Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 vs Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL
Quick take: The Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 carries more (55 vs 50 liters); the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL is lighter (2.67 vs 2.8 lbs).
Which one to buy
Sixty grams and 5 L are all that separate these on paper, and both cost $295. The weight difference is noise, so choose on fit. The Aircontact Ultra 50+5 adjusts across 42-62 cm; the 45+5 SL across 35-56 cm with a women's-specific harness, shortened at both ends rather than capped. If your torso is under about 42 cm, or unisex straps land wrong on your chest, the SL is the one. Otherwise the 50+5 gives you 5 L more for the same money.
Everything that matters on the trail is shared. Both use a spring-steel perimeter frame that keeps weight on the hips at a pack weight where many competitors go frameless, both are rated 26-33 lbs, and on both the volume is easy to fill past what the suspension wants. Testers at The Big Outside found the 50+5 comfortable up to about 35 lbs, with room for three to four days of food and gear, stretching to six or seven with compact kit.
The shared drawbacks match too. The roll-top plus removable lid is fiddlier than a plain top-loader, and owners tend to either love the flexibility or pull the lid off for good. Most owners run a trash-compactor liner, since no cover comes in the box. Deuter does not publish bear-canister fit for the Ultra line, so test yours at home, and the line is newer than the cottage packs it competes with, though Deuter's lifetime repair policy is rare in this class.
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
If your torso runs past 56 cm or the unisex harness sits well on you, this gives 5 L more for the same $295.
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL
For women and shorter torsos down to 35 cm, or anyone whose chest and shoulders do not suit unisex straps.
| Spec | Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 | Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $295 | $295 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 50+5 L | 45+5 L |
| Weight | 2.8 lbs | 2.67 lbs |
| Max Load | 26-33 lbs (12-15 kg) | 26-33 lbs (12-15 kg) |
| Torso Fit | Clip & Loop, 42-62 cm (16.5-24.5 in) | Clip & Loop, 35-56 cm (13.8-22 in) |
| Material | 175D PA ripstop Ultra HD | 175D PA ripstop Ultra HD |
| Back Panel | Aircontact with Air Spacer mesh over spring steel round-profile frame | Aircontact with Air Spacer mesh over spring steel round-profile frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | Yes | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Deuter lifetime repair policy | Deuter lifetime repair policy |
Pros & cons
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
- ✓1,270 g for a framed 55 L pack puts it in the same weight class as a Gossamer Gear Mariposa while keeping an adjustable back length.
- ✓The 42-62 cm Clip & Loop range is unusual at this weight -- most ultralight packs are sized rather than adjustable.
- ✓A roll-top closure plus removable lid means it can run stripped or fully featured depending on the trip.
- ✓175D ripstop Ultra HD is more durable than the 140D fabric on the heavier Aircontact Lite.
- ✓The spring-steel perimeter frame still transfers load to the hips rather than relying on a foam pad.
- ✓Air Spacer mesh keeps some ventilation despite the reduced back panel.
- ✓Modular gear straps allow external carry without permanent attachment hardware.
- ✓Deuter's lifetime repair policy is rare in the ultralight segment, where cottage brands typically offer far less.
- ✗12-15 kg maximum load is limiting for a 55 L pack, so the volume can be filled past what the suspension handles.
- ✗$295 is expensive next to the Aircontact Lite 40+10 at $220 for a similar load rating.
- ✗The roll-top plus lid combination adds fiddliness compared with a straightforward top-loader.
- ✗Air Spacer mesh over a reduced panel ventilates less than the fully suspended Futura Air Trek.
- ✗The 40+5 has no published weight, making the two sizes hard to compare directly.
- ✗Deuter's ultralight range is new and has a shorter track record than the cottage brands it competes with.
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL
- ✓1,210 g in a women's fit is exceptionally light for a pack with a frame and an adjustable back length.
- ✓Both SL sizes have published weights, so the 35+5 at 1,140 g is a quantified option for shorter trips.
- ✓The 35-56 cm Clip & Loop range is properly short at the bottom end rather than a capped men's range.
- ✓Most ultralight packs offer women's fit only as a size run, so a genuinely SL-specific carry is rare here.
- ✓Roll-top plus removable lid gives the same strip-down flexibility as the men's version.
- ✓175D ripstop Ultra HD is a real fabric upgrade over the Aircontact Lite's 140D.
- ✓Spring-steel perimeter frame keeps load on the hips at a weight where many packs give up and go frameless.
- ✓Lifetime repair policy, which almost no cottage ultralight brand matches.
- ✗12-15 kg ceiling is the binding constraint, and 50 L can be loaded past it easily.
- ✗$295 is the same as the men's 50+5 for 5 L less capacity.
- ✗Only 60 g separates it from the men's version, so the choice is entirely about fit rather than weight.
- ✗Reduced back panel ventilates less than the suspended-mesh Futura Air Trek.
- ✗Roll-top and lid together are fiddlier than a simple top-loader.
- ✗Newer to market than the cottage ultralight packs it competes against.
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 vs Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL: common questions
Is the women's Ultra 45+5 SL lighter enough to matter?▾
No. It is 60 g lighter, which is noise. The choice is about the 35-56 cm range and women's harness shape against the 50+5's 42-62 cm range and extra 5 L.
Can either take a week-long trip?▾
Testers at The Big Outside got six or seven days out of the 50+5 with efficient, compact gear, and three to four with a luxury item or two. The 26-33 lb rating on both is the real limit, not the volume.
Will a bear canister fit in either Aircontact Ultra?▾
Deuter does not publish canister fit for the Ultra line. Test-fit yours at home; the roll-top lets you carry one vertically near the top of the bag as a fallback.