ULA Equipment CDT vs Gossamer Gear G4-20 42
Quick take: The ULA Equipment CDT costs $5 less; the ULA Equipment CDT carries more (50 vs 42 liters); the Gossamer Gear G4-20 42 is lighter (1.6 vs 1.69 lbs).
Which one to buy
Torso length may choose for you. The Gossamer Gear G4-20 42 comes in three sizes starting at 11.5 in and topping out at 23.5 in; the ULA CDT comes in four starting at 15 in and running to 24+ in. Very short torsos fit only the G4-20, and very tall ones only the CDT. Most hikers fall in the overlap, and for them the choice is between volume and warranty.
Both are frameless, cost within $5 of each other and weigh within 0.09 lbs. Both put comfort at about 25 lb: ULA states it as the CDT's ceiling, and Gossamer Gear rates the G4-20 at 30 lb maximum with 25 for comfort. On the CDT that limit is honest, because once the back pad compresses the weight lands on your shoulders, and several days of food plus water gets you there fast.
The CDT gives you more bag: 50 L against the G4-20's 42 L, of which only 30 L is in the main body. Its UltraGrid is a doubled 200D grid that resists tears well and takes tape or needle-and-thread repairs. ULA backs it for life, while Gossamer Gear's warranty is one year and US-only. The G4-20's draws are its removable sit pad, which doubles as back padding and a camp seat, and PFAS-free Robic.
Neither pack is a real canister carrier. In the CDT a smaller canister fits vertically at a push but a BV500 with a week of food is too much, and Gossamer Gear suggests strapping one on top of the G4-20.
ULA Equipment CDT
For low-base-weight hikers with torsos of 15 in or more who want 50 L of tough UltraGrid and a lifetime warranty.
Gossamer Gear G4-20 42
Best for short-torso hikers down to 11.5 in, or anyone who wants a sit pad built into a 42 L frameless pack.
| Spec | ULA Equipment CDT | Gossamer Gear G4-20 42 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $205 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 50 L | 42 L |
| Weight | 1.69 lbs | 1.6 lbs |
| Max Load | 25 lbs | 30 lbs (25 lbs for comfort) |
| Torso Fit | S 15-18 in, M 18-21 in, L 21-24 in, XL 24+ in | S 11.5-15.5 in / M 15.5-19.5 in / L 19.5-23.5 in |
| Material | UltraGrid reinforced double 200D recycled grid with UltraStretch mesh | 70D and 100D recycled Robic, PFAS-free |
| Back Panel | Frameless with removable pad | Frameless with removable sit pad |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | ULA lifetime warranty against defects | One year against manufacturing defects, US purchasers |
Pros & cons
ULA Equipment CDT
- ✓ULA publishes a specific 25 lb maximum load, which most cottage brands leave unstated.
- ✓Four torso sizes from 15 to 24+ inches is far more sizing granularity than most frameless packs offer.
- ✓UltraGrid is a doubled 200D recycled grid, notably tougher than single-layer gridstop.
- ✓$200 is the cheapest ULA pack and undercuts most cottage frameless packs.
- ✓50 L is generous for a frameless pack, handling a bear canister at a push.
- ✓27.1 oz is competitive with framed packs 10 L smaller.
- ✓UltraStretch front pocket holds shape better than plain mesh.
- ✓ULA's sizing guidance explicitly covers what to do when between sizes, which is unusually careful.
- ✗25 lb is a hard ceiling and easy to exceed with water and several days of food.
- ✗Frameless construction puts the whole load on the shoulders once the pad is compressed.
- ✗No adjustable torso; the size must be right at purchase.
- ✗ULA lead times fluctuate significantly with seasonal demand.
- ✗No hydration sleeve as standard.
- ✗50 L invites overpacking past what a frameless pack can carry.
- ✗Limited retail presence, so trying one on before buying is unlikely.
Gossamer Gear G4-20 42
- ✓$205 is low for a cottage-brand pack in recycled Robic.
- ✓Three torso sizes, starting as short as 11.5 in.
- ✓The sit pad doubles as back padding and a camp seat.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets on a fixed belt.
- ✓A 30 lb maximum is above most frameless packs.
- ✓PFAS-free fabric.
- ✗Warranty is one year and US-only.
- ✗Only 30 of the 42 L are in the main bag.
- ✗A bear canister fits, but Gossamer Gear suggests strapping it on top.
- ✗Comfort tops out around 25 lb.
ULA Equipment CDT vs Gossamer Gear G4-20 42: common questions
Which frameless pack fits a short torso, the CDT or the G4-20 42?▾
The G4-20 42. Its small size covers 11.5-15.5 in, while the CDT's smallest size starts at 15 in. Taller hikers have the opposite problem: the G4-20 tops out at 23.5 in, and the CDT's XL covers 24 in and up.
Is the CDT's extra volume useful if both are limited to about 25 lb?▾
For bulky but light gear, yes. The CDT's 50 L gives more room than the G4-20's 30 L main body. That space invites overpacking, though, and past 25 lb the load lands on your shoulders.
Does the warranty difference matter between ULA and Gossamer Gear?▾
It can. ULA covers the CDT for life against defects, while Gossamer Gear's warranty on the G4-20 is one year and limited to US purchasers. For a pack you plan to keep for several seasons, that gap is worth weighing.