Shadowlight Carbon 60 Backpack

Shadowlight carbon 60 backpack

I’m just over 6’ and about 210 lbs and I found the Tall sized pack with the Large hip belt to the comfortable. This pack is one of the most comfortable packs I ever owned. I really enjoy the back zipper which I wasn’t completely sure about as it enables access to the bottom of the back so you can really change up where you want to locate ditty backs or other items. The outside pockets are convenient for my stove pot which never really fits anywhere conveniently in my other packs. I also like stating my water filtering suppliers on the outside of the pack. My only reason for not giving it 5 starts was that after my recent 50 mile backpacking trip the material securing the hip belt to the pack began to tear. This did not alter the way the pack carried of my last couple days but it was not ideal. Also, I secured my bear can to the top of the pack. Once you overload that buckle once, it never secures very well and so I had to use an additional strap to secure that buckle for my entire trip. I was at the upper end of the weight rating for the pack at the beginning of my trip. Outdoor vitals replaced the pack under warranty and so I found their customer service very helpful. I continue to share my positive experience with Outdoor Vitals gear with anyone on the trail.

Shadowlight Carbon 60- My First Ultralight Pack

As a casual backpacker with lots of other (often expensive) hobbies, I’m always trying to find the right balance between price, quality, and function when gear shopping. After considerable research, I landed on this pack as the perfect price point for the amount of features, quality of materials and weight savings for me. Coming from an 85L 5.5lb pack with lots of internal storage slots and external zipper pockets, I was skeptical about moving into the ultralight backpack space. Ive grown accustomed to a very specifically organized backpack. The main selling points for me were the 4 external pockets, the included hip belt pockets, the large internal zipper access and of course the weight. With the addition of some small lightweight bags, I was able to recreate most of the organization I was used to. I do wish there was at least one external zipper pouch on the pack, although the top external pockets are large enough to fit 2-3 small bags inside and they cinch down tightly. The larger bottom pockets easily fit my 1 liter bottles as well as a light weight travel tripod on one side and a Helinox chair zero on the either. The split mesh pocket seems to be a point of controversy for this pack, but I found it helpful for organization. I also found the Y strap very helpful for my bulky Thermarest cinch pillow that would otherwise take up a lot of internal space in the pack. I’ve only taken it on a short 4 night trip so far and the fit felt comfortable, although I miss the larger hip belt strap and buckle that I’m used to. The small one can tend to dig into my belly a little. Overall I’m very pleased. For the price, I couldn’t find another pack this light that had 4 exterior pockets and included hip belt pockets. The carbon fiber frame feels very flexible and comfortable. The load lifters worked well. Because it was a short trip, I brought lots of unnecessary/luxury items including nearly 5lb of camera gear. This pushed me to the 40lb limit and the pack carried it well. I would recommend it to anyone like me who is looking for a high capacity lightweight option that isn’t just a big roll top tube.

Shadowlight Carbon 60 Trail Experience

I just used the Shadowlight Carbon 60 on my first outing: 100+ miles on the PCT from Tuolumne Meadows to Ebbetts Pass. The pack was a dream and the weight was never a concern. Compared to the earlier version of the pack I found the hip belt zippers easy to use with one hand. Deeper outer pockets easily fit full 2-liter CNOCs in the lower pockets when water carries were needed. Cinch pulls on the upper outer pockets secured contents. Outer hardware made add-ons easy. I carried a mandated bear canister inside the pack. Encountered rain and hail without impact on inner contents. Pack was durable and comfortable for the 10-day trip.