The Ultimate Guide to Lightweight Backpacks
Are you looking for a new backpack for your next hiking adventure? The good news is there are a lot of great options out there. The bad news is it’s hard to find them all in one place. Here is a list of every backpack I know of that weighs under 4 pounds, organized by size and ranked in descending order by weight. I hope this will help you narrow down your search. If you know of a pack I missed, please let me know in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Categories: Large Packs (65-80 L) | Medium Packs (50-64 L) | Small Packs (35-49 L)
Mountain Hardware Ozonic 65 OutDry
Weight: 3.94 lbs
Volume: 68 Liters
MSRP: $270.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.94 lbs
Volume: 68 Liters
MSRP: $270.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Lowe Alpine Metanoia 65:80
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Volume: 80 Liters
MSRP: $210.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Volume: 80 Liters
MSRP: $210.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountain Hardware South Col 70 OutDry
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Volume: 73 Liters
MSRP: $300.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Volume: 73 Liters
MSRP: $300.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Lowe Alpine Cholatse ND60:70 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 70 Liters
MSRP: $190.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 70 Liters
MSRP: $190.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Six Moon Designs Flex Pack
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 65 Liters
MSRP: $250.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 65 Liters
MSRP: $250.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Exped Thunder 70 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 70 Liters
MSRP: $279.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 70 Liters
MSRP: $279.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Gregory Jade 63 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 65 Liters
MSRP: $229.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 65 Liters
MSRP: $229.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Six Moon Designs Fusion 65
Weight: 3.25 lbs
Volume: 67 Liters
MSRP: $250.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.25 lbs
Volume: 67 Liters
MSRP: $250.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
MyTrailCo Backpack Light 70L
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Volume: 70 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Volume: 70 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Series
Weight: 2.06 lbs
Volume: 72 Liters
MSRP: $330.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.06 lbs
Volume: 72 Liters
MSRP: $330.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Gregory Jade 53 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.88 lbs
Volume: 55 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.88 lbs
Volume: 55 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Mountain Hardware Ozonic 58 OutDry (Women’s)
Weight: 3.88 lbs
Volume: 61 Liters
MSRP: $260.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.88 lbs
Volume: 61 Liters
MSRP: $260.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 60
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $329.95
Gender: Male
More info…
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $329.95
Gender: Male
More info…
Granite Gear Nimbus Trace Access 60 KI (Women’s)
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $329.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $329.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Mountain Hardware Ozonic 50 OutDry
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 53 Liters
MSRP: $230.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 53 Liters
MSRP: $230.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Deuter ACT Lite 45 +10 SL (Women’s)
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Volume: 55 Liters
MSRP: $189.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Volume: 55 Liters
MSRP: $189.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Mountain Hardware Direttissima 50 OutDry
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 53 Liters
MSRP: $270.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 53 Liters
MSRP: $270.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Exped Thunder 50 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.38 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $249.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.38 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $249.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Deuter ACT Zero 45 +15 SL (Women’s)
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 60 Liters
MSRP: $189.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 60 Liters
MSRP: $189.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Lowe Alpine Cholatse ND50 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $180.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $180.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Black Diamond Elixir 60 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.25 lbs
Volume: 59 Liters
MSRP: $219.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.25 lbs
Volume: 59 Liters
MSRP: $219.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Gregory Amber 60 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 60 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 60 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Osprey Sirrus 50 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $180.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $180.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Six Moon Designs Fusion 50
Weight: 3.06 lbs
Volume: 55 Liters
MSRP: $230.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.06 lbs
Volume: 55 Liters
MSRP: $230.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Granite Gear Blaze AC 60 KI (Women’s)
Weight: 2.81 lbs
Volume: 58 Liters
MSRP: $239.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.81 lbs
Volume: 58 Liters
MSRP: $239.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Montane Grand Tour 50 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.81 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.81 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Exped Lightning 60 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.44 lbs
Volume: 60 Liters
MSRP: $229.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.44 lbs
Volume: 60 Liters
MSRP: $229.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Elemental Horizons Aquilo
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Volume: 64 Liters
MSRP: $255.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Volume: 64 Liters
MSRP: $255.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
MyTrailCo Backpack Light 50L
Weight: 2.13 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $149.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.13 lbs
Volume: 50 Liters
MSRP: $149.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Granite Gear Crown VC 60 KI (Women’s)
Weight: 2.06 lbs
Volume: 58 Liters
MSRP: $199.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.06 lbs
Volume: 58 Liters
MSRP: $199.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
Weight: 2.06 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $255.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.06 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $255.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Series
Weight: 1.88 lbs
Volume: 56 Liters
MSRP: $290.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 1.88 lbs
Volume: 56 Liters
MSRP: $290.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 57
Weight: 1 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $195.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 1 lbs
Volume: 57 Liters
MSRP: $195.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Deuter Futura PRO 40 SL (Women’s)
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.81 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
REI Traverse 48 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.63 lbs
Volume: 47 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.63 lbs
Volume: 47 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Deuter ACT Lite 35 +10 SL (Women’s)
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Deuter ACT Trail PRO 38 SL (Women’s)
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 38 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Volume: 38 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Mountainsmith Approach 45
Weight: 3.19 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $129.95
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.19 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $129.95
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Gregory Amber 44 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $169.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Black Diamond Elixir 45 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $199.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.13 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $199.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Lowe Alpine Cholatse ND35 (Women’s)
Weight: 3.06 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $160.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 3.06 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $160.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Mountain Hardware Direttissima 35 OutDry
Weight: 3.06 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $200.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 3.06 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $200.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountainsmith Mayhem 35 WSD (Women’s)
Weight: 2.94 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $139.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.94 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $139.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Gregory Jade 38 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.81 lbs
Volume: 40 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.81 lbs
Volume: 40 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Six Moon Designs Flight 40 Backpacker
Weight: 2.75 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $215.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.75 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $215.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Osprey Sirrus 36 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.75 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $160.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.75 lbs
Volume: 35 Liters
MSRP: $160.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Granite Gear Leopard VC 46 KI (Women’s)
Weight: 2.69 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $229.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.69 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $229.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Kelty Redwing 40 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.63 lbs
Volume: 39 Liters
MSRP: $124.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.63 lbs
Volume: 39 Liters
MSRP: $124.95
Gender: Female
More info…
Six Moon Designs Flight 40 FKT
Weight: 2.44 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $220.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.44 lbs
Volume: 44 Liters
MSRP: $220.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Deuter Guide Lite 28+ SL (Women’s)
Weight: 2.38 lbs
Volume: 36 Liters
MSRP: $149.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.38 lbs
Volume: 36 Liters
MSRP: $149.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Patagonia Ascensionist 45
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 2.25 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $179.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Exped Lightning 45 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.19 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.19 lbs
Volume: 45 Liters
MSRP: $199.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Osprey Tempest 40 (Women’s)
Weight: 2.13 lbs
Volume: 39 Liters
MSRP: $150.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Weight: 2.13 lbs
Volume: 39 Liters
MSRP: $150.00
Gender: Female
More info…
Elemental Horizons Kalais
Weight: 1.94 lbs
Volume: 43 Liters
MSRP: $245.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 1.94 lbs
Volume: 43 Liters
MSRP: $245.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet 48
Weight: 1 lbs
Volume: 48 Liters
MSRP: $195.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 1 lbs
Volume: 48 Liters
MSRP: $195.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountain Laurel Designs Prophet 48 CF
Weight: 0.88 lbs
Volume: 48 Liters
MSRP: $255.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 0.88 lbs
Volume: 48 Liters
MSRP: $255.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38
Weight: 0.81 lbs
Volume: 38 Liters
MSRP: $180.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 0.81 lbs
Volume: 38 Liters
MSRP: $180.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Mountain Laurel Designs Burn 38 CF
Weight: 0.75 lbs
Volume: 38 Liters
MSRP: $240.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
Weight: 0.75 lbs
Volume: 38 Liters
MSRP: $240.00
Gender: Unisex
More info…
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Ultimate Guide to Lightweight Sleeping Bags
My Current
Backpacking Gear List
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I’m not certain exactly when this list was created, but what about Superior Wilderness Designs? They have a 50L Long Haul, a Superior 40L (frame and frameless) and a 35L frameless, all of them under 2 lbs.
Also, there’s Waymark Designs.
Thanks for this list man!
Granite Gear Virga 2. 19 oz in medium/regular, 54L $140
http://www.granitegear.com/outdoor/backpacks/virga-2.html
A forum post by a friend made me realize you’ve missed listing Montbell packs too.
http://www.montbell.us/products/list.php?cat_id=11
Great post, have now read both lists you’ve made and will be waiting on the sleeping bag and sleeping pad posts!
With Backpacks its hard to hit them all of course, but another brand I have and enjoy is Vaude. I have the Brenta 40 which weighs in at 1295g or ~ 2lbs 14oz. It comes with a detachable rain cover which could save extra weight if need be too.
There are a number of packs from macpac.co.nz that are under 3 pounds: Tasman 45, Weka 40, Pursuit 40 and Alpine Series, Amp40
Good list. I bought the MyTrailCo 70L pack a couple hundred miles ago and haven’t looked back. At first, I was a little concerned about the frame sheet, but with a sleeping bag in the back pocket the pack has more than enough rigidity. Only problem to date was a suicidal water bottle jumping out of a side pocket when I leaned against a rock on Mt. Williamson.
Yep, second that. Looking for the Aarn packs. Good list there so that weights and capacities can be easily compared.
Bergans of Norway. I discovered the Helium 55 by pure accident and now I can’t imagine my life without. As a Californian, backpacking with a bearvault is a standard way of life, and this is one of the few bags that can fit it without misshaping the bag and crushing your spine. Before I did the JMT last year, I tried almost every major brand on this page (and I own tons of REI and Osprey packs), but none of them handle a Bearvault like a Bergans. I highly recommend checking them out and adding them to your list.
Where are the Aarn packs?
Good list, but you missed the Seek Outside packs. Using a 4 lb. limit, there are several that meet your criteria. However, my favorite and the one that I will be carrying on my AT thru hike next year is their Divide 4500. At sub 3 lbs., a true external frame pack that carries better than internal frame packs and with absolutely the best hip belt that I have ever used it is a really awesome pack!