The Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 is the up to date model of the pack that made Zpacks so well-liked amongst thru-hikers. Now made with strong and waterproof Extremely 100X materials, this new tackle an outdated basic is an ultralight hiker’s dream.

The curved carbon fiber body helps to maintain the load of the pack off of your again, permitting for airflow to assist stop you from overheating. This pack is ideal for minimalist hikers who nonetheless need the added consolation of a framed backpack. 
black zpacks arc haul ultra 50 leaned against a post next to the trail with ice axe attached and front mesh pocket full of gear

Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 Specs

MSRP: $399 
Capability: 50L (37L foremost physique, 8L exterior rear mesh pocket, 2.5L both sides pocket)
Weight: 21.2 oz
Max Load: 40 lbs 
Supplies: Extremely 100X

Meant Use

This pack would finest serve hikers with a really low base weight (<10 lbs) who worth the added consolation that framed packs present. 

Circumstances of Assessment

On the time of this assessment I’ve put roughly 1,250 miles and 45 days of use on this pack between a piece hike of the Colorado Path and an extended part hike of the northern portion of the Continental Divide Path.

I’ve used this pack in quite a lot of climate circumstances, together with rain, sleet, and snow. I’ve taken it off the overwhelmed path for some fairly rigorous bushwhacking and carried it on many long-mile days. My carried weight has different between about 10-30 kilos relying on the quantity of meals and water I had at any given time.

Different packs I’ve carried, which is able to function my foundation for comparability for this pack, embrace the REI Flash 55 (2,200 miles on the AT), the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400 (500 miles on the CT), and the ULA Circuit (2,600 miles on the PCT). 

Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 Options

Extremely: Extremely material is a woven Extremely Excessive Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) face material laminated to a water-proof backing. Extremely doesn’t comprise a DWR coating and is PFAS-free. It’s extremely sturdy with excessive abrasion- and tear resistance. 

Curved Carbon Fiber Air Stays: These assist to maintain the again off your again, permitting for airflow and decreasing uncomfortable rubbing

Roll-Prime Closure: Together with the taped seams, the highest closure offers this pack a excessive stage of water resistance 

Adjustable Shoulder and Sternum Straps: Each the shoulder straps and the belt are ⅜”  thick and comprise a daisy chain system to permit adjustment to the sternum strap place or clipping on different gadgets

Detachable Prime and Base Straps: Permits you to strap further gear to the skin of the pack

Detachable Hip Belt: The hip belt is totally detachable and interchangeable, permitting you to swap between different-sized belts 

Built-in Load Lifters: Load lifter straps are hooked up to the shoulder straps, permitting for a extra comfy carry

Roomy Aspect Pockets: Aspect pockets are giant sufficient to suit two 1L water bottles every, and are angled down to permit simpler entry

zpacks arc haul ultra 50 with peaut butter, talenti jar, other snacks, trowel and miscellaneous gear in front mesh and socks strapped to top

Consolation

I used to be extraordinarily skeptical of the body’s skill to maintain the pack’s weight off my again, however I used to be fortunately confirmed mistaken. Even when totally loaded, I used to be in a position to slide two fingers between my again and the pack, which led to a considerably extra comfy carry than different ultralight packs that I’ve expertise with.

 

Though the airflow was not enough to actually maintain my again cool, it was important sufficient to make a noticeable distinction in consolation. Equally, I discovered the shoulder straps comfy and the load lifters very efficient at serving to steadiness the pack’s weight effectively.

That mentioned, the hipbelt on this pack isn’t very efficient at distributing weight. In truth, it was disappointingly ineffective. I eliminated the hipbelt of the pack for roughly a 150-mile stretch and observed mainly no distinction within the weight distribution of the pack. It appears that evidently its solely profit is to cut back sway within the pack as you progress. I do like the twin adjustment on the hipbelt, which lets you tighten the highest and backside of the belt individually.

You will need to keep in mind that this pack is designed to hold low weights. Though the pack is rated for a max load of 40 kilos, it turns into uncomfortable at round 20-25 kilos. Above this weight, the pack actually begins digging into your shoulders and decrease again the place the hipbelt attaches. This was hardly ever an actual difficulty, but it surely did make lengthy meals and water carries extra of a ache than they in any other case ought to have been.

An typically missed side of a cushty pack is the convenience with which you’ll be able to entry your water within the aspect pockets. As with all packs, this did require some stage of flexibility, however I used to be proud of my skill to retailer and retrieve water on the go. It was undoubtedly simpler to do that with this pack than another ultralight pack I’ve used prior to now.   

Sturdiness

I ought to preface this by saying I’m fairly tough on my gear. I’m a agency subscriber to the idea that gear is a device (not a jewel) and {that a} pure a part of use is abuse. 

The material of the pack held up extremely. After tossing the pack on the bottom numerous occasions and placing it by miles of bushwhacking, there isn’t a proof of abrasions or tears on the pack’s physique. There are some small tears on the netting of the rear pocket, however to not a level that inhibits the power of the pack to carry out. It’s nothing greater than a small beauty difficulty. 

I did have a part of the body of the pack snap after about 900 miles of use. The purpose of failure was a horizontal keep that connects the 2 vertical carbon fiber stays. It broke whereas I used to be sporting it, seemingly out of the blue. The pack was not overloaded and I had not beforehand seen any indicators of damage on this half.

This was not a significant difficulty because the pack nonetheless functioned fantastic, simply with out the good thing about the “off the again” function added by the body. Zpacks rapidly despatched me a alternative half underneath the guarantee, and it was a very simple repair. Nonetheless, fairly disappointing as I imagine the principle worth of this pack comes from its body system. 

Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 Execs

The Materials: Extremely is a reasonably unimaginable materials. I used to be amazed by its sturdiness and water resistance. Though I stored my sleeping bag in a liner as an added layer of safety, it was by no means wanted. Even after onerous, sustained durations of rain, the within of my pack was utterly dry. Plus, no PFAS perpetually chemical substances. 

The Weight: 21.2 oz is fairly spectacular for a framed pack. Is it the lightest pack on the market? No, however it’s amazingly mild for what it’s. 

The Consolation: At low weights this pack is extremely comfy. 

The Interchangeable Hip Belt: I dropped a hip belt dimension on path and was completely satisfied I used to be in a position to change it out without having a full new pack.

 

Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 Cons

The Lack of Fundamental Options: I perceive that Zpacks is making an effort to maintain the pack as mild as potential, however some issues ought to come normal. Issues like hip belt pockets and ice axe loops shouldn’t be offered individually. 

The Value: $399 is simply too costly for what this pack is. If I had been so as to add on the “extras” that I feel ought to come normal (two hip belt pouches and an ice axe loop) that brings the worth as much as $474.85. In the event you needed a totally tricked-out pack with all of the add-ons (hip belt pockets, ice axe loop, chest pouch to your cellphone, water bottle sleeve, further padding to your shoulder straps and hip belt, further aspect pocket, Aspect closure straps, and a V-Prime strap) you’re $663.45.

General Worth

I actually like this pack and I’ll proceed to make use of it, however I’d solely advocate it underneath two very particular circumstances.

 First, you want a low sufficient base weight (<10 lbs) for this pack to be efficient. 

Second, it’s important to actually worth the consolation added by a body. 

I believe that the middle of the Venn diagram containing these two stipulations is small. In case your base weight is that low, consolation is probably going a decrease precedence for you than weight. If that’s the case, shopping for a frameless pack makes rather more sense. Excessive-end frameless packs are lighter than this one and sometimes cheaper.

That mentioned, if each of these circumstances apply to you (ultralight, values consolation), the Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 is a superb choice. The consolation added by the body is important and will properly be price a number of further ounces and {dollars}.

Store the Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50

Comparable Packs

The next are among the very fundamental specs for packs I feel are much like the Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50L. This isn’t supposed as a assessment of any of those packs, however somewhat serves as a suggestion of different items of substances to think about. 

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40

  • Worth: $369
  • Weight: 29.6 oz
  • Capability: 49L (40L inner)

Pa’lante Desert Pack

  • Worth: $270
  • Weight: 18.6 oz
  • Capability: 43L (37L inner)

LiteAF UltraWeave 40L Curve

  • Worth: $305
  • Weight: 17 oz
  • Capability: 55L (40L inner)

The Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50 was donated for function of assessment

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