GEAR GUIDE: Frameless Backpacks

Gear Guide Criteria:

Included in this Gear Guide are "Ultralight" Frameless Packs, defined as those packs meeting the following criteria:

• Weight of less than 32.0 oz (900 g). Frameless packs that weigh more than 32.0 oz are generally considered "heavy" and not consistent with a lightweight backpacking philosophy. While they sometimes offer durable fabrics, they often contain extraneous features or pack volume not normally used by practitioners of lightweight backpacking.
• Volume range between 2,000 ci (30L) and 5,000 ci (80L). Packs with a volume of less than 2,000 ci are generally considered to be "day" packs, while packs greater than 5,000 ci are generally considered to be "expedition" packs. Day packs are too small for all but the shortest backpacking trips (e.g., overnighters) with a very compact kit and little food. Expedition packs, when packed with lightweight, compact gear, are well-suited for very long treks requiring significant food weight - but not without a frame!
• Volume:weight ratio > 100 ci/oz. Packs with a volume:weight ratio less than 100 ci/oz are typically made with a great deal of extraneous features, ultra-durable fabrics, or complexity that is not necessarily consistent with lightweight backpacking philosophy, and are thus, excluded from this gear guide.