Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack vs 3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35
Quick take: The 3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35 costs $2.97 less; the 3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35 carries more (35 vs 26 liters); the Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack is lighter (1.29 vs 1.43 lbs).
Which one to buy
At about $185 each, the split is in how they carry. The Tutor Ultra 35 has a carbon-fiber frame and 3F quotes a 12 kg (about 26 lbs) comfortable carry, so it suits short trips with a full overnight kit. The Skyline 30 Fastpack is frameless, with a running-vest harness and no hipbelt at all; Outdoor Vitals rates it to 20 lbs for base weights of 10 lbs or less, and the whole load rides on the straps.
The Skyline is the more complete package for moving fast. It ships with two soft flasks, has an internal hydration sleeve, and its stretch pockets use a UHMWPE blend that resists snagging. It weighs 1.29 lbs for 26 L in S/M, or 31 L in the large. The Tutor weighs 1.43 lbs for 35 L in Ultra100X, a lighter grade of Ultra fabric, but buying one involves some guesswork, since 3F says nothing about hipbelt pockets, a hydration sleeve or torso ranges. Its warranty is a lifetime repair service, with you paying shipping both ways.
For running or fastpacking with a tiny kit the Skyline is the better package. At a normal hiking pace the Tutor gives more room and a frame for about the same money, provided you can accept buying it partly blind.
Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack
Best for fastpackers and long-day runners with a base weight of 10 lbs or less who want flasks and vest carry included.
3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35
For budget ultralight hikers on short trips who want a framed, Ultra-fabric pack with more room and a higher comfortable load.
| Spec | Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack | 3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $187.97 | $185 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 26 L | 35 L |
| Weight | 1.29 lbs | 1.43 lbs |
| Max Load | 20 lbs | About 26 lbs (12 kg comfortable carry) |
| Torso Fit | Vest harness sized S, M and L; torso ranges not published | Sized M and L; ranges not published |
| Material | 100D Robic nylon diamond ripstop; Challenge UltraStretch UHMWPE/nylon pockets | Ultra100X |
| Back Panel | EVA foam with cut-outs | Carbon-fibre frame (back panel construction not detailed) |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Outdoor Vitals Performance Promise | 3F lifetime repair service: free repairs or free repair parts, excluding natural aging of fabric; covers purchases from 3fulgear.com or authorized agents; owner pays shipping both ways |
Pros & cons
Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack
- ✓Two soft flasks are included, which most fastpacks sell separately.
- ✓20.6 oz for 26 L total, light for a pack with a foam back panel.
- ✓Challenge UltraStretch pockets use a UHMWPE blend that resists snagging better than plain stretch mesh.
- ✓Internal hydration sleeve and hose port for bladder users.
- ✓One price across all three sizes.
- ✗No hipbelt at all, so the full load rides on the vest straps.
- ✗20 lb ceiling rules it out for anything but a very light kit.
- ✗The large adds 1 oz and 5 L, but S and M share the smaller body.
- ✗No bear-canister room at this volume.
- ✗Robic main body is not waterproof, unlike the laminate fastpacks in this class.
3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35
- ✓Ultra100X fabric and a carbon frame at $185, roughly half what Western brands charge for Ultra-fabric packs.
- ✓650 g in medium is light for a framed 35 L.
- ✓A stated 12 kg comfortable load is generous for this volume.
- ✓Two sizes, M and L.
- ✗Ultra100X is the lighter, thinner grade of Ultra; expect less abrasion resistance than Ultra 200X.
- ✗3F does not publish torso ranges or pocket layout in readable form.
- ✗Hipbelt pockets, hydration sleeve and bear-canister fit are all unconfirmed.
Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack vs 3F UL Gear Tutor Ultra 35: common questions
Does the Tutor Ultra 35 carry more than the Skyline 30 Fastpack?▾
Yes. 3F quotes a 12 kg comfortable carry on its carbon frame and it holds 35 L. The Skyline 30 is frameless, has no hipbelt and is rated to 20 lbs for base weights of 10 lbs or less.
Which one is easier to size without trying it on?▾
Neither maker gives torso ranges in inches. The Skyline comes in S, M and L with one price across sizes, and the Tutor comes in M and L, so check each maker's guidance before ordering.