Gossamer Gear Gorilla Backpack
Last week, I went on a backpacking trip to test out my new Gossamer Gear Gorilla backpack. This is the newest backpack in the Gossamer Gear line of ultralight packs, with a capacity of 2800 cubic inches, weighing 23.2 oz. in a size medium.
If you are not familiar with Gossamer Gear, they are one of the top manufacturers of ultralight backpacks, including the Mariposa Plus and the G4, which are considered classics in the lightweight backpacking community.
Gorilla Design Goals
One of Gossamer Gear’s chief design goals for the Gorilla was to create a more durable ultralight backpack capable of carrying heavier loads, up to 35 lbs, without sacrificing pack weight. This included using heavier a 210 denier double wall ripstop body fabric, the addition of side gear compression straps, improved sewing, and using tear resistant mesh for the pack’s trademark external pockets.
Here is a list of the key features on this backpack:
- Top-loading backpack with a drawstring closure.
- Large main storage compartment that includes an internal hydration sleeve, and left and right hand hydration ports.
- External Y-strap lets you secure a bear canister or sleeping pad to the top of the pack.
- Signature sleeping pad pocket which lets you use a foam or self-inflating sleeping pad as a frame sheet, thereby providing you with more carrying capacity in the pack’s main compartment.
- A large external mesh pocket on the back of the pack for carrying daytime necessities or wet gear.
- Left and right side mesh pockets, sized for 1 quart water bottles, that can be reached while wearing the pack.
- An adjustable, optional aluminum stay which provides more rigidity for carrying heavier loads.
- Side compression straps.
- Numerous external lash points that let you customize different bungie cord configurations for securing additional gear to the outside of the pack.
- Ice axe loop.
- Heavy duty haul loop.
- Removable hip belt which can also be sized independently from your torso length unlike many mainstream commercial packs.
- Ability to remove shoulder pad or hip belt padding and replace it with article of clother for more weight savings.
- Adjustable sternum strap with safety whistle.
- 3.5 inch wide shoulder pads that eliminate hot spots on your shoulders or collar bones when carrying heavy loads.
- Elastic hydration hose retainers on the right and left hand shoulder pads.
The Gorilla vs. the Mariposa Plus
As long-time owner of a 3600 cubic inch Mariposa Plus, I was curious to see how much gear I could fit into the smaller 2800 cubic inch Gorilla and how it would feel on a backpacking trip. So I loaded it up with an 20 pounds of gear including 3 days of food, fuel, water, including some luxury items like camp sandals, a tent and even a thin paperback book, The Unfettered Mind
The Gorilla swallowed it all, but it was a much tighter fit than in my higher volume Mariposa Plus. Still, I’m confident that I could get another 2 days of food into the pack, simply by replacing the tent with a flat or shaped tarp, expanding the Gorilla’s range to 5 days. While less than the Mariposa, which I’ve carried 9 days of food in, 5 days of food is a decent range for any section hike along the Appalachian Trail or in the White Mountains, where I tend to do most of my hiking.
Backpack Profile
Once loaded, the Gorilla is a dream to carry. I experienced an excellent transfer of weight to my hips, even better than in my Mariposa Plus. This occurs because the Gorilla’s main compartment is 2 inches narrower (less deep) than the main compartment in the Mariposa, pulling the heaviest gear in your pack closer to your center of gravity just above your hips. Even at 20 lbs, the load in the Gorilla felt a lot lighter than it would in the Mariposa Plus.
This difference manifested itself in faster walking speed, enabling me to walk half a mile faster per hour, on average. This really adds up because I like to walk all day with very few breaks. The miles felt like they were flying by.
Gorilla Backpack - Front Straps amd Hip Belt
Outfitting the Gorilla
One of the things I love about Gossamer Gear packs is the fact that I can personalize the fit and outfitting to suit my preferences.
One of the first things I did to set up the Gorilla was to add a pocket to the right shoulder strap for my digital camera, and two hip-belt pockets, one for my electronics and the others for lotions and creams. I also added a mini-fox whistle to the left shoulder pad because I like having a very loud whistle in case I need to scare a bear off or summon help.
After that, I configured 2 sections of shock cord on the sides of the pack, above the side mesh pockets, just below the compression straps, to secure my camp sandals. I don’t like hanging these off the back of a pack like many people because they pull away from my center of gravity and put more stress on my shoulders pads. Locating the shock cord on the side like this is also useful if you want to put long items like tent poles into a side mesh pocket and secure the top to the side of the pack.
For this trip, I decided to use the optional aluminum stay, but I cut my own 2.3 oz. sit pad out of Neoprene and slipped it in the sleeping pad holder instead of a torso pad or a self-inflating pad. As the weather gets colder during this part of the year, I like having a sit pad separate from an insulated inflatable pad, especially for sitting when I’m cooking at night. After a few miles, the aluminum stay started digging into the top of my back, so I stopped and bent the top back slightly and it felt great after that.
While there is a hydration pocket in the main compartment, I didn’t use it. Instead, I use 2 x 1 quart bottles which I store in the 2 side mesh pockets. I started using bottles exclusively in May and only use a reservoir when I need to carry extra water or when I’m in camp and want to purify a batch overnight using chlorine dioxide tablets. During the day, I use a 2 oz Aquamira Frontier Pro to filter more water that has been chemically treated for 20-30 minutes, if necessary.
Mesh Pockets
One of my all time favorite features on the Mariposa Plus are the external mesh pockets, but they have a tendency to tear if you snag them on a passing branch. While the Gorilla still has them, the fabric used is much finer and appears to be significantly less prone to tearing. I suppose time will tell.
In the meantime, I plan on using the Gorilla extensively next spring and would encourage you to try one out as well. This is a sweet backpack!
Disclaimer: Sectionhiker.com received a complementary Gorilla Backpack from Gossamer Gear, but was under no obligation to review it. The Author is also a Trail Ambassador for Gossamer Gear.
Tags
- Gossamer Gear Gorilla
- gossamer gear
- gossamer gear gorilla review
Phillip you never cease to amaze me with the detail you put into gear reviews! Stunning! Thanks for taking the time.
Frank – Thanks. I believe that every review should teach something about how to use the item, in addition to describing its features. I'm also bonkers.
Ah! Bonkers, a common word between continents. Can't argue with that! Keep em up Phillip , very valuable resource you have here. Thanks.
Excellent, detailed write up, which I've been looking forward to. The Gorilla seems to be one of the stand out packs of the moment.
Those shock cords seem almost designed for the Crocs!
It took me by surprise to be honest and showed me that I really don't need a 3600 cubic inch pack – that 2800 is just fine for my latest, highly compressible kit.
I finally get to use mine backpacking this weekend. Had it a while and now I get to find how good it is claimed to be. Loaded up it does feel so comfortable.
I'll be curious to hear your reaction. Taking the Duomid too, I saw.
I do like it but I also have concerns about it in open (normal UK conditions) high camping spots in strong winds. Apart from that I rate the DuoMid. Space, weight and versatile combination which is hard to beat.
When I was on the challenge this year, I met another hiker who is a scientist on the south pole. He told me that they did experiments there with different shelter shapes to see which performed the best in 150 mile per hours winds and that pyramids proved to be the best. Interesting, I thought. I will be using the Duomid in New Hampshire this winter, but I'm not sure how high I'll be, probably below treeline. I also haven't yet completely figured out how I will build a campsite in the snow, but it will probably have a deflecting wall to cut the wind. Lots to learn and try this winter!
There is a big difference between the 40 kg pyramids shelters the Antarctic teams use and a DupMid. I doubt it is not up to some bad weather but I expect a Trailstar takes the wind better. I will have to wait for a windy day and put A DuoMid, Trailstar and Scarp all out in the open and video them to see which is the best.
Thank you for comparing the Gorilla to the Mariposa Plus. I had wondered about that.
Martin is right about the BAS/FIDS tents but, speaking from a vast, three nights of experience with my Trailstar, I can see reasons why lightweight pyramid shaped shelters cope better with strong winds than ridge designs. (Ray Jardine has explained why geodesics give up in extreme conditions sooner than ridge designs – something about bits in compression which ought to be in tension, I think.)
Basically, a ridge design probably can't get its rectangularish side panels shorter than 8 feet. The linked triangles of a Trailstar are 7 feet across the base and smaller everywhere else. Small rules for strength. I was, in 1986, pinned to the ground when a pretty ferocious wind blew in the sides of my Phoenix Phantom ridge tent as if they were paired, full-bellied spinnakers. That's less likely to occur with the small triangles of the pyramid or Trailstar design because every point of the side panels is closer to support than is possible with the bigger rectangles of a ridged shelter. But does less give in the panels make peg pull more likely?
Or less likely because the design stays streamlined longer? It is possible that winds may slip past a pyramid shape more easily than they can past a rectangle, although, in that 1986 incident, I had the Phantom's tail dead into the wind showing that there's quite a few variables in this shelter strength stuff.
It would be interesting to see Ron or another independent party do some testing, although that's got to be expensive. Did you see my post a ways back on tent testing. Some amusing video clips in there. http://sectionhiker.com/testing-tents-in-wind-and… Got an air boat?
Yes. I saw the post. I would not know where to start if I had to do testing which gave results with real world significance. Anyone can nail a series of tents down in a wind tunnel (if they can afford the wind tunnel) but there is far more to camping comfort than the shelter standing up in a strong wind. Apart from free-standing shelters, such as the Utopia 2+, which I would back against very little, pegging is critical, but does any peg work well in all of the places you or I will be in the course of a year?
Can you compare the Golite Pinnacle you reviewed and this Gorilla? I'm interested in a new light pack for section hikes, probably 1 week max. The Pinnacle is both larger and cheaper; weights seem close enough to not be a deciding factor. Gossamer gets good reviews everywhere, but aren't available near me, so I'd have to mail order.
Thanks!
Sure. The gorilla has external mesh pockets, the Pinnacle, none (caution – I may not be up to date here). That means you have to open it up whenever you want something. The gorilla has wide shoulder straps which makes it way more comfortable on long multi-day walks than the puny, narrow pinnacle shoulder straps. The gorilla has an internal stay which makes it very comfortable to carry. You can carry your sleeping pad in the GG backpack pocket so it's out of the way and doesn't take up pack room. You can create your own external lash points on the gorilla, meaning you can expend it beyond the main compartment almost infinitely, if it pleases you. I'd buy the gorilla, hand's down over the Pinnacle. But carrying 7 days of food in either of them is going to be a stretch unless you rig up some external storage. I reckon, I could get 5 days into the Gorilla with a UL gear list. You should also look at the Mariposa Plus. I've carried 9 days of food in it comfortably. It's just like the gorilla, very comfy, but much bigger.
If you have questions, call Gossamer Gear and talk to them. They're not going to sell you something that's not going to work for you.
Very helpful – much appreciated.
How do you think the new Osprey Hornet 46, which is supposed to be 2800 cu. in., compares with the Gorilla?
PS this is the Hornet 46: http://www.rei.com/product/810624
I wouldn't care to speculate without trying one. But I can tell you that I'm taking a 3 week hike this spring with my Gorilla.
Good review. I notice the Gorilla does not have load lifters on the shoulder straps. How do you feel about this compared to other packs that have load lifters?
You don't need load lifters on a pack where you're going to carry up to 20 lbs of stuff. If you go lighter, you can even get rid of the hip belt (which is removable on this pack).
Hi there,
Nice review.
Do you or anyone else on here have experience of using the Gorilla with the larger Bearikade Expedition? I'm thinking of getting one of these for my John Muir Trail thru hike next year.
Regards,
David
I've used it with a Backcountry Cache in the Adirondacks and it carried very nicely inside the pack with the stay. I'm not sure if that's a comparable size with your expedition though.