Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 vs Gossamer Gear Loris 25
Quick take: The Gossamer Gear Loris 25 costs $45 less; the Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 carries more (36 vs 25 liters); the Gossamer Gear Loris 25 is lighter (1.22 vs 1.25 lbs).
Which one to buy
Overnight or day use is the whole question, and the Loris 25 answers only one of them. It's Gossamer Gear's everyday daypack: 25 L of Robic, frameless, one size, $135, with no load rating. The Kumo 36 costs $45 more and weighs 0.03 lb more, and that buys 11 L, hipbelt pockets and two published torso sizes (S 17-19 in, M 19.5-21.5+ in). Both have a removable sit pad that gives the pack its shape.
That pad earns its place: it stiffens the back while you walk, becomes a camp seat at breaks, and comes out for very light trips, though it has to sit correctly for the pack to carry well. The Kumo is also built for overnights, and a weekend with a small canister riding vertically can work.
For day hikes, the Loris is enough. Both are frameless, so heavier loads land on your shoulders; the Kumo gets uncomfortable much above 20 lb, and the smaller Loris is happiest lighter still. Both use woven Robic that repairs easily, and it soaks through in sustained rain, so pack a liner either way. If you might ever spend a night out, the extra $45 is better spent now than on a second pack later.
Gossamer Gear Kumo 36
Worth the extra $45 if you'll carry overnight gear even occasionally, want hipbelt pockets, or need a torso size you can check before ordering.
Gossamer Gear Loris 25
For day hikers who want a simple, repairable cottage-brand daypack at $135 and don't plan to carry a night's gear.
| Spec | Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 | Gossamer Gear Loris 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $180 | $135 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 36 L | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.25 lbs | 1.22 lbs |
| Max Load | 25 lbs | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | S 17-19 in, M 19.5-21.5+ in | One size; no torso range published |
| Material | 70D and 100D recycled Robic nylon | 70D recycled Robic nylon |
| Back Panel | Frameless with removable sit pad | Frameless, with a removable SitLight foam pad |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | Yes |
| 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 Loris 25
- ✓$135 is modest for a cottage-brand daypack.
- ✓Robic is a durable, easily repaired fabric.
- ✓19.5 oz with the SitLight pad (17.1 oz without) is light for a 25 L pack in woven nylon.
- ✓The removable SitLight pad doubles as a seat, and the sleeve takes a hydration bladder or a laptop.
- ✗No published maximum load.
- ✗One size only, with no torso range published.
- ✗Frameless, so heavier day loads sit on the shoulders.
Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 vs Gossamer Gear Loris 25: common questions
Can the Loris 25 handle an overnight instead of the Kumo 36?▾
Only if your overnight kit is tiny. It's 11 L smaller, has no hipbelt pockets and carries no load rating. The Kumo is built for overnights, and a weekend with a small canister riding vertically can work.
Do the Kumo 36 and Loris 25 come in torso sizes?▾
The Kumo does: S covers 17-19 in and M covers 19.5-21.5+ in. Gossamer Gear publishes no torso sizing for the Loris, so fit is harder to check before ordering, though it matters less with light day loads.