ULA Circuit or MLD Exodus need some feedback.

No experience with the ULA Circuit but I switched from a Prophet to an Exodus and have been really happy with it. The fabric is strong, the pack is humongous, and the straps are all very comfy (like those on the Prophet). I believe you need a BPL membership but this review is a good summary.

Hi Dan,

I'm a Circuit fan, having tested it last year for BGT. You can read the reports here.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Internal%20and%20External%20Framed%20Backpacks/ULA%20Equipment%20Circuit/

I too recommend Roger's ULA test published here. His experience with the Circuit wasn't as positive as mine. As to your stated goals, the Circuit will easily handle the load and the canister. I can't compare against the MLD, as I've not used one (also not a big fan of using a sleeping pad for load support).

Cheers,

Rick

Ooh, these are the two main packs that I own. I guess I should throw in my two cents.

Dan, I used the Circuit for the beginning of the PCT last summer, and it worked very well. Especially with a BV500, which fit in with lots of room to spare. It carried very well, too, and I'm guessing I had about 30 pounds max weight in the pack.

I never tried the bear canister in the Exodus, but one of my hiking partners at the time was carrying a BV500 in his Prophet. His pack was stuffed to the gills, but it seemed to work. That made me think that maybe the Exodus would carry a bear canister, but I sold my canister before I could test that.

In either case, the bear canister does not pack as ideally as soft stuff sacks. I found that the Circuit really shined with the bulky load, but without the canister it was never full. I imagine that with your 8-9 pound base weight and a small pack like the Prophet, you could go with either one of these packs with good results. The Circuit would afford you the extra flexibility of being able to pack more for longer trips, though.

I sold I have both the ohm and the circuit and wouldn't trade them for another pack.

I even stuffed a bv500 into a small circuit this weekend (at the kick off) just to see if it fit. It had to go in vertically and there was not a ton of room left. I could put a bearikade weekender in horizontally (again in a small pack) but it was a tight fit.

In my large circuit its an easy fit. I can even get one in my ohm vertically.

The fit is what sold them for me. I like the hipbelt and the shoulder straps better on the ula pack than I did on my exos. Of course thats subjective.

Aside from volume, the Exodus is a an extremely similar pack to the Prophet you already own. According to MLD's website, the Exodus is only 0.5oz heavier (maybe 2-3oz heavier with your mods?). If you really need the extra volume for some trips, maybe sell your Prophet and just get the Exodus instead of owning both. If you own both, you are essentially keeping the $180 Prophet just to save 0.5-3oz on some of your shorter trips. Perhaps these funds could be better utilized?

If you do want a two pack quiver, I would encourage you to get ones that differ more so that you can cover a wider range of trips. If you keep the Prophet, I would add something significantly more substantial (ie. ULA Circuit) which would be ideal for even longer trips and/or winter trips. Frame stays aren't mandatory at 25 lbs, but they are quite nice to have. The Exodus just doesn't seem different enough to warrant keeping both the Exodus and Prophet.

I think the ideal two pack quiver includes a small, frameless pack under 10oz (ie. MLD Burn, Zpacks Blast/Zero etc) for those 1-2 night SUL/UL trips, and then a larger pack with frame stays that will accommodate anything from 3-10 days. Something like the ULA Circuit, HMG Windrider etc. You might want to sell the Prophet and buy both smaller and larger packs.

I personally use a 4.5oz Zpacks Zero (with options like water bottle pockets) for 1-2 night trips, and then my ULA Ohm covers everything from 3 nights up to ~10. If I'm up around 7-10 nights then I do wish I had something even more substantial, but these trips are infrequent and the mild discomfort is only for the few couple days.

Interesting thoughts Dan and I have a similar philosophy in owning a few packs that will cover a broader range of possibilities.
currently I have a burn that was custom modified with extra side straps for fishing rods (which I love, thanks Thom for the idea) and padded wing belt (not needed at all in retrospect) for solo overnighters and a ULA Circuit to handle larger loads like when going with my whole family (dragging the larger shelter and kitchen) or for a > 1 wk trip.
Now I'm aware I don't have the "mid pack" that many have here AKA the swift/ohm/gorilla/prophet/windrider pack but I don't go on many 3-4 day trips at all so I found spanning that "sweet spot" allowed me much more versatility for my more common overnighter and the week long or family trip.

Hi fellow ultralighters,

Thanks for all your great feedback. I still need more time to think about my upcoming pack choice. I don't think I will be getting rid of my Prophet, because it is a great size for overnighters and weekends. I don't like to really compress my down bag, and leave it kind of loose at the bottom, so I need the extra volume the Prophet affords. The Burn is just too small for what I want.

I really get the point of having two packs that differ significantly enough to cover a wider range of backpacking trips. If I get the Exodus there might be to much overlap with the Prophet. I am drawn however to the Exodus, because all the great reviews from thru hikers, who rave about the performance and durability, also I have a familiarity with the MLD packs. I am hesitant with the ULA circuit, because it may be a little to big and heavy for my style of backpacking and I don't know how it with fit my body type. I also read the reviews on backpackgeartest.com that the mesh they use for the front pochet and side pockets are sandpaper rough( Rick Dreher's test). Anyway I like the mesh Ron uses on the MLD packs, tough enough but soft at the same time, wont abrade the contents.

Man I need a little more feedback. So if you guys out there have anymore advice that would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I have trimmed what seems like a ton of weight out (down from 30-35 lbs to about 13) so I am looking for my first lightweight pack. I have been debating the very same question in my mind… Circuit? Exodus? Circuit? Exodus? It has been a back and forth debate. I measured the volume of my stuff today and it looks to be about 2300CI so I think either pack would work. I am looking for something to cover the 3-7 day range. A bear canister is not really a concern as I call Ohio and the surrounding states home (with an every other year trip out West.)

Both packs seem to get good reviews. Anything that pushes the debate one way or the other?

Dan, I recently purchased a ULA Circuit to replace my older med volume pack and it is a nice pack. I am going to stick with my older pack however because I still don't like how the bearcan carries in the Circuit compared to my SMD Starlight and my Osprey talon 44. I will be posting it for sale in the gear section soon and IF you decide on the Circuit, I can probably save you a little cash. It is brand new with all the extra attachments that come with it. It is a Med hipbelt/ Med torso. PM me if interested.

Edit- I sent the Circuit back to ULA for a refund, ULA's customer service is top-notch.

"I have trimmed what seems like a ton of weight out (down from 30-35 lbs to about 13) so I am looking for my first lightweight pack. I have been debating the very same question in my mind… Circuit? Exodus? Circuit? Exodus?"

I wouldn't opt for the Exodus if you're at 13 lbs base weight. I'm not sure if you are including in that 13 lbs, but if that doesn't include food and water, then even a 2 day trip (1.5 lbs food/day + 2 liters (or 4.4lbs) of water) is going to put you over 20 lbs which is about the generally accepted max for a frameless pack. A 3-7 day trip is going to weigh a lot more than you ideally want to put in a frameless pack. IMO, the Exodus is well suited for bulky but light trips since it is large but frameless.

I would suggest looking at some alternatives that slot in between the Exodus and the Circuit. The ULA Ohm, Gossamer Gear Gorilla and HMG Windrider are all amazing packs that come in around 22-25oz and have frame stays. Zpacks and SMD also make similar packs.

Hi Rob sent you a pm.

Anyway the reviews I have read on bpl and on other sites the MLD Exodus seems to carry a little more weight than other frameless packs. I will be using a BV solo bear can, and not going to carry more than 25 lbs. Just wondering how the Exodus carries a bear can vertically. Thanks

Have you considered the SMD Swift? I just got that one for longer trips with a bear canister and first impressions are very good. I don't have an Exodus, but the specs look pretty similar in terms of volume and you can add on an optional hoop stay for an extra 4oz. I packed mine up with: 6 panels of z-rest in interior pad pocket (fit nicely), Megalite on bottom, small prolite on top of that, full bear canister on top of that (vertical); and then on the side of the canister i put extra clothes (cap 3 top and bottom, hat, gloves, socks), puffy jacket, a spinntwin, meteor bivy, kitchen kit (700ml pot, pocket rocket, fuel canister, etc), small bag of miscellaneous stuff (headlamp, etc.), first aid kit; on the very top i put my rain gear and wind shirt. Might be missing a few things, but that was the main stuff and it all fit in the main bag with nothing in the extension collar or on the outside of the pack other than water. I figure it was around 25 pounds and quite comfortable. Keep in mind, I just got it and have only worn it around the house for a while, but maybe someone with experience on the trail can provide additional insight.

Dan, If you don't carry a bear canister the Circuit is a comfy pack. But, I have to agree with Chris on the SMD Swift. Between the two packs for comfort and use with a closed cell pad, the Swift would be my choice as well. One of my problems with the two ULA packs is their internal diameter seems smaller than other packs that I have tried. When I tried to use a CC pad instead of an inflatable, it took up too much space and the bear can would bulge into my back. It was less of an issue with the Circuit, but a big issue with the Ohm. I tried multiple packing methods, ( burrito style, Z-Rest, folding a ridgerest in 1/3rd's for a backpanel, ect. ), but couldn't 'dial' a good fit in for me. Part of the problem is that I am used to a thin framesheet on my Talon 44 and I am not used to feeling things pressing on my back.

Hi Chis,

I just sold a Swift 10 on gear swap a few days ago. It didn't work for me, I like the fit of my MLD Prophet better, that's why I'm leaning towards an Exodus with an Ark hip belt. The Exodus is just a bigger version of the Prophet. I want to be able to use a Gossamer Gear torso pad and still have enough volume to pack all my gear plus a BV solo. Can't really do that with the Prophet.

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the feedback concerning the Circuit and Ohm. Since I would be mainly purchasing a bigger pack to carry a bear can, maybe these would not work for me. Thanks.

Anybody have experience with the Gossamer Gear Gorilla?