Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L Pack is the best frameless backpack for carrying ultralight gear

Tough, durable, nearly waterproof, and weighing only 18 ounces, the Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L Pack is an ultralight backpack to behold. It’s my go-to whenever weight savings are critical, and I’ve used it to great success while guiding backcountry trips in Alaska (7 days food + guide’s gear), Colorado, and California (7 days food + bear canister).

• Weight: 18 oz
• Price: $325
• Materials: Challenge UltraX 100/200
• Frame: Frameless, with optional foam sit pad back panel
• Load Capacity: 25 lbs
• Internal Volume: 48L
• External Volume : 10L
• Pros: Super ultralight. Waterproof fabric. Extremely durable.
• Cons: Frameless. Minimal weight transfer to hips. Low load capacity.

Features

What makes this pack the lightest in my arsenal is its frameless design, meaning no back panel, no aluminum stays, minimal weight transfer, and a 20-25 lb comfortable load range.

As such, this is a professional-grade, expert-level ultralight backpack that is can only be used with a dialed-in ultralight or super ultralight kit. But if you are confident that your base weight is 10 lbs or less, this might be the single best backpack available to you.

We love its massive external rear pocket and the exciting new Challenge Ultra fabric, which is 10x stronger than steel by weight, and more durable and abrasion-resistant than Dyneema and Robic nylon. Plus, it’s highly water-resistant and made with recycled content!

Verdict

This pack is a beauty to use and to behold and we recommend to anyone who doesn’t mind going frameless.

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