Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 vs Osprey Exos Pro 55
Quick take: The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 costs $15 less; the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 carries more (60 vs 55 liters); the Osprey Exos Pro 55 is lighter (2.08 vs 2.16 lbs).
| Spec | Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 | Osprey Exos Pro 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $315 | $330 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 60 L | 55 L |
| Weight | 2.16 lbs | 2.08 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | 30 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Sized S-L, 14.5-21.5 in | S/M and L/XL |
| Material | 100D/200D Robic nylon | NanoFly 100D nylon x 200D UHMWPE ripstop |
| Back Panel | Removable sit-pad with aluminum stay | AirSpeed suspended mesh over 3.5 mm LightWire frame |
| Adjustable torso | No | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | Gossamer Gear limited lifetime | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) |
Pros & cons
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
- ✓The seven-pocket layout is the best organization in ultralight — fans say they touch the main compartment twice a day, morning and night.
- ✓The tall side pocket holds a full tent separately from dry gear, the single most-praised design choice.
- ✓The removable back pad doubles as a sit pad, saving carrying a separate one.
- ✓Robic nylon at 100/200 denier hits a durability sweet spot documented across thousands-of-miles reports.
- ✓Hipbelt sizing is independent of torso sizing, giving semi-custom fit from stock parts.
- ✓Carries 30-35 lbs comfortably with the stay in — honest rating per long-term reviews.
- ✓The Austin-based company's customer service and repair culture draw consistent praise.
- ✓Fits a BV500 horizontally at the top of the bag, which many 60L UL packs can't.
- ✗The asymmetric layout is polarizing — packing balanced weight takes practice and annoys symmetry-lovers.
- ✗The foam back pad ventilates poorly and soaks sweat on climbs.
- ✗The single aluminum stay twists under 35+ lb loads; it's not a heavy hauler.
- ✗Mesh pockets abrade in brush faster than solid-face rivals.
- ✗No top lid and a floppy over-the-top strap system that takes fiddling to compress well.
- ✗Fixed torso sizes with online-only sizing risk.
- ✗At $315 it's priced above the Circuit while carrying slightly worse at max load.
- ✗The hipbelt foam softens noticeably after a full thru-hike, per multiple finishers.
Osprey Exos Pro 55
- ✓33.2 oz for a framed 55 L pack with suspended mesh is competitive with cottage ultralight packs that offer neither.
- ✓The lid removes to save 2.8 oz, so the pack can be stripped for shorter trips.
- ✓NanoFly's UHMWPE grid gives far better tear resistance than the denier alone suggests.
- ✓A 0.60 oz per litre ratio is excellent for a pack with a real frame and ventilation.
- ✓Side pockets swallow five 700 ml bottles, which is unusually generous.
- ✓Half-litre hipbelt pockets are usable rather than token.
- ✓Nearly a pound lighter than the standard Exos 58 for only 3 L less volume.
- ✓Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee, which almost no cottage ultralight brand matches.
- ✗30 lb is the manufacturer ceiling and the frame is noticeably at its limit there.
- ✗The frame and hipbelt are both non-removable, so the pack cannot be stripped further.
- ✗$330 is more than the standard Exos 58 and than several cottage packs.
- ✗Measured main compartment is 46 L against 55 L advertised.
- ✗Only one volume is offered, unlike the three-size Exos and Eja runs.
- ✗NanoFly is light enough that careless handling on rock will still damage it.
- ✗No rain cover included.
- ✗Bear-canister fit is not stated for this model.