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Durston Wapta 30 Ultralight Backpack Review
Over the past few years, Durston Gear has made a name for itself in the thru-hiking world, producing tents and backpacks known for their quality design and competitive specs. In fact, the main gripe that hikers have with Durston gear is that it is perennially sold out!
Like Dan Durston himself, I have a questionable passion for the tech that goes into our gear (I once even convinced The Trek to let me write a piece on how graphene could change our hiking equipment). So when I heard that Durston Gear had released a frameless pack using a revolutionary new material called ALUULA Graflyte that was built for the ultralight hiker, I begged our editor to let me give it a whirl.
Durston Wapta 30 At-a-Glance
Image via Durston Gear
MSRP: $280
Weight:
- Total: 16.9 oz (480g) in a Medium or 17.9 oz (505g) in a Large
- Minimum:12.8 oz (365g) — this is without the hip belt in a Medium
- Volume: 30L internal storage (32 in the Large) and 16L of external storage
- Suggested Max Load: 25 lbs (12kg)
- Material: ALUULA Graflyte V-98 (100% UHMWPE)
Conditions of Review
I tested the Durston Wapta 30 in the spring/summer right here in the UK. Therefore, the pack has been exposed to lots of rain but not too much high-intensity sunshine. Testing included multi-day treks and long day hikes.
What is ALUULA Graflyte?
Durston Gear is one of the first to use ALUULA in their pack material
For me, one of the main appeals of this pack was the use of the new fabric Aluula Graflyte. Durston Gear is the first to deliver an ultralight pack with this material. Graflyte is incredibly light at just 2.9oz/sq yd. For comparison, X-pac VX07 is about 4.8oz/sq yd, Robic Extreema is 5.31oz/sq yd, and EPX200 is 5.9oz/sq yd. The competition doesn’t even come close.
Considering it is so light, the strength and durability of this material is remarkable. It allegedly has eight times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, is fully waterproof, and due to the woven nature of the fabric, has a higher tear strength than any of its close competitors. Importantly, due to the way the waterproof film is fused onto the fabric fibers, it won’t delaminate the same way glue-bound fabrics do (as happened with my 500D nylon Atom Pack, for instance).
Durston Wapta 30 Features
Main Compartment
The Wapta features a spacious main compartment with a roll-top closure, ensuring versatility in volume and protection from the elements. The minimalistic interior has no internal pockets, emphasizing its lightweight design.
The billed 30L of internal volume underplays the amount of volume available. At times, the Wapta feels bigger than some 40L packs I have reviewed. Indeed, the main compartment of the Large torso version is actually 32 liters, so almost 7 percent bigger than advertised.
External Pockets
Where the pack shines is its external storage capacity. Again, here it feels like Durston undersells just how much space you get with the Wapta. The side, hip belt, bottom, and front pockets add an additional 16 liters of capacity on top of the advertised 30 liters in the main compartment for a total of 48 liters. That’s more than 50 percent more space.
The pack includes two large side pockets, perfect for two Sawyer water bottles or a lightweight tent, and a front pocket ideal lunch or wet gear. The shoulder straps also feature small pockets for more snacks or electronic devices. The bottom pocket can be accessed on the move, making it ideal for items like a hat, a rain poncho, or even more snacks.
It’s safe to say this pack is designed to keep you moving, reducing the number of times you need to take it off to access your gear.
Flexibility
The pack in DayPack Mode
The Wapta boasts a substantial yet removable hip belt, which provides support for heavier loads while maintaining flexibility. Ample laser-cut daisy chains on the front and sides mean you can dial in your setup to your liking. You can even remove the sternum strap to take half an ounce off your base weight.
Comfort
For this category of ultralight packs, the amount of comfort features is unprecedented. The pack has two heat-bonded air mesh pads running down the back of the pack, allowing for greater airflow and keeping the ALUULA away from your body.
The pack’s ergonomic design, paired with generous features like an adjustable sternum strap, ergonomic hip belt, back padding, and S-shaped shoulder straps, ensures a comfortable ride and reduces strain on long hikes and with heavier weights.
Durability
Constructed from cutting-edge ALUULA fabric, the Wapta is both lightweight and robust. The new material offers excellent resistance to abrasion and moisture, ensuring the pack withstands harsh conditions and reducing the need for layers of waterproofing that would add weight. While the material still lacks extensive field testing, I saw no signs of wear during my review.
Anyway, I take comfort from Dan’s excellent track record when “bugs” are found. For instance, when The Trek reviewed the first Durston Kakwa, Dan appeared in the comments and promised a replacement to anyone who was experiencing the same wear spots that Owen encountered. I have no doubt you’ll see Durston in the comments here (Hi Dan)!
Durston Wapta 30 Pros
Hard to believe this pack is billed as a 30L. When fully loaded it can easily carry a week’s worth of gear and food.
Lightweight yet Versatile
This pack stands out in its category. It’s lighter than other 30L packs without sacrificing features, comfort, or durability.
What distinguishes it from many lightweight packs is that it is fully featured. It has double shoulder pockets, compression straps on the side, and a top strap with which you can secure a bear canister. The hip belt isn’t just a string to tie around your waist like some packs at this weight. It’s an ergonomically designed, robust, load-bearing feature with two large pockets made of waterproof material.
Long Torso
The Wapta 30 comes in Medium and Large torso sizes. Durston recommends the Medium for anyone whose torso is between 16 and 19 inches long and the Large for those whose torsos range between 18.5 and 21.5 inches.
I normally find that the torso length of small, ultralight packs is generally quite short, meaning that the side pockets are harder to access on the move and that if there is a hip belt, it sits very high up. Not so with the Wapta.
The result of the pack’s longer torso is that side and bottom pockets are very accessible on the go, and the pack sits comfortably rather than riding high up around the waist.
Ample Storage
The bottom pocket is an underrated feature on a pack, allowing you to quickly access items on the move.
While this pack is billed as a 30L pack, that only reflects the volume of the main compartment. The additional storage afforded by the hip belt pockets, side pockets, under pocket, and cavernous front pocket makes this pack feel bigger than its listed size.
In fact, those external pockets add an impressive 16 liters — increasing the Wapta’s capacity by more than half. Compare this to the ULA CDT, which has a stated capacity of 54L based on total storage even though the main compartment is only 28L.
What’s more, the laser-cut daisy chain links that go all the way down the sides and front of the Wapta allow you to secure even more gear to the outside of your pack if necessary.
Durable
The Wapta 30 is made entirely from ALUULA Graflyte, a material on the cutting edge of hiker tech. Its durability should mean this pack will stand the test of time. On paper, its specs are the most impressive I’ve come across. That being said, I have only had the pack for a few months, and while I have tried to give it a fair beating, nothing compares to the stress of a thru-hike.
Comfortable Fit
The ergonomic design and removable hip belt enhance comfort over long distances. Too many UL packs sacrifice comfort in the quest to shave grams, making them ill-suited to longer outings. Lightweight gear aside, 5-6 days of food is always going to come with a substantial weight penalty.
The Wapta accounts for this. It may only be designed to carry 25 pounds, but it’s designed to carry them well.
Durston Wapta 30 Cons
The nonpermeable material on the front pocket of the pack means water doesn’t drain well, even with the drainage holes (circled in red). I found that I would get small pools of water in the areas shaded blue.
Front Pocket
While using ALUULA on all external surfaces improves durability, I think it isn’t the best choice of material for the front pocket. Being a nonstretch material means the material needs to be folded on itself. It adds no compression to the pack, meaning the bag can get “floppy” as your food bag shrinks.
But the main drawback of this pocket was that when it rained, the water would run down the front of my pack and pool in the bottom of the front pocket. While there are drainage holes, the flaps in the fabric meant I would get small puddles of water held in the pack. I genuinely think an elastane fabric or perforated material would be a better option for the front pocket of this pack.
No Front Cabling
There are daisy chain holes ready for cabling, but none is provided or available for purchase with the pack
This is a small critique, but it feels odd to me that the daisy chains on the front of the pack are not utilized and that you can’t buy any rope or shock cord for the front of the pack when you purchase the Wapta.
While I can easily pick some up on Amazon, having some cord included or available for purchase from Durston would be very welcome considering how much more versatility it adds to the pack. Having shock cord across the front would allow you to hang wet gear there, tie a bag of chips to the front, or pinch the bag down further.
Aesthetics
I appreciate that the pack uses a new material and therefore will be available in a limited color palette. Still, the Wapta does at times look like a garbage bag strapped to your back. I’m hoping that color options expand over time as the material becomes more commonplace. If it helps appeal to Dan’s functional side: a bright pack could help with search and rescue efforts. How about Dutch orange for the next run?
My Verdict
The Durston Wapta 30 is a well-designed ultralight backpack suitable for anyone looking to streamline their gear without sacrificing durability or comfort. Its minimalist approach and high-quality materials make it a solid choice for weekend warriors and thru-hikers alike. However, its limited capacity might be a constraint for longer expeditions requiring more extensive gear.
I love how versatile the pack is. I can use it for anything from a day hike with the family by removing the hip belt and tightening the daisy chains for a snug fit, to traversing a country or continent fully loaded and with a bag or two of potato chips strapped precariously to the outside. Once again, the Durston team has proven that an engineering-first mindset helps produce some of the best gear on the planet.
Shop the Durston Wapta 30 Pack
Comparable Packs
- Gossamer Gear Fast Kumo 36: Similar in weight and volume, offering more internal organization.
- MSRP: $190
- Weight: 21.5 oz for M/L
- Material: 70D/100D Robic Nylon
- Capacity: 36L (not including vest pockets)
- Max Carry Capacity: 25 lbs
- Hyperlite Elevate 22L: Slightly less internal volume, similar price, more stylish.
- MSRP: $249
- Weight: 17.7 oz for M
- Material: DCH50, Dyneema Stretch Mesh UL, DCH150
- Capacity: 22L (main compartment only)
- Max Carry Capacity: 25 lbs
- ULA CDT: Comparable main compartment capacity, with a focus on comfort and functionality.
- MSRP: $217
- Weight: 27.1 oz for M
- Material: Robic 400
- Capacity: 28.7L (main compartment only). 54L total
- Max Carry Capacity: 25 lbs
The Durston Wapta 30 was donated for the purpose of this review.
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Comments 9
Thanks for the review, kind words, and constructive thoughts. The front pocket material is a good question. I’ve had some bad experiences with mesh which is why I use a tougher mesh in our Kakwa packs and forego mesh entirely here, but I might be overreacting a bit. I like how the solid fabric is quite durable and it is lighter but it is harder to see inside, slower to dry, and harder to drain. A black durable mesh would be a nice option and would also break up the grey color more to potentially improve the aesthetics. At the least, I could add a few more drain holes. I’ll mull it over when we do make the inevitable constant tweaks 🙂
Cheers,
Dan
What would you say to the comment about the long torso length? The reviewer takes the long length as a pro, but plenty of us smaller hikers have shorter torsos (14 or 15in). Have you thought about making your packs accessible to us as well? I love your gear designs, and thanks so much in advance for considering!
I am wanting to expand our sizing. It is hard with more niche products like a frameless pack because we have production minimums for each size that make less common sizes hard to do. I am wanting to add a smaller size, but when we do they will be in stock for a long time so we are waiting this first year to see about what improvements we can make, and then as the product is more mature and won’t see updates as quickly, then we can expand the sizing. So I would like to do this, but is about a year away.
I think the front pocket is a big improvement over mesh. Because it’s not stretch fabric, I never feel like I’m going to stretch it out or rip it – it can fill it exactly its capacity and that’s it. I’ve had 2 trips in very heavy rain and while it of course got a lot of water inside it, I didn’t notice much pooling.
I do think the way it’s sewn/darted at the bottom could be improved to provide a more rounded bottom where you can use the full volume. That might help with drainage too. And I am also planning to add shock cord over it, to allow me to compress it down when not full and place to hang wet gear.
Having a greater number of smaller darts/pleats could be a nice adjustment. I like the look of the dual pleats, but yes more would open the bottom more so I will look at that. Thanks for the feedback.
– Dan
It reminds me of the burlap sack Granny Gatewood carried on the AT….
Seriously, I concur with the reviewer, it does look like a prototype, and a bit sloppy/loose. Also, and this is a personal preference… I like my packs to be as close to the advertised rated capacity as possible, and very ‘tight’ when packed. I buy packs of different sizes for a reason… mostly to make me stay within “gear-limit boundaries”. if I rent a 16’ u-haul, I don’t want a 32’ u-haul just because you felt generous. That actually could be why this looks baggie.
I do commend you for using a new material. It will be interesting how it holds its ground with the existing lightweight class!
With the Wapta we have tried to make the volume very true to the rated capacity, so I think it is a true 30L inside. Since it is frameless though, if someone doesn’t have 30L of stuff then it is going to be underfilled and will look more sloppy than a framed pack since the gear is what holds the shape.
– Dan
Nothing is perfect. As to the “cons”.
-color: although only available in gray, it does not draw attention to the person wearing the pack
-shock cord, yes would be a nice addition but Gossamer Gear sells a nice “kit” with different colors and is reflective too
-water drainage in the back pocket, it’s a trade off from mesh.
In my opinion, the pros far, far outweigh the costs. Thank you Dan Durston for designing a quality backpack.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you’re liking the pack.
-Dan