7 Most Durable Lightweight Backpacks of 2018

Ultralight and lightweight backpacks have become a lot tougher and harder to rip up over the past few years. The widespread use of Dyneema Composite Fabrics formerly called cuben fiber, XPac, and high tenacity nylon has ushered in a new era of durable sub-3-pound backpacks that can withstand the abuse of multiple thru-hikes, bushwhacking, canyoneering, and winter hiking and still come back for more. While you will pay a premium for a backpack that is both lightweight and durable, it's worth the investment since your backpack is the one piece of gear that can't fail.

Here's my go-to list of the most durable lightweight and ultralight backpacks available today. Go ahead, run these packs through your favorite backpack torture test. I'm pretty sure you'll be impressed with their durability under fire.

1. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400 Backpack

Read our HMG Southwest 2400 Review

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400 (40L) is a bomber ultralight backpack that weighs 30 ounces. Made with special DCR/Polyester laminate for durability, it's tough-skinned and effectively waterproof. There's also no mesh on the backpack and all of the pockets on the hip belt, side water bottle pockets, and front stash pocket are hard-faced with 210D Dyneema X grid-stop. Sized for ultralight backpacking, the 2400 is also available in 3400 (55L) and 4400 (72L) sizes for gear-intensive trips. Available in white and black, the black-colored packs are made with a thicker DCF/Polyester laminate and more durable, with a slight weight penalty.

Check out the latest price at:
HMG | Campsaver | Backcountry.com 

2. Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60L Backpack

Read our Flex Capacitor Backpack Review

The Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor is a top-loading, minimalist backpack with a unique top lid and two side water bottle pockets. Weighing 42 oz, its signature feature are volume adjustment straps that let you shrink or expand its capacity from 40L to 60L. This is complemented by a stiff but lightweight frame that makes it possible to haul 50 lbs loads, far exceeding those that can be carried by similarly sized ultralight or internal frame backpacks. Solid hip belt pockets and reinforced mesh water bottle pockets resist tearing, while the 420 denier nylon base resists abrasion in mountainous terrain.

Check out the latest price at:
Campsaver | Amazon 

3. Seek Outside Gila 3500 Backpack

Read our Seek Outside Gila Review

The Seek Outside Gila is a 3500 cubic inch (57 L) ultralight-style roll top backpack with an external frame capable of hauling very heavy loads that blow other lightweight packs out of the water. Weighing 42 ounces, it's made with a durable waterproof laminate called XPac that's similar to DCF but less expensive to work with. The adjustable-torso length external frame behaves a lot like a ventilated backpack, keeping your shirt dry in hot weather. The solid side pockets and reinforced front mesh stash pocket provide an impressive amount of external storage, while a wide hip belt provides excellent support.

Check out the latest price at:
Seek Outside 

4. Elemental Horizons Kalais XT Backpack

Read our EH Kalais XT Backpack Review

The Elemental Horizons Kalais XT is a roll top backpack with an adjustable torso length. Weighing 41 oz, it's made with XPac and 210 Dyeenma X Gridstop. It has solid hip belt pockets and side pockets for extra durability with a Dyneema X reinforced  stash pocket in the front. Wide compression webbing and oversized buckles add to the pack's durability. The hip belt pockets are optional and removable, which is a good way to avoid destroying them if you have to push through a lot of heavy brush.

Check out the latest price at:
Elemental Horizons

5. Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50

Read our SWD Long Haul 50 Review

The Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50 is an 29 ounce roll top style backpack made with XPac. It has solid hip belt and side pockets for added durability, with a tough front mesh stash pocket (the mesh can be replaced with a solid XPac pocket as a customization option.) The shoulder straps and hip belt are made with Dyneema X grid stop which has been reinforced with XPac for added durability. SWD is also one of the few lightweight pack makers to provide S-shaped shoulder straps, which are suitable for men and women alike.

Check out the latest price at:
Superior Wilderness Designs

6. Katabatic Gear Onni V40-50L Backpack

The Katabatic Gear Onni V40-50L Backpack is a 32 oz roll-top backpack made with an XPac body, Cordura Spandex side pockets, and a heavy duty mesh stash pocket. It has a single aluminum stay and ventilated back panel for comfort. Cordura hip belt pockets are available as an option. The side compression straps are as tough as the rest of the pack and with clip-style buckles so you can easily attach gear to the sides of the pack.

Check out the latest price at:
Katabatic Gear

7. ULA Circuit Backpack

Read our ULA Circuit Review

The ULA Circuit is a 68L roll top style ultralight backpack that weighs 41 oz. The pack body and side pockets are made with 400 denier (high-tenacity) Robic nylon, with a heavy duty mesh front stash pocket. The multi-part frame includes an aluminum stay, dense foam, and a carbon fiber hoop for comfort and optimal load transfer. The Circuit comes with a wide interchangeable hip belt for optimal sizing including large, hard-faced hip belt pockets. Male and female-specific shoulder straps are also available as an option at time of purpose.

Check out the latest price at:
ULA.com

Comparison Table

Make and Model	Volume	Weight	Materials	Price
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400	40L	30 oz	Dyneema Composite Fabrics	$310
Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor	60L	42 oz	100d and 420d Nylon	$200
Seek Outside Gila 3500	57L	42 oz	XPac	$339
Elemental Horizons Kalais XT	49L	41 oz	XPac	$360
Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50	50L	29 oz	XPac	$275
Katabatic Gear Onni V40-50	50L	32 oz	XPac	$275
ULA Circuit	68L	41 oz	400d Robic Nylon	$235
Gossamer Gear Gorilla	40L	30.6 oz	70d and 100d Robic Nylon	$215
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60	60L	32.7 oz	70d, 100d, 200d Robic Nylon	$225
Gregory Optic 48	48L	40 oz	100d, 210d High Tenacity Nylon	$190
Osprey Exos 48	48L	42 oz	100d, 210d High Tenacity Nylon	$200
Zpacks Arc Blast	55L	21 oz	Dyneema Composite Fabrics	$325
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus	58L	16 oz	210 Reinforced Dyneema X Grid	$215
Granite Gear Crown 2 60L	60L	36.7 oz	210d High Tenacity Nylon	$200

What Makes a Lightweight Backpack Durable?

I've always been a bit obsessed with the durability of lightweight and ultralight backpacks because I destroyed so many of them back in the days when they were made with less durable fabrics like silnylon. While most pack manufacturers have moved on to more durable materials and fabrics like Dyneema Composite Fabrics (formerly cuben fiber), XPac, and high denier Robic or Dyneema X nylon, the overall durability of a multi-day backpack can't be determined solely by the material used to make the body of a pack.

If you do careful analysis of backpack failure points, you'll find that they fail in a number of common areas.

• Abraded base fabric
• Ripped side and front mesh pockets
• Abraded hip belt pockets
• Torn shoulder strap or hip belt anchors
• Broken buckles
• Zipper failure
• Torn attachment points, including compression strap anchors
• Worn out frame stay slots

While the use of durable fabrics and materials helps address issues of abrasion, it's a slippery slope because tougher fabrics tend to be heavier or higher in cost, making a pack that uses them potentially less attractive to buyers.

If you want a lightweight (sub 3 pound) backpack that is going to last for a long time without a lot of pampering, it's best to aim for packs that are:

• Overbuilt with bigger buckles and wide webbing straps
• Reinforced shoulder straps and hip belt wings
• Eliminate or limit the amount of mesh they use
• Have streamlined roll-top style designs
• Minimize their use of zippers
• Use standard hardware that owners can replace without sewing.

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