Quick verdict
The Gossamer Gear Grit 28 is a comfortable, lightweight fastpack designed to move fast with minimal gear. With a secure vest harness and weighing less than a pound when disassembled, it’s ideal for ultralight hikers and fast hikers who prioritize comfort over speed.
The best for
- Ultralight walkers with very low base weights
- Express Packing Days, Max Packing and High Performance Days
- Anyone who values stability and comfort while moving fast
Not ideal for
- Heavier loads or traditional backpacking setups
- Hikers who prefer framed backpacks or hip belt support
- People who need multiple torso size options
Featured Feature
Vest style harness. The running vest carry keeps the pack tight, balanced and virtually bounce-free, even at running speed.
The biggest drawback
Fit and materials. A one-size-fits-all won’t work for everyone, and the Robic nylon body can be noisy and get wet faster than some alternatives.
In a nutshell
If your goal is to cover lots of miles with minimal kit, the Grit 28 is hard to beat for the price.
tThe Gossamer Gear Grit 28 Fastpack is an extremely versatile pack perfect for peaking, ultralight adventures, and everything in between. I’ve taken it hiking, biking, running, and skiing, and its performance has always impressed me. The running vest style harness provides a comfortable fit and keeps your gear secure. The backpack sits comfortably and rides smoothly, even when moving fast.
- Recommended RRP: $180
- Weight: 16.2 oz (14 oz without Sitlight pad)
- Ability: 28L (not including vest pockets)
- Maximum load: 25 pounds (20 pound comfortable maximum)
- Materials: 100D Recycled Robic Nylon, UHMWPE Stretch Mesh (100% PFAS Free)
Intended use
This backpack is designed for adventurers looking to move light and fast, and is ideal for hikers with an extremely low base weight (<10 pounds).
Review conditions
I have taken this pack on a number of adventures, going beyond its advertised use. Lihat juga source 1. It accompanies me on trail rides, night hikes, summit climbs, mountain bike trips, and ski tours.
Although this is my first experience with a true vest-style backpack, I’m no stranger to ultralight backpacks in general. I have a combined experience of over 5,000 miles of ultralight backpacking carrying Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400, LiteAF Curve 30, and Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra. These ultralight backpacks served as a basis for comparison while reviewing this backpack.
My carried weight for this backpack ranged from 5 to 30 pounds, sometimes exceeding the recommended maximum.
I am 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, have a 17.5-inch torso, and typically wear a medium-sized backpack, although this backpack is advertised as one size fits all.
Features of the Gossamer Gear Grit 28L Quick Backpack
Vest style harness
This backpack features a “running vest” style harness that keeps it high on your back and tight to your body. This harness keeps the backpack secure, even during high-speed activities. I never felt my load become unbalanced while running.
The straps themselves offer a reasonable amount of padding and the load is distributed across the chest to reduce discomfort. A set of dual sternum straps and a V-style shoulder strap allow you to easily adjust your load. My chest and shoulders are wider than average and this is the most comfortable ultralight backpack I have ever used.
Vest pockets
The vest features two UMHWPE stretch mesh pockets, each large enough for a 500ml soft flask, with an elastic top strap to help minimize bounce and a small zippered pocket big enough for a few snacks and a set of car keys. Kunjungi source 1. A small safety whistle is attached to the elastic strap.
Removable sitting pad
The back of the backpack features a Sitlight Pad as a back panel, which can be replaced with a Airflow pad (sold separately). The included pad adds tremendous comfort to the backpack when worn, but makes it extremely sweaty. The optional Airflow pad may help combat this, but at the time of this review, I haven’t had a chance to try it out.
The included Sitlight pad weighs 2.3 ounces, meaning that when removed, the total weight of the package is solidly under a pound, weighing in at 14 ounces.
Tank hanging loop
An interior hanging loop and covered tube hole allow you to carry a water tank inside the pack. I was quite disappointed with these features. I found the hanging loop to be too small to be realistically functional, and the tube travel was extremely minimal. There is no reservoir pocket to keep water separate from your gear.
I would have expected these features to be more robust on a vest-style backpack, but sometimes that’s the price you pay for saving weight.
Roll top
The roll-top feature of this backpack allows you to adjust its internal capacity to suit your needs. Instead of being attached together, they clip onto cables on the side of the pack to allow for vertical compression. A top strap adds additional compression, helping to hold your gear securely. All of the straps and laces have buckles that fit the gloves and I really like them.
Exterior pockets
This backpack features two UMHWPE water bottle pockets, as well as a large UMHWPE elastic center pocket and a small zipper pocket. The water bottle pockets are large enough for full-size smart water bottles, but are somewhat difficult to access due to the height of the backpack. The center elastic pocket comfortably fits my raincoat and a handful of snacks.
Lashing loops, ice ax loop, trekking pole attachment system
The back of the pack has six tie-down points, allowing you to attach additional gear, an ice ax loop, and a bungee-style trekking pole attachment system.
Quick belt attachment points
Loops at the bottom of the pack allow you to attach the Fastbelt (sold separately). I have not found the need to add this belt because the backpack already distributes the weight effectively. Although I haven’t tested this optional feature, I think it would sit significantly higher than most hip belts.
Comfort
I really like the way this package is carried. The vest is extremely comfortable and the V-style strap and dual sternum straps allow you to quickly and easily adjust the way the pack sits. I felt like the weight of the backpack was evenly distributed across my chest and the load remained stable.
The maximum listed load of this backpack is 25 pounds with a maximum comfort of 20 pounds. Unlike most ultralight backpacks, I think these values are underrated. Even carrying up to 30 pounds, I felt like this backpack was still reasonably comfortable, although I did start to experience a bit of shoulder pain after extended periods of carrying heavier loads. At 15-20 pounds, the load is virtually unnoticeable.
This backpack is exceptionally comfortable at high speeds. Even during a full run, there is virtually no bounce thanks to the compression straps and comfortable fit of the vest. Out of pure curiosity, I loaded it up to 20 pounds and took it to a downhill mountain bike park. Even when cornering at high speeds, I felt confident and secure.
My only complaint about the comfort of this backpack is how difficult it is to reach my water bottles in the back pockets. Lihat juga source 1. I find it difficult to reach water bottles in most backpacks, but this one requires extreme flexibility because of how high up they are.
Pros of the Gossamer Gear Grain
Weight: At 16.2 oz (or 14 without the Sitlight Pad), this is an extremely lightweight package, especially considering the number of features included.
Comfort: The vest-style straps make carrying very comfortable and distribute the weight effectively.
Price: $180 is an absolute bargain for this pack and is significantly cheaper than many other ultralight packs.
Cons of Gossamer Gear Grit
Material: I’m not a big fan of the Robic Nylon used for the body of the backpack. It’s loud and seems to get wet faster than most nylon backpacks. I like the UMHWPE stretch bags and that they do not contain permanent PFAS chemicals.
Universal size: This backpack fits me well, but I don’t like the lack of available sizes. People with shorter torsos may need to remove the Sitlight pad for a proper fit. Backpacks, when fitted correctly, are not one size fits all.
Overall value
I think this backpack is a great option for the ultralight backpacker looking to cover a lot of miles. It’s packed with useful features and is surprisingly lightweight. It transports comfortably and has plenty of capacity for ultralight hikers. For $180, this package is a great deal and I would highly recommend it.
Comparable packages
- Recommended RRP: $340
- Weight: 15.4 oz (as specified)
- Recommended RRP: $190
- Weight: 20.7
Ultimate Direction Fastpack 30
- Recommended RRP: $190
- Weight: 24.3
The Gossamer Gear Grit 28L Fastpack was donated for review purposes
