Gossamer Gear Backpacks: All 8 Overnight Packs Compared
How we did this: we read the spec tables on Gossamer Gear’s product pages for all eight of its overnight backpacks, checked on 29 Sep 2026. Sized packs are compared at medium with the standard belt. We have not field-tested these packs.
Gossamer Gear sells eight overnight backpacks, from the 7.9 oz Murmur 36 to the 34.2 oz Mariposa 60. The simplest way to choose between them is the load rating each one carries: Gossamer Gear publishes a comfort figure for seven of the eight, from 15 lb to 30 lb. Weigh your full pack with food and water, then pick the lightest pack rated for it.
Gossamer Gear backpacks compared
| Pack | Weight | Volume | Comfort load | Max load | Frame | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 | 34.2 oz (M) | 60 L (36 L main) | 30 lb | 35 lb | PVT aluminum frame, pivoting hipbelt | $315 |
| Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 | 31.9 oz (M) | 50 L (32 L main) | 25 lb | 30 lb | PVT aluminum frame, pivoting hipbelt | $275 |
| Gossamer Gear G4-20 Ultralight 42 | 24.8 oz (M) | 42 L (30 L main) | 25 lb | 30 lb | Frameless | $205 |
| Gossamer Gear Mirage 40 | 18.6 oz | 40 L | Not listed | 25 lb | Carbon fiber X-frame, adjustable torso | $450 |
| Gossamer Gear Skala 38 | 20.4 oz | 38 L (30 L body) | 20 lb | 25 lb | Frameless | $225 |
| Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 | 20.0 oz (M) | 36 L (28 L main) | 20 lb | 25 lb | Frameless | $180 |
| Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36 | 21.5 oz (M/L) | 36 L (28 L main) | 20 lb | 25 lb | No frame listed | $190 |
| Gossamer Gear Murmur 36 | 7.9 oz (10.7 oz with torso pad) | 36 L | 15 lb | 20 lb | No frame listed; foam torso pad | $350 |
Source: Gossamer Gear product pages, checked 29 Sep 2026. Weights are Gossamer Gear’s totals; (M) = size medium with the standard belt.
Choose a Gossamer Gear pack by what you carry
| Full pack weight | Lightest pack rated for it | Next step up |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 15 lb | Murmur 36, 7.9 oz | Kumo 36, 20.0 oz |
| Up to 20 lb | Kumo 36, 20.0 oz, $180 | Skala 38, 20.4 oz, roll-top |
| Up to 25 lb | G4-20 42, 24.8 oz, $205 | Gorilla 50, 31.9 oz, framed |
| Up to 30 lb | Mariposa 60, 34.2 oz, $315 | None: 30 lb is Gossamer Gear’s top comfort rating |
Comfort loads are Gossamer Gear’s own figures. The Mirage 40 lists only a 25 lb maximum, so it is left out of this table.
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
- Highest load rating in the lineup
- 24 L across 7 exterior pockets
- Removable Sitlight pad
- Heaviest Gossamer Gear pack
- 36 L main body; bulk goes in pockets
The Mariposa pairs an aluminum closed-shape frame with a pivoting hipbelt, which Gossamer Gear calls its PVT system. Compared head to head: Mariposa 60 vs ULA Circuit and Mariposa 60 vs Hyperlite Southwest 55.
Check price →Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50
- Same PVT frame as the Mariposa
- Fold-over lid
- $40 less than the Mariposa
- Comfort rating 25 lb
- Only 2.3 oz lighter than the Mariposa at size M
The Gorilla uses the Mariposa’s frame and hipbelt in a smaller 50 L body with a fold-over lid. Compared head to head: Gorilla 50 vs ULA Ohm and Gorilla 50 vs Hyperlite Southwest 55.
Check price →Gossamer Gear G4-20 Ultralight 42
- Same 25 lb comfort rating as the Gorilla 50
- 7.1 oz lighter than the Gorilla at size M
- $205
- 8 L smaller than the Gorilla
- No frame
Gossamer Gear describes the G4-20 as a
Check price →“frameless, do-it-all companion for thru-hikers and weekend warriors.”
Gossamer Gear, G4-20 Ultralight 42 page
Gossamer Gear Kumo 36
- $180, the cheapest overnight pack here
- Removable 3.3 oz belt
- Two torso sizes
- 20 lb comfort rating
- 8 L of pocket space
The Kumo 36 weighs 20.0 oz in medium with its Fast belt and Sitlight pad; take both out and the pack body is 14.2 oz. The Fast Kumo 36 ($190) is a fastpack version at 21.5 oz (M/L), with the same volume and load rating.
Check price →Mirage 40, Skala 38 and Murmur 36
- Mirage 40, 18.6 oz, $450: ALUULA Graflyte fabric and, in Gossamer Gear’s words, “a carbon fiber X-frame with connected hipbelt for direct load transfer.” Rated to 25 lb; Gossamer Gear lists no comfort figure.
- Skala 38, 20.4 oz, $225: a frameless roll-top with a 30 L body, rated 20 lb for comfort and 25 lb maximum.
- Murmur 36, 7.9 oz, $350: ALUULA Graflyte, 36 L including pockets, rated 15 lb for comfort. The torso pad adds 2.8 oz.
Which should you buy?
- Thru-hike with long carries: Mariposa 60.
- Framed pack with a lid: Gorilla 50.
- Best weight for a 25 lb load: G4-20 42.
- Lowest price: Kumo 36, $180.
- Lightest possible: Murmur 36, if your full load stays under 15 lb.
FAQ
What is the lightest Gossamer Gear backpack?
Which Gossamer Gear pack carries the most?
Mariposa 60 or Gorilla 50?
Why do Gossamer Gear's listed weights look lower than yours?
Which Gossamer Gear packs are frameless?
The bottom line
Gossamer Gear’s eight overnight packs span 7.9 oz to 34.2 oz and 15 lb to 30 lb of comfortable load. Weigh your full pack, then buy the lightest one rated for it: the Kumo 36 up to 20 lb, the G4-20 up to 25 lb, the Mariposa 60 up to 30 lb.
Related guides
Keep building your system with these closely related guides.
- Ultralight Backpacks: The Complete Guide to Overnight Packs
- PCT Gear Guide: Best Ultralight Backpacks for the Trail
- Lunar Solo vs Gossamer Gear The One
- How to Pack a Backpack: A Practical System That Works
- Durston Kakwa 55 vs Hyperlite Southwest 55: Pack Specs
- Hyperlite Southwest Review: 40, 55 and 70 L Compared
