Osprey Exos 58 vs Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50
Quick take: The Osprey Exos 58 costs $5 less; the Osprey Exos 58 carries more (58 vs 50 liters); the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 is lighter (1.95 vs 2.84 lbs).
| Spec | Osprey Exos 58 | Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $285 | $290 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 58 L | 50 L |
| Weight | 2.84 lbs | 1.95 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | 30 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Adjustable 17-22 in across sizes | Sized S-L, 14.5-21.5 in |
| Material | Recycled 100D high-tenacity nylon ripstop, PFAS-free DWR | 100D/200D Robic nylon |
| Back Panel | AirSpeed suspended mesh | Removable sit-pad with aluminum stay |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | Yes |
| Removable lid | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) | Gossamer Gear limited lifetime |
Pros & cons
Osprey Exos 58
- ✓The classic gateway ultralight — AT thru-hiker surveys have ranked the Exos among the most-carried packs for years running.
- ✓The AirSpeed trampoline back is the only real ventilation in the sub-3-lb class, and sweaty-back refugees notice immediately.
- ✓The current generation's adjustable torso fixed the old fixed-size gamble, making online sizing much safer.
- ✓It carries 35 lbs with a composure frameless cottage packs can't match, per constant r/Ultralight comparisons.
- ✓The removable lid strips 4+ ounces for weekend loads, with a flap jacket underneath to keep things clean.
- ✓Osprey's lifetime All Mighty Guarantee is a genuine advantage over cottage packs' 1-2 year coverage.
- ✓REI availability means you can try sizes on in person — rare in this weight class.
- ✓The 100D ripstop has proven far more durable than its spec-sheet denier suggests over multi-thousand-mile reports.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets on a pack this popular remains baffling — nearly every long reviewer lists it first.
- ✗The exposed side mesh pockets snag and tear on brush; they're the best-documented wear point.
- ✗The stock hipbelt is thin, and loads at the 40 lb ceiling telegraph straight to the iliac crest.
- ✗The trampoline frame bows into the packbag, so a BV500 rides high and awkward.
- ✗The stretchy shove-it pocket sags when loaded with wet gear.
- ✗The frame creaks for some users after dusty miles — a known quirk Osprey service lubes rather than fixes.
- ✗At $260 it's within $40 of true cottage packs (Circuit, Kakwa) that weigh half a pound less.
- ✗Ultralight purists find the hanging-lid-and-straps aesthetic fussy compared to clean roll-tops.
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50
- ✓The archetypal 'graduation pack' — the r/Ultralight cliché is buying a Mariposa, shrinking your kit, then buying a Gorilla.
- ✓Under 2 lbs with a real stay and hipbelt, it carries 30 lbs honestly — better than frameless rivals at similar weight.
- ✓Symmetric pockets fix the Mariposa's polarizing layout while keeping generous capacity.
- ✓The removable sit-pad back panel remains one of the smartest dual-use designs in UL.
- ✓Robic fabric durability matches its big sibling's strong track record.
- ✓Mixed torso/hipbelt sizing gives semi-custom fit off the shelf.
- ✓A BV450 fits cleanly; careful packers manage a BV500 vertically.
- ✓Gossamer Gear's service reputation applies here too.
- ✗50 liters is tight for bear-canister trips or 5+ day food carries — buyers routinely wish for 5 more liters.
- ✗Same sweaty foam back as the Mariposa.
- ✗The 30 lb ceiling is real; water-heavy desert carries overload it.
- ✗Fixed sizes, online-only fitting.
- ✗Mesh pockets remain the wear point in brush.
- ✗The hipbelt is minimal and divides opinion at the top of the load range.
- ✗No lid, no organization beyond the pocket array.
- ✗Price sits close enough to the Circuit that many first-time buyers default to ULA's bigger volume instead.