Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 vs Gossamer Gear Skala 38
Quick take: The Gossamer Gear Skala 38 costs $50 less; the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 carries more (50 vs 38 liters); the Gossamer Gear Skala 38 is lighter (1.3 vs 1.99 lbs).
Which one to buy
A stay and a pocketed hipbelt are what $50 buys here. The Gorilla 50 has an aluminum stay behind its sit pad and is rated to 30 lb; the Skala 38 is frameless, rated to 25 lb and comfortable only to about 20. If your loads land between 20 and 30 lb, the Gorilla is the pack.
Torso fit is the second filter. The Skala comes in one size, 18-21 in. The Gorilla comes in S, M and L covering 16 to 22 in, and mixed torso and hipbelt sizing gives a semi-custom fit. The Gorilla also has a hydration sleeve, while the Skala relies on a hydration loop and tube routing.
The Skala answers with weight and simplicity: 0.7 lb lighter, a roll-top that adapts to resupply size, tough UHMWPE mesh, and a 14.5 oz body once you strip the belt and pad. Its belt has no pockets, though, and it isn't built to swallow a bear canister. The Gorilla takes a BV450 cleanly and a BV500 vertically with care, but longer canister carries get cramped and buyers routinely wish for five more liters, and its foam back runs sweaty. Its hipbelt also divides opinion at the top of its range and its mesh pockets are the wear point in brush.
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50
For hikers carrying 20 to 30 lb, anyone outside an 18-21 in torso, or anyone who needs a bear canister to ride inside.
Gossamer Gear Skala 38
Best if your torso fits its single 18-21 in size, your loads stay near 20 lb, and you value a roll-top and a body that strips to 14.5 oz.
| Spec | Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 | Gossamer Gear Skala 38 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $275 | $225 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 50 L | 38 L |
| Weight | 1.99 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
| Max Load | 30 lbs | 25 lbs (20 lbs for comfort) |
| Torso Fit | Sized S-L: S 16-18 in, M 18-20 in, L 20-22 in | One size, 18-21 in |
| Material | 70D and 100D recycled Robic nylon | Riptide Ripstop, 100D recycled Robic and UHMWPE stretch mesh |
| Back Panel | Removable SitLight foam pad with aluminium stay | Frameless with removable foam pad |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Warranty | Gossamer Gear one-year warranty against manufacturing defects | One year against manufacturing defects, US purchasers |
Pros & cons
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50
- ✓The archetypal 'graduation pack' — the usual ultralight path is buying a Mariposa, shrinking your kit, then buying a Gorilla.
- ✓Under 2 lbs with a real stay and hipbelt, it carries 30 lbs honestly — better than frameless rivals at similar weight.
- ✓Symmetric pockets fix the Mariposa's polarizing layout while keeping generous capacity.
- ✓The removable sit-pad back panel remains one of the smartest dual-use designs in UL.
- ✓Robic fabric durability matches its big sibling's strong track record.
- ✓Mixed torso/hipbelt sizing gives semi-custom fit off the shelf.
- ✓A BV450 fits cleanly; careful packers manage a BV500 vertically.
- ✓Gossamer Gear's service reputation applies here too.
- ✗50 liters is tight for bear-canister trips or 5+ day food carries — buyers routinely wish for 5 more liters.
- ✗Same sweaty foam back as the Mariposa.
- ✗The 30 lb ceiling is real; water-heavy desert carries overload it.
- ✗Fixed sizes, online-only fitting.
- ✗Mesh pockets remain the wear point in brush.
- ✗The hipbelt is minimal and divides opinion at the top of the load range.
- ✗No lid, no organization beyond the pocket array.
- ✗Price sits close enough to the Circuit that many first-time buyers default to ULA's bigger volume instead.
Gossamer Gear Skala 38
- ✓The body alone is 14.5 oz, so stripping it down saves real weight.
- ✓Roll-top closure adapts to resupply size.
- ✓UHMWPE stretch mesh is tougher than nylon mesh.
- ✓Hydration loop and tube routing built in.
- ✗The Fastbelt has no pockets.
- ✗One torso size only.
- ✗Comfort fades past 20 lb.
- ✗No frame or ventilation.
- ✗One-year warranty limited to US buyers.
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 vs Gossamer Gear Skala 38: common questions
Is the Gorilla 50's frame worth $50 more than the frameless Skala 38?▾
It is once loads pass about 20 lb, where the Skala's comfort fades. The Gorilla's aluminum stay carries up to its 30 lb rating, though water-heavy desert carries overload it.
Which pack works better in bear-canister country?▾
The Gorilla. A BV450 fits cleanly and a BV500 fits vertically with careful packing. The Skala makes no canister claim, and with only 30 L of its 38 L in the main bag, a canister would eat most of it.