The Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2024

This pack is a top-loader with roll closures, similar to the HMG Windrider, but with a shorter collar. This is mated up to a large U-shaped zippered front panel that helps access gear easily, and two large external stretch mesh pockets help with organization. With no top lid, this feature gives you a place to put small, frequently needed items. In use, we were impressed with how well the minimal EVA frame sheet distributed weight through our back, hips, and shoulders.

The 45-pound capacity is impressive compared to some of the lighter-duty packs in our testing, and we found that the aluminum hoop frame that forms the backbone of this pack was able to hit that number without much complaint. The shoulder strap foam is plenty thick, though we found it to be a bit firm for our liking.

At 2 pounds, 13 ounces, the Scream 55 is at the upper end of what we’d allow as ultralight, though its about the best price-to-weight ratio you’re going to find out there. For those willing to separate with a few more bills, the REI Co-op Flash Air 50 ($299) trims a full pound compared to the Scream, and sports a more conventional UL pack design to do it — while still retaining the suspension performance you’d expect from REI.

At $3 per liter of volume, though, you do get a good amount of pack for your money, and for anyone curious about checking out ultralight, the Scream 55 can be a stellar option.

Best thought of as a Flash pack cut from UHMWPE cloth, the Flash Air trims an entire pound from the OG (losing the floating top lid also helps accomplish this) but still retains a spring steel frame, ventilated back panel, pre-curved hip belt, and even load lifters. Similar to the Osprey Exos Pro, this pack still offers a good amount of comfort for lightweight hikers, instead of demanding they cut base weights.

We put the Flash Air into the hands of PCT alumni Samuel Martin, who measured it against his go-to Hyperlite packs and ended up dubbing it ultralight for the masses. “It’s a common misconception that you must trade comfort for weight when using ultralight gear,” says Martin. “Even while climbing 1,000 feet in 2 miles, the Flash Air 50 felt secure and weighted on my hips.”

Besides the better-than-average carry, the Flash Air follows pretty much the standard recipe: a single-compartment tube pack, with a large front stash pocket, and side water bottle pockets round out your storage options. Those side pockets are a bit unique, however, as they’re actually split into four separate sleeves: two tall for wrangling long water bottles and two short and angled for reaching into while wearing the pack. It’s no bottom pocket, but it works well enough for on-the-go snacking.

Like most UL packs, don’t expect the Flash Air to be 100% waterproofed: Martin found that even the waterproof UHMWPE fabric isn’t impervious to a Linville Gorge rain storm, and we recommend a pack liner to keep your essentials dry. The optional REI Pack Mod accessories also feel a bit gimmicky, and the shoulder-strap phone pocket isn’t nearly as nice to use as some integrated options, such as on the HMG Contour 35.

Compared to other ~2-pound packs, the Flash Air 50 makes a compelling argument for itself as the perfect stepping stone into ultralight hiking — and even more so if you already use a Flash pack. The Osprey Exos Pro is another option to consider, though we found the side compression strap system on that pack a little less user-friendly. It’s also ~3 ounces heavier across the board, making the Flash Air our current recommendation for an entry-level UL pack.

More and more, these snazzy-colored, funky-shaped packs can be seen trotting (swiftly) down the length of the PCT, AT, or pretty much anywhere fast and light adventurers are getting after it. As a true cottage brand, LiteAF offers a huge variety in custom-building your own pack, from standards like torso and hip belt sizing to even tweaking the color of the pack body and pockets.

Available in three different styles of material (with rugged Ultra and DCF also options), the ECOPAK version of the Curve is the cheapest of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean the EPLX200 can’t hang. This fully recycled polyester textile uses a waterproof film backing and weighs in at 5.9 ounces/yard, meaning its a bit heavier than the comparable 200-denier Ultra at 3.5 ounces/yard, but its a more economical option, and as a bonus, it can be printed with all sorts of different patterns.

As a frameless pack, you’ll need to be smart in your packing of the bag to lend it structure from the contents and avoid any odd shapes poking into your back. We’ve had good luck in using a Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad folded into a back panel, though some hikers will also just use their inflatable pad. We found that the load carry on the Curve was as good as the frameless MLD Exodus or HMG Contour and that the narrower pack profile aided in keeping it clear while we hiked.

With 30 L of internal capacity (and an extra 15 L of external storage), your kit needs to be pretty dialed to make a long-distance backpacking trip work in this. The 30L Curve is for those with base weights under 10 pounds who are looking to lighten their setup even more (think: your tarp is also your rain gear, type vibe).

Despite such a low weight, this pack is still featured enough to make long-distance travel comfortable and efficient, and they offer several add-ons (such as a stretch mesh bottom pocket and various shock cords) to increase storage capabilities. While the pack doesn’t ship with hip belts, you can separately order a 1-inch webbing hip belt or a simple padded hip belt if you feel the need.

For the lightest, fastest adventures you could dream of, Lite AF’s 30L Curve is about as ultralight and streamlined as they come. Take care of it, pack it wisely, and it could be the ticket to that next FKT you’ve been eyeing.

Thru-hiker Jackson Sims-Myers has around 7,000 miles notched on his hip belt, with a not small number of those completed using another ULA pack, the CDT. Now a canyoneering nut, Sims-Myers needed something with a bit of a thicker skin to put up with the abrasive nature of sandstone canyons, and the Ultra Circuit was just the ticket.

“I was honestly surprised by how well the Ultra fabric held up, considering the bag wasn’t designed to withstand this particular experience,” Sims-Myers said after thrashing the pack down (and back out of) the Grand Canyon. Ultra is the new hot-ticket in pack design right now, and while there’s a weight increase, it does a good bit better than Dyneema Composite Fabric when it comes to abrasion, with UHMWPE fibers running in three directions instead of two with DCF. 

Beyond the textile difference, the Ultra version shares a great bit with the classic Circuit, including two side water bottle pockets, two zippered hip-belt pockets, ice axe/trekking pole retention loops, and a large front shove-it pocket to round it out. The pack carries heavier loads comfortably with its contoured shoulder straps and padded back panel.

Its roll-top closure makes the volume of the pack highly adjustable. This is prime for thru-hikers, who will often load up for long stretches between towns and then can roll the top down to about 35 L as they empty the pack.

The pack carries extremely well, featuring a 1.2-ounce carbon fiber and Delrin suspension hoop coupled with a dense foam frame and single aluminum stay. This unique design provides great load control, rigidity, and back support without compromising on weight or impeding the range of movement. It’s no meat-hauler like the Stone Glacier Terminus 7000, but compared to many ultralight packs, the Ultra Circuit doesn’t shy away from weight.

While the Ultra fabric is inherently waterproof (and the pack uses a roll-top closure and waterproof zips), we did notice that the body itself isn’t taped, meaning water ingress can still be a problem. Price, too, should be considered, as this is one spendy pack at $380. You’re undoubtedly paying for access to the Ultra textile here, so if you don’t quite need that level of burl, consider the regular ULA Circuit — a standby pack.

Though not the lightest of ultralight packs, the ability to carry larger loads while still cutting down on weight makes the Ultra Circuit an ideal option for those heading into unkind environments for long trips.

In essence, the pack is a single large tube of high molecular weight polyethylene attached to a world-class frame, shoulder straps, and harness. Designed to carry massive loads north of 150 pounds, this pack is a dream to carry. And thanks to smart carbon composite design, it weighs in at just 3 pounds, 15 ounces, which is super impressive, given its volume of over 115 L.

Our team tested the pack hauling loads in preparation for elk hunting, mountaineering, and general backpacking. It carries remarkably well, even with a lot of weight. While the pack is bare-bones in terms of storage solutions, it does have two internal pockets, a large external pocket, and a lid pocket, all of which can help keep items organized.

But its strength comes in hauling heavy loads. Unlike some hunting packs though, it doesn’t have a meat shelf, meaning that the load needs to be loaded internally. So, strangely shaped objects (like firewood or chainsaws) will be awkward to load. For those who need to haul heavy loads though, the Terminus 7000 is a unique, excellent choice that carries weight amazingly well.

Read Review: Ultralight, Ultra-Strong Backpack: Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 Review

To be sure, at just over 2 pounds, the Pro can’t hold a candle weight-wise to packs like LiteAF’s 30L Curve, but it has a 55-58 L capacity and the ability to haul much heavier loads. Plus, removing the brain sheds an additional 2.6 ounces, which is how we usually like to roll — making it even more competitive.

Nano-fly UHMWPE ripstop nylon, thin straps, and tiny buckles are key ingredients in the secret sauce. They strike a nearly perfect balance between bougie comfort and lightweight minimalism. With a suspended mesh back panel, full frame load transfer, torso adjustability, and ventilated mesh yoke, it carries and performs like Osprey’s chunkier models, which weighs over twice as much. For premium ultralight comfort and next-level breathability, the Exos Pro is next to none. So what’s the rub?

The obvious tradeoff is durability; 100-denier fabric will hold its own during light bush-bashing but is designed for the well-trodden path. For burly off-trail objectives, look to a pack made from Ultra, like the ULA Ultra Circuit or Black Diamond Betalight 45. That said, we found ourselves scrambling over some pretty gnarly terrain with the Pro over our testing period, and it weathered the storm with barely any signs of wear and tear.

Other slight cons include relatively thin hip belts (only one pocket is zippered) and somewhat awkward Z-style compression straps that connect to the hip belt pockets, which just aren’t our favorite design. These straps were the deciding factor in us recommending the REI Co-op Flash Air 50 as our pick for a pack to get into ultralight backpacking with, as both bags are fairly similar (though the Flash Air does undercut the Osprey by a handful of ounces).

Don’t let our quibbles dissuade you, though. This lightweight feat of engineering represents a landmark for weekend warriors and thru-hikers alike, hinting at a new category of high-capacity, fully-framed ultralight backpacks. So, if you aren’t ready to make the leap to a glorified trash bag with straps and wish to carry a full-length toothbrush, then give the Exos Pro a shot.

So what’s different? Well, not a lot, but also a good bit. For one, the bag is Hyperlite’s first dedicated frameless overnight pack, which thankfully is mated up to a redesigned set of shoulder straps that are a full 3.25″ inches wide. This puts the pack a cut above the brand’s Unbound, which sports a single aluminum stay and removable hipbelt. On the Contour, you’re locked into minimalism, but that’s not a bad thing: Belcaster found the suspension better than his Southwest.

The classic DCF build is a constant, and it’s a hardwearing textile that our miles of trail use are still trying to get to fail. Mated to that is a front Dyneema Stretch Mesh stuff pocket that wrangled our water filter, rain shell, and bathroom kit easily. The side water bottle pockets are pleated to add a good bit of material, and will accommodate two 1-liter bottles, in our experience. Besides this, there’s little else adorning the Contour, save for two paracord side lashings, where we like to dry our socks.

To be fully honest, the Contour does suffer from a bit of convergent evolution, where the idea of the modern ultralight pack settles into a familiar groove: The stretch bottom pocket — a feature we’ve grown to love on other packs like the Pa’lante V2 — makes an appearance here, complete with the corner cutout to slip your garbage into. Imitation/flattery and all that aside, the addition raises all boats here, and we loved stashing our day’s worth of snacks in the pocket every morning.

Like the LiteAF 30L Curve, you probably already know if the Contour is right for you. At 35 L of internal storage, this pack is squarely in the ‘single-hiker shelter, 30-degree quilt, probably-cold soaks’ camp and will necessitate putting down bigger mileage days to avoid packing too much food. Thankfully the 6.5 L of external storage is easy to use. During our testing, we also felt a bit uneasy fully hefting the pack by the grab loop, as it felt a bit flimsy.

But as they say, light is right, and if your base weight is consistently south of 10 pounds (and you hit that 3 MPH pace on the regular), the Contour 35 can be an excellent UL pack to carry it all with. The internal volume will challenge some to really trim the fat, but on well-supplied long trails, you could get away with a lot wearing this pack.

Black Diamond has been angling toward the mountain-running scene for a few years now, but this pack is its first effort at a backpacking pack that isn’t dialed in for the alpine. Perhaps the most important factor here, partially contributing to the high price tag, is Challenge Sailcloth’s Ultra 200 body fabric — the same material that makes the ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit so tough. BD certainly read the room by choosing this material, and the pack has proven tough.

Thru-hiker Chris Carter recently helped map out a new trail system in Kenya, and four days and over 60 miles later, the pack was hauled through hell and came out without a scratch (well — without a tear). Not only did it fend off endless thorns and sharp bamboo, but the waterproof fabric (coupled with taped seams) kept everything dry through torrential downpours. 

BD whittled the pack’s weight down to a respectable 31.4 ounces by employing this extremely durable fabric, which offers up a comfortable ride to boot. The running-vest-inspired shoulder harness is unusually wide, distributing weight well — but is sparsely padded. The hip belts are also quite thin (very reminiscent of Hyperlight Mountain Gear, also), meaning you’ll want to keep your load to a modest ultralight weight when using this pack.

We love the massive front shove-it pocket but wish you didn’t have to unclip the top strap to access it. The large side pockets hold contents securely, but it’s difficult to remove bottles on the go. The hip belt pockets easily accommodate larger iPhones and plenty of snacks, but the zipper sits a bit low on the pouch, meaning contents spill out easier than other designs we’ve seen. We found this out the hard way.

These gripes aside, the level of durability you get at such a light weight with the Betalight 45 pack is honestly shocking. BD still has a bit of refining to do, in our opinion, but this has the potential to be one of the more hardworking ultralight packs out there. For something with a bit more proven R&D (and cheaper), we suggest snagging a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider or, if you’re after the same Ultra material, the ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit — at a slight weight ding.

Newly specced out in 100D and 210D Robic nylon, this pack is remarkably durable for its weight. It also hits a modest price point compared to packs made with more expensive Dyneema Composite fabrics, and, instead, puts those dollars to work in organization. Like most other packs, you’ve got the classic stretch-mesh stuff pocket, but the Mariposa takes a different tack with the side pockets with one tall (perfect for umbrellas or your tent) and two staggered — for bottles and rainwear.

Fit, too, has been dialed in, or rather: you can dial it in, with two different styles of hip belts available (as well as five sizes across those options). This is a welcome departure from the ‘get-what-you-get’ of packs like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider or Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus, and coupled with the load lifters, we felt that this was one of the most accommodating packs out there currently.

The biggest negative that we noticed had to do with its ventilation. Compared to some other models in its weight and price category, the foam sheet on the back is somewhat breathable, but left us wishing for some greater airflow. The ability to strip the pack of the pad is a handy feature, however, and the placement on the exterior of the pack means you can pop the pad out for a lunch break.

The Mariposa 60 has plenty of the hallmarks of being an excellent budget pick — save for the price, which, while still on the lower end, carries the overhead of being from a smaller brand. Instead, we like to think that the pack is a killer option for those who want an ultralight pack, but don’t want to get dinged with the wild prices. In this way, it’s similar to the Granite Gear Crown3 and Virga3 — both packs focused on carry and durability.

We tested the Crown3 60 on a 32-mile 4-Pass Loop hike in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and found the pack carried really well, even with a heavier-than-average load, thanks to the optional ($12, sold separately) aluminum stay. This beefs up the otherwise good VC Mark 3 Frame Sheet, giving the pack a weight capacity of up to about 45 pounds.

During our test hikes, we found the pack very comfortable and versatile, especially for its light weight and low cost. We also loved the huge side pockets, large stretch-mesh back panel, and removable, just-right-size top lid pocket.

The Crown3 uses the same material as the Crown2’s 210-denier, high-tenacity nylon, which we put through more than 2,000 miles of testing. So we expect it to hold up at least as well as the old version.

Compared to other lightweight packs that otherwise follow a familiar mold, we tend to suggest the Osprey Exos Pro 55 or REI Co-op Flash Air 50 more frequently than the Crown3 simply because these packs come ready-to-hike with supportive frames. This pack does slide in a good bit cheaper than both of these, however, so if you are feeling the squeeze, it can make a great option.

Read Review: Granite Gear Crown3 60 Review: Ultralight Pack, Heavy Potential

It’s a popular design for thru-hikers or others doing big, lightweight miles who may be carrying a bear bin to protect their food from bruins. At 12 inches wide, 7 inches thick, and 35 inches high, it will fit a small bin with room to spare for other gear.

True to its cottage industry roots, the Exodus is always changing for the better. The most recent pivot is to offer the pack in two different varieties of Challenge Ultra fabric: UltraGrid and Ultra X. The former is a double UHMWPE ripstop grid mated to recycled nylon, and the latter is the most cutting-edge stuff currently out: a 200D Ultra weave with an additional two plies of UHMWPE. The high-test stuff will run you $325 a pack, but for the money, it’s incredible stuff.

The Exodus has a very supportive, cushioned hip belt, especially for an 18-ounce pack. The SuperWick Mesh-lined waist belt wings with 1.5-inch webbing, and the buckle adjusts from about 28 to 45 inches.

It’s a simple design that serves the needs of ultralight hikers with no unnecessary features. Customers can add a lid or hip belt pockets and shoulder pockets if they so desire. The most glaring issue may actually be finding a proper use for all 55 L of space: frameless packs have a definite weight limit, which means you’ll be limited to bulky — but lightweight — kit, which makes this pack pretty niche. For most folks, a better all-arounder is likely the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider or, if you want to stay frameless, the LiteAF Curve.

For the lightest and fastest hiking missions where weight and efficiency are the biggest concerns, the Exodus has proven to be one of the best ultralight backpacks out there.

Add in a fully adjustable pocketed hip belt, large side and front mesh pockets, side and front compression straps, all with a durable nylon construction, and you’d think this pack wound up in the wrong guide. But the Virga3 hovers miraculously around a pound and a half and can be stripped down further to a minimal trail weight of 1.18 pounds.

This does come with a caveat, however. Granite Gear achieved such an impressively low weight by leaving out a frame sheet or stays. The structure of the pack is meant to come from the load itself, and they have included top and bottom pad pockets inside the main compartment where you can insert a folding foam pad.

This is a unique design, but we found that some accordion pads were too large for the pockets. Additionally, many people prefer to hike with inflatable pads to save space. We also don’t find compression straps to be very effective on frameless packs, so we don’t generally use the ones on the Virga unless we have a pad in the back.

Despite all this, we found the Granite Gear Virga3 to be among the more comfortable ultralight packs we tested. Unless you’re toting seriously heavy loads, it carries quite well even without a frame or inserted foam pad. For a budget pack with a shorter learning curve, however, we tend to recommend the framed Mountainsmith Scream 55, as packing a 55-liter frameless pack is a bit of an art.

We love the sleek design, incredible torso adjustability, and competitively low weight. This is also a very affordable pack, and we believe it would be a great option for those looking to snag a more feature-packed ultralight model for long treks.

Read Review: Most Comfortable Ultralight Pack at a Low Price: Granite Gear Virga3 Undyed Review