Comparing Our Lightweight Backpacking and Hiking Backpacks

It can be a daunting task to choose the right backpack for your backpacking and hiking trips because there are so many options. In this blog, we hope to shed light on our different backpack designs so you can choose the right tool to support your adventures. At Seek Outside, we  offer several highly capable and comfortable lightweight hiking and backpacking packs with weights ranging from the 1 lb 12 ounce Silverton to around 3 lbs for the Unaweep 4800. These backpacks offer volumes ranging from 2300 CI ( 37 Liters) to 5500 CI (90 Liters) . These packs range from having minimal framing (Silverton) and size options, to heavy duty framing with almost unlimited sizing and fit options (Divide / Unaweep / Gila). This blog will highlight the similarities, differences, capabilities and fabrics.

What makes a Seek Outside backpack different ?

• Load carriage comfort and how well they carry. With the exception of the Silverton, which is not designed to carry heavier loads, our lightweight packs offer the highest level of backpacking and hiking comfort of any brand regardless of weight.
• Durability and reliability . These are not lightweight backpacking packs you need to baby. We use highly durable best in class backpack fabrics. We reinforce well, we double up bottom fabrics to add additional pack durability. We have very very few durability issues, and in areas where we feel there can be issues, we offer simple ways to field repair (buckles etc).
• Adaptable compression systems. Because your needs may change depending on the trip, we design our compression systems to be adaptable using gatekeeper hardware.
• Systematic design principles. We make it easy to add a lid, to add a compression panel, and in some cases, you can even swap bags on the same framing.

Backpack Specifications: 

Generally speaking, The Silverton is a minimally framed, full featured pack, while the rest of the packs are more minimal on pocketing, but robust and very capable on suspension and fitting.

Backpack Fabrics: 

The fabric choices are UltraGrid 200 ( in a variety or colors) and Ultra 200 in gray. The mesh pocketing is Ultra Stretch.

• UltraGrid 200 is a 210 Denier Recycled Nylon reinforced with a 200 D UHMWPE ripstop pattern , with a DWR face coating and 1500 MM Hydrostatic head interior coating. This fabric is a great balance of durability, looks, and water resistance. The 1500 MM Hydrostatic is waterproof for most uses (though some wicking can happen in the seams). Seam sealing resolves this.
• Ultra 200 is a 200 Denier UHMWPE fabric with a waterproof coating. This fabric is the most durable, high performance fabric available. Effectively waterproof, however there can be some wicking through the seams. Seam sealing resolves this.
• Ultra Stretch is a very durable Nylon 6.6 , Lycra Ultra PE blend. The fabric has an abrasion cycles rating of 20000.

Why do we focus so much on suspension and water resistance in hiking and backpacking packs ?

It’s simple, if a pack is to be worn all day, then comfort is paramount. Would you wear shoes that were not comfortable all day every day ? If one pack simply carries much better, your body will feel so much better the next day. Less sore shoulder, less of a sore back or sore hips. Water resistance,  we believe that the rain cover is mostly a failed concept. It's a band-aid in a backpacking and hiking pack. Rain covers can blow off in the wind , rain covers often don’t get used because they are a hassle, rain covers add weight and complexity. In our view point, it's simply much better to focus on highly water resistant designs to minimize the need to use a band-aid solution. 

Which backpack will work best for you ?

How well do you know yourself ? Do you know how big of a pack you need ? Are you mainly a fair weather backpacker for a couple days or so ? Do you like longer trips .. or do you like to stack activities such as backpacking and packrafting or climbing or hunting ? These all will affect what you need. Some general guidelines are below. 

• 1 - 3 day backpacking  trips in fair weather , less than 4000 CI is fine. 
• 1 - 3 day backpacking  trips in shoulder seasons / winter conditions likely 4500 - 5000 CI. 
• Are you scrambling or doing high routes ? Choose the smaller profile of the Flight 3 over the larger suspension 
• Are you stacking activities like packrafting / hunting / climbing ? Add volume 
• Are you a day hiker that may do an overnight but go light .. check out the Silverton 

What pack is the best “one pack solution ? 

That depends on the person, but using myself as an example, for a one pack solution I would choose the Unaweep 4800 https://seekoutside.com/unaweep-4800-2-0/. I can add a talon or merlin (talons and the merlin are compression panels that allow you to add extra capacity and the merlin acts as a stand alone day pack and extra organization)  for more volume and to make it easier for later season hunting, but I can strip it down to around 3 lbs for summer time backpacking. However, for summer backpacking, I normally use the Flight or Divide and I use the Silverton as basically a big day hiking pack, and EDC pack. A "one pack solution" requires the backpack to be capable of your largest trip. As an example, I could use a Divide 2.0 as a one pack solution. It will handle almost all backpacking and may be a slight hinderance on more technical mountain terrain, but I can use compression to make it smaller if I want to scramble a peak. I can use compression to strap things outside for a hunting or packrafting trip. I can also add the same accessories I would with the Unaweep, but it's not as smooth a transition. In general, while I am a fan of one pack solutions, they usually leave a lot lacking. Though, back to the Unaweep , with a Merlin and Hip Pack Lid .. you can do a lot of stuff well with that combo. 

Silverton 2300

The Silverton prioritizes organization and adaptability. It can work as your main hiking day pack, an ultralight backpacking pack, as a scouting or EDC pack, or it can attach and act as a compression panel on our revolution / breakaway backpacks.

https://seekoutside.com/silverton-2300/

Flight 3

The Flight 3, is a highly capable, well built, durable, comfortable backpacking pack with a minimal feature set, and easy to use and intuitive adjustment. This backpack features an adaptable compression system, doubled up fabrics on the bottom to increase durability. This is a no compromises hiking and backpacking pack in a lightweight package. 

https://seekoutside.com/flight-3/

Gila 2.0

The Gila 2.0 builds upon the Flight 3 but adds a more robust framing system. This frame system allows the user to  switch between pack bags so you could add a much larger pack bag on the same suspension later if your use case changes. The Gila 2.0  offers  touch more size than the Flight 3, but it does require more user input and adjustment. The Gila 2.0 can be almost a custom fit once it is dialed. Examples are, you can change frame height, which changes torso size range, you can add or remove a lumbar pad for optimum belt fit. This pack is highly capable and highly durable. 

https://seekoutside.com/gila-3500-2-0/

Divide 4800 2.0

The Divide 2.0 backpack builds upon the Gila 2.0 by adding more volume, which allows it to work for longer distances, and extends it uses to later seasons and or more lightweight backpack hunting. You can change frame heights, swap pack bags, and add or remove a lumbar pad to really dial in the fit. 

https://seekoutside.com/divide-4800-2-0/

Unaweep 4800 2.0

The Unaweep 4800 is similar sized to the Divide 2.0 but adds more adaptability with the option to work with various talon compression options and lid options. The talon compression system can allow the volume to be expanded a fair amount more or to carry odd items compressed under the talon. In addition this offers adjustable frame height, and a highly tailored fit . 

https://seekoutside.com/unaweep-4800-2-0/

Conclusion: 

It can be a daunting task to choose the right backpack for backpacking and hiking because there are so many options. By better understanding the options, hopefully you can find the best pack to work for supporting your adventures. 

If you have questions or comments please contact us via our email at info@seekoutside.com