Nashville Pack The Cutaway vs Seek Outside Flight 3
Quick take: The Nashville Pack The Cutaway costs $4 less; the Seek Outside Flight 3 carries more (52 vs 40 liters); the Nashville Pack The Cutaway is lighter (1.03 vs 2.7 lbs).
Which one to buy
At about the same price, the choice is whether your load needs a frame. The Seek Outside Flight 3 puts a 52 L bag on a 7075 aluminum frame with a cross stay, rated at 35 to 50+ lb, at 2.7 lbs. The Nashville Pack The Cutaway is frameless, and testers put its comfortable limit around 20-25 lb with a dialed ultralight kit. Past that, the load sits on your shoulders no matter how good its harness is.
That harness is the Cutaway's appeal. Wide vest-style straps spread the load across chest and shoulders and keep snacks, phone and water within reach, though fitting it takes more patience than a conventional harness. Its cutaway front lets the mesh pocket expand fully, and it comes in 16, 18 and 20 in torso sizes with four strap sizes, sold from stock or made to order. Stock packs ship in 3-5 business days; made-to-order builds take weeks. Reviewers mostly don't recommend it as a first ultralight pack, and a bear canister plus a week of food is too much for it.
The Flight 3 covers more hikers and more loads. It has two frame heights, though you can't switch between them after buying, four belt sizes down to a 27 in waist, a ventilated back panel and a hydration sleeve. Its hipbelt pockets and lid cost extra. The Cutaway carries better only while the load stays under its limit, and a long food carry or a dry stretch can push it over.
Nashville Pack The Cutaway
For experienced hikers with a dialed sub-25 lb kit who want a vest-style harness, a choice of three torso sizes and hipbelt pockets included.
Seek Outside Flight 3
Best for thru-hikers who want a real aluminum frame rated to 35-50+ lb at under 3 lb, with two frame heights and four belt sizes.
| Spec | Nashville Pack The Cutaway | Seek Outside Flight 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $355 | $359 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 40 L | 52 L |
| Weight | 1.03 lbs | 2.7 lbs |
| Max Load | 25 lbs | 35-50+ lbs |
| Torso Fit | Sized 16 / 18 / 20 in torso, with 4 vest-strap sizes | Adjustable harness on a 22 in or 25 in frame; hip belts S 27-31 / M 29-34 / L 33-38 / XL 36-42 in |
| Material | 210D Venom Gridstop ECO | UltraGrid (210D recycled nylon, 200D grid) or Ultra 200X UHMWPE laminate |
| Back Panel | None (frameless) | Padded back panel with ventilation channels |
| Adjustable torso | No | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Nashville Pack 1-year limited warranty covering functional defects in manufacturing and materials; repair, or replacement if repair is not possible | Lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship, original owner; excludes neglect, misuse and modifications; 30-day return for unused items |
Pros & cons
Nashville Pack The Cutaway
- ✓16.5 oz for 40 L is an excellent weight-to-volume ratio for a frameless pack.
- ✓The cutaway front panel lets the external mesh expand properly instead of being compressed by the main bag.
- ✓210D Venom Gridstop ECO uses recycled content without giving up the gridded tear resistance.
- ✓3 L more capacity than the Pa'lante V2.
- ✓Sold as in-stock packs or made to order, in 16, 18 and 20 in torsos with four vest-strap sizes.
- ✓Frameless construction has nothing rigid to fail.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets included.
- ✓Strong reputation among long-distance hikers despite being a small operation.
- ✗Frameless, so loads above roughly 20-25 lb transfer straight to the shoulders.
- ✗$355 is premium pricing for a pack with no frame.
- ✗Made-to-order builds take weeks, though stock packs ship in 3-5 business days.
- ✗40 L struggles with a bear canister plus a week of food.
- ✗Resale and support depend on a very small company continuing to operate.
- ✗Requires disciplined packing to carry well.
Seek Outside Flight 3
- ✓A real aluminum frame and cross stay at 2.7 lb, with a brand load rating up to 50+ lb.
- ✓Two frame heights instead of one, so taller hikers are not stuck on a short stay.
- ✓The waterproof Ultra 200X build costs the same $359 as UltraGrid.
- ✓Four hip-belt sizes, down to a 27 in waist.
- ✓Back padding is channelled for airflow rather than flat foam.
- ✗The two frame sizes are not interchangeable, so the choice at checkout is final.
- ✗Hip-belt pockets and the lid are extras, not included.
- ✗No published torso range for either frame, only height guidance.
- ✗No raincover; the UltraGrid build is DWR-coated rather than waterproof.
Nashville Pack The Cutaway vs Seek Outside Flight 3: common questions
Is the Nashville Pack Cutaway a good first ultralight pack compared with the Flight 3?▾
Most reviewers say no. The Cutaway rewards hikers who already have a dialed ultralight kit, and testers put its comfortable limit around 20-25 lb. The framed Flight 3, rated at 35 to 50+ lb, is more forgiving if your kit is still getting lighter.
Can either pack carry a bear canister and a week of food?▾
That combination is beyond the 40 L frameless Cutaway. The Flight 3 has more room at 52 L and a frame rated for heavier loads, but Seek Outside makes no bear-canister claim, so check your canister's dimensions first.
Which is easier to fit, the Cutaway or the Flight 3?▾
The Cutaway comes in 16, 18 or 20 in torso sizes with four vest-strap sizes, from stock or made to order. The Flight 3 has an adjustable harness on a 22 or 25 in frame with four hipbelt sizes, but the frame choice is final at checkout.