Black Diamond Beta Light 45 vs Gossamer Gear Mirage 40
Quick take: The Black Diamond Beta Light 45 costs $0.05 less; the Black Diamond Beta Light 45 carries more (45 vs 40 liters); the Gossamer Gear Mirage 40 is lighter (1.2 vs 1.96 lbs).
Which one to buy
For the same $450, one pack buys you grams and the other buys you fit and support. The Mirage 40 weighs 1.2 lbs on a carbon-fiber X-frame, about three-quarters of a pound under the Beta Light 45, and Gossamer Gear rates it to 25 lbs. But it comes in one torso size, 16-20 in, with no hipbelt pockets, a one-year warranty for US buyers only, and stock that sells out between production runs.
The Beta Light 45 comes in four torso sizes from 14 to 21.5 in, so hikers outside the Mirage's range have only one option here. It adds hipbelt pockets, a hydration sleeve, 5 L more volume and Black Diamond's lifetime warranty against defects. The retail presence is the main draw: you can try it on loaded and return it easily, which matters on a pack with no torso adjustment. Its UltraWeave 200 body has taped seams and is weatherproof, and reviewers note it's a first-generation design with details still to refine.
The Mirage makes sense for a hiker who fits 16-20 in, already carries a light kit well under its 25 lb ceiling, and can wait for a restock. Everyone else gets more pack for the money in the Beta Light, at the cost of the weight.
Black Diamond Beta Light 45
For ultralight hikers who want a sized fit, hipbelt pockets and a lifetime warranty they can claim at a store, and accept extra weight for it.
Gossamer Gear Mirage 40
Suited to gram-counters with a 16-20 in torso and a kit that stays comfortably under 25 lbs.
| Spec | Black Diamond Beta Light 45 | Gossamer Gear Mirage 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $450 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 45 L | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.96 lbs | 1.2 lbs |
| Max Load | Not specified by the manufacturer | 25 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Sized XS 14-15.5 / S 15.5-17.5 / M 17.5-19.5 / L 19.5-21.5 in | One size, 16-20 in (hipbelt 28-44 in) |
| Material | Challenge UltraWeave 200D (Ultra 200 PE) body, 4-way nylon stretch mesh front pocket, 100D nylon ripstop accents | ALUULA Graflyte V52 with UHMWPE stretch mesh |
| Back Panel | 2 removable stays with thin foam padding | Carbon-fibre X-frame (0.125 in rods) |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Black Diamond Practical Product Lifetime Warranty against defects | One year against manufacturing defects, US purchasers |
Pros & cons
Black Diamond Beta Light 45
- ✓An UltraWeave 200 body with taped seams and a roll-top makes the packbag weatherproof.
- ✓Two removable stays allow the pack to be stripped for lighter trips.
- ✓4-way stretch mesh holds external loads better than flat mesh.
- ✓Black Diamond's retail presence and support are far stronger than any cottage brand's.
- ✓31.4 oz is competitive with cottage packs of similar volume.
- ✓UltraWeave 200 is a woven UHMWPE fabric that resists abrasion better than laminates at the same weight.
- ✓Easier to buy, return and warranty than a made-to-order cottage pack.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets included.
- ✗$449.95 is at the top of the ultralight packs here, level with the Zpacks Arc Zip Ultra 62 and Gossamer Gear Mirage 40 and about $50 over the Arc Haul Ultra.
- ✗45 L is modest capacity for the price.
- ✗OutdoorGearLab notes design elements that still need refinement -- this is a first-generation product.
- ✗No published maximum load figure.
- ✗No adjustable torso.
- ✗Black Diamond has far less ultralight pack heritage than the cottage brands it competes with.
- ✗Heavier than the Bonfus Framus while carrying 13 L less.
Gossamer Gear Mirage 40
- ✓18.6 oz with a real frame is among the lightest framed packs sold.
- ✓ALUULA Graflyte is a laminate with a high strength-to-weight ratio.
- ✓A carbon X-frame transfers load without aluminium stays.
- ✓Bottle pockets have cinch closures.
- ✗$450 for 40 L is the most expensive pack in Gossamer Gear's range.
- ✗One torso size, 16-20 in.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets.
- ✗Gossamer Gear builds it in batches, so it is often sold out between runs.
- ✗A 25 lb ceiling limits it to light kits.
- ✗One-year, US-only warranty.
Black Diamond Beta Light 45 vs Gossamer Gear Mirage 40: common questions
Will the Mirage 40 fit me if I'm between sizes on the Beta Light?▾
Only if your torso falls between 16 and 20 in, the Mirage's single size. The Beta Light 45 comes in XS through L, covering 14 to 21.5 in.
Is the Mirage 40's 25 lb rating a real limit?▾
Gossamer Gear sets it as the pack's ceiling, which limits it to light kits. Black Diamond publishes no load rating for the Beta Light 45, which uses two removable stays rather than a carbon frame.
Which one is easier to get warranty help on?▾
The Beta Light 45. Black Diamond offers a lifetime warranty against defects, and its retail presence makes returns easy. Gossamer Gear's warranty runs one year against manufacturing defects for US purchasers.