Pa'lante Packs V2 vs Pa'lante Packs Joey
Quick take: The Pa'lante Packs V2 carries more (37 vs 24 liters); the Pa'lante Packs Joey is lighter (0.88 vs 1.16 lbs).
Which one to buy
A hipbelt is the dividing line. The V2 has one, with pockets, plus its signature bottom pocket for reaching rain gear and snacks without taking the pack off. The Joey has no hipbelt at all: running-vest straps keep bottles and food on your chest, but every pound rides on your shoulders. Both are $240, frameless and made in UHMWPE gridstop.
The V2 is the thru-hiking pack. It holds 37 L (32 L in the other size), comes in 17 in or 19 in torsos, and many owners say it carries around 20 lbs, with experienced users comfortable to about 25 when it is packed carefully. Long-term reviewers report 2,000-plus miles without failures, and owners treat a folded foam pad against the back as effectively mandatory. The Joey holds 24 L, weighs 0.88 lbs against the V2's 1.16 lbs, and comes in one 18 in torso, with long straps for L/XL wearers at no extra cost. It has no back pad unless you buy the $330 pad-and-sleeve variant.
For anything past an overnight, the V2's volume and belt make it the better pack. The Joey suits minimalist overnights and long days on a sub-10 lb kit where vest access matters more than space.
Pa'lante Packs V2
Best for thru-hikers with a sub-10 lb base weight who want a hipbelt with pockets, the bottom pocket and a choice of torso length.
Pa'lante Packs Joey
For minimalist overnights and long days where vest straps and the lightest possible pack beat volume and a hipbelt.
| Spec | Pa'lante Packs V2 | Pa'lante Packs Joey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $240 | $240 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 37 L | 24 L |
| Weight | 1.16 lbs | 0.88 lbs |
| Max Load | Not specified by the manufacturer | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | 17 in or 19 in fixed torso | One 18 in torso; standard (S/M) or long (L/XL) straps add about 2 in |
| Material | 210D UHMWPE Gridstop | 210D UHMWPE gridstop (or Ultraweave 200X), 70D nylon ripstop, 70D 3x3 UHMWPE grid mesh |
| Back Panel | None (frameless) | No back pad (a pad and sleeve version is sold separately) |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty; terms not published | Manufacturer warranty; terms not published |
Pros & cons
Pa'lante Packs V2
- ✓18.6 oz for 37 L, with no frame, stays or lid to carry.
- ✓210D UHMWPE Gridstop is far tougher than its weight suggests, using a gridded high-modulus yarn to stop tears spreading.
- ✓The signature bottom pocket puts rain gear and snacks within reach without removing the pack.
- ✓Frameless construction means nothing rigid to break, bend or rattle.
- ✓Simplicity is the point: fewer seams, buckles and panels than any framed competitor.
- ✓Holds its value strongly on the used market, which offsets the price.
- ✓A genuine cult following among long-distance hikers, earned over multiple design generations.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets are included despite the minimal design.
- ✗Frameless means the load rides entirely on the shoulders; above roughly 20 lb it becomes punishing.
- ✗37 L is too small for winter kit, long food carries or bear canisters.
- ✗$240 is a lot for a pack with no frame, no lid and minimal hardware.
- ✗Requires careful, disciplined packing -- a foam pad against the back is effectively mandatory.
- ✗Pa'lante runs limited production drops, so availability is intermittent.
- ✗No published maximum load figure.
- ✗Entirely the wrong pack for anyone still carrying a 25 lb base weight.
Pa'lante Packs Joey
- ✓14.1 oz for a 24 L pack built from UHMWPE gridstop, a fabric far tougher than standard ripstop nylon.
- ✓Running-vest straps put bottles and snacks within reach.
- ✓Long straps are offered at no extra cost for L/XL wearers.
- ✓Two fabric choices, gridstop at $240 or Ultraweave 200X at $300.
- ✓A pad-and-sleeve version exists for anyone who wants structure and a hydration sleeve.
- ✗No hipbelt at all, so every pound rides on the shoulders.
- ✗No back pad or hydration sleeve in the base version.
- ✗Only one torso length (18 in).
- ✗No published load limit or warranty terms.
- ✗$240 is steep for 24 L without a frame or belt.
Pa'lante Packs V2 vs Pa'lante Packs Joey: common questions
Is the Joey enough pack for a thru-hike instead of the V2?▾
For most people, no. It holds 24 L and has no hipbelt, so every pound sits on your shoulders. Many V2 owners put its limit around 20 lbs on a sub-10 lb base weight, and long-term reviewers report 2,000-plus miles on it.
Does either one come with a back pad?▾
Neither base version does. V2 owners treat a folded foam pad against the back as effectively mandatory, and the Joey offers a pad-and-sleeve variant at $330.