ULA Equipment CDT vs ULA Equipment UltraGrid Nexus
Quick take: The ULA Equipment CDT costs $19.99 less; the ULA Equipment CDT carries more (50 vs 40 liters); the ULA Equipment UltraGrid Nexus is lighter (1.3 vs 1.69 lbs).
Which one to buy
Pay $20 more and give up 10 L to save 0.39 lbs: that's the Nexus pitch against the CDT, its bigger and cheaper sibling. Both ULA frameless packs are rated at 25 lb, use the same four torso sizes from 15 in to 24+ in, and carry hipbelt pockets. The UltraGrid Nexus weighs 1.3 lbs complete and 18 oz stripped, with Venom Mesh pockets and hipbelt pockets ULA says fit modern phones. The CDT holds 50 L at 1.69 lbs in doubled 200D UltraGrid.
The 25 lb ceiling is the same, and on the CDT it's honest: once the back pad compresses the load lands on your shoulders, and several days of food plus water gets there fast. That makes the CDT's extra volume less useful than it looks; it suits bulky, light gear such as a winter quilt, not heavier loads. In the CDT a smaller canister fits vertically at a push, but a BV500 plus a week of food is too much. The Nexus isn't built around a canister at all.
If your kit fits in 40 L, the Nexus is the better frameless pack. The CDT's extra room costs less, but under the same 25 lb limit it only pays off for bulk, never for extra weight.
ULA Equipment CDT
For low-base-weight hikers who carry bulky light gear, want room for a small canister at a push, and prefer to save $20.
ULA Equipment UltraGrid Nexus
Best for hikers whose kit fits 40 L and who want the lightest ULA frameless pack with phone-sized hipbelt pockets.
| Spec | ULA Equipment CDT | ULA Equipment UltraGrid Nexus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $219.99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 50 L | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.69 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
| Max Load | 25 lbs | 25 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 | UltraGrid reinforced double 200D recycled grid with UltraStretch mesh | Challenge UltraGrid with Venom Mesh |
| Back Panel | Frameless with removable pad | Frameless |
| 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 | No |
| Warranty | ULA lifetime warranty against defects | ULA lifetime warranty |
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.
ULA Equipment UltraGrid Nexus
- ✓18 oz stripped is light for a 40 L pack with a hipbelt.
- ✓Large hipbelt pockets sized for current phones.
- ✓Challenge UltraGrid is a reinforced fabric that holds up to brush.
- ✓$219.99 is modest for a cottage frameless pack.
- ✓Venom Mesh pockets are stretchier and tougher than standard mesh.
- ✗Frameless, so comfort fades quickly above 25 lb.
- ✗Only one colour offered.
- ✗Weight varies by 3.5 oz with configuration, so listed weights need reading carefully.
- ✗No adjustable torso or ventilated back.
ULA Equipment CDT vs ULA Equipment UltraGrid Nexus: common questions
Is the Nexus worth $20 more than the bigger CDT?▾
If your kit fits 40 L, yes. It saves 0.39 lbs at the same 25 lb rating. That limit is reached quickly with food and water, so the CDT's extra 10 L mostly helps with bulky, light gear.
Do the CDT and Nexus fit the same torso sizes?▾
Yes. Both come in S, M, L and XL covering 15 in to 24+ in, with no adjustment after purchase. ULA's sizing guide explains what to do between sizes, so measure carefully first.