The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Ultralight Backpack (up to date in 2024) is a multi-day inside body backpack that’s optimized for ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking. Now in its fifth technology, it’s an important backpack for individuals who wish to transition from carrying a a lot heavier again to a lighter-weight one, with out having to interchange all of their current backpacking gear with smaller ultralight gadgets. Many individuals additionally select the Gorilla over the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 as a result of it has two identically sized proper and left facet pockets, making it simpler to stability your load.
Specs at a Look
- Body: Sure
- Quantity: 50L (32L predominant, 18L exterior pockets) + 10L within the extension collar
- Weight: 33.5 oz / 949g
- Gender: Unisex with female-friendly S-shaped shoulder straps and two hipbelt choices
- Pockets: 4 closed, 3 open
- Hip belt pockets: Sure
- Hydration appropriate: Sure
- Load lifters: Sure
- Most really helpful load: 25-30 lbs
- Supplies: 70D and 100D Recycled Robic Nylon (PFAs-free)
- Torso Vary (a number of sizes): 16-18″; 18″-20″; 20″-22″
- Hipbelt Vary (a number of sizes): 21″-61.5″
- Canister Compatibility: the BV500 matches vertically whereas the BV475 matches horizontally in the principle compartment. You possibly can carry a BV500 beneath the highest lid pocket, however the BV475 matches extra securely.
- See Gossamer Gear for full specs and sizing
Backpack Storage and Group
The Gorilla is a top-loading backpack with a complete capability of fifty liters as much as the highest of the body, not together with an extended extension collar. This consists of 32 liters of inside quantity and 18 liters within the pack’s exterior pockets.
The pack has three open exterior pockets: an enormous entrance stretch mesh pocket that’s good for storing every little thing you would want in the course of the day, so that you don’t must cease and open the principle compartment up. I hold snacks, layers, and moist stuff in mine, together with my filter and squeeze bag.
There are additionally two massive facet pockets made with strong material for higher sturdiness. It’s straightforward to achieve again and seize a water bottle and put it again in. The facet pocket can be extensive sufficient to carry a Jetboil Stash, for instance, in the event you don’t wish to pack it inside your pack (as a result of it’s moist.) All three pockets have drainage holes on the underside.
The Gorilla 50 has an extension collar that extends one other 11.5 inches above the body and provides roughly 10 liters of capability to the pack quantity. That further quantity can be utilized to retailer a bear canister (vertically) or a number of luggage of Doritos after a city resupply. It additionally turns the Gorilla 50 is a a lot larger pack than you’ll count on at first look and provides you much more flexibility to overload it on the excessive finish.
The Gorilla 50 has an “Over-the-High” closure that’s basically an ultralight model of a standard top-lid. It clips collectively on the high after which folds excessive of the principle compartment. It has an enormous zippered map pocket, like a high, lid however is far more streamlined and light-weight. The zippered pocket can maintain numerous gear: I take advantage of it to retailer a headlamp, Aquamira drops, maps, compass, hats, gloves, PPE, my pockets, keys, you identify it. The Over-the-High closure is hooked up to the pack by lengthy webbing straps anchored to the edges of the pack.
You may also scrunch gear, rope, clothes, and even a bear canister beneath the Over-the-High closure, which is helpful if it’s dripping moist with rain or bear slobber to maintain it separate out of your gear. Right here’s what that appears like with a Bearvault BV500 bear canister, though the BV475 is a little more safe when strapped down this manner. (The BV475 additionally matches horizontally in the principle compartment).
The Gorilla additionally has two hip belt pockets completely hooked up to the hip belt that shut with zippers. The pockets are made with strong material for higher sturdiness and are massive sufficient to include a number of meals bars, a GPS, a Garmin inReach, or a point-and-shoot digicam. They’re far bigger than the pockets you discover on standard backpacks and due to this fact extra helpful. I feel Gossamer Gear’s backpacks have a number of the finest hip belt pockets within the trade and I’ve a tough time adjusting to packs that don’t present this type of handy storage.
Backpack Body and Suspension
Whereas the newest Gorilla 50 is outwardly the identical in look because the earlier mannequin, the body and suspension system have been fully changed to offer extra inclusive sizing for women and men of various sizes and styles. Prior to now, Gossamer Gear was very “unisex” in its orientation, however as the marketplace for ultralight backpacks has grown, it turned clear that girls (and folks with small statures) wished breast-friendly S-shaped shoulder straps and pre-curved female-friendly hip belts.
Since S-shaped shoulder straps are comfy for each women and men, they’re now commonplace on the Gorilla 50 and the Mariposa 60. There are additionally two new PVT (stands for Pivot) hipbelt choices out there for the Gorilla and the Mariposa: a Straight hipbelt related in match to the unisex hipbelt bought on earlier fashions and one with curved wings designed for folks (largely ladies) with curvier hips and smaller waists. See Gossamer Gear for becoming directions (scroll down the web page).
The PVT hip belts are usually not appropriate with older mannequin Gorilla backpacks, so that you’ll want to purchase a completely new backpack if you wish to improve. Gossamer Gear modified how the body connects the hipbelt, making it a lot easier to interchange (with out tearing your hair out) than beforehand. The underside of the body is curved and slots right into a pouch-like cup behind the hipbelt with the additional benefit that the edges of the hipbelt can Pivot, that’s, transfer barely up or down along with your hips as you stroll. Different backpack makers Gregory, Deuter, and Osprey have hipbelt methods that provide an identical pivot profit though I feel it’s much more helpful on packs designed to hold a lot heavier hundreds than the Gorilla.
An even bigger good thing about the brand new Pivot system is that it’s a lot a lot simpler to swap in a brand new PVT hipbelt if you wish to exchange those that come bundled with the Gorilla. Gossamer Gear sells three out-of-the-box configurations of the Gorilla with preconfigured hip belts and 5 completely different hipbelt sizes, which value an extra $25 if you wish to customise your match. Gossamer Gear will refund the $25 in the event you ship again the unique hipbelt – contact them for particulars.
The PVT body can be a 360 loop as an alternative of the 270 diploma U-shaped body utilized in earlier fashions, making for a a lot stiffer and extra responsive carry. Gossamer Gear additionally added extra stiffeners to the again of the hipbelt, leading to higher load switch to the hips.
Load lifters have been additionally added to this model of the Gorilla 50 which tie into the highest of the body and allow you to pull it in nearer to your torso and hips for a extra environment friendly carry.
As well as, there’s a new foam sit pad included that slots into mesh sleeves behind the shoulder straps. Whereas it has holes in it, they don’t present any air flow to dry perspiration in your shirt. Nonetheless, the sit pad could be very helpful to tug out if you need a dry spot to take a seat down in camp or a porch in entrance of your tent, and straightforward to fit again into the mesh sleeves if you’re able to take off once more. When you can exchange the froth pad with one other of your selecting, you wish to keep away from utilizing one thing like a full Zlite foam pad as a result of will probably be too thick and place the pack too distant out of your torso.
Exterior Attachment and Compression System
The Gorilla 50 has two tiers of facet compression webbing to compress your load and make it simpler to hold. The facet compression webbing may also be used to safe gear to the facet of your pack. For instance, in the event you’re carrying tent poles or a fishing rod, you’ll be able to cinch them beneath the compression straps to maintain them safe.
The facet compression straps are additionally fairly lengthy, making it straightforward to lash cumbersome objects to the facet of the backpack. That is very useful notably in winter for carrying foam pads or snowshoes, which you’ll’t match contained in the backpack. I want all pack makers had compression straps this lengthy! They shut with squeeze-style buckles as an alternative of linelocs making them a lot simpler to make use of in winter when sporting gloves and since they gained’t freeze closed.
As well as, the Gorilla has 10 tiny webbing loops scattered alongside the facet and again seams of the pack so you’ll be able to rig up customized attachment factors utilizing an adjunct line and some cordlocks. Gossamer Gear sells a shock wire compression set for this goal. Many individuals like so as to add a wire on the surface of the mesh pocket to dry moist socks or clothes whereas they stroll, as an example. You may also hold a photo voltaic panel this manner.
Accent Pocket Attachment Factors
Gossamer Gear additionally makes it straightforward so as to add accent pockets and digital gizmos to the shoulder straps of the Gorilla, which embrace D-rings and horizontal keeper straps. They make a number of helpful accent pockets to connect to the shoulder straps together with:
It’s price selecting up just a few of those in the event you purchase a Gorilla 50 as a result of they’re purpose-built for Gossamer Gear packs. Gossamer Gear doesn’t sew daisy chains on their shoulder straps, so you’ll be able to’t use a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket with the Gorilla 50.
Trekking Pole Holders and Ice Axe Loop
Gossamer Gear features a pair of trekking pole holders on the Gorilla that make it handy to stow your poles if you wish to hold your palms free. The information of your poles slide into two elasticated loops on the base of the pack, whereas the tops could be lashed to the facet of your pack utilizing the higher compression strap or a wire lock hooked up to one of many Gorilla’s exterior lash factors. The identical holds for securing an ice ax to the pack utilizing the ice ax loop.
Comparable Ultralight Packs w/Frames
Suggestion
The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50, now in its fifth technology, is best than ever. The brand new S-shaped shoulder straps and two hipbelt choices are a significantly better match for females or folks with a smaller stature whereas the brand new body and cargo lifters make the pack a lot simpler to regulate for larger consolation. The Gorilla is an excellent comfy pack that’s straightforward to adapt to your wants whether or not that you must carry further meals or cumbersome gear for winter backpacking, or if you wish to strip it down for a extra streamlined journey. The 2 issues that I like finest concerning the Gorilla 50 are the 10L extension collar which provides you loads of flexibility with none added weight, and the extra-long facet compression straps for lashing cumbersome gear to the facet of the pack. In case you’re a four-season or multi-sport model hiker like me, that function is a big value-add that’s fairly onerous to seek out on different ultralight backpacks.
Disclosure: Gossamer Gear donated a pack for an in-depth overview.
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