Between Brady and I, he is definitely the gear enthusiast. Prior to our John Muir Trail hike, I used an old-school backpack I got from Goodwill. It served me fine for the over-nighters and weekend trips I was used to, but I’m really grateful for Brady’s knowledge and research that led me to invest in a good pack. I purchased my Gossamer Gear Mariposa only a month before our trip, and I quickly saw what made this pack such a cult favorite with the outdoor community.
Disclosure: I purchased this pack at full price, and am not affiliated with Gossamer Gear in any way.
Tech Specs
Before I get into the review, here are the specs for this pack:
- Capacity: 60 liters (up to 35 lbs.)
- Weight: 32.7 oz.
- Materials: High tensile strength 100D and 200D Robic nylon, Darlington mesh, foam
- Frame/ Suspension: Removable internal aluminum frame
- Pockets: 7
- Made In: Mexico
- MSRP: $225 USD (backpack only), $270 with hip belt
This pack is sold in three sizes:
- Small (17.25”, 11.5”-15.5” torso)
- Medium (20.25 “, 15.5”-19.5” torso)
- Large (23.25”, 19.5”-23.5” torso)
Hip belts are sold separately, in three sizes:
- Small (24”-34” waist)
- Medium (30”-40” waist)
- Large (38”-50” waist)
I like this separation because it allows for a more custom fit than some other packs. Sometimes a removable hip belt can mean a flimsy connection (and therefore poor load transfer), but that's not an issue you have to worry about with this pack (which I'll explain below).
KEY FEATURES
As lightweight removable frame packs go, this one is pretty feature rich. Here’s the breakdown.
- One large main compartment with fold-over style closure (called “Over-the-top” by GG, secured with buckles)
- 3 solid nylon side pockets (one side has one long one, the other two short ones)
- One large mesh back pocket
- Zippered stash pocket on the fold-over piece
- Hydration sleeve and port
- Many small loops for modular strapping on of other gear
- Removable foam back panel (doubles as a sit pad)
- Removable hip belt
- Hip belt pockets (on the small side)
- D-rings for trekking poles
- Ice axe loop
Layout
As is common with lightweight packs, the layout is pretty simple. It has one large main compartment, closed by a unique fold-over style closure. The fold-over is connected to buckles, which allows for nice vertical compression built into the closure system. It doesn’t have any horizontal compression however, which for a 60 liter pack seems like it would be useful (though certainly not necessary).
Another unique thing about this pack is the side pockets. One side pocket is very long, spanning about ¾ of the height of the pack body. The other side has two short pockets, one above the other. This makes for easy organization (as well as access while walking) and means you can kind of distribute more gear into assigned outer pockets.
The asymmetry looks goofy at first, but it turns out to be very useful. I used the short pockets for small things like snacks and sunscreen, and the long pocket for a water bottle. It also has a large mesh back pocket which is great for drying out wet gear, and generally shoving random stuff into that you might need throughout the day (gopro, rain jacket, etc.).
One thing I noticed was that while the hip belt pockets aren't tiny, they're on the small side, and the access zipper is inexplicably small. It only runs about 2/3 of the way along the top of the pocket, which isn't quite big enough to get a hand in. This really didn't turn out to be a big issue for me, but for those that use their hip belt pockets a lot, fidgeting with the small opening and trying to get stuff out of there could be annoying.
Suspension
The Mariposa utilizes an internal aluminum frame stay system, common to lightweight packs. Part of what makes this pack so comfortable is how well that frame transfers weight to the hip belt. It has super strong, tight fit attachment pockets that hold the frame to 2 whole inches of hip belt. This ensures great load transfer, and it almost makes you feel like you’re wearing a classic full-frame pack.
It also has a cushy foam back panel, so you don’t really feel the frame stays in your back like you can with other similar packs. It can get a little sweaty, but other than that it’s a huge comfort boost. Plus, the back panel is easily removable and can be used as a sit-pad. You can't pull it out and expect to get it back in easily with the pack loaded up, but it's convenient for camp. Multi-use gear is good gear.
PROS
Comfort
As far as comfort goes, I give this backpack a 10/10. The hip belt and shoulder straps were very cushioned and the weight was perfectly distributed. I’ve never used a pack that I thought was anywhere near this comfortable. It goes without saying that the pack itself is also very light, which I greatly appreciated on the trail.
Organization
I also really loved the mesh pockets (useful for drying socks on the go), and the pack also has some loops for securing ice axes, trekking poles, etc. For a lightweight pack, it has awesome organizational features that make it easy to put stuff where you want it and access it when you need it.
CONS
Durability
As a disclaimer, I have to be honest: I have always been notoriously hard on gear. It’s also a given that with a lot of ultralight gear, you often sacrifice some durability. Still, I was very saddened that my pack had a large rip in the bottom by the end of our 16 day John Muir Trail adventure.
To be fair to Gossamer Gear, they point out on their website that ultralight gear is, by definition, delicate, and it’s the users responsibility to handle it with care. I expected it to do a little better than that, but you live and learn. It’s still a great pack, and I’m sure it’ll live to see more trips even with some battle scars.
Recommendation
Overall, I think that if you take extra care to be gentle with this pack, it is worth the investment. It is unparalleled in comfort, and a great pack for thru hikes, weekend trips, and over-nighters alike.
If the durability is an issue for you, check out Brady's review of the absolutely bomber Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest. And if you have any questions or concerns I'd be happy to answer them in the comments!
This is really helpful, thanks Alyssa! My wife and I are currently in the market for new UL packs since our current Gregory (mine) and Osprey (hers) are nearly 5 pounds a piece. We have recently started looking for ways to lighten our loads and the pack is a big area of focus. There are so many options out there (I’m also looking at the HMG that Brady reviewed) that it can get a bit overwhelming, so it’s nice to read real people’s experiences with the packs.
Of course, I’m happy you two found it useful! I love the bag, but as someone who is tough on gear I figured I should address the durability factor too. I feel you on the number of options out there being overwhelming, especially with all the cottage gear manufacturers these days!
Hey! I recently bought this pack for my upcoming trip on the JMT this summer. I loaded up some of my gear and am having a really hard time getting it to fit comfortably with a loaded bear can (BV500). How did you typically pack your pack so that the bear can wasn’t uncomfortable?
Thanks!
Hey there! It’s a little awkward with a bear can, what I usually did was to put the can inside the bag right side up, and use my clothes and other soft gear to pad the sides a bit. I still felt the can, but it wasn’t as uncomfortable. I hope this helps!