ULA Circuit vs Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60: Pack Specs
How we did this: we compared what ULA and Gossamer Gear publish on their own product pages, checked on 29 Sep 2026: weight, volume, load rating, frame, fabric and price. We have not field-tested these packs.
The ULA Circuit and the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 are two of the most common framed packs on long trails. ULA says the Circuit has been the most popular pack on the Pacific Crest Trail for four years in the Halfway Anywhere hiker survey. On paper they are close: both are rated to 35 lb, and per liter they weigh almost exactly the same.
ULA Circuit vs Mariposa 60: the verdict up front
Choose the ULA Circuit for more room: 68 L and $299.99. Choose the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 to save 4.3 oz and organize in pockets: 34.2 oz, 7 exterior pockets and a pivoting hipbelt, for $315.
| Spec | ULA Circuit | Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 38.5 oz (1,092 g); ULA does not state the size | 34.2 oz (968 g), size M with M straight belt |
| Volume | 68 L (4,200 cu in) | 60 L: 36 L main body, 24 L in 7 exterior pockets |
| Weight per liter | 0.57 oz | 0.57 oz (size M) |
| Max load | 35 lb | 35 lb (30 lb for comfort) |
| Frame | Carbon fiber/Delrin hoop, internal foam frame, single aluminum stay | PVT aluminum closed-shape frame with pivoting hipbelt |
| Fabric | ULA 400 Robic, PFAS-free DWR | Recycled Robic nylon |
| Fit | J or S straps; torso S 15–18 in to XL 24 in+ | S-curve harness, load lifters, sized S to L |
| Price | $299.99 | $315 |
Sources: ULA Circuit page; Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 page. Weight per liter is our calculation from the makers’ figures.
Same weight per liter, different packs
Divide weight by volume and the two packs are a wash: 0.57 oz per liter for both. The choice is about how the volume is shaped. The Mariposa puts 24 of its 60 L in seven outside pockets, so its main body is 36 L. The Circuit is 68 L overall; ULA does not split out its pocket volume on the page.
ULA Circuit
- 68 L, the larger pack
- Hoop, foam frame and aluminum stay
- J or S straps, four torso sizes
- 4.3 oz heavier
- Main-body volume not listed separately
- Max load 35 lb, like the Mariposa
ULA lists the Circuit at 38.5 oz, 68 L and a 35 lb maximum load. Its suspension combines
“a carbon fiber/delrin suspension hoop in conjunction with a dense internal foam frame and a single aluminum stay.”
ULA, Circuit page
It is built from ULA 400 Robic with a PFAS-free DWR, with J- or S-shaped shoulder straps and torso sizes from Small (15–18 in) to X-Large (24 in and up), for $299.99.
Check price →Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
- 34.2 oz, the lighter of the two
- 7 exterior pockets holding 24 L
- Pivoting hipbelt, removable Sitlight pad
- $15 more
- 36 L main body; bulk goes in pockets
- Comfort rating 30 lb
Gossamer Gear lists a medium Mariposa 60 at 34.2 oz (968 g) with its standard M straight belt: 18.5 oz of pack body, a 4.3 oz frame, a 2.3 oz Sitlight pad and a 9.0 oz belt. (Its 34.2 oz headline figure is a small with the S/M curved belt.) Its PVT system pairs an aluminum closed-shape frame with a pivoting hipbelt. Of its 60 L, 36 L sit in the main body up to the extension collar and 24 L in 7 exterior pockets. It is rated to 35 lb, and 30 lb for comfort.
Check price →Which should you buy?
- Most room: ULA Circuit, 68 L.
- Lightest: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, 34.2 oz.
- Pocket organizer: Mariposa 60, with 24 L in seven outside pockets.
- Lowest price: ULA Circuit, $299.99.
FAQ
ULA Circuit or Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60: which is lighter?
How much can each carry?
What frame does the ULA Circuit use?
How is the Mariposa's 60 L split?
How much do they cost?
The bottom line
Per liter, the ULA Circuit and the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 weigh the same. The Circuit gives you 68 L for $299.99; the Mariposa gives you 4.3 oz less and seven pockets for $315.
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