Durston Wapta 30
Ultralight Pack
~$299

Durston Gear

Durston Wapta 30

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.

Approx. price
~$299
Capacity
30 L
Weight
1.14 lbs
Best For
Sub-10 lb base-weight hikers and fastpackers wanting a laminate pack with a real hipbelt
Type
Ultralight Pack
Frame Type
Frameless
Capacity
30 L
Weight
1.14 lbs
Max Recommended Load
Below 25 lbs (12 kg)
Torso Fit
Sized S 15-17.5 / M 17-19.5 / L 19-21.5 in; hipbelt S/M 28-48 in or M/L 32-52 in
Material
ALUULA Graflyte V-98 (100% UHMWPE laminate) with ALUULA Durlyte HH-190 daisy chains
Back Panel
Dual airmesh ventilation strips, no pad or frame
Warranty
Durston warranty: defects covered for the period shown on the product page (none stated on the Wapta 30 page); free repairs for wear and damage
Raincover Included
No
Fits BV500 Bear Canister
No

Sizes Available

CapacityPriceWeight
28 L$2991.11 lbs
30 Lthis pack$2991.14 lbs
32 L$2991.18 lbs

Features

Hipbelt Pockets

Pros

  • ✓ALUULA Graflyte V-98 is a bonded UHMWPE laminate, so the body is waterproof and highly tear-resistant without the weight penalty of a woven Ultra fabric.
  • ✓18.3 oz with a full hipbelt and two large hipbelt pockets; strip the belt and it drops to 13.6 oz.
  • ✓Three torso sizes from 15 to 21.5 in and two hipbelt ranges, which is proper sizing for a pack this small.
  • ✓Around 16 L of external pocketing on top of the 30 L body gives about 46 L total when everything is stuffed.
  • ✓Durston publishes both a load ceiling (under 25 lb) and a base-weight target (10 lb), so the intended use is unambiguous.
  • ✓A $249 no-hipbelt variant is offered for people who run it as a pure vest pack.

Cons

  • ✗$299 is a lot for a 30 L frameless pack; woven-fabric fastpacks of this volume typically run $180-240.
  • ✗No frame or back pad at all, so the carry depends on packing a sleeping pad or soft items against the back.
  • ✗The Wapta page states no warranty period (the Kakwa pages say one year against defects), though Durston promises free repairs for wear and damage.
  • ✗No hydration sleeve is mentioned.
  • ✗The airmesh strips are not a ventilated back panel; expect a sweaty back as with any contact pack.
Durston Kakwa 55
~$279
Ultralight Pack

Durston Gear

Durston Kakwa 55

4.81(1,003)

The Kakwa 55 is Dan Durston's disruptively priced ultralight — under 2 lbs, a 45 lb load rating, and a 2026 update with a redesigned hipbelt, with a $199 UltraGrid version and the $279 Ultra 200X build listed here. It has become the value benchmark every new UL pack gets measured against.

55 L1.97 lbs45 lb Rating

Weight

1.97 lbs

Capacity

55 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 40 L

Best for: Value-hunting ultralighters who want the best specs-per-dollar in UL
REI Co-op Flash Air 50
~$299
Ultralight Pack
4.1(49)

The Flash Air is REI's ultralight pack, using a shaped spring steel frame rather than stays or a hoop. It is the only pack in this group backed by a mainstream retailer's return policy, which matters more than usual in a segment dominated by made-to-order cottage brands.

50 L2.0 lbsUHMWPE ripstop nylon

Weight

2.0 lbs

Capacity

50 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Hikers wanting an ultralight pack they can return easily if the fit is wrong
ULA Circuit
~$299.99
Ultralight Pack

ULA Equipment

ULA Circuit

The Circuit is the thru-hiking pack — hand-made in Logan, Utah by ULA Equipment and a perennial #1 in Halfway Anywhere's PCT gear survey. Its 68 liters of total volume, bombproof Robic fabric, and 35 lb carry make it the default recommendation for first thru-hikes. An Ultra-fabric version is sold at a premium.

68 L Total2.41 lbs#1 PCT Survey Pack

Weight

2.41 lbs

Capacity

68 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: First-time and veteran thru-hikers who want the proven default
ULA Equipment Circuit SV
~$299.99
Ultralight Pack

ULA's new smaller-volume Circuit is the Circuit SV: 48 L instead of 68, on the same hoop, foam and stay suspension, at the same $299.99. It weighs 37.5 oz and keeps the 35 lb rating, so the cut is in volume rather than carrying ability.

48 L2.3 lbs35 lb rating

Weight

2.3 lbs

Capacity

48 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Thru-hikers with a compact kit who want Circuit suspension in a smaller bag
Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Carbon 60
~$300
Ultralight Pack

The Shadowlight Carbon 60 pairs carbon stays with conventional woven fabrics rather than Ultra laminate, which is why it undercuts the CS40 Ultra by $30 while offering 11 L more in total.

64 L1.97 lbs100D Robic nylon with 200D Spectra ripstop

Weight

1.97 lbs

Capacity

64 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Multi-day and thru-hike trips needing 60 L with a stiff, light frame
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
~$295
Ultralight Pack

The Aircontact Ultra is Deuter's move into genuine ultralight territory: 1,270 g for a 55 L framed pack with a roll-top closure and a removable lid. It keeps the Aircontact name and Air Spacer mesh but swaps the aluminium Y-frame for a spring-steel round-profile perimeter frame, which is where most of the weight saving comes from.

50+5 L2.8 lbsRoll-Top ClosureVentilated back

Weight

2.8 lbs

Capacity

50+5 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 40+5 L

Best for: Lightweight multi-day trips for hikers who still want an adjustable framed pack