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The Best New Backpacking Rucksacks for 2019

Here at Ultralight Outdoor Gear we have a huge range of excellent, and ultralight, backpacking rucksacks – but if you're wondering which ones are NEW for 2019 we’ve highlighted our favourites on this page:

Jump to Granite Gear

Jump to Gossamer Gear

Jump to Montane

Jump to Osprey

Granite Gear

Granite Gear make superb backpacking rucksacks and have done for years. Their flagship pack is the Crown 2, a 60 Litre pack that weighs in at around a kilogram yet carries loads up to 15kg comfrtably. If you like a bit more comfort, or need to carry a heavier load than this then the Granite Gear Blaze has always been the pack to go for - at a weight of around 1.3kg it has a stiffer and more padded harness system that's a degree more comfortable than the Crown 2.

New for 2019 the Blaze Pack has been updated:

The Blaze 60 is built to go the distance, comfortably and tailored to you.

The A.C. frame let's you lock in your fit precisely to your torso size. The frame, in combination with the patent-pending fully adjustable Re-Fit hip belt and the molded foam back panel, lets the pack comfortably carry up to 50 lbs.

The custom fabric is an innovative technology that makes this our most durable pack to date. In the high-impact and high-abraison areas, we're using a Granite Gear exclusive 210D Robic nylon UHMWPE triple ripstop.

The lid, which is fully removable to cut grams, can be converted to an optional chest pack to carry on your front to keep even more contents at the ready. A tall vertical hidden zipper now allows you to access to main compartment quickly, especially to get to those contents at bottom of pack.

Gossamer Gear

This is a completely new brand for us this year and we’re very pleased to be selling a full range of their rucksacks and accessories. Based in the US Gossamer Gear have an amazing reputation among the ultralight community at home and abroad, their packs are very light without sacrificing comfort but they are also designed by backpackers – which means they have the right features that work. Their motto is Take Less, Do More.

The two stand-out backpacking models are the Mariposa 60 and the Gorilla 40

Mariposa 60

Our bestseller. With a removable internal frame, load lifters, and 7 built-in pockets, this is a gear-hauling workhorse that weighs in at just 2 pounds.

This award-winning pack’s roomy main pocket holds your shelter, clothing, sleeping pad and food. There are seven extra pockets - one mesh for wet stuff, two easy-to-reach for water and high-energy snacks, and the rest for whatever else. Made of custom 100 and 200 denier Robic nylon fabric, this tough, light pack delivers a very comfortable carry even with overloaded with 35 pounds of gear.

Gorilla 40

Back to the old style lid with upgraded features like lighter, tougher fabric and a release buckle for your side compression this is the best Gorilla EVER.

Lightweight but surprisingly durable, the Gorilla is suitable for shorter trips or hikers who know how to crush it in the minimalism department.

The Gorilla holds everything you need when you refuse to bring everything. Winner of Outdoor Gear Lab’s Editor’s Choice award for best mid-volume light backpack, its versatility, durability and comfort make it the best weekend companion you’ll ever have. Also works on longer trips and through hikes with itineraries including grocery/laundry opportunities.

Montane

Innovation is at the heart of everything Montane do, when they showed us the Trailblazer packs we got very excited, they’ve matched a vest harness with a conventional hip belt to create an amazingly stable unit. They are the first ones to do it. The largest pack in the series is 44 litres, which is a good size for an adventure racer or ultralight backpacker looking to move fast.

Trailblazer 44

When self-sufficiency is key, the Trailblazer® 44 allows you to move fast and light over long-distance mountain trails, where low-weight, stability and quick access to your kit is essential. The innovative Montane® COVALENT harness delivers a customisable, body-hugging fit without restricting movement. With a plentiful 44-litre storage capacity and a multitude of pockets, it offers easy access to hydration, food and essential kit while on the move.

Trailblazer 30

The Trailblazer® 30 is designed for rapid, long-distance mountain trails, where low-weight, stability and quick access to your kit is essential. The innovative Montane® COVALENT harness delivers a customisable, body-hugging fit without restricting movement. With an ample 30-litre storage capacity and a multitude of pockets, it offers easy access to hydration, food and essential kit while on the move.

Osprey

Osprey applied their considerable design talents to the lightweight community and introduced the Levity 45/60 in 2018, an amazing mix of features, comfort and adjustability in a very lightweight package. NEW for 2019 Osprey have introduced a Women’s version called to Lumina 45/60, same ultralight package but with a women’s specific fit.

Womens Lumina 60 & 45

By combining supremely advanced fabrics and leading design techniques, Lumina represents the pinnacle of performance in ultra-lightweight packs. Comfortable, supportive, ventilated and durable, these packs are built for the long-distance adventures where every gram counts.

Lumina 60 is designed with purely the essential features, in order to minimise weight and maximise performance. A large main pocket with top drawcord access is covered by a fixed lid, which features a spacious zippered pocket. A front pocket provides space to store and easily access spare clothing, while two side pockets will comfortably accommodate water bottles. Loops on the top, front and base can be used for lashing excess items to if needed.

Lumina features a fully ventilated AirSpeed™ suspended mesh backpanel, keeping you cool and comfortable on the trail. The ExoForm™ hipbelt and harness provide excellent padding and highly effective load-transfer into the body’s strongest muscles. Advanced NanoFly™ material are used on the exterior of the pack in order to provide impressive durability and abrasion resistance. Non-exposed surfaces are built from 30D Siliconised Nylon, which provides an excellent weight-strength ratio. Lumina 60 is compatible with all Hydraulics reservoirs and size Large Ultralight Raincovers.