Zpacks Arc Zip Ultra 62L Review: Carry, Capacity and Weight
What it is
This Zpacks Arc Zip Ultra 62L review covers the women’s version of Zpacks’ 62-liter framed pack: 23.9 oz in its base configuration, $449. It is made from 3.3 oz/yd² Ultra 100X, a woven UHMWPE fabric, and pairs a roll-top with a waterproof zipper across the front panel, so you can reach the main compartment without unpacking from the top. Zpacks pitches it for five- to six-day trips with ultralight gear.
| Spec | Zpacks Women’s Arc Zip Ultra 62L |
|---|---|
| Weight | 23.9 oz |
| Capacity | 62 L |
| Price | $449 |
Specs are Zpacks’ published figures. We have not field-tested this pack.
Who it's for
Zpacks says the women’s version has the same design as the standard pack; the difference is the fit options, and many women choose the Small/Women’s shoulder straps, which are narrower and more contoured. It suits hikers who carry more volume than a 40–50 liter pack allows (longer food carries, bulkier sleep systems, a bear canister) and who want front-panel access instead of digging through a roll-top.
Design and details
Per Zpacks’ spec sheet: the body is 3.3 oz/yd² Ultra 100X, which is waterproof without a DWR coating, and all seams and attachment points are taped. The 62 liters break down as a 47-liter main body, two 2.5-liter side pockets and a 10-liter front pocket. The front pocket is made from the same fabric as the body with a waterproof zipper, and Zpacks says it fits two ultralight tents. A waterproof #5 zipper runs across the front panel into the main compartment, and two internal horizontal compression straps take strain off it. The Arc frame curves away from your back to leave an air gap and transfers weight to the hips. Shoulder straps use 3/8″ closed-cell foam with 3D mesh, with a sternum strap, daisy chains and load lifters standard. The interchangeable padded hipbelt uses V-style webbing. Each side pocket holds up to two 1-liter bottles, with drainage holes.
Zpacks Women's Arc Zip Ultra 62L
- 23.9 oz for a 62-liter framed pack
- Waterproof front zipper into the main compartment
- Arc frame leaves an air gap at your back
- Small/Women’s straps and interchangeable hipbelt
- A zipper is one more part that can fail, compared with a plain roll-top
- Arc frame means packing with the curve in mind
- $449 is premium pricing
At 23.9 oz for 62 liters, the Arc Zip Ultra is light for a framed pack of its volume. The front zipper is the feature that sets it apart: you can open the main compartment like a panel loader, and the internal compression straps keep that zipper from carrying the whole load.
Check price →Performance
Zpacks rates the pack at 30–35 lb carried comfortably and 40 lb at most. The Arc frame carries that weight to the hipbelt while keeping the body off your back. Its patented torso adjustment lets you move the shoulder straps up or down to fit, and frames come in three heights: short 17 in, medium 20 in and tall 23 in. Zpacks notes that the short and medium frames fit most airplane overhead bins. We haven’t carried it ourselves, so load it with your own kit before you commit.
Ultra 100X is waterproof and PFAS-free, and with taped seams and a waterproof front zipper Zpacks calls the pack highly water resistant, not waterproof. Zpacks itself recommends dry bags for heavy rain. The fabric doesn’t absorb water, so the pack stays light when wet.
Woven UHMWPE fabrics like Ultra resist abrasion and tearing much better than non-woven Dyneema laminates, which matters on rocky trails. The zipper is the component to look after: keep grit out of the track and don’t overstuff the main compartment against it.
The front zipper changes how you pack. You can reach a shelter or sleep system in the middle of the pack without emptying the top. The 10-liter front pocket holds bulky items like a wet tent, and the angled side pockets take two 1-liter bottles each within reach. Zpacks says any standard bear canister fits standing on end in the upper half, padded with a sit pad and clothing.
The top strap, base straps and side compression cords take care of stability and lashing. The side cords will hold trekking poles or an umbrella standing in the side pockets, and rolling the top down and cinching the sides compresses the pack for shorter trips.
The tradeoffs
The main trade-off is the zipper. It adds convenience and a little weight, and any zipper is a potential failure point that a plain roll-top doesn’t have. Zpacks mitigates this with a waterproof #5 zipper and internal compression straps, but it still pays not to overstuff the pack.
The second is the frame shape. An arced frame that holds the pack off your back improves airflow, but you have to pack around the curve: put dense items like food and water close to your back, and pad hard items such as a canister.
Is it worth it?
At $449, it sits at the premium end of ultralight packs. You’re paying for Ultra 100X fabric, a framed build at under 24 oz, and front-panel access. For long-distance hikers who carry 5–6 days of food, that’s good value. For occasional overnighters, a smaller or cheaper pack makes more sense.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you regularly carry more than Zpacks’ 40 lb maximum, if you’d rather not have a zipper on your main compartment at all, or if your trips never need 62 liters.
FAQ
How does the Arc frame work?
Is the Arc Zip Ultra waterproof?
How much weight can it carry?
How is the women's version different?
Does a bear canister fit?
The bottom line
The Arc Zip Ultra 62L is a 23.9 oz, 62-liter framed pack in Ultra 100X with front-panel access, rated to 40 lb. Choose it if you want roll-top simplicity plus a zipper into the main compartment for multi-day trips. If you don’t need that access, a roll-top-only pack is simpler.
Related guides
Keep building your system with these closely related guides.
- Hyperlite Southwest Review: 40, 55 and 70 L Compared
- Ultralight Backpacks: The Complete Guide to Overnight Packs
- Overnight Packs
Further reading
Authoritative sources to go deeper on the topics above.
