Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2
Mid-volume thru-hiking is the job of the Minimalist V2 from Six Moon Designs: a 40 L body plus a 9 L extension collar and 10 L of exterior pockets, on the same modular harness and hipbelt system as the Swift V. The removable Delrin hoop stay takes it from a 25 lb frameless pack to a 35 lb framed one, and the torso adjusts across 16-22 in. Price and weight here are for the Robic build with the standard shoulder harness (large), a medium hipbelt and the stay: $260 and 42.8 oz. The vest harness costs $25 more.
We may earn a commission.
Price and availability on Amazon’s site may differ.
Specifications
What do these specs mean? →Features
Pros
- ✓Adjustable 16-22 in torso on a sub-$300 cottage pack; most ultralight makers sell fixed torso lengths.
- ✓35 lb rated with the Delrin hoop in and 25 lb with it out, so one pack covers resupply-heavy stretches and stripped-down days.
- ✓Modular harness: standard or S-Curve shoulder straps at $260 or a vest harness at $285, with three hipbelt sizes bought to fit.
- ✓59 L total including the 9 L collar and 10 L of exterior pockets is more volume than the Swift V for $10 more.
- ✓The integrated top lid straps a bear canister on top, which the roll-top Swifts cannot do as neatly.
- ✓Component weights are published (Robic body 25.1 oz, stay 3 oz, large shoulder harness 7.5 oz, medium hipbelt 7.2 oz), so you know exactly what stripping each part saves.
Cons
- ✗42.8 oz fully built is heavy against frameless cottage packs of similar volume, which run 16-20 oz.
- ✗Robic nylon is not waterproof; the EPX200 laminate build costs $100 more.
- ✗No hydration sleeve, only dual hose ports.
- ✗Bear-canister fit inside the 40 L body is not stated; Six Moon Designs only describes strapping one under the lid.
Compare the Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2
Related backpacks
More from Six Moon Designs →
Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Swift V
The Swift V uses a Delrin hoop rather than metal stays, a design Six Moon Designs has refined over several generations. It is one of the heavier packs in this ultralight group at 35.9 oz with the standard harness, stay and hipbelt ($250; the vest harness adds $25 and about 2 oz), trading weight for a frame that flexes with the body.
Weight
2.24 lbs
Capacity
56 L (41 L body + 10 L collar + 5 L pockets)
Frame
Internal Frame
Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Flight 30
Fastpackers get a vest harness on Six Moon Designs' Flight 30: a 23 L body with a 4 L collar and 4 L of pockets, 31 L in total, on a frameless 3D-mesh back. The harness is the same vest system sold with the Minimalist and Swift, and the torso adjusts across 16-22 in, which is unusual on a fastpack. The 26.2 oz total weight includes the 14 oz body, the 5.7 oz harness and the optional 6.5 oz hipbelt.
Weight
1.64 lbs
Capacity
31 L
Frame
Frameless
Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Swift X
The Swift X is the laminate version of Six Moon Designs' Swift (X-Pac VX21 or LS21, or Ultra 200X), using the same Delrin hoop frame as the Swift V but in a waterproof laminate. At 38.8 oz it is heavier than most packs in this segment, which is the cost of the hoop and the fabric.
Weight
2.43 lbs
Capacity
56 L
Frame
Internal Frame
Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack
Six Moon Designs makes only one daypack, the Wy'east: 34 L in 210D Robic at 20 oz, with a removable hydration sleeve (1.3 oz) and removable hipbelt (1.7 oz) both included in that figure. The EVA foam back pad doubles as a sit pad. It is sold in one size, in Robic at $185 or X-Pac VX21 at $280.
Weight
1.25 lbs
Capacity
34 L
Frame
Frameless
Granite Gear
Granite Gear Crown3 60
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 minimum weight of about 2 lbs.
Weight
2.4 lbs
Capacity
60 L
Frame
Internal Frame
Also in 40 L
Granite Gear
Granite Gear Crown3 60 Women's Fit
On a women's harness, the Crown3 60 weighs 2.3 lb (Short) or 2.4 lb (Regular) without its removable lid. Load ratings step from 25 to 35 to 43 lb as the frame sheet and optional stay go in.
Weight
2.4 lbs
Capacity
60 L
Frame
Internal Frame