Granite Gear Crown3 60
Ultralight Pack
$240

Granite Gear

Granite Gear Crown3 60

4.7(500 reviews)

The Crown3 60 is the third generation of Granite Gear's beloved Crown line, a fixture of PCT gear surveys and the classic answer to 'ultralight on a budget.' The re-flow hipbelt is adjustable in length, and the frame sheet and lid strip out for a sub-2-lb minimum weight.

Price
$240
Capacity
60 L
Weight
2.55 lbs
Best For
Thru-hikers who want cottage-level weight with retail availability

Specifications

Type
Ultralight Pack
Frame Type
Internal Frame
Capacity
60 L
Weight
2.55 lbs
Max Recommended Load
35 lbs
Torso Fit
Sized short/regular/long, 15-21 in
Material
100D/210D high-tenacity nylon
Back Panel
Molded foam with removable frame sheet
Warranty
Granite Gear limited lifetime
Raincover Included
No
Fits BV500 Bear Canister
Yes

Features

Hipbelt PocketsRemovable LidHydration SleeveFits Bear Canister

Pros

  • Halfway Anywhere PCT surveys consistently place the Crown line among the most-used packs — thousands have finished trails with one.
  • Redditors call it the best value in ultralight: Circuit-class function at $60 less, often on sale below $200.
  • The adjustable-length hipbelt fits waists that fixed-belt cottage packs exclude.
  • Strips to about 1.9 lbs with the lid and frame sheet removed — a legitimate two-packs-in-one design.
  • A BV500 fits horizontally with room to spare, a canister-country selling point repeated in reviews.
  • The 210D bottom panel takes granite abuse that destroys lighter packs' floors.
  • The huge stretch front pocket and deep bottle pockets carry a full wet-gear kit outside the bag.
  • Its 35 lb rating is honest — reviewers report it carries at its ceiling better than the Flash 55 does.

Cons

  • The foam back panel has zero real airflow; it's the sweatiest back in this roundup after the frameless packs.
  • Fixed torso sizes mean online buyers between sizes must guess.
  • The shoulder straps are unpadded by plush standards and dig under 35 lb food carries.
  • No hydration port on some production runs annoyed bladder users — check the current spec.
  • The lid is floppy when half-full and many owners just leave it home.
  • The roll-top collar fabric is thinner than the body and wears first.
  • Granite Gear's colorways run loud; the muted options sell out first.
  • Warranty service is fine but slower than Osprey's, per owner anecdotes.

Compare the Granite Gear Crown3 60

Osprey Exos 58
$260
Ultralight Pack
4.6(800)

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.

58 L2.84 lbsSuspended Mesh Back
Internal Frame58 L2.84 lbsVentilated
Best for: Hikers stepping down from traditional packs without going full cottage
View Details
Gregory Focal 58
$270
Ultralight Pack
4.6(350)

The Focal 58 is Gregory's answer to the Exos: an ultralight with a genuinely ventilated FreeFloat suspended mesh back and a dynamic pivoting hipbelt. The women's version is the Facet 55. It undercuts the Exos on features while matching it on weight.

58 L2.57 lbsVentilated FreeFloat Back
Internal Frame58 L2.57 lbsVentilated
Best for: Ventilation-first ultralighters who want hipbelt pockets included
View Details
ULA Circuit
$280
Ultralight Pack

ULA Equipment

ULA Circuit

4.9(700)

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 Total2.33 lbs#1 PCT Survey Pack
Internal Frame68 L2.33 lbs
Best for: First-time and veteran thru-hikers who want the proven default
View Details