30-35lbs: Circuit or Mariposa?

I happen to own both of these packs!

For summer trips when I can keep the load lighter, I'll take the Mariposa. This is typically in the low teens base weight and shorter trips (or short distances between resupply).

When I'm over 30 pounds I prefer the circuit. It's a heavier pack, but it carries well, has top-of-shoulder-strap adjusters, built-in waist belt pouches, and is a lot more durable.

So for your 30-35lbs range, I'd definitely go with the ULA Circuit.

Good to know. And with these two, which would you say has the higher capacity?

Volume capacity? They seem pretty similar to me, to include what the external mesh offers. You might check what their respective web sites say, paying careful attention to internal vs. external mesh capacity.

I should add that my Mariposa+ is from 2008 and my Circuit is from 2010, so newer models might be a bit different. Fortunately it's not as bad as cars (or trail running shoes). I.e., a 2008 Honda Civic might be quite a different car from a 2015 version of the same name, but I don't think the same-named pack tends to change all that much (but: I haven't checked).

I think an adequately designed simple backpack with not too thin/narrow shoulder pad and hip belt, internal aluminum stays and loadlifters for shoulder straps. I can easily carry it with comfort up to 40 to 50lbs. So I think both Mariposa and Circuit would do the work.

Take my HANCHOR MARBLE backpack for example.

It’s a backpack featured with 2 vertical/1 lateral aluminum stays, padded shoulder straps extended to the whole back, loadlifters for the shoulder straps, padded hipbelt. (Both padded hipbelt and shoulder straps are constructed with 5mm foam+3D spacer mesh+xpac vx07)

In my experience, with aluminum stays, the load capacity is about 45lbs. The load capacity of the same pack without loadlifters is about 35~40lbs(packed carefully). The carry capacity will down to 30~35lbs if the aluminum stays are removed (packed carefully with sleeping pad rolled inside).

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I’m one of the founders of HANCHOR brand.
Jangtian Shieh(Syoten)
HANCHOR outdoor gear design Co. Ltd.

@syoten, Wow, the Hanchor Marble looks great! I'm also intrigued by the Chert Mountaineering pack. Will they be offered in different colors (non glossy for the Chert)? Do the two share the same frame and harness setup? Could you please explain the setup of the lateral stay? Are the hip belts the same just adding pockets to the Marble's? Thanks for your insight.

I apologize for the thread derail, but I wanted to be sure Syoten saw my questions.

Syoten, It may be best to start a new thread about the packs and I'll look for the answers there.

Not to derail this thread too much, but this Hanchor Marble pack intrigues me. Can it fit a Bearikade weekender? Can anyone speak to quality, durability, etc?

In order not to derail the thread, I've created another thread to answer question about Marble.

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Jangtian Shieh(Syoten)
HANCHOR outdoor gear design Co. Ltd.