The 5 Best Ultralight Backpacks for Thru-Hikers (and Everyone Else)

We put the season’s newest featherweight packs through 3,800 total miles of testing. These are the ones that kept our long-distance team cruising along in ultralight bliss.

Author:: Corey Buhay
Updated:: May 29, 2020
Original:: May 28, 2020

You've weighed all your gear, done a shakedown, maybe even cut the handle off of your toothbrush. Next up: Make sure your pack itself is light. These five ultralight, frameless packs are ready to roll on your next trip, be it 3 miles or 3,000.

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At the cutting edge of ultralight packs, it’s tough to keep shaving weight without also paring down comfort. The frameless Prophet DCF hits the balance perfectly: EVA padding on the shoulder straps and hipbelt keep it feeling good, even at max capacity, and the wide hipbelt wings transfer weight comfortably to the hips. Buy Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet DCF 48 Now / Read the Full Review

The Swift X proves that ultralight hiking doesn’t have to be ascetic: One Colorado tester reported a luxurious carry after hauling 30 pounds on a Zirkel Circle overnight. Its load-lifters and an EVA shoulder harness keep weight close to the padded backpanel, which provides superb breathability. Buy Six Moon Designs Swift X Now / Read the Full Review

We sent the 2400 Junction into the gear shredder, and it survived. “This pack can withstand major tree-branch altercations,” says one CDT alum who spent several days of her thru-hike bushwhacking in Montana and Colorado. Buy Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Junction Now / Read the Full Review

The G4-20’s best-in-test price comes from using ROBIC nylon in the packbag instead of more-expensive Dyneema. (ROBIC is less hearty than Dyneema, but more tear-resistant than traditional ripstop nylon.) Buy Gossamer Gear G4-20 Ultralight 42 Now / Read the Full Review

Best Overall: Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet DCF 48

At the cutting edge of ultralight packs, it’s tough to keep shaving weight without also paring down comfort. The frameless Prophet DCF hits the balance perfectly: EVA padding on the shoulder straps and hipbelt keep it feeling good, even at max capacity, and the wide hipbelt wings transfer weight comfortably to the hips. Buy Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet DCF 48 Now / Read the Full Review