Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Carbon 60
Ultralight Pack
~$290

Outdoor Vitals

Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Carbon 60

The Shadowlight Carbon 60 pairs carbon stays with conventional woven fabrics rather than Ultra laminate, which is why it undercuts the CS40 Ultra by $40 while offering 7 L more. It is the largest carbon-framed pack in this catalog.

Approx. price
~$290
Capacity
60 L
Weight
1.97 lbs
Best For
Multi-day and thru-hike trips needing 60 L with a stiff, light frame
Buy from Outdoor Vitals

Price and availability on Outdoor Vitals’s site may differ.

Type
Ultralight Pack
Frame Type
Internal Frame
Capacity
60 L
Weight
1.97 lbs
Max Recommended Load
Not specified by the manufacturer
Torso Fit
See manufacturer sizing
Material
100D Robic nylon with 200D Spectra ripstop
Back Panel
Carbon fibre stays
Warranty
Manufacturer warranty; terms not published
Raincover Included
No
Fits BV500 Bear Canister
No

Features

Hipbelt Pockets

Pros

  • 60 L with carbon stays at under 2 lb is a rare combination at this price.
  • $290 undercuts the same brand's CS40 Ultra by $40 while adding 7 L.
  • 200D Spectra ripstop reinforces the wear areas without laminate's repair difficulty.
  • 100D Robic is a woven fabric, so field repairs with tape or thread actually work.
  • Carbon stays are stiffer per gram than aluminium, giving good load transfer.
  • 60 L takes a bear canister plus a long food carry.
  • Direct-to-consumer sales avoid the long lead times common to cottage brands.
  • Hipbelt pockets included.

Cons

  • No published maximum load figure despite the frame implying a reasonably high one.
  • Carbon stays can snap rather than bend if severely overloaded.
  • No adjustable torso.
  • Not waterproof, unlike the Ultra-fabric packs at similar prices.
  • Outdoor Vitals has a shorter track record than the established cottage names.
  • Warranty terms are not published the way major brands publish them.
  • Limited retail presence for in-person fitting.
  • 60 L invites overpacking past what a sub-2 lb pack carries well.

Common Questions

Compare the Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Carbon 60

Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra
~$330
Ultralight Pack

The CS40 Ultra pairs Challenge UltraWeave 200 with carbon fibre stays for 28.6 oz at 53 L. Outdoor Vitals sells direct, which is why the price sits below comparable cottage packs using the same fabric.

53 L1.79 lbsChallenge UltraWeave 200

Weight

1.79 lbs

Capacity

53 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Thru-hikers wanting an Ultra-fabric framed pack without cottage-brand lead times
Osprey Exos 58
~$285
Ultralight Pack
4.3(105)

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 BackVentilated back

Weight

2.84 lbs

Capacity

58 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 38 L / 48 L

Best for: Hikers stepping down from traditional packs without going full cottage
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
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL
~$295
Ultralight Pack

The women's-fit Aircontact Ultra, at 1,210 g for 50 L. Between this and the 35+5 SL at 1,140 g, it is the lightest framed pack Deuter offers in a women's fit, and one of very few ultralight packs with a genuinely women's-specific carrying system rather than a short size of a unisex design.

45+5 L2.67 lbsWomen's SL FitVentilated back

Weight

2.67 lbs

Capacity

45+5 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 35+5 L

Best for: Women wanting an ultralight framed pack with a women's-specific carry
Osprey Eja 58
~$285
Ultralight Pack
4.4(74)

The Eja is the women's-fit Exos and Osprey's lightweight trekking pack: 2.7 lb for 58 L, with the same AirSpeed suspended mesh as the Atmos in a stripped-down chassis. It is the pack that bridges mainstream and ultralight, offering a frame and ventilation at a weight that cottage packs compete with.

58 L2.7 lbsWomen's FitVentilated back

Weight

2.7 lbs

Capacity

58 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 38 L / 48 L

Best for: Women thru-hiking or covering long distances with sub-35 lb loads
🎒
~$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