The backpack I designed with @pilgrimultralight has been improved and I got a fat discount code for my subscribers! Substantial upgrades as of 8/23: - Seam taping! Improved water resistance. - Full wrapping, detachable hip belt. The max load is now 35 LBS. - Detachable side roll-top compression straps. - Note that the final weight of the pack nearly identical to the original: 22.2 oz. with the frame and hip belt (23 ounces with roll-top side straps). “backcountrypilgrim25” is good for $25 on the Ultreia until 12/31/23
Another great review... Hope it serves you well when you make your Camino quest. We pray that you are staying dry with all the snow, rain, and melt in CA.
Well done! Thanks Doug for the very thorough walk through of this pack! Your research is undeniably top notch! We are walking the Camino in 2025 which gives us some time to get some custom packs and we will reach out to Dylan! Cheers C&J
Looks like a great pack. But you’ll have to pry my Zpacks arc haul from my cold dead hands! For the money, the Ultreia looks like the best all around pack for most pilgrims, and way better than the first two or three backpacks I’ve used. The big question is durability, since this is a new pack. I wonder how long it’s been field tested. I don’t use Osprey, but many people have those for decades. Lots of smart Camino-friendly features, like the detachable wallet. I like the front utility pack for my arc haul which doubles as a Fanny pack. Also allows for more space and is more useful than hip belt pockets. Also concerned about overheating on your back. Using a foam pad won’t help much, since foam pads retain heat. My arc haul and Ospreys have a nice big ventilation space . Maybe a modified foam pad with giant holes in it would be an improvement. Like a Swiss cheese foam pad. Also reduce weight without impacting (much) the functionality. I do like the bottom pouch which my Zpacks doesn’t have. Not having the Velcro isn’t really a feature… I don’t think you’ll somehow fail to wake people up by leaving out the Velcro. Either people have good ear plugs or they don’t. The Velcro on my Zpacks makes it a tighter seal for rain and helps keep it in place when I stuff it to maximum capacity. I don’t have to cinch it down. The real benefit of this pack is opening up pilgrims to a more ultralight experience. Something a lot of them don’t have and you’ll see that in hiker boxes along the way. Keep us posted on this company and pack. Helpful review and I think the pack should be a strong front runner for first time peregrinos.
It's funny the different ways people experience packs. I and another backpacker have used Zpacks arc series and both hated the mesh back haha. I used to think ventilation was a must but I've gotten past it. The materials the pack is made of are pretty bomber unless you cut them with a knife (see my Hilltop Packs destruction video LOL!). Thanks!
@@BackcountryPilgrim i got the new Ultra arc haul and they’ve been tinkering with the ventilation here and there over the years. I love it. Went to an REI with it on as I wear it most days I walk out (I live in walking city) so i can practice with my gear and get a better workout. The REI staff came up and some wanted to put their hands through the ventilation space. The bend in the frame also helps transfer weight to the hips, esp with the load lifters. Glad to see the Ultreia pack have load lifters. My back sweats like crazy and I really noticed the heat on my back and drenched sweat on my back with my previous packs. One thing to notice though is that in colder temperatures, NOT having the ventilation is preferred. But in colder temperatures I wear my rain poncho as an outer shell that covers my pack as well. Would have to get below 30 F for me to want to do that. In 95% of my hiking conditions though, I really love the giant space on my back. In any case, consider the Swiss cheese idea for the foam pad. I even have minimalist shoe insoles that have a Swiss cheese pattern (tiny holes) that allows for more breathability in the insole without sacrificing function. And those ON shoes that have giant spaces/holes on the outsoles. But you can’t tell me that on a 95 F day in the meseta you wouldn’t want a nice big space separating your back from the back. Maybe zpack’s has a patent on their design, but I hope Ultreia comes up with an option for ventilation. It matters.
@@RC-qf3mp Thanks for your comment! We've opted to forego the trampoline-style back panel for multiple reasons. For one, cost savings! $400 is too much money for most hikers and the trampoline mesh is a complicated feature from a construction standpoint that adds to the cost significantly and also creates a weak point in the pack. I did my research and found that many Arc users have had the carbon stays snap due to the pressure placed on them. Carbon is very rigid and not meant to have constant tension bending it! It's obviously not a problem that everyone has but we wanted to strive for a really durable product that can last thousands of miles on trail. The style that Osprey uses is incredibly durable but also adds significant weight. We wanted the pack to be incredibly tough yet lightweight so traditional carbon stays and a sewn-in piece of foam do the trick. Glad you like your Arc Haul! We really admire Zpacks products and the Arc is an amazing design!
@@pilgrimultralight Thanks for clarifying the trade offs that you considered for your pack design - makes sense. It’s very thoughtful and at your price point, I’d steer aspiring pilgrims to consider your gear, esp over anything they’d find at REI (I ditched an REI pack at Pamplona). Your pack is nicely positioned. I’d definitely prefer it over an Osprey for the Camino, and those are the upper-end packs most American pilgrims would likely gravitate towards. Fine bags, but not as dialed in for pilgrim use (and neither is my 60 L Arc Haul, which has the PCT in mind, not the Camino). Most pilgrims have never heard of ‘light’ or ‘ultralight’…and only learn the hard way after ditching gear and recovering from aches and pains. Hopefully you guys can steer pilgrims to a healthier, lighter experience. Good luck with your business and I hope to see more reviews come out, and pilgrims successfully reaching Santiago with your packs on. That would be fun to watch - entire high school/college groups wearing those packs, or retiree tours. Good luck with your business and I hope to see more reviews in the future.
Nice! I wish I hadn't gotten my gossamer gear Kumo last fall. This is a little bigger, a little lighter, a little cheaper and better shoulder straps and needed hacks already hacked! Recommending to a fellow pilgrim!
No, but the material's native waterproofing makes it pretty waterproof. I hiked for about 3 hours in downpour with it and no cover and the inside was barely moist. It's a pretty big deal to seam tape packs and after my discussion with ULA on my custom backpack about how a 100% sealed bag causes other problems, I decided I didn't want it. Plus the cost would also go up a lot and we were trying to keep it reasonable. :)
I think it kind of looks like MOST UL packs haha - the overall design is pretty standard. It's the materials and features usually only available as custom or add on make it unique - especially at that price. ;)
Other than this having a frame and being made of different materials and having removeable shoulder strap pockets and two different hip belts choices and an internal removable pocket and a Y top strap and being completely customizable and not being made in a foreign country . . . yeah they're practically the same pack.
The backpack I designed with @pilgrimultralight has been improved and I got a fat discount code for my subscribers!
Substantial upgrades as of 8/23:
- Seam taping! Improved water resistance.
- Full wrapping, detachable hip belt. The max load is now 35 LBS.
- Detachable side roll-top compression straps.
- Note that the final weight of the pack nearly identical to the original: 22.2 oz. with the frame and hip belt (23 ounces with roll-top side straps).
“backcountrypilgrim25” is good for $25 on the Ultreia until 12/31/23
LOVE the meaning behind the name of the pack! But of course I do! Greatly appreciate your thorough review of the pack. Totally unique.
Yeah, I thought that would be perfect. :)
Thanks for all your work on the project Doug! We're really excited to offer the Ultreia!
Thanks for taking it on!
Great looking backpack!
Great work on the pack! We will be reaching out for sure!
Another great review... Hope it serves you well when you make your Camino quest. We pray that you are staying dry with all the snow, rain, and melt in CA.
Not super dry but the snow has been kind to me so far. :) Thanks fam!
Excellent video Doug. Really appreciate the extra detail and information about the origin of Ultrea and the fabrication of the pack. Well done Sir!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Doug!!❤
You bet!
Well designed and well presented, Doug. Very similar to my ULA Circuit but smaller. Worthy of serious consideration. Merci!
Thanks! I like it a lot. :)
That pack looks fantastic. I love the money pouch idea.
Thanks! Pilgrim UL actually already offered it as an add on but it comes standard with this pack!
Just ordered one. Thanks for the coupon code!
Hope you enjoy it!
Impressive pack. It's come a long way from the packs your dad and I used 30+ years ago! Love the versatile valuables pouch. Great review, Doug!
Thanks! We spent a lot of time working out the details!
Well done! Thanks Doug for the very thorough walk through of this pack! Your research is undeniably top notch! We are walking the Camino in 2025 which gives us some time to get some custom packs and we will reach out to Dylan! Cheers C&J
Maybe I'll see you there! You doing the Frances?
Yes we are! What time of year?
Cool. No my plan is for the Primitivo and I have no idea when haha.
Looks like a great pack. But you’ll have to pry my Zpacks arc haul from my cold dead hands! For the money, the Ultreia looks like the best all around pack for most pilgrims, and way better than the first two or three backpacks I’ve used. The big question is durability, since this is a new pack. I wonder how long it’s been field tested. I don’t use Osprey, but many people have those for decades. Lots of smart Camino-friendly features, like the detachable wallet. I like the front utility pack for my arc haul which doubles as a Fanny pack. Also allows for more space and is more useful than hip belt pockets. Also concerned about overheating on your back. Using a foam pad won’t help much, since foam pads retain heat. My arc haul and Ospreys have a nice big ventilation space . Maybe a modified foam pad with giant holes in it would be an improvement. Like a Swiss cheese foam pad. Also reduce weight without impacting (much) the functionality. I do like the bottom pouch which my Zpacks doesn’t have.
Not having the Velcro isn’t really a feature… I don’t think you’ll somehow fail to wake people up by leaving out the Velcro. Either people have good ear plugs or they don’t. The Velcro on my Zpacks makes it a tighter seal for rain and helps keep it in place when I stuff it to maximum capacity. I don’t have to cinch it down.
The real benefit of this pack is opening up pilgrims to a more ultralight experience. Something a lot of them don’t have and you’ll see that in hiker boxes along the way.
Keep us posted on this company and pack. Helpful review and I think the pack should be a strong front runner for first time peregrinos.
It's funny the different ways people experience packs. I and another backpacker have used Zpacks arc series and both hated the mesh back haha. I used to think ventilation was a must but I've gotten past it. The materials the pack is made of are pretty bomber unless you cut them with a knife (see my Hilltop Packs destruction video LOL!). Thanks!
@@BackcountryPilgrim i got the new Ultra arc haul and they’ve been tinkering with the ventilation here and there over the years. I love it. Went to an REI with it on as I wear it most days I walk out (I live in walking city) so i can practice with my gear and get a better workout. The REI staff came up and some wanted to put their hands through the ventilation space. The bend in the frame also helps transfer weight to the hips, esp with the load lifters. Glad to see the Ultreia pack have load lifters. My back sweats like crazy and I really noticed the heat on my back and drenched sweat on my back with my previous packs. One thing to notice though is that in colder temperatures, NOT having the ventilation is preferred. But in colder temperatures I wear my rain poncho as an outer shell that covers my pack as well. Would have to get below 30 F for me to want to do that. In 95% of my hiking conditions though, I really love the giant space on my back. In any case, consider the Swiss cheese idea for the foam pad. I even have minimalist shoe insoles that have a Swiss cheese pattern (tiny holes) that allows for more breathability in the insole without sacrificing function. And those ON shoes that have giant spaces/holes on the outsoles. But you can’t tell me that on a 95 F day in the meseta you wouldn’t want a nice big space separating your back from the back. Maybe zpack’s has a patent on their design, but I hope Ultreia comes up with an option for ventilation. It matters.
@@RC-qf3mp Thanks for your comment! We've opted to forego the trampoline-style back panel for multiple reasons. For one, cost savings! $400 is too much money for most hikers and the trampoline mesh is a complicated feature from a construction standpoint that adds to the cost significantly and also creates a weak point in the pack. I did my research and found that many Arc users have had the carbon stays snap due to the pressure placed on them. Carbon is very rigid and not meant to have constant tension bending it! It's obviously not a problem that everyone has but we wanted to strive for a really durable product that can last thousands of miles on trail. The style that Osprey uses is incredibly durable but also adds significant weight. We wanted the pack to be incredibly tough yet lightweight so traditional carbon stays and a sewn-in piece of foam do the trick. Glad you like your Arc Haul! We really admire Zpacks products and the Arc is an amazing design!
@@pilgrimultralight Thanks for clarifying the trade offs that you considered for your pack design - makes sense. It’s very thoughtful and at your price point, I’d steer aspiring pilgrims to consider your gear, esp over anything they’d find at REI (I ditched an REI pack at Pamplona). Your pack is nicely positioned. I’d definitely prefer it over an Osprey for the Camino, and those are the upper-end packs most American pilgrims would likely gravitate towards. Fine bags, but not as dialed in for pilgrim use (and neither is my 60 L Arc Haul, which has the PCT in mind, not the Camino). Most pilgrims have never heard of ‘light’ or ‘ultralight’…and only learn the hard way after ditching gear and recovering from aches and pains. Hopefully you guys can steer pilgrims to a healthier, lighter experience. Good luck with your business and I hope to see more reviews come out, and pilgrims successfully reaching Santiago with your packs on. That would be fun to watch - entire high school/college groups wearing those packs, or retiree tours. Good luck with your business and I hope to see more reviews in the future.
Very well said!
Nice! I wish I hadn't gotten my gossamer gear Kumo last fall. This is a little bigger, a little lighter, a little cheaper and better shoulder straps and needed hacks already hacked! Recommending to a fellow pilgrim!
That's great! And as to the GG - that's a sweet backpack and you can't have too many packs... ;)
Hmmm... A backpack and a front pack. This could work!
There ya go! Lol!
Nice! I wish I would have seen this two months ago. I'm searching for a pack, I leave on the 29th of March.
Oh no! Well, if you contact Dillon he may be able to rush it. Buen Camino!
Nice. I hope it works out for you.
I didn’t see the Ultreia on their website. Is this a special order only. The two packs they did have were much more expensive.
Pilgrim Gear changes their primary offerings regularly, but they do custom work as well. I would reach out to them and request this specifically.
Nice pack
Thank you! We worked hard on it!
Nice job Doctor. Are the seams taped?
No, but the material's native waterproofing makes it pretty waterproof. I hiked for about 3 hours in downpour with it and no cover and the inside was barely moist. It's a pretty big deal to seam tape packs and after my discussion with ULA on my custom backpack about how a 100% sealed bag causes other problems, I decided I didn't want it. Plus the cost would also go up a lot and we were trying to keep it reasonable. :)
Did you really do an interview with your doctor self? 😂. Awesome pack!
Lol I thought it'd be funny. :)
@@BackcountryPilgrim oh I definitely laughed 😂
Kinda looks like an Atom Packs Mo40.
; )
I think it kind of looks like MOST UL packs haha - the overall design is pretty standard. It's the materials and features usually only available as custom or add on make it unique - especially at that price. ;)
You've had "something of an obsession" with finding the right backpack? I am surprised you're obsession didn't cause a global shortage of backpacks.
Bwahahahahaha!
wow its like a 1:1 copy of the Pa'lante packs lmao
Other than this having a frame and being made of different materials and having removeable shoulder strap pockets and two different hip belts choices and an internal removable pocket and a Y top strap and being completely customizable and not being made in a foreign country . . . yeah they're practically the same pack.