Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 vs Zpacks Women's Arc Haul Ultra 60
Quick take: The Zpacks Women's Arc Haul Ultra 60 is lighter (1.32 vs 1.36 lbs).
Which one to buy
This is one pack with two harnesses. Both versions of the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 use the same 60 L Ultra 100X bag on the same curved carbon arc, cost the same $399, come in Short, Medium and Tall frames covering 16-26 in torsos, and are rated to 40 lb. The women's version swaps in a Small/Women's strap set, 2.5 in wide and a couple of inches shorter, and a V-style padded hipbelt that wraps a curvier hip, which brings it to 1.32 lbs.
So choose by which straps and belt fit your body, not by gender. If unisex shoulder straps ride too long or wide on you, the women's set addresses the most common harness complaint at no extra cost. Neither version comes with hipbelt pockets; belt pouches are a paid add-on on both.
What's known about the unisex pack carries over to the shared bag and frame. The tensioned arc holds a real airflow gap off your back, and sweat drops dramatically compared with foam-back packs, but the arc takes fiddling to tension and pokes the lumbar if set wrong. Early Ultra fabric had delamination reports, which Zpacks addressed with a revised laminate, and the warranty is two years.
Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60
For hikers whose shoulders and hips suit standard straps and a straight belt.
Zpacks Women's Arc Haul Ultra 60
The better fit for women and smaller-framed hikers who find unisex straps too long or wide and want a V-shaped belt for curvier hips.
| Spec | Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 | Zpacks Women's Arc Haul Ultra 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 | $399 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 60 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 1.36 lbs | 1.32 lbs |
| Max Load | 40 lbs | 40 lbs (30-35 lbs comfortable) |
| Torso Fit | Short 16-19 in , Medium 19-23 in , Tall 23-26 in | Adjustable, Short 16-19 in / Medium 19-23 in / Tall 23-26 in |
| Material | Ultra 100X body with nylon mesh pockets | Ultra 100X |
| Back Panel | Curved carbon fibre stays with tensioned arc | Curved carbon-fibre Arc Frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | Yes | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Zpacks two-year limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship | Zpacks two-year limited warranty |
Pros & cons
Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60
- ✓The lightest framed, ventilated 60L pack money can buy — nothing else combines 21.8 oz with a real airflow gap.
- ✓Backpacker magazine's best ultralight pack of 2026, adding mainstream validation to years of thru-hiker use.
- ✓The tensioned arc genuinely works: sweat reports drop dramatically versus foam-back cottage rivals.
- ✓Ultra 100X fabric is waterproof and far more abrasion-resistant than the old DCF packs.
- ✓The user-adjustable frame height effectively customizes torso length — rare in the cottage world.
- ✓Carries 35-40 lbs shockingly well for its weight, per repeated long-trail reviews.
- ✓Modular add-on ecosystem (belt pouches, shoulder pockets, lumbar pads) lets owners spec it like a custom pack.
- ✓Zpacks' repair department keeps long-trail packs alive mid-hike with fast turnarounds.
- ✗Early Ultra-fabric generations had documented delamination reports; Zpacks revised the laminate, but the history follows the brand in owner discussions.
- ✗$399 plus the add-ons most people want pushes real cost toward $475.
- ✗The arc frame takes fiddling to tension right, and a mis-set arc pokes the lumbar.
- ✗The 2-year warranty is thin next to ULA's and Osprey's lifetime coverage.
- ✗The curved frame reduces usable volume and makes tall canisters ride oddly.
- ✗No hydration sleeve — bottle-only hydration is assumed.
- ✗Mesh and edge trim wear faster than the body fabric; brush country is not its habitat.
- ✗The whole design rewards careful owners and punishes casual abuse — it's precision gear, not a rental mule.
Zpacks Women's Arc Haul Ultra 60
- ✓Shoulder straps are narrower and shorter, the usual fit complaint with unisex harnesses.
- ✓A V-shaped padded belt wraps a curvier hip better than a straight belt.
- ✓No price premium over the unisex pack.
- ✓Four volumes from 40 to 70 L.
- ✓The Arc Frame's curved stays keep the bag off the back.
- ✗Weights are published only for the 60 L.
- ✗Vest straps raise the price to $449.
- ✗Ultra 100X is light, but it is a thin fabric for off-trail bushwhacking.
Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 vs Zpacks Women's Arc Haul Ultra 60: common questions
Is the women's Arc Haul Ultra 60 a different pack from the unisex one?▾
Not in the bag or frame. Both use the same 60 L Ultra 100X body and curved carbon arc at $399. The women's version changes only the straps, which are narrower and shorter, and adds a V-style padded hipbelt.
Can men use the women's Arc Haul Ultra 60?▾
Yes, if the fit works. The difference is the harness: narrower, shorter straps and a V-shaped belt. Smaller-framed hikers of any gender who find unisex straps too long or wide may prefer it.