Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 vs Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40
Quick take: The Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 costs $14 less; the Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 carries more (58 vs 40 liters); the Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40 is lighter (0.63 vs 1.13 lbs).
Which one to buy
Start with a tape measure. The Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 comes in fixed unisex torso sizes of 17, 18, 20 and 21.5 in (XS to L), with no adjustment. The Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40 puts a women's strap set, added in March 2026, on Zpacks' frameless Nero. Zpacks doesn't publish a torso range for it, so check its sizing chart against your measurement too.
If both fit, the choice is between volume and weight. The Exodus holds 58 L for 1 lb 2 oz, enough for a bear canister and a long food carry. A folded foam pad packed against the back serves as its frame, and packing discipline is what makes the volume carryable. The Ultra X build is seam taped, but MLD says it isn't a dry bag, so owners run a liner in either fabric. Fabric choice moves the price from $245 for UltraGrid, which repairs with tape or thread, up to $325 for Ultra X.
The Nero weighs 10.1 oz for 40 L, and Zpacks recommends keeping loads to 20 lb. Its $259 price (the 30 L is $243) includes no hipbelt, so budget $60 for a padded belt if you want one. For a woman with a very light kit, the women's straps and lower weight make the Nero the easier pack to live with. The Exodus is for longer carries and canister routes, if it fits your torso.
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55
Better for long food carries and canister routes, for a hiker who fits one of MLD's fixed torso sizes and knows how to pack a foam pad as the frame.
Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40
Made for women with a disciplined sub-20 lb load who want straps cut for them and the lightest pack that will hold a multi-day kit.
| Spec | Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 | Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $245 | $259 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 58 L | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.13 lbs | 0.63 lbs |
| Max Load | Not confirmed by the manufacturer (20-25 lbs is the commonly cited ceiling) | 20 lbs recommended |
| Torso Fit | MLD unisex pack sizes: XS 17 / S 18 / M 20 / L 21.5 in | See manufacturer sizing |
| Material | UltraGrid 200D or Ultra X 200/100D | Ultra 100X, with optional Ultra TenX colour panels |
| Back Panel | Frameless | Frameless |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | MLD six-month warranty on sewn gear for significant manufacturing and material defects | Zpacks two-year limited warranty |
Pros & cons
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55
- ✓1 lb 2 oz for 58 L of measured volume is among the best weight-to-volume ratios on this site.
- ✓A choice of UltraGrid or Ultra X fabric lets the buyer trade cost against durability.
- ✓58 L is large enough for a bear canister and a long food carry.
- ✓MLD has been building ultralight packs longer than almost anyone in the segment.
- ✓The $245 entry price is reasonable for a made-to-order pack in a premium fabric.
- ✓Frameless construction has nothing rigid to bend or break.
- ✓Hip pockets are optional add-ons ($25 for one, $46 for two), so you only carry them if you want them.
- ✓Simple, proven design refined across many generations.
- ✗Frameless at 58 L is the most demanding volume-to-support combination on this site.
- ✗Price varies from $245 to $325 by fabric, so the headline figure understates most builds.
- ✗MLD rates it to 25 lbs maximum, with a 20-25 lb recommended range, the ceiling it gives any frameless pack.
- ✗Hip pockets cost extra ($25-46) on top of the base price.
- ✗No adjustable torso.
- ✗Made-to-order lead times.
- ✗Only suits hikers with genuinely low base weights.
Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40
- ✓Under 11 oz for 40 L puts it among the lightest women's-specific packs sold.
- ✓Two volumes, 30 and 40 L, about 1 oz apart.
- ✓Women's straps without a jump in price class.
- ✓Frameless simplicity means little to break.
- ✗The $243 starting price is for the 30 L with no hipbelt; the 40 L is $259 and a padded belt adds $60.
- ✗A 20 lb recommended load demands a disciplined kit.
- ✗No frame, padding or ventilation.
- ✗Zpacks does not publish a torso range for the women's version.
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55 vs Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40: common questions
Will the MLD Exodus 55 fit a woman with a short torso?▾
It can. The Exodus comes in unisex torso sizes of 17, 18, 20 and 21.5 in, with no adjustment, so order off MLD's chart. The Zpacks Women's Nero Classic 40 has women's-specific straps, though Zpacks doesn't publish its torso range, so compare your measurement with both makers' charts.
Can the Women's Nero Classic 40 hold a bear canister like the Exodus?▾
Zpacks makes no bear-canister claim for the Nero, and its 40 L is tight for one plus food. The Exodus's 58 L holds a canister and a long food carry, though a canister, a week of food and full water is more weight than a frameless pack carries comfortably.
Is the Exodus waterproof compared with the Nero?▾
Not fully. Ultra X fabric is a waterproof laminate and the build is seam taped, but MLD says it isn't a full dry bag, so owners use a liner in serious weather. Zpacks makes no waterproof claim for the women's Nero, so a liner weighing about an ounce is cheap insurance in either pack.