The Gossamer Gear Skala 38 is a frameless backpack weighing 20.4 oz, that’s completely sized for technical day hikes, quick packing, and journey journey. It’s a roll prime pack with eight exterior pockets and a foam sit pad. Whereas it’s similar to one other considered one of Gossamer Gear’s packs, the G4-20, the Skala is a number of ounces lighter and has extra of a “fastpack” character, with strippable elements and shoulder strap pockets, whereas the G4-20 is extra of a backpacking pack with a non-removable hipbelt. Each have roll-top closures.
- Gender: Unisex
- Quantity: 38L (Pack Physique 30L to horizontal seam, 8L in pockets)
- Weight: 20.4 oz
- Part Breakdown: Pack physique 14.5 oz / 411 g, Quick belt 3.6 oz / 102 g, Sitlight pad 2.3 oz / 64 g
- Pockets: 8
- Torso vary: 18″-21″ (one dimension)
- Closure: Roll-top
- Hydration Suitable: Sure
- Load lifters: No
- Ice Axe Loop and Shaft Holder: Sure
- Max really helpful load: 25 lbs, Max load consolation: 20 lbs.
- Supplies: Riptide Ripstop, 100D Recycled Robic Nylon, UHMWPE Stretch Mesh
- Professionals: Ultralight, strippable options, deep facet pockets, wonderful shoulder strap pockets
- Cons: Bottles are tough to achieve within the facet pockets, hip belt pockets are positioned too far again
Pack Pockets Galore
The Skala 38 is about up like a normal ultralight backpack with a big essential compartment, an open entrance mesh pocket, and two deep facet pockets made with stable cloth with elastic cords alongside the highest seam so you possibly can safe bottles inside. It’s a roll prime with buckles that hook up with straps alongside the edges of the pack or to at least one one other on prime. There’s additionally a zippered pocket on the entrance of the pack over the entrance mesh pocket, which is helpful for holding private gadgets, a map, or journey paperwork.
The principle compartment has a capability of 30L. There’s a very small webbing loop inside it behind the shoulder straps the place you possibly can dangle a hydration reservoir, and two hydration ports above it that come out between the shoulder straps. There’s additionally a triangular drain gap minimize into the underside of the principle compartment in case your hydration system springs a leak. Dwelling in moist New England, I’d relatively have a non-perforated backside to stop moisture from wicking up by means of that gap. Nonetheless, it’s a non-issue when you line your pack with a plastic bag or waterproof packliner.
The Skala 38 has two stretch mesh pockets on the shoulder straps, that are very nice for holding a Smartphone, an inReach Mini 2, or snack bars, with out worry of shedding the contents when you drop the pack and it ideas over. There are two extra pockets on the quick hip belt, that are made with the identical sturdy mesh, however are very small.
Backpack Suspension
The Skala 38 is a frameless pack, so its construction is primarily outlined by what you pack inside it. Whereas it comes with a sit pad sleeve and a foam sit pad, the pad could be very smooth, and its main operate is to pad your again, to not add load-bearing construction. The sit pad can also be not agency sufficient to stop the pack from barrelling when you overstuff the principle compartment, however that’s simply the character of frameless packs. You may mitigate that to a sure extent by changing the Skala sit pad with a much less versatile foam pad, like a cut-down Thermarest Zlite, which ought to assist stiffen issues up. A Zlite will even preserve your bum drier when you use it to take a seat on a moist floor as a result of it doesn’t have holes poked by means of it.
The shoulder straps are a cross between a fastpack strap and a daily J-strap, which helps distribute the load over your shoulders and higher chest. I felt they had been spaced just a little farther aside than I like, and that I needed to crank down on the sternum strap to get the match I want. The within fringe of the straps has a foam strip in order that they nonetheless stay comfy. You’ll be aware that there’s just one sternum strap on the Skala, as an alternative of the 2 or three sternum strap configurations you see on the running-inspired fastpacks that different cottage producers are making.
The hip belt is only a webbing strap with some zippered and padded pockets hooked up. The pockets are spaced near the pack bag and relaxation on the again of my hips, which is “inconvenient.” However the hip belt is definitely detachable because it’s hooked up utilizing gatekeeper buckles which are simple to open, take away, or reattach.
Exterior Attachment Factors
The Skala could be very versatile relating to exterior attachment factors. A webbing strap runs from entrance to again over the roll prime that you should use to lash a jacket, a rope, or a foam pad. There are two cord-based facet compression straps over the facet pockets which are nice for securing lengthy gadgets like an umbrella, trekking poles, or Tenkara fishing rods, and eight gear loops across the perimeter of the entrance mesh pocket, which you’ll run wire by means of to connect different gear. Gossamer Gear sells a terrific shock wire compression set that’s value getting for this goal, even when you don’t purchase considered one of their packs!.
Comparable ultralight frameless backpacks
Suggestion
The Gossamer Gear Skala 38 is a frameless ultralight backpack with strippable options that can be utilized for a variety of journey sorts and loadouts from day mountain climbing to ultralight overnights and air journey. It carries very properly so long as your load is comparatively mild and also you don’t attempt to jam an excessive amount of gear into it. The shoulder strap pockets are wonderful, and the pack has a very good stability between closed inside storage and open exterior storage to maintain your daytime gear simply accessible. If you happen to’re in search of extra of a multi-day backpack on this quantity vary, I’d suggest going with the Gossamer Gear G4-20 (see our evaluation) as an alternative of the Skala 38, regardless of the overlap of their look.
Disclosure: Gossamer Gear donated a backpack for evaluation.
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