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With its combination of comfort, adjustable capacity, and a zipperless design, the Nexus Lite 35-50L Rucksack stands out as a reliable, adaptable pack perfect for various trip lengths and challenging terrain. It is an ideal companion for those who value innovation and functionality on multi-day adventures.
Sierra Designs says:
The perfect pack is simply the one you haven’t met yet. Lightweight, comfortable and adjustable: we built a backpack to achieve the coveted trifecta of perfect backpacking gear design. Our innovative zipperless Nexus Lite backpacking backpack meets the next-level needs of backpackers who seek side trips and mini missions along the way. The one-of-a-kind zipperless backpack construction eliminates common gear malfunctions while also providing faster, hassle-free access to the contents inside. The removable top and front panels slim down the backpack’s profile for shorter day hikes from basecamp and quickly reattach when you’re ready to make a final descent to the car. Heavy loads? No sweat with our innovative Y-Flex suspension that redirects weight from shoulders to hips for a more comfortable, all-day fit.
Our Verdict
The Sierra Designs Nexus Lite 35-50L Rucksack is a versatile, innovative backpack; its modular design allows you to adjust the volume between 35 and 50 litres, allowing the bag to excel as a dedicated “backpacking” bag and day bag. The pack’s 5-litre hood and 10-litre garment bag can be removed or added based on the needs of each trip, and the garment bag even doubles as a backcountry pillow, a thoughtful touch for comfort at camp. The standout feature here is the fully zipperless design, which eliminates one of the most common points of failure and provides quick, hassle-free access to your gear, reducing downtime on the move.
Weighing just 1,443 grams, the Nexus Lite strikes an impressive balance between weight savings and durability. Sierra Designs’ Y-Flex suspension system effectively transfers weight from shoulders to hips. This design allows natural body movement, providing stability and support on uneven terrain; the pack feels like it moves with you, which I appreciate.
Storage on the Nexus Lite 35-50L is thoughtfully designed, with two mesh side pockets for quick-access items like water bottles, a large front stretch pocket for bulky essentials like wet-weather gear, and two zipless hip-belt pockets. The shoulder straps include two water bottle pockets with drawstrings for added convenience. While practical, the hip-belt pockets are too small for larger phones, which some may prefer to keep within easy reach on the trail. The shoulder strap pockets can hold a phone, but their shallow depth means you must tighten the drawstring for security, which makes it less accessible.
The pack’s modularity, allowing you to shed the 5-litre hood (118g) and 10-litre garment bag (169g), is impressive. However, with these removed, you’re left with a 35-litre pack weighing 1,156g—a bit hefty compared to most day packs. The Nexus Lite is designed for comfort with heavier loads, far surpassing a standard day pack in load-carrying ease, making this trade-off worthwhile for those prioritising support over minimal weight.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- Innovative fully zipperless backpack design protects against common gear malfunctions
- Ultralight backpack construction cuts weight without sacrificing backpack versatility
- Modular design with 4 different configurations to tailor backpack for each trip or to slim down the main backpack for summit hikes
- 15L adjustable volume with removable 5L hood and 10L garment bag
- Removable front garment bag comes with a soft lining to convert into a backcountry pillow
- 2 stretch mesh side pockets to easily store backpacking trail essentials
- Stretch mesh shove it front pocket for easy access storage
- Lightweight Y-Flex suspension provides increased support and improved weight transfer
Specifications
- Weight: 1443g
- Volume: 35L - 50L
- Cubic Inches: 2136 - 3051
- Waist Belt: 33-50 in / 84-127 cm
- Torso: 18-21 in / 46 - 53cm
Material & Construction
- Y-FLEX ALUMINUM STAY - A central aluminum hub and three separate stays allow our Y-Flex suspension to comfortably carry any load. The Y-Flex adds support while keeping our packs lightweight and comfortable.
- Flex Gusset - The capacity of your pack is up to you with the patent-pending flex gusset found in the Flex Family of packs. The horizontally expanding gusset changes the volume of the pack to perfectly fit any load the pack can carry. Rather than just compress the pack, you’re able to tailor the pack to fit your needs.
- Adjustable Torso - Fine-tune your pack fit with easy-to-adjust torso length systems. Made for changes on the fly, the adjustable system gives you the ability to customize the pack to fit torsos 16” - 21.”
