Gossamer Gear Gorilla Ultralight Backpack Evaluate

Backside Line

The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 is one among our favourite ultralight backpacks, providing a formidable steadiness of consolation and minimal weight. After testing it for over 600 miles throughout assorted terrain—from the rugged Spanish Pyrenees to the Pacific Crest Path, Olympic Mountains, and Wonderland Path—we discovered it excels at hundreds as much as 25 kilos whereas offering options that improve the mountaineering expertise, like spacious hipbelt pockets, an revolutionary trekking pole attachment system, and an built-in sit pad.

The PVT body and well-padded hipbelt ship excellent consolation for an ultralight pack, conserving it comfy even when weighed down.

Whereas the recycled robic nylon development retains weight low, it requires cautious dealing with and extra waterproofing options. The distinctive two-step closure system could take some getting used to or a dealbreaker for some.

This pack gives wonderful worth for minimalist backpackers who primarily stick with established trails and prioritize weight financial savings. Nevertheless, these planning frequent bushwhacks or requiring bombproof sturdiness ought to think about extra strong choices from our information to the greatest ultralight backpacks.

consolation

Regardless of its ultralight design, the Gorilla 50 is a comfortable and comfortable pack that excels at managing heavier hundreds. The PVT body system successfully transfers weight to the hips, and we discovered it remained comfy even approaching its 30-pound max capability. The padded hipbelt is stitched with breathable mesh over ample padding. 

The shoulder straps are constructed equally, and so they distribute weight evenly throughout the shoulders with out creating stress factors, even after consecutive lengthy days. Not like some ultralight packs that sacrifice consolation for weight financial savings, the Gorilla 50 balances each fantastically.

One consolation problem value noting: the sting of the again panel can create pack rash, significantly in sizzling climate. Whereas this didn’t considerably affect our total expertise, it’s one thing to contemplate in the event you’re delicate to pack rubbing. Regardless of this minor disadvantage, the Gorilla 50 delivers excellent consolation for an ultralight pack, particularly when loaded below 25 kilos.

Performance

The Gorilla 50 incorporates a number of distinctive design components that set it aside from most ultralight packs. Most notably, the closure system makes use of a particular two-step fold-top design. This enclosure is unique to Gossamer Gear and is a polarizing function. It takes some getting used to and turns into intuitive with some apply, nevertheless it eliminates the choice for a high strap. 

One other function unique to Gossamer Gear is their model of trekking pole holders. The attachment factors have been upgraded this yr, offering significantly better safety and ease of use than earlier Gorilla fashions. 

One of many coolest design options is the elimination sit pad built-in into the again panel.

The entrance mesh pocket offers beneficiant storage for moist gear or gadgets you want fast entry to all through the day. The aspect pockets strike an excellent steadiness between accessibility and safety – whereas not the best to succeed in whereas carrying the pack, they’re manageable for grabbing water bottles on the go.

The Gorilla has two very satisfying hipbelt pockets. Constituted of a comfortable, pliable materials, they’re notably spacious and simple to function with one hand. We often haven’t any downside becoming an entire day’s value of snacks in them. 

The inclusion of load lifters provides one other layer of performance, permitting you to dial within the match and shift weight distribution as wanted all through your hike.

Water Resistance

The Gorilla 50 prioritizes light-weight efficiency over climate safety, which turns into evident the second it begins raining. 

The recycled robic nylon is minimally proof against water. Throughout our testing, we seen that water first breaches the seams and soaks by means of the material shortly thereafter. Water made it into the pack throughout however was the worst on high. 

Not like rivals utilizing waterproof supplies like Dyneema Composite Material, Gossamer Gear opts for softer, extra pliable supplies that improve consolation and scale back weight however sacrifice water resistance. 

This design selection means you’ll want so as to add waterproofness with a pack liner or pack cowl. Many skilled backpackers want utilizing a pack liner no matter their pack’s water resistance. 

Though the Gorilla 50 gives just about no inherent safety from rain or water crossings, the robic nylon may be very light-weight and dries rapidly.

Building

This pack may be very light-weight, saving materials reinforcement solely the place it’s obligatory – the underside, straps, and hipbelt. The pack’s important physique is constructed of 70 denier recycled robic nylon. Gossamer gear makes use of the 70D nylon on the components of the pack that don’t see quite a lot of put on to shed weight.

 In locations that see probably the most put on like the underside panel, hip belt, shoulder straps, and the underside of the entrance mesh pocket, 100D robic nylon is added to extend thickness and reduce down on abrasion.

The areas most vulnerable to put on are the mesh zones on the entrance pocket and the sit pad inserts. After a number of hundred miles of utilization, we seen some small holes and tears creating within the mesh.

Gossamer gear packs are greatest for on-trail, long-distance hikers as they prioritize weight financial savings over sturdiness. To get probably the most out of those packs, they have to be handled with care, taking warning when setting them down on the bottom and stuffing gadgets into the mesh pocket.

Ought to You Purchase The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Ultralight Backpack?

The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 hits a candy spot for ultralight backpackers who need a comfy pack with out the load penalty.

Its PVT body system and well-padded hipbelt comfortably carry hundreds as much as 25-30 kilos, making it superb for minimalist thru-hikers and weekend warriors alike. The pack gives considerate options like spacious hipbelt pockets, an revolutionary trekking pole attachment system, and a detachable sit pad within the again panel.

This isn’t the pack for tough bushwhacking, dragging over scree, or constantly moist situations. The light-weight robic nylon development prioritizes weight financial savings over sturdiness and water resistance, requiring cautious dealing with and extra waterproofing options. The distinctive two-step closure system and delicate mesh pocket may be deal breakers for some customers.

For many who stick with established trails and admire minimalist design, the Gorilla 50 is a wonderful worth. It packs a ton of helpful options into an reasonably priced worth level whereas conserving the general weight low.

What Different Ultralight Backpacks Ought to You Think about?

If you happen to’re after one thing a little bit extra sturdy or water-resistant, there are higher choices on our full information to ultralight backpacking backpacks.

Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Evaluate: The Mariposa is the massive brother of the Gorilla 50. It makes use of the identical supplies and development philosophies however is upgraded with 10 extra liters of capability and bigger pockets all through.

REI Flash Air 50 Evaluate: If you happen to’re not fairly able to decide to the ultralight type of Gossamer Gear packs, the REI Flash Air 50 is a wonderful crossover pack with an excellent sturdy hipbelt and again panel. 

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Evaluate: The HMG Southwest cures a lot of the potential deal breakers of the Gorilla 50 however with fewer options. It’s supremely waterproof, has 5 extra liters of quantity, and a extra conventional roll-top enclosure.