ULA Circuit vs ULA Equipment Circuit SV
Quick take: The ULA Circuit carries more (68 vs 48 liters); the ULA Equipment Circuit SV is lighter (2.3 vs 2.41 lbs).
Which one to buy
The ULA Circuit SV is the Circuit cut from 68 L to 48 L on the same hoop, foam and stay, with the same 35 lb rating and nearly the same weight. Nothing else changes in your favor: ULA charges the same for both, so you give up 20 L for no saving.
That makes the full Circuit the default. Its 35 lb rating is honest, owners report 3,000-5,000 trail miles before meaningful wear, and its 68 L takes a BV500 plus a week of food. The SV also has no hydration sleeve, and whether a BV500 sits well in its 48 L is unproven, so test yours before a canister trip.
The SV's case is a compact kit. If your base weight and food fit 48 L with room to spare, a smaller bag rides tidier and has less fabric to cinch down. Both come in four fixed torso sizes from 15 in to 24+ in with no adjustment, and ULA's service team gives straight sizing answers if you email your measurements. The Circuit also has J-curve shoulder straps that don't suit every chest, a foam back with zero ventilation and long lead times in thru-hiking season, all of which apply to the shared suspension.
ULA Circuit
For nearly every thru-hiker choosing between the two: 20 L more room for the same money, with proven canister capacity.
ULA Equipment Circuit SV
Worth it only if your kit is genuinely compact and you want the Circuit's carry in a smaller, tidier 48 L bag.
| Spec | ULA Circuit | ULA Equipment Circuit SV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $299.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 68 L | 48 L |
| Weight | 2.41 lbs | 2.3 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | 35 lbs |
| Torso Fit | S 15-18 in, M 18-21 in, L 21-24 in, XL 24+ in | Sized S/M/L/XL (S 15-18, M 18-21, L 21-24, XL 24+ in) |
| Material | Robic 400 nylon | Robic nylon |
| Back Panel | Foam panel with carbon-fiberglass hoop and internal stay | Internal hoop with foam back pad and stay |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | ULA lifetime warranty: original owner, defects in materials and workmanship (wear, accidents and misuse excluded) | ULA lifetime warranty |
Pros & cons
ULA Circuit
- ✓Has topped the Halfway Anywhere PCT gear survey for years — no pack has more verified thru-hiking miles behind its reputation.
- ✓Owners routinely report 3,000-5,000 trail miles before meaningful wear; the 400d Robic build is the UL durability benchmark.
- ✓The 68L total volume (bag plus huge pockets) swallows a BV500 plus a week of food, which smaller UL packs can't.
- ✓Carries its full 35 lb rating honestly — the hoop-and-stay frame outperforms most packs in its weight class.
- ✓The giant mesh front pocket and dual oversized hipbelt pockets define the category's organization standard.
- ✓Hand-made in Utah with a service team famous for repairs, spare parts, and straight answers.
- ✓The roll-top plus Y-strap handles bear canisters, foam pads, and packrafts without drama.
- ✓Resale value is exceptional — used Circuits sell within hours on UL trade forums.
- ✗The foam back panel has zero ventilation; expect a soaked shirt on humid climbs.
- ✗Fixed torso sizing means no adjustment range — measure carefully before ordering.
- ✗The utilitarian look (and famously loud color options) is a running joke even among loyalists.
- ✗At 2.41 lbs it's now heavier than newer rivals like the Kakwa 55 that match its carry.
- ✗No lid and minimal internal organization — everything lives in stuff sacks or the main tube.
- ✗Direct-order only in the US; you can't try one on in a store.
- ✗Lead times stretch during thru-hiking season, sometimes badly.
- ✗The J-curve shoulder straps don't suit every chest shape; some switch to S-straps aftermarket.
ULA Equipment Circuit SV
- ✓Same suspension and 35 lb ceiling as the full Circuit in a bag 20 L smaller.
- ✓Four torso sizes from 15 in to beyond 24 in.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets come standard.
- ✓Robic is a tough woven nylon that patches easily.
- ✓Lifetime warranty.
- ✗Costs the same as the 68 L Circuit, so there is no saving for giving up volume.
- ✗37.5 oz is heavy next to 48 L laminate packs from Zpacks or HMG.
- ✗Torso length is fixed within each size.
- ✗Bear-canister fit is stated for the Circuit but not yet for the SV.
- ✗No raincover, and Robic is not waterproof.
ULA Circuit vs ULA Equipment Circuit SV: common questions
Why would I buy the Circuit SV if it costs the same as the Circuit?▾
Only for a smaller bag. The SV keeps the Circuit's hoop, foam and stay suspension and its 35 lb rating at 48 L, which suits a compact kit that would rattle around in 68 L. Otherwise the full Circuit gives more for the same price.
Does the Circuit SV fit a bear canister like the Circuit?▾
That's unproven so far. The 68 L version takes a BV500 plus a week of food, so for canister trips the full-size Circuit is the known quantity.