Durston Kakwa 55

ALUULA Graflyte, a fully UHMWPE laminate that very few packs under $300 use, is what Durston builds its frameless Wapta 30 fastpack from. The main body holds 30 L in the medium (28 L in small, 32 L in large) with roughly 16 L more in the external pockets, and the medium weighs 18.3 oz with its hipbelt or 13.6 oz stripped. Durston puts the comfortable ceiling below 25 lb and designs it around a sub-10 lb base weight.

The Nero Pro is the upgraded Nero: 12.5 oz for the 40 L against the Classic's 10.9 oz, for $20 to $40 more depending on size. The extra weight buys a more robust build in the same frameless, waterproof format across the same 30 to 50 L range.

With the Scream 55 gone, the Zerk 55 UL is the only current 55 L pack in Mountainsmith's range, the larger-volume version of its 2026 roll-top Zerk update. It holds 53 L, or 58 L with the roll top extended, on a removable EVA/Atilon frame sheet rated for a suggested 40 lb. At 3 lb 8 oz it is heavier than most packs sold as ultralight, so it suits hikers who want a burly fabric and a sheet frame more than a minimal gram count.

Released in February 2026, the Carbon Evo 50 is Outdoor Vitals' framed ultralight pack, positioned between the CS40 Ultra and the Shadowlight Carbon 60. Two curved carbon-fibre stays and true load lifters carry a stated 40 lb at 30 oz, and the volume splits into 47 L inside the roll top and about 11 L in external pockets. A bag-only version without the hipbelt sells for $235.

The Gorilla 50 is the Mariposa's smaller, symmetric sibling — 50 liters, under 2 lbs, and the classic 'second pack' people buy once their kit shrinks. It keeps the sit-pad back panel and Robic durability in a cleaner silhouette.

The Exos 58 is Osprey's crossover ultralight — a sub-3-pound pack that keeps a real suspended-mesh frame and lifetime warranty. It has been an Appalachian Trail staple for a decade, and the current generation added an adjustable torso. The women's version is the Eja 58.