Choosing gear for a thru-hike is a frightening and troublesome resolution. We determine what’s and isn’t obligatory. We dial down our equipment to save lots of weight and prices within the locations we will, however there are a number of objects it’s by no means really helpful to make critical compromises on — tents, sleeping programs, and backpacks.
Nearly all of a thru-hike is spent carrying your pack, so that you’ll need one thing snug that matches your climbing fashion and the altering environments. Transitioning from lengthy desert water carries to chilly, snowy alpine zones, hikers want the precise bag to swap gear out and in of, in addition to sturdiness throughout the altering circumstances of a multi-month trek.
Many thru-hikers have constantly chosen ULA packs on lengthy trails for years for these causes. The newly launched (and vastly up to date) ULA Tools Extremely Circuit isn’t the tiny ultralight fastpacking mini bag you could choose on your FKT try; nonetheless, it’s a bag for the remainder of us, fastidiously designed for large trails, a giant lifetime, and large smiles.
Briefly: The ULA Extremely Circuit comfortably carries hundreds and lasts a very long time. Not too long ago up to date with sturdy ULTRA materials, this thoughtfully designed bag is a good choice for each the adventurer new to the path life and the intrepid grizzled hikers in search of an expedition-style pack to satisfy their wants alongside a complete path.
To see how the Extremely Circuit compares to the remainder of our favourite ultralight packs, try GearJunkie’s Greatest Ultralight Backpacks Purchaser’s Information.
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Weight
2 lbs., 1.8 oz. -
Quantity
68 L -
Materials
ULTRA 400X/ULTRA 200X Cloth + UltraStretch Mesh -
Outdoors Storage
2 zippered hipbelt pockets, 2 adjustable facet water bottle pockets, entrance shove-it pocket, ice axe/trekking pole attachments
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Very sturdy water resistant ULTRA 400X and 200X material -
Tremendous snug and extremely adjustable -
Customizable ordering for private sizes — shoulder straps particularly -
Roll prime with Y strap that may be changed -
Roll prime buckles clip each methods -
Matches bear cans each inside and on prime
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Not seam taped/waterproof -
Strap connections aren’t secured fully; can come off -
Costly
ULA Tools Extremely Circuit Backpack: Evaluation
I first used a ULA pack on the PCT in 2018 once I wanted to get a lighter and better-fitting pack for the Sierra. I ordered a ULA CDT, which is smaller than the Circuit, and it lasted me the remainder of the path and a few years afterward.
I’ve used a wide range of packs on my thru-hikes and backpacking journeys through the years, all between 30 and 75 L. After masking over 7,000 miles backpacking within the U.S., I discovered many issues I each love and dislike in regards to the backpacks available on the market and refined my style for particular gear for every mission I embark on.
I took the ULA Extremely Circuit out for its preliminary voyage on an in a single day canyoneering journey in Grand Canyon Nationwide Park. My companion and I loaded up all of our tenting gear, all comparatively ultralight, together with the entire technical gear for the canyon descent, together with a whole bunch of ft of rope, carabiners and different {hardware}, a sizeable quantity of anchor-building materials, harnesses, and meals for 2 days.
We drove out to the north rim of Grand Canyon and spent the night time camped on the rim. We awakened the following morning nicely earlier than dawn to hike and canyoneer right down to the river and hike again to camp.
It’s secure to say that the Extremely Circuit carried out very nicely climbing with the heavy pack round 8 miles throughout the rim, bushwacking, and scrambling by means of cacti fields and thick brush. We lastly made it to the mouth of the canyon, the place we donned our gear and rappelled into the crack within the earth.
Grand Canyon limestone is sharp, and the sandstone is abrasive. After a full day of sliding, scraping, and thrashing the bag by means of the canyon, the one actual harm was a small gap within the outdoors mesh pocket and a single lacking backside strap.
I used to be actually stunned by how nicely the ULTRA material held up, contemplating the bag wasn’t designed to face up to this specific expertise. This solely evokes extra confidence within the tear-resistant materials.
Over the arduous miles and 1000’s of ft of descent, boulder hopping, after which 1000’s of ft of ascent again out of the Grand Canyon, the pack was by no means uncomfortable. The adjustable hip belt felt safe all day, and the shoulder straps by no means bothered me.
Selecting the right dimension of bag and parts is critical, which ULA makes simple on its ordering web page. I took the time to measure my again and waist and made positive the shoulder strap design was the precise one for me, and it positive paid off throughout that journey.
Later, I took the pack to the Tushar Mountains in Utah for a visit with a number of elevation achieve and a heavy load. This time, relatively than loading up with canyoneering gear, I introduced my large digital camera and tripod to shoot video and pictures of the climbing journey.
Climbing between 9,000 and 12,000 ft, I hiked a loop adjoining to the Tushar Excessive Route, masking round 25 miles over two days. I used to be impressed with how snug the carry was after topping out on a number of peaks lined in snow and wildflowers. Not loaded up with practically as a lot weight because the earlier tour, my bag was nonetheless comparatively heavy with the additional gear and sleeping equipment.
Except for these two completely different journeys, I’ve taken the pack on a number of day hikes round Zion Nationwide Park to play with options and see the way it feels to make use of within the subject. I really like loads of issues in regards to the Extremely Circuit, however there are some things I don’t. Let’s break down the issues that stood out to me in regards to the pack.
What It’s Actually Made Of: ULTRA and UltraStretch Mesh
ULA has determined to make use of the ULTRA material made by Problem Sailcloth for its line of luggage. The pack makes use of each ULTRA 400x and 200X Extremely-Excessive Molecular Weight Poly Ethylene material completed with 0.5-mil RPET Movie — making it waterproof and seam tapeable (although, sadly, the bag will not be seam taped).
It’s additionally extremely abrasion-resistant, has excessive tear power, and is UV damage-resistant. Throughout, it’s good things for a backpack that meets all types of robust environments and circumstances within the wilderness.
The bag stunned me by how nicely it held up within the Grand Canyon, scraping by means of sharp limestone and clawed crops. The one factor broken throughout the canyon descent was the UltraStretch Mesh material on the outer pouch.
One other large optimistic of the backpack is the vary of sizing choices for the parts once you order a ULA pack. Torso size choices vary from small to XL, and the hip belt ranges from XS to XXL, together with the J and S straps, making it simple to personalize the backpack for every individual’s physique form.
This pack matches me so nicely compared to different luggage I’ve used of comparable dimension and worth vary. Contemplating how a lot cash hikers are spending on gear as of late, buying a pack that really matches is a large deal. ULA’s web site has nice directions and a dimension chart that can assist you appropriately select the precise dimension Circuit.
Issues That Simply Make Sense In regards to the Extremely Circuit
A number of the small issues that make a giant distinction for me are the massive hip belt pockets — it is a large consumer expertise increase for a backpack’s usability. Packing these puppies filled with what I’ll need or want usually all through the day with out having to take off or unpack my backpack is critical. The zippers on the hip pockets are waterproof — it simply is sensible.
The highest compression strap is available in two variations, the only strap or the Y strap, which is nice for attaching bigger objects like a bear canister or your new taste of chips to pack out from city. The pack can also be sufficiently big to suit mentioned bear canister contained in the pack, vertically for bigger cans and horizontally for some smaller-sized canisters, liberating up the highest for even bigger salty snack luggage.
It looks as if it’s the usual as of late, however having two ice axe/trekking pole loops on the pack wasn’t the norm for each bag again within the day. Including these ice axe loops is a good replace for the ULA Extremely Circuit and a necessity for a lot of thru-hikers on lengthy trails trekking within the early-season snow.
ULA’s “four-point-contact hip belt system” makes the hip belt uber adjustable, one thing I assumed I wasn’t going to love at first, however have come to understand the extent of consolation this added to the system.
What Might Be Higher
Just a few design selections on the Extremely Circuit stood out to me in a adverse approach. The bag isn’t seam-taped, so it isn’t fully waterproof. That is regardless of being made with water resistant material, a roll-top closure, and waterproof zippers. Hikers will nonetheless want to make use of a bag liner to forestall gear from getting moist.
The opposite function I disliked was that the optionally available prime and backside straps related with a “G hook,” which is simply {a partially} safe connection level. Whereas the prospect of the straps coming off on their very own accord is low, environments with extra snagging potential might by accident take away these buckles from the pack.
Considered one of my backside straps turned indifferent throughout a down climb on considered one of my backpacking journeys. Some sort of snapping or locking connection can be an incredible replace for this pack sooner or later for hikers and backpackers who’re taking this sturdy bag into extra rugged, gnarly terrain and environments.
It might be a bit nit-picky to say this different subject. When filled with bigger 1.5L bottles, or two bottles collectively, the water bottle pockets are barely lower than simple to make use of. In comparison with different kinds of facet pockets rivals’ designs, these are stiff and fabricated from the identical ULTRA materials, however not as stretchy the place they cinch down across the bottle.
Due to the way in which this backpack was designed, the underside of the bag is curved, and it doesn’t sit upright by itself. Whereas this forces you to pack your bag with weight extra evenly distributed inside, making an attempt to get it to remain proper facet up whereas packing up camp within the morning turned irritating.
Lastly, I might like it if the UltraStretch Mesh dorsal pocket within the again was just a bit larger. It feels a bit small and arduous to sift round in when I’ve a number of objects and a jacket jammed into it. Whereas it retains the pack profile sleeker and fewer simple to snag, I’d like to see a pocket that makes it simpler to get objects out and in of.
Is the ULA Extremely Circuit Well worth the Hype?
The ULA Extremely Circuit is a incredible again for thru-hikers on trails just like the PCT or CDT, the place hikers will encounter lengthy carries, traverse all kinds of terrain and path circumstances, and desire a pack to final that does nearly every thing.
There may be sufficient room on this 40L inside pack to suit the requirements for a three-season thru-hike, and the bells and whistles on the surface are good, with no pointless parts included. There’s a purpose the Circuit is among the hottest packs on the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails. We wish the trusty sturdiness and luxury of a pack like this.
Chances are you’ll suppose that this isn’t the pack for you — it received’t be the proper bag for everybody. Coming in between $397 and $414, it actually received’t be in everybody’s worth vary. There are cheaper and lighter packs available on the market for Ultralighters, however not all of them have the identical load-carrying capability for these lengthy sections of roadless backcountry.
For climbing in bear canister territory, lengthy meals/water carries, moist circumstances, and rugged terrain, it is a nice backpack for the all-summer thru-hike or shoulder-season traveler.
Through-hikers in search of a custom-made light-weight backpack that may final for a couple of thru-hike carrying all of your gear and meals throughout deserts and mountain ranges all summer season lengthy, that is the bag for you.
ULA Extremely Circuit Pack: Conclusion
ULA Tools has discovered an incredible place within the center for its ultralight backpacks in comparison with rivals. The Extremely Circuit pack is perhaps a bit heavier than a number of the different packs with related quantity, however the load capability is healthier. In the identical vein, some packs carry barely heavier hundreds, just like the Hyperlight Southwest, however the ULA one-ups them in adjustability with out compromising the burden of the backpack itself.
So, no, it received’t be the pack you’ll saddle up in on your calendar 12 months Triple Crown. However is the Extremely model of the pack definitely worth the added $80 wanted to trim it out in super-durable ULTRA material? That’ll rely in your deliberate utilization.
Effectively-worn path? Go along with the common Circuit. However a thru-hike of the Hayduke Path? Greatest to seize the Extremely model. That added thick pores and skin might be paying out dividends for miles to come back.
