Gossamer Gear Mariposa Review 2024 Edition First Impressions
We’re thrilled to cover an exciting 2024 update to the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, an exceptional and iconic ultralight backpack. You still get the same great external storage suite, but now with an improved frame-hip-belt-combo that moves with you, and the entire pack is made with recycled Robic Nylon. This is a first impressions review; we’ve been wearing the pack around and will update this post after further backcountry testing. Shop now.
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- Weight: 34.7 oz
- Price: $315
- Materials: Recycled Robic Nylon, 100d & 210D
- Frame: Closed shape aluminum, sit pad back panel
- Load Capacity:Â 35 lbs (estimate)
- Internal Volume: 36L
- External Volume : 24L
- Pros:Â Massive external storage. Eco-friendly design. Good value. Ultralight. Frame-hip belt mobility. Sit pad included. Lid pocket.
- Cons: Fabric not waterproof, not best-in-class. Heavy-end of ultralight spectrum. Delicate stretch mesh.
Don’t forget to accessorize your Mariposa shoulder straps with the GG Shoulder Strap Pocket and GG Bottle Rocket. Compare this to more great options in our guide to the best ultralight backpacking packs.
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 2024 Updates
- PVT Frame System adds mobility at hip-belt-frame intersection without sacrificing load transfer
- Alternative hip belt options
- More sustainable, now made with recycled Robic Nylon, PFAS-free C0 DWR
- S-curved shoulder straps give comfier torso fit
- Taller frame improves load lifter efficacy
- $30 more expensive
- 3.7 oz heavier (was 30.5 oz, now 34.2 oz)
- Minor optimizations to zippers, buckles, trim
Gossamer Gear Mariposa Unchanged Features
- 60L total volume counts main compartment and all pockets
- Exceptional external pocket configuration and storage options
- Functional sit pad back panel
- Robic nylon is lightweight and strong
Construction & Features
Like its predecessor, the 2024 edition of Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is a full size, fully-featured internal frame backpacking pack. It’s designed for medium to long-length trips, thru-hiking, and/or carrying extra gear and supplies. Mariposa is constructed with a combo of 100d and 210d Recycled Robic Ripstop nylon, famous for its high durability-to-weight ratio, and now sustainable too.
One unique aspect is how much of the volume is external storage; the 60L capacity is split between a 36L main compartment, and 24L spread across a multitude of external pockets. This makes it incredibly easy to access all of the gear you will need throughout the day, and is a major differentiator and draw for this pack vs others like it. It has all of the normal pockets you’d expect on a premium ultralight backpack, only modified with a lid pocket, extra pocket on the upper half of the wearer’s right side, and a super XL enlarged side pocket on the wearer’s left. With the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, you will never want for external storage.
The frame is a closed shape aluminum stay which connects to shoulder load lifters for increased comfort. The frame is taller than before, steepening the angle of the load lifters, thus increasing their efficacy. The frame situates into the PVT Frame hip belt housing. This connection is unique in that it allows the hip belt to move with you slightly, adjusting to your stride while keeping the pack in perfect alignment on your back. The back panel is a removable, functional sit pad that eliminates the need to carry an standalone sit pad.
Area for Improvement
To be clear, the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 2024 edition is a really excellent backpack. If we were in charge of design, we would propose the following technical optimizations, acknowledging that they would make the pack more expensive, but ultimately better. That being said, Gossamer Gear was likely targeting a specific price point and built the Mariposa as-is for good reason, optimized for a blend of value and performance, rather than pure performance as is our preference.
- Reverse pull hip belt. This feature is becoming standard on most premium backpacks, and makes adjusting the hip belt much easier with a mechanical 2:1 advantage
- More durable mesh. The airy, ultralight mesh on the Mariposa’s back panel is very stretchy and good for drying gear, but more prone to snagging and ripping than pleated static material, static mesh, or UHMWPE enhanced stretch mesh (like Ultra Stretch Mesh or Dyneema Stretch Mesh)
- Waterproof composite fabric. Fabrics such as Challenge ULTRA and Dyneema are best-in-class because they are inherently waterproof, lighter weight, more structured, and much more durable. That being said, they are also much more expensive and harder to manufacturer. Nonetheless, we would kill for a DCF or ULTRA Mariposa
First Impression Verdict: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Review 2024 Edition
The updated Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 backpack is an exceptional full-size ultralight pack, with best-in-class external storage, and now made with recycled Robic Ripstop and a frame-hip-belt combo that comfortably moves with you. This design competes favorably with other packs in the ~$300 price range where you won’t find many better options. It’s included in our best backpacking packs guide as a top value pick. Nice one, Gossamer Gear!
Don’t forget to accessorize your Mariposa shoulder straps with the GG Shoulder Strap Pocket and GG Bottle Rocket. Compare this to more great options in our guide to the best ultralight backpacking packs.
Editor’s note: We’ll update this post once we have more trail experience hiking with the 2024 Mariposa.
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