Waymark Lite 50L Pack: geni.us/jjqHAwQ Optional Hip Belt Pocket: geni.us/XgkB Optional Water Bottle Pocket: geni.us/ZsjXlLy Other Gear in This Video: Zpacks Plex Solo: geni.us/ahG1KjD Nemo Tensor: geni.us/7zc0kJa Nemo Fillo: geni.us/JGBYwtT @Stakes: geni.us/qJUQJ Katabatic Gear Palside 30: geni.us/CBJbCa Helinox Chair Zero: geni.us/LR2hUH ZOLEO: geni.us/AOpo Vargo Bot 700: geni.us/N46h92n MSR Pocket Rocket: geni.us/raKi Platypus Quickdraw: geni.us/0CABg1c FarPointe Alpha Hoodie: geni.us/EGWb9nd Vargo Dig Dig Trowel: geni.us/rErjc Nitecore NU25: geni.us/3ThMg Hilltop Packs Food Bag: geni.us/HU01w Water Bottle Straw Adapter: geni.us/x0ojc8r

As a professional pack fitter with 15 years of experience - literally tens of thousands packs fitted to people - There is so much here I love to see. Perfectly packed pack, correctly fitted. Great recommendations on gear and outfitting. A couple of things I would tweak though. First, there is no one pack for everyone. We come in all shapes and sizes and some packs just dont fit some people well. It’s like buying shoes they all look good on the wall. OKay, the other thing, load lifters. Yes, packs feel great when riding close to your back. But you need to find the sweet spot. If you overtighten load lifters it shifts weight from your hips to your shoulders. (Incidentally, 60/40 hips to shoulders is our goal if you are getting 80, that’s awesome) Your hips will never get tired. Your shoulders will. If your shoulders hurt while you are hiking, your load lifters are too tight. Fully 90% of the people I see who come in and say “i can’t make this fit me” its because load lifters are too tight. On my channel I have a tutorial on pack fit and I talk about how to determine if load lifters are too tight. Great video though, as always.

Great video! I would however recommend to put the tent somewhere that is accessible without unloading your entire pack. Either on top of the rest inside, or outside in one of the side pockets. In case of bad weather you can erect your tent first so you have a dry space to unload the rest!

Great video Steven! Keep this original viewpoint of yours coming! I wish more UL backpack companies would incorporate (what I think is essential) ventilation for the back. Yes Zpacks does it, but I don’t think anyone else does. That makes me hesitant to abandon my Osprey.

I have this pack and I love it! With a single hip belt pocket and one shoulder strap pocket, it carries everything comfortably that I need. I agree that 50L is a good size. I also like how it folds down when less full, so can be used on shorter hikes or day hikes from camp as well (no daypack needed). I fit a smallish bear can inside horizontally with no problem. My small Tarptent fits in the longer side pocket which I really appreciate since setting up the tent is generally the first thing I do at camp. But the main thing I appreciate is the comfort. The pad sewn into the back, the lumbar pad, the load lifters, and the articulating shoulder straps all serve to make this a great pack!

Just got back from trip w my new custom Superior Wilderness Design long haul, has most of the same features as the Waymark , and made w the new Ultra 200/400, I purposely loaded it up w 25-30lbs and it carried it very well, they have the same double strap hip belt which is super comfy and great design, highly recommend SWD, On par w Waymark. Always good to see videos supporting the cottage brands👍🏻

I really want to like ultralight packs, but the lack of airflow against my back means that in sweating and uncomfortable before I've walked away from the car.

I have a waymark thru 40 UL (now discontinued) and it’s the best, most comfortable pack I’ve ever had. They did some sort of magic when engineering their packs.

Recently started getting recommended your videos and I love it, putting out great stuff !

I've never head of load lifters referred to as magic straps in all my years of backpacking.

I know this is probably sacrilege to the ultra light folks out there but I highly recommend anything from Ospreys AG line. The "AG" stands for "antigravity" and it truly is the most comfortable pack I've ever used. It's not going to be the lightest pack but if you go with a hybrid style of ultralight and traditional like I do, you can carry 25lbs+ and never feel it on your back and shoulders. I've used other packs that just wrecked my shoulders or my back. I now use an Atmos AG 65L and it's amazing how it cuts down on soreness. You might still feel it on your legs but if you're a tall person like I am who already has back problems before turning 30, it's a game changer. A bit on the expensive side at 300+ but it's worth it. Not too many pointless pockets and such either with a removable brain if you're going extra light and don't need it. Can't recommend it enough even though my ultralight friends frown upon it's weight

Yes sir I agree. Waymark delivers with a pack design that offers usable features, super construction, environmentally friendly materials, pays back to the hiking community with charity donations, small cottage company, and all for a fair price. Not much more to say.....

It took me a while and a few packs before I landed on my ULA Circuit. I still use a large Osprey for winter back-country snow trips. I usually put my quilt, clothing bag on the bottom, next is stove and anything else like my sleeping pad etc, then my tent and food on top of that. Works well for me...

I just weighed my 29 year old Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre 70+20, 2.2kg. Two compartments with a zip-able divider. Two ski pockets and two ice axe loops. Large removable lid can be used as a day sack. Fully adjustable back system and two internal malleable frame sections. No pockets! Only once did I fill it for ski mountaineering, damn near killed me! Still love that bag though. I need something smaller now and I like the look of that Waymark Lite.

I've been looking up reviews on the Waymark Lite for the last couple of weeks and suddenly this video pops up! What good timing!

I think you would be really surprised by the REI Flash 55. It is shockingly good for what it is. Carries weight well, super light, extremely full featured while not going full osprey or breaking the bank. I would love to see your review.

Here's me, using Kelty Redwing 44, Coyote 65 & 80. And yes I use every feature it offers, every single one. Compartmentalization is essential, but people with lighter packs just usually get excess bags to do that which is now just more weight and it's till a jumbled mess inside. For an extra 500-1000 grams mine is pre sorted and easy to access at all times.

My problem is kidney disease and only one kidney thanks to cancer. So I have to pack in extra water. Also, I live in Arizona, so most of my backpacking is desert mountains and very little water available. So packing at least 1.5 gallons of water is a must. Hence, I use a traditional pack.

I have the HMG 3400 (55L) very similar to the Waymark that you reviewed.. It does not have load lifters and I have learned that I need to adjust the bend of the aluminum stays so that they fit to the curve of my back. If not done, the stays will actually put more load onto the front of my shoulders as I tighten the shoulder straps. The pack does carry load well - up to about 35 lbs.

Agreed, great design with no excessive features 😎🤘

Gotta have chest pouches. Love my KS Ultralight KS40 but for a few quibbles like the rear mesh being non-stretch, and aide pockets being a little small. Great thing is, he'll make it however you like, so I could do it again and get perfection. 40l is a great size to challenge yourself to reconsider what's essential, but plenty of volume. The KS50 would be luxuriously spacious. Just did the Tahoe Rim Trail with BV500 inside and it did me well.

In the market for a new pack for a backcountry trip planned in September at Glacier. It's a shame the Lite has a 10 week lead time. Would love to add this to my gear before then and get some mileage with it before my trip. Good thing there are more trips planned in the future! As always thanks for the great content!!

I love the products these small companies are putting out, so much superior to the big company offerings. I used to buy a lot of Arcteryx packs and I still use them though they are getting old. I love the Altra 65 for the comfort of the load but the pack weighs 5 pounds so I only use it on rare occasions. Waymark and similar companies I only know by videos but look very attractive.

Thanks a lot for the Kg equivalent conveniently appearing in the bottom left corner. I appreciate the effort ! Cheers from France.

Load lifters need to be above the height of your shoulder, otherwise they are just stabilisation straps and simply dont perform the same function. Load lifters as the name suggests lift the weight up and off the shoulders whilst bringing the pack closer to the back also. Stabilisation straps just bring the pack closer to the back without properly lifting the weight. There are very few decent ultralight packs that have propper loadlifters. Even on the pack you showed, I would be hesitant to call those loadlifters. The suspension system is by far the most important function, well before pockets.

Agree - love my Gossamer Gear Marposa!

Great video. I have taken a liking to simple, lightweight frameless backpacks over the past few years. Prior to that, like you said, my backpacks of the past were heavy. 4-5 lbs easy.

Good video! I've noticed you do need some features on a pack instead of only one main compartment which makes the bag ultra light. I have a 35l bag that fit's my gear just fine, even not being ultra light but still... It has one main compartment with a traditional top closure over it with a zippered pocket, the only one on the pack. Then it has 2 water bottle pockets, 2 loops at the bottom for a pad or similar, and some elastic cord on the front to store stuff. Oh: and a bladder compartment in the bag. Nothing more. It's very good material that is kinda like water proof feeling fabric but I'm nit sure, as it was around 35$. It's tve Eagle products 35l hiking bag! Awesome. One trick I use is I've got a orthovox cross rider 18s and it has a mesh front holder which has hooks so I can clip it anywhere (made for helmets originaly) but I use it on other packs that have some loops to hold more gear securely, these bungee straps are terrible for heavy gear, yes they should be durable enough (they wont snap) but it slips out inbetween... I can access both water bottle pockets while my pack is on, even though I'm not flexible in my shoulders/back and also stuff under the mesh orthovox stretchy holder thing (wtf is the name of that). I use a lot of cheap hacks to carry gear: eg. one hack I use is to hold skis that are relatively lightweight and no alpine downhil skies but yes, my xc skisand poles, as well as my touring skies. I don't have to putt off my bag (like those ski mountai eering racers do) It works as follows: one heavy duty strap at the bottom of the pack which can go around the bottom part of your shoulder strap, or anywhere els on the side. It should be just big enough for the skis, not tol large, most of the weight is on that. Bindings on touring skis and the middle part of xc skis is often larger diameter so it wont fit through the loop and it holds it in place. Then you need a bungee (could be a strap but that's aquard), ideally with a hook large enoughto go around your skis and sig snugly. I attach the bunhee with hook to a loop on my shoulder strap if it has one. You cam alternatively wrap the bunge or strap around the ski and backpack loop at the top of the pack. This holds everything securely in place, even more securely when the pack is full, otherwise the straps need to be tighter. I find the diagonal to be more secure and I attach my poles the same way to my runnibg pack as they are fixed length non foldable style...

I couldn't pass up the 50% off deal REI is running right now on its FlexLite Air chair. I was pretty adamant about not taking a chair, but since my main reason was how expensive the Helinox chairs are, it looks like on my next trip I'm going to #TakeASeat.

Thanks for the link for bottle straw adapter. I had been thinking about DYI a solution. So that saved me sometime and it color matches my pack! 👍🏻

I have found hunting backpacks far more comfortable for hauling my gear, despite the weight penalty they have. They are adjustable in many ways, and designed to carry big loads or small loads with ease.

Thanks for your review, I am new to hiking/backpacking; I am currently looking at packs and tents right now.

I bought an Osprey Atmos, 55 l, and I went on a trip in Guatemala. I brought with me so much stuff I didn't use. The pack was 22 kg. I learned to go ultralight. Now I travel with a 40 l, ultralight duffel pack, about 500 g. I don't carry more than 12 kg, including the laptop, even if I stay away for 6 months. That's all I need to live. My duffel pack has a single big compartment, then I use ultralight pack cubes. Don't bring what is not necessary essential, no matter if it's for hiking or travelling, just take what is strictly necessary. If you are unsure you would use a gear, leave it at home. Minimalist and ultralight changed my lifestyle completely. Decluttering made me happy.

Thank you for not using "tons" in your videos as universal adjective. So refreshing.

I already have the Hyperlite, but this pack looks really nice! It took me a minute to figure out what size to get to really make sure the load was on my hips. The Waymark price is way better, I do admit.

Love my Mountainsmith Scream 55. It’s not ultralight at 2 lbs 13oz but it’s damn comfy and can easily do 30-35lbs. Plus, Mountainsmith is such an underrated company. I really love their stuff as well as Granite Gear. Both have solid products and just aren’t reviewed as much as many other brands.

I need/want a pack with good back ventilation. It won't keep me from sweating, but it will minimize sweat pimples and heat rash that I often get when I use one of my smaller day packs. I also want some bottom straps/gear loops to attach my chair or foam pad.

I love your videos. Concise, informative. To the point

I use the EVLV 38L for my UL summer load out. Had to get rid of all stuff sacks as my last weight saving activity. 😂

First thing I look at in a pack is the harness. If the hipbelt and shoulderstraps aren't comfortable, it doesn't matter how great the rest of the pack is. I 100% agree on the harness. I very much would appreciate the ability to carry the weight on my chest and not on the arms. I have no idea why manufacturers don't understand this. Yes, accomodations have to be made for women, but for men I would very much appreciate a chest harness system.

Great timing. I just bought my ULA Catalyst, my first pack. It is a larger pack, 3lbs, but I think it otherwise meets your requirements for a good pack. My base weight is about 14lbs and I may have to beef that up if I have to carry gear for my family. What do you think of the ULA packs?

Good back ventilation is one thing that, in my opinion, adds great value to a backpack and I don't see that here. One backpack that got my attention recently is Flex Capacitor from Sierra Design, light, simple, good ventilation of your back, practical. I think my next one!

Load lifters are everything.

Nice pack. I just got the Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight 64 for myself and the Durston Kakwa 40 for my wife. The Kakwa is very similar to the pack you reviewed. I am really impressed with both packs and look forward to much lighter loads... now if I could just get my hands on a Durston X Mid 2 tent.......

I use the Rei Flash 65 on long trips when i want more comfortable warmer gear, winter hiking. The Zpacks arc blast for other warmer trips. I’m starting to try a frameless pack and see how it goes. Yar.Gear seems to work well for weekenders just wish it did have magic straps :-(

I value adjustability in a pack because my body changes daily while backpacking. So if I want more weight on my shoulders because my hips just aren't having it, I can do that. If I want more weight on my hips bc my shoulders hurt, I can do that as well. Or after a meal when you got a food baby, you want to be able to adjust that too.

It's all in the details : if you want to add all the extra strap pockets & waist pockets it's now US$374, that's a huge jump from US$280 for what comes as standard on most packs. Then there is the weight : basic pack for the largest size (XL) is already at 1,105g without the extra pockets, so in total 1,200 - 1,250g perhaps? Just taking the GG Mariposa (US$285) as a comparison you've got an extra 6.4L of space (because the largest Weimark Lite is actually 53.6L) and personally I'd rather a 60L and cinch it down than a smaller pack which I could end up overstuffing (esp. with weight differences being negligible, GG Mariposa 60L being 2oz heavier than the GG Gorilla 50L or 5oz to 8oz lighter than this Waymark at 36 - 39 oz). Love the large waist pockets & stretch shoulder pockets though - I could easily carry accessible camera lenses in any of these !

I would like a pocket on the left shoulder strap to carry a large can of bear gel that would be quickly accessible.

ULA all the way brother! Circuit for winter or longer trips, ohm 2.0 for everything else. Thanks for sharing, be safe out there!

I don't hike as much as I'd like, but have some. I imagine if you're going for weight, there's not a lot of stuff you would put in the main compartment that you aren't going to completely unpack at camp anyway. Anything you don't plan to get out is wasted weight. So the unorganized large compartment seems like a good approach.

This pack is pretty much identical to Six Moon Design's Swift X (or V) which would get you the vest harness. Especially the VX21 blue or coyote brown make for beautiful packs. Only problem, of course, is it's sold out from SMD directly but I bet they'd be willing to help you out (especially in light of your rave review of their minimalist pack).

You remind me of Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws

Sounds comparable to an ULA Circuit. I have been using my Circuit for a few months and really like it.

Great post my friend. Stay strong, free, happy and healthy. 🌞🏃‍♂️

weight high and close to your back. the right frame makes all the difference. the mystery ranch nice frame is excellent. chest straps save shoulders.....

Been watching your channel for the past 10 ish months and I love it, although I think each pack is different for each person. Saying that 65l is for people that buy bulkier gear, I disagree. Yeah you have “camera gear”, not sure what that means, but I usually carry one full frame + 2 lenses, a 360 camera with extra accessories, a drone + batteries, extra batteries for everything, solar charger, portable chargers. Then I need to get enough food that lasts 5-6 days, stove and gas, on trails that ranged from 9000-11000 ish feet (2000-3300 ish meters), from 15-50 miles, where climate goes from scorching sun to heavy rain, river tracing in between. Need my trekking poles, water reservoir, knife and medical aid kit… sleeping bag, mattress, and a tent. Sometimes a tripod to get my long exposure shots with the composition just right. I live in Taiwan, where a small island houses 268 peaks above 10000 feet, which includes the famous 100 high mountains peaks collection, where lots of hikers tries to collect them all. 40L backpacks do not even carry my 2 days trip gear, my girlfriend needs a 56L and I have a 65L. Yeah, I could just trow all my photography gear at home and reduce 22 ponds (10kg) but everyone has different priorities. I can sacrifice comfort for having the right gear just when I need it, otherwise carrying less just for the less and keep thinking about “it would be great if I had THAT right now but it is at home” is just a waste of a hike.

If the rear mesh pocket could be removed or partially removed so that you could access a zip in the main compartment, which would allow you to access stuff thats half way down, then this would be my perfect pack. I wouldn't mind the compromise of the weight of the zip and sacrificing waterproofness - my stuff is always in drybags anyway because I'm British....🌧️🌧️🌧️

ive been looking at picking up the Waymark Gear ember 60L but there website is missing a bunch of backpacks. hopefully they bring them all back.

I like the elastic pocket on the bottom of the atom so I can slide a picnic roll or tarp into.

source hydration convertitube is great i use one on a 64 oz nalgene

I have a long torso. Without a way to make the shoulder harness longer the mid of the strap is on my shoulders and the end is on my chest. I want to be able to use the full harness.

I just received my Waymark pack. I have a 2 nighter coming up in two weeks. I'll let you know how this pack performs.

I recently purchased the SMD Minimalist, largely based on your rave review of the runner's vest body harness. I appreciate you re-mentioning it as a viable alternative. (I'm pretty pleased with my SMD!) Keep up he good work. P.S. I also jumped on the REI 1/2 price Flex Air Chair sale...TAKE A SEAT!

In bear country you could pack a portable electric bear fence. A compact 2.4 lbs for huge peace of mind.

well explained, im still looking for my one and done pack. Just want a pack that has a brain, those mesh side pockets that have an opening on the side for water bottles and a back mesh pocket. Seems like you cant get a middleground without it having 18 buckles

I use military ruck bc I love molly system.

Could you maybe take a Look at one of The Bonfus Backpacks available on GGG? They seem to be quiet compelling UL Packs for a decent price but I havent seen any real Reviews yet. I am mainly interested in the difference between the cheaper Saccus 48 and the more expensive Framus 48 (which obviously Has an internal frame) and if the Higher price is worth the Higher comfort And maybe you could compare the Framus to this Waymark as they both seem quiet similiar in specs and Price (if you add some pockets to the waymark that the Bonfus already Has attached)

Ordered a Durston Gear Kakwa 40. Hasn't shipped yet but I bet that pack is gonna be talked about like crazy once everyone gets their hands on it. It's basically like this pack but 28 ounces. It's only 40 liters not 50 btw as the name suggests.

Hey Thanks great video and insight

Hey man, I was just wondering why you take a seat and not a hammock? People rightly complain that hammock camping gets complicated, but if you just want a seat to chill out it I think a hammock can be a good option. My full hammock set-up without the tarp is

Do a review of your gossamer gear mariposa 60. I've seen you use it in other videos but can't find a review

What is that bladder straw connected to the water bottle?

I must have a lid Large side pockets A mesh back pocket Front shoulder pockets And when the company gives a volume that is the internal volume Not including the external pockets!

well this video aged poorly, they are not in business anymore

I've been binging your videos for lthe last 3 days ever since I got recommended one

Good video. Thanks.

Great video, thanks for sharing

go the "Ray-Way"!

Thank you for your videos

Perfect! 👍

I don't understand why water bottle pockets aren't on all packs. Not the side pocket, a pocket in front of that like my REI Flash 55. And it's around two pounds and great! But I see a lot of backpackers talking about Waymark packs. Darwin using one kinda turned me off from checking them out. I wasn't his biggest fan. I guess that's pretty petty. But Waymark seems like they are always improving.

Well I got a Lowe Alphine Camino 40 50. Is great because I dont take to much with me because of the max 50 liter. The bags weight is 1.53 kg. How do you think about thuis bag?

So you take everything out of your pack when you get to camp? Isn’t your shelter the first thing you want to access when you get to camp? To each their own I’m just curious

I love my zpacks In OJ

I buy from the cottage industries. The one that was willing to customize a pack for me at no extra charge was the Chicken Tramper guys and the 25 liter day pack. I use it as a UL pack. It's a small pack with all of the big pack benefits including the belt. Zpacks has one addition I find very useful and that's the add on top pockets I added to my Arc Blast. Now they are available for the new Nero but mine was a 1st edition and is not capable of that accessory. My smallest pack , the Waymark mile is a very nice light weight pack that I use for overnight camping. They have the water proof , zipper , storage pocket like Chicken Tramper has on theirs. If I could take all those packs and shuffle them together like a deck of cards to a single deck , I should have the ideal pack. As a buddy of mine who likes Cars , Boats and Women likes to say ... " There aint no such a thing as a perfect Car , Boat or Women". His saying , Not my , Ladies.

Serious question: Who is 'you' you are taking about? It is a great video, but videos like these are a bit flawed since there isn't a best backpack. I would be specific and define your use and THEN argue why this backpack is the sweet spot. Just my inout

3FUL makes great simple packs

So you prefer the lite over the HMG?

Do you recommend the heavy duty mesh or 4-way stretch lycra material for the front stash pocket on these packs? Are the shoulder straps adjustable for torso length at all?

ALL packs should have a Y strap on top. Waymark needs to figure that out. That’s my main issue with their packs. My other deal killer is fabric that’s not waterproof. XPack or Dyneema is a must.

Any recommendations on frameless packs? And...Don't you use a liner bag, just in case...?

Isn't the main pocket on the LITE 40 liters?

No extra clothes besides puffy? If you didn’t have the camera gear, would the 40L be big enough?

Where can I buy it? It’s not on their website.

Hi Steven! Do you like the Waymark better than the Six Moons Designs pack? If so, why? I have the REI Flash 55. It checks off most of your points...not flimsy, simple design, large main compartment, large external mesh pocket, easy to reach water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets, and sternum strap. Thanks for another enjoyable video!

Stoked you're enjoying the LITE!

Is the osprey levity 45 is a good choice?

250-350 USD is just insanely expensive. There is no real explanation why those costs that much. They are materiel sewed together and maybe treated for water.

Next up. Durston Kakwa 40

Most important gear is shoes