Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 vs Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36
Quick take: The Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 costs $10 less; the Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 is lighter (1.25 vs 1.3 lbs).
Which one to buy
Gossamer Gear built the Fast Kumo 36 by taking the Kumo's 36 L Robic bag and sit-pad back and adding a vest-style harness and a detachable Fastbelt carrying zip stretch-mesh pockets, for $10 more and 0.05 lb more. The choice comes down to pace.
If you run or fastpack, the vest puts bottles and snacks where you can reach them without stopping, which a standard harness can't match. If you walk, the plain Kumo does everything the Fast Kumo does for less, and it has hipbelt pockets too.
Sizing is the other difference. The Kumo comes in S (17-19 in) and M (19.5-21.5+ in). The Fast Kumo's two sizes overlap and span 14 to 23 in, so shorter and taller hikers both have more room to fit. Neither has a frame: the Kumo gets uncomfortable much above 20 lb and needs its pad positioned correctly to carry well, and its Robic soaks through in sustained rain, so a liner goes in either pack.
Weight and price barely move between them, so the harness is the only thing you're paying for. Both top out at 25 lb, with the Fast Kumo's comfort range listed at 20 lb, and both carry a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. The Kumo's 70D panels abrade if dragged on rock but field-repair easily, and the same fabric is on the Fast Kumo.
Gossamer Gear Kumo 36
For hikers who walk rather than run and want the same bag and sit-pad back for $10 less, with a torso between 17 and 21.5+ in.
Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36
Best if you fastpack or run with overnight gear, or your torso falls outside the regular Kumo's S and M ranges.
| Spec | Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 | Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $180 | $190 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 36 L | 36 L |
| Weight | 1.25 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
| Max Load | 25 lbs | 25 lbs (20 lbs for comfort) |
| Torso Fit | S 17-19 in, M 19.5-21.5+ in | S/M 14-20 in / M/L 16-23 in |
| Material | 70D and 100D recycled Robic nylon | 70D and 100D Robic |
| Back Panel | Frameless with removable sit pad | Frameless with sit pad |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Gossamer Gear one-year warranty against manufacturing defects | One year against manufacturing defects, US purchasers |
Pros & cons
Gossamer Gear Kumo 36
- ✓$180 is the cheapest entry to a well-regarded cottage brand on this site.
- ✓The removable SitLight pad doubles as back structure and a camp seat, so it is not dead weight.
- ✓1 lb 4 oz for 36 L (28 L main body plus 8 L of pockets) is an excellent ratio.
- ✓70D and 100D recycled Robic is a proven, repairable woven fabric rather than a laminate.
- ✓Gossamer Gear has one of the longest track records among cottage makers.
- ✓Removing the pad strips the pack down further for very light trips.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets included at this price.
- ✓Woven nylon is far easier to field-repair than DCF or Ultra laminates.
- ✗Frameless, so loads much above 20 lb become uncomfortable quickly.
- ✗Gossamer Gear rates it to only 25 lbs, with 20 lbs as the comfortable figure.
- ✗70D fabric on parts of the body is thin and abrades on rock.
- ✗Not waterproof, unlike the DCF and Ultra packs at higher prices.
- ✗No adjustable torso.
- ✗36 L is too small for a bear canister plus a week of food.
- ✗Requires disciplined packing with the pad positioned correctly to carry well.
Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36
- ✓The vest harness puts bottles and snacks within reach while moving.
- ✓Zip stretch-mesh pockets on the detachable belt.
- ✓$190 is cheap for a fastpack this size.
- ✓Two overlapping torso sizes span 14 to 23 in.
- ✗Comfort tops out around 20 lb.
- ✗Robic is heavier than the laminate used on comparably priced HMG packs.
- ✗No frame.
- ✗Short warranty for US buyers only.
Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 vs Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36: common questions
Is the Fast Kumo 36 worth $10 more than the regular Kumo 36?▾
Only if you'll use the vest harness on the move. It keeps bottles and snacks reachable while running, and the belt pockets zip. At walking pace the regular Kumo carries the same bag the same way.
Which of the two fits a very short or very long torso?▾
The Fast Kumo, whose S/M and M/L sizes span 14 to 23 in. The regular Kumo's S starts at 17 in and its M covers 19.5-21.5+ in, so it suits a narrower band of hikers.