Most truly ultralight backpacks are frameless, hip belt optional, and only designed to carry maximum recommended loads up to 20 pounds. While backpacking this light isn’t for most people, the increased availability of ultralight backpacking gear and access to know-how on the Internet and through social media has made it more achievable than ever.
Convention has it that you’ll want to drop the weight of your gear (minus food, water, and fuel) to 10 pounds or less to go ultralight, including the weight of your backpack. One way to do that is to use a backpack made with ultralight waterproof materials like Dyneema DCF or XPac. Another option is to pick a simple, minimal pack that’s light on features or is a low volume pack that saves weight by requiring less material to make.
Here are the 10 ultralight backpacks that we recommend that manifest these qualities.
| Make / Model | Volume | Weight | Fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zpacks Nero | 38L | 10.9 oz / 308 g | Dyneema DCF |
| Waymark Thru UL 40 | 40L | 21.2 oz / 601 g | EcoPak |
| SWD Ultralight Superior Frameless | 45L | 18.2 oz / 516 g | Ultra |
| Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 | 36L | 20.5 oz / 581 g | Robic Nylon |
| LiteAF Ultra Curve 30 | 30L | 13-19 oz / 368-538 g | Ultra |
| Northern Ultralight Sundown | 48L | 18.6 oz/ 526 g | XPac |
| Mountain Laurel Designs Burn | 38L | 16.5 oz / 467 g | Dyneema Gridstop Nylon |
| Gossamer Gear G4-20 | 42L | 25 oz / 709 g | Robic Nylon |
| Nashville Packs Cutaway | 40L | 14.2 oz / 402 g | Ultra |
| Atom Packs 40 | 40L | 15.4 oz / 437 g | EcoPak |
Be sure to read our Ultralight Backpack Selection Guide below which explains these tradeoffs in greater detail.
1. Zpacks Nero 38L
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Zpacks
2. Waymark Thru UL 40L
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Waymark Gear Company
3. Superior Wilderness Designs Superior 40L
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Superior Wilderness Designs
4. Gossamer Gear Kumo 36L
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Gossamer Gear
5. LiteAF Ultra Curve 30L
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LiteAF
6. Northern Ultralight Sundown 48L
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Northern Ultralight
7. Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38L
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Mountain Laurel Designs
8. Gossamer Gear G4-20 42L
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Gossamer Gear
9. Nashville Packs Ultra Cutaway
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Nashville Packs
10. Atom Packs – The Atom EP40
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Atom Packs
Ultralight Backpack Selection Guide
Ultralight Backpack Volume
How much volume do you really need in an ultralight backpack, when you’re really trying to get your TOTAL pack weight below 20 pounds? It’s hard to make a blanket recommendation because it ultimately comes down to the climate you plan to hike in and what your clothing, sleep insulation, shelter, nutrition, and water needs will be. For general three-season conditions, most UL backpackers find that a 40L pack provides more than enough volume for a 3-5 day trip, including gear, food, fuel, and water. It gets much more difficult to fit everything you need into a 30L backpack, however, unless you can resupply more frequently, you go stoveless, or you don’t need to carry much water. However, given the list of packs above, there’s not a huge weight penalty for carrying a higher volume pack than you need, since they’re all so lightweight and you can compress them using a roll-top closure or side compression.
Ultralight Backpack Fabrics
Most ultralight backpacks are made with Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF), XPac, Nylon (Robic, Cordura, Dyneema X, etc.) In terms of durability, Ultra is usually the most durable in terms of abrasion resistance, then EcoPak, XPac and LiteSkin, then DCF, and finally Nylon, although it depends on the denier or weight of the material used. DCF and XPac revolutionized UL backpack manufacturing because they’re so lightweight, but are being quickly overtaken by newer waterproof fabrics like EcoPak and Ultra which are even more robust and ecologically sustainable products.
The biggest areas of wear and tear on a backpack is the base, where you put it down on the ground, and the side pockets, especially if they’re made with mesh. Most UL pack makers have switched to more durable mesh, use more durable stretch mesh that has finer holes and is less prone to snagging, or have switched to making external pockets with solid fabrics for better durability.
DCF, XPac, ECOPAK, Ultra, and LiteSkin are all waterproof materials so they won’t absorb water when it rains. DCF has the advantage that it can be seam-taped which greatly increases the waterproofing of a backpack. While XPac, ECOPAK, and Liteskin can be seam-sealed, most people don’t bother and line their packs with trash compactor bags or use waterproof stuff sacks. Very little water will get in anyway. It’s much the same with Robic Nylon and other high tenacity nylons although they will soak thru, can make your gear wet, and take a while to dry out. See the following FAQs for more advice and reader discussion:
- Dyneema Composite Fabrics FAQ
- DCF vs X-Pac for Ultralight Backpacks: Pros and Cons
- Do You Need a Backpack Rain Cover?
- How to Keep Your Backpacking Gear Dry with Trash Compactor Bags
Hip Belts on Frameless Backpacks
The hip belts found on frameless backpacks are not load-bearing because there’s no frame to transfer to load to the hips. This explains why many ultralight packs don’t have them, they’re removable, or stowable, and only made with webbing if they’re included at all. Their only real purpose is to provide an anchorage for hip belt pockets or to prevent the pack from bouncing against your torso if you walk fast.
Since the hip belts are not load-bearing, all the weight will rest on your shoulders. When choosing packs, you should consider how much shoulder strap padding you prefer and the strap width that you find most comfortable.
Gender-Specific Backpack Features
An increasing number of UL pack makers are including S-shaped backpack straps on their packs, that are more comfortable for women because they accommodate breasts more comfortably. Many men also find them more comfortable than the J-shaped shoulder straps that were used previously.
Sizing
Shorter torso lengths are also increasingly available to accommodate women, who on average, aren’t as tall as men. However, matching your exact torso length is a little less critical on a frameless backpack because the hip belt is not load-bearing. The fitting process is actually more similar to fitting a daypack (without a hip belt) than a regular framed backpack, although matching your torso length is still a good benchmark to aim for.
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No Pa’lante? I added daisy chains to the shoulder straps (shhh), and have loved the nothing-on-my-back feel. Of course, that has alot to do with the low weight load, but it’s a very handy pack. I also use the Nero for bulkier loads. Both hard to choose between. BTW, the Atom seems a P knock-off.
Pa’lante just doesn’t wow me. It’s just a bag.
If you want a backpack that really advances the state of art, go to Nashville Packs. Atom’s packs are superb and they make quite a few very nice models.
Phil, are ALL of the packs frameless?
I eschew frameless backpacks! for 2 ounces I would FAR rather have a far,e like that on my Osprey EXOS 58. (and of course, tehlight padded hip belt.
For me the comfort of a decent light frame and padded hip belt FAR outweighs (pun intended) the lack of those items. Same for my full length REI FLASHinsulated air mattress. COMFORT, within reasonable weight limits, both on and off the trail is what makes backpacking much more enjoyable.
So yeah, for SUL gear I have a Gen. two, Dyneema Tarptent Notch Li solo tent, 3 cup anodized aluminum cook pot, (not ti!) and a Western Mountaineering down mummy bag but still I have comfort.
There is UL, SUL and crazy light. I see most frameless backpacks in the latter category, just like hiking poles whose straps have been cut off. <-DUMB!
No – some have frame stays.
You’re missing the point, tho your approach is as legitimate as any.
The point of frame less packs is that they are more comfortable under 20lbs with no hip belt what so ever.
Which for many puts less strain overall on their bodies, is simpler and is worth getting dialed in for.
Even more so for long distance self supported trail runners.
There are triple crowners in both camps, tho I certainly agree cutting tags off and toothbrushes in half is an utterly pointless persuit for gram reduction.
Crazy light is no pack at all for record breakers/athletes who smash out the GR20 in Corsica in 31 hours with no sleep. (obviously such runs are assisted)
Anyone willing to get off there arse and embrace the backcountry is less dumb than the majority of the population ergo not dumb at all, regardless of how they choose to do it.
Gear’s a means to an end… A tool, different tools for different goals.
Thanks for the prompt reply Phil. Could you indicate which packs have the option of frame stays?
Before I do, I just want to emphasize that these packs are designed for a max of 25 lbs and don’t NEED a frame to carry that kind of load. The fact that they do have frame stays is kind of a nice to have, since you can remove them. If you routinely carry more than 20-25 pounds total, get yourself a pack from my 10 best lightweight packs list. You’ll probably be much happier since the pack won’t collapse on you and hard objects won’t poke you through the back. The Sundown has frame stays and you can buy a “Framed” version of the Thru UL from Waymark.