter-weight one because it provides plenty of storage and pockets to organize your gear. It has a lightweight frame that provides plenty of load-carrying support for heavier loads. With a maximum recommended load of 30-35 pounds, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a backpack that’s as comfortable, refined, and easy to use as the Mariposa 60.

If you don’t need 60L of capacity, but like what you see in the Mariposa, check out the 50L Gossamer Gear Gorilla. It has fewer external pockets than the Mariposa but is also a great backpack.

Shop at Gossamer Gear

Disclosure: Gossamer Gear donated a backpack for review.

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33 comments

  1. Philip – do you have any indication that while the pack can carry 30-35 pounds, is it comfortable in that range?

    • The pack can carry up to 30 pounds provided it fits you. Above that is more challenging. But thats as much an issue of fitness as much as anything else. I have carried 45 pounds in a Mariposa but it wasnt a lot of fun climbing big mountains with it because thats a lot of weight. It would have also sucked if I was using a heavy osprey pack.

  2. How comparable would you say is this bag in capacity to the optic 48, I have one but am considering the maripossa or gorilla but am aware these companies calculate the volume differently. Thanks

    • The optic has 48 liters of closed storage. The Mariposa has 36L of closed storage in the main pack body to extension collar seam
      and 24L spread across 7 exterior pockets. Bottom line: The Mariposa has more storage if you don’t mind storing some gear in its open pockets.

  3. I love my Gossamer Gear, but that hip belt shenanigans is rediculous. Do they cover shipping cost?…which for some reason is stupid expensive from GG. Seems like way more trouble for everyone than it should be.

  4. Love my Mariposa, which most often is used on AT section hikes. The one can’t live without feature for me now is the long side pocket–I look at other packs and always think “nope, need that side pocket.” I agree that 30 lbs seems to be the practical weight limit; I like it at 25 lbs full up.

  5. Hi Philip, do you know if a Tarptent Stratospire 2 would fit in the large tent pocket? One grip with the tent is that it makes packing awkward.

  6. David Michael Harding

    I have an older GG pack that I’ve used on two and three night trips and carried a TT Double Rainbow, which according to Tarptent’s website, packs up slightly larger than the Stratospire 2. I store it in the quiver pocket when I hike. I wish I had that pocket on my other packs. It seems perfectly sized for my tents.

  7. I really wanted to like the Mariposa. I LOVE my Kumo. That thing is the most comfortable pack I’ve ever had bar none. I thought the Mariposa would just be a larger version with more structure and volume. But just trying it out at home, it does not feel the same. The straps don’t measure any closer together but it rubs on my neck unlike the Kumo. The shoulder straps are not as well cushioned and the mesh is different so it rubs oddly. I’m really hoping to break it in and love it still. But first impressions are not great.

    • I am having the same issue with the shoulder strap. It is killing my right collarbone and I have tried everything. Had my pack given a “shakedown” and was told it was weighted well. One side sits perfect along my shoulder. The other…I can’t get rid of the “gap”.

      I used it through a guided company and didnt have any problems. Purchased one, and now I can’t get through 4 miles!!

      They won’t take it back. I bought it at Christmas. Has less than 20 miles on it.

  8. It’s pretty neat how drastically a review can differ from person to person due to fit and expectation.

    I recently tried the Mariposa based on rave reviews (tl;dr = I don’t like it). I was honestly a bit surprised how floppy and unsupported this pack was, even considering the 2lb weight. The main compartment can be a chore to see into when the pack isn’t fully loaded up as the fabric is so thin and slippery it takes considerable effort to keep it out of the way while digging around. I’m new to ultra-light packs, so thin fabric flopping around wasn’t something I was expecting to be an issue. My other packs have thicker fabric and hold their shape better when digging into the pack. On the Mariposa, having something in the top pocket just makes it maddening as it flops back down into the compartment constantly.

    I also find that this pack has woefully weak hip belts. From reviews and photos, they look much more substantial in terms of vertical stiffness for transferring weight to the actual hips. In reality, I find the back foam panel puts most of the weight onto the lower area of my back and not on my hips. For me personally, this is a deal-breaker, as I develop inflammation in my lower back with pressure and movement focused there. Reviews stated how the hip belt has plastic supports to help transfer weight, but they only come out a little past the pack body and do not continue to the sides of the hips like they should. For me, this is the single worst carrying pack I have ever used in my life, even with less than 20 lbs in it. I could probably make it better by customizing the back pad or support bars, but I can’t be bothered.

    I also really dislike the asymmetrical side pockets. It kind of forces the user to do what Gossamer Gear wants you to do in terms of pack organizing. The tall pocket is pretty useless for a water bottle without cutting and modifying the pack. This also makes it tougher to balance the load side to side.

    I’m going to try out the ZPacks Arc Blast instead. I expect the hip belt to be poor for my needs, but the design of their hip belt system makes it super easy to modify existing hip belts to fit the Zpacks. I have an old Osprey removable hip belt that will Velcro right onto the Zpacks hip belt bar, and it fits my hips perfectly, and comes with pockets I don’t have to purchase from Zpacks for the price of a 4k TV. :) Another plus for the Arc Blast is the fabric is a bit less silky and floppy. I like my DCF stuff sacks because they hold their shape when empty. It’s just a much more manageable fabric, IMO. Same with my Aeon Li DCF tent, which is a pleasure cruise to set up compared to my Big Agnes silnylon slippy-slinky mess.

  9. It looks like GG changed the padding on the shoulder and hip belt for the 2021 model, which now appears to be thinner and less substantial. I’m hesitant to purchase for this reason. Has anyone had a chance to compare the older version to the new one and noticed any issues here?

    • I didn’t notice any difference to be honest and I’ve used every model since 2008,

    • I can’t speak for the older models, but the one I tried recently from GG had very thin padding in the hips and shoulders. There is very little substance to the hip belt past a couple inches away from the pack frame. Not that I would call it too thin for an ultra-light pack, but it is much thinner than normal (heavy) packs. The straps were perfectly fine IMO, considering the weight this pack is designed to carry. I don’t think any other pack in this weight and class has beefier padding. It’s for sure a bit more than the ultra-thin stuff on my Zpacks Arc Blast.

      My only fitment complaint (read comment above) is the back foam pad is way too aggressive and pushed into my back too much instead of going to the hips like I need.

      If it’s much concern, just email GG. They are quick to reply.

    • I contacted someone I know that purchased the same pack but an older version. She does not have fit problems. I am sure the hike I did last year with gear provided (when I loved loved loved the pack) was not new. I am now wondering if the changes impacted my fit for a backpack?

      JE, you are correct! It is pretty wild how drastically reviews differ. :) Honestly, if it wasn’t for this one problem…I would have zero complaints about it. But then again….I can’t get the miles in. So maybe with more time using it I may have changed my mind? I am disappointed in the ability to work with me to see if another pack they have or the smaller size would work. They don’t contact through phone. However, they did get back to me via email in an impressively fast time.

  10. Phillip, I currently have been using the Granite Gear Blaze since it was first introduced. Although heavier,. It is very comfortable for extended trips and heavier loads. I know you are a fan of the Blaze. How would you compare the comfort ratings of these two packs?

    • The Mariposa is more heavily padded in the shoulder straps and hip belt, but it can’t carry nearly as much weight as the blaze nor does it have a very adaptable external attachment system.

  11. I purchased the Mariposa 60 last winter and used it this summer (2021) on three one week backpacking trips. There was some good news and bad news. The good news is that I am 71 so I really appreciated the light weight of the pack. I was able to carry six and one-half days of supplies (including dry dog food for two trips) with a maximum pack weight of only 32 pounds. This included a BV450/BV500 bear vault on all three trips. The trips were a combination of off and on trail – a good test for the pack (and me). The pack was very comfortable. The bad news is the durability. After the first trip I noticed three small tears in the bottom of the pack about the size of a finger. I am not certain when this occurred, but it might have been from a slip on a talus slope. Clearly, the bottom of the pack is vulnerable to slipping and falling as well as just the wear and tear from resting on a rock/ground by the trail. There is no warranty for durability issues in which under their warranty page (in bold) is written: “Gossamer Gear does not, however, warranty products against materials or fabric failure due to durability issues.”. That it is in bold probably indicates that I am not their only complaint. My suggestion is to sew a material over the bottom of the pack (like nylon cordura) which would reinforce the exposed part of the pack, but add minimal weight. I submitted a review to Gossamer in which I recommended the pack, but only gave it three out of five stars because of durability, but this was rejected. However, they were very responsive to my complaint by email.

    • Buyer beware. Lightweight backpacks are made with thin fabric – that’s why they’re lightweight.
      If you want durability and an infinite guarantee, buy Osprey packs. The Osprey Exos 60 is a fair alternative to the Mariposa in terms of pack weight and volume

      • Thank you Philip.

      • Osprey Exos is likely to be less durable than the ULA packs in Robic 400. My 2011 Catalyst is still intact, except for the front mesh pocket I tore up bushwhacking (but still usable). I have also replaced the hipbelt buckles b/c the female one had a crack (but the buckles continued to work for another 1000 miles) and the top strap buckle b/c one of the three pins, a side one, broke off (after 10+ years; the buckle continued to function for the next several hundred miles, but was hard to open). Probably around 5K trail miles, plus perhaps another 1k of grocery shopping trips, some with loads beyond the recommended 40lbs max, and several flights as checked luggage. I have not been partly gentle with the pack.

    • If your review didn’t contain foul language, and contained only an accurate description of your experience with the product, then shame on them for rejecting it.

      Companies need to learn: either have a review system or don’t. If you do, learn to take things on the chin and publish even the reviews you don’t like.

  12. I have a 2019 Mariposa. Are the updates to the 2021 model worth an upgrade?

    • I can’t remember if there was much of a change between the models. If your 2019 has a stay that slots into the hip belt and load lifters, the answer would be no. Even then, if there’s nothing wrong with your old pack, why bother?

  13. I have both the Mariposa 60 and the Gorilla 50 and have used each on 3-4 trips.

    Things I like:
    – Light weight is great
    – I had ~ 25-30 lbs max loads and they carried nicely at that weight
    – Ability to separately spec pack size and hipbelt size is great
    – Generally a nice feature set – integrated hipbelt pockets are very handy
    – Light color makes finding things inside the main pack easier

    Things I don’t like:
    – The asymmetric pockets on the Mariposa bug me. There are times I want to carry two 32 oz Nalgenes for water instead of a hydration bladder and digging one out of the tall pocket is annoying.
    – Trying to get something out of the zipped top pocket when the pack is fully loaded and cinched down is a pain. I realize that it just takes an extra 30 seconds to undo things, but it’s still a mild irritant. I prefer zipped top pockets that are accessed from the harness side.
    – As mentioned, the lightweight fabrics are not super durable. I have put a couple of good tears in the mesh pocket by not ducking low enough when going under fallen trees and other parts of the packs are showing some abrasion, even though I am generally pretty careful and don’t hike in super rough country.

    Strangely enough, the older I get, the more willing I am to put with carrying some extra weight in order to improve reliability and comfort. At this point, I’d really like to find a very simple pack that is essentially a very robust top-loading bag hung on a very good suspension, with minimal bells and whistles.

    • The asymmetrical pockets on the mariposa 60 used to bug me too, but I carry less water now so I don’t need the long pocket for water. A lot of people also use water bottle sleeves on the shoulder straps these days which is something you might try. The extra volume of the 60 liter pack comes in handy on some trips.

  14. Hi Philip, you’ve recently reviewed the Granite Gear Crown 3 60L, just wondering between the Mariposa and the Crown 3, which did you like better? Thanks!

    • I like both. If I use a tent, I’d probably like the Mariposa more because it has the long side pocket. If I wanted to carry snowshoes, I’d like the Crown more. I also like the optional roll top closure on the Crown, but I like the Mariposa frame more. Depends what you want.

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