Bear Grylls Ultralight Summit Pack – 4oz Compactible Daypack for $11

Looks like a sea to summit knock off.

It does look pretty similar to the Sea2Summit pack. Bear also managed to knock 2/3 off the price, however.

I ordered one and will be comparing it to my recently acquired Gossamer Gear Riksak2.

I like the haul strap on this (Riksak2 doesn't have one). Zippers vs. drawstring top may be an advantage, maybe not. I'm not sure this pack has anything like the pseudo-sternum strap of the Riksak2; that would be a disadvantage.

Worst case, this one goes in the car for emergency hikes. Best case, I sell my Riksak2 and buy a case of beer with the savings.

Speaking of Bear Grylls: He was in the Sierra in this week's show; atop Fresno Dome with some guy named Channing Tatum.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it once it arrives, especially whether that water bottle pocket is actually functional. I've been thinking about getting the Sea to Summit pack for awhile, but that water bottle pocket might be worth the extra 1.6 oz weight (and $20 savings). Plus, I don't think the Bear bag is sily-nylon, which could be considered a plus in that some reviews of the Sea to Summit pack mention it looking crinkled to hell unless stuffed to the brim.

picked one up and will sharpie out the BG logo for 10.99…

a nice bag for 10.99.

really like how they use the thin webbing to keep the weight down. also like how the external side pocket can really hold a water bottle, even with the bag mostly filled. it will surely hold other smaller items as well. i also like how the attached stuff sac serves as a nice place to keep important smaller items inside the bag.

Mine arrived Monday.

My first reactions were almost the opposite of yours, Adam. Side mesh pocket was useless. But I had tried a taller Smartwater bottle. A regular half-liter bottle fit ok, but might as well go inside since the pocket is hard to reach. No, impossible to reach.

The straps are maybe too thin. Just two layers of nylon. Compared to the padded straps of my GG Riksak2, look far less comfortable.

I do like the shape better; not sure that isn't just subjective, though. And the small hang loop (for hanging the bag in the closet between uses) is a minor advantage.

Quality seemed good. Weight of mine was 4.0 oz (less than Riksak2).

However, I cannot argue with your overall assessment: a nice bag for $10.99.

I'll add some pictures later.

'picked one up and will sharpie out the BG logo for 10.99…'

I don't like logos. Instead of a sharpie here is how I removed the logo;

Materials:
-Iron
-Paper bag
-Duct tape

Procedure:
Cut paper bag to appropriate sizes. Open pack and place the logo side up on the end/horn of an ironing board. Place a piece of the paper bag between underside of logo and ironing board. Place another piece of paper bag over logo and apply heat from iron on high setting for polyester. Be careful not to overheat fabric. Remove iron and paper from logo and apply a piece of duct tape and then pull off. This will begin to remove the logo. Repeat until no more logo lifts with the tape, reheat, and repeat. There is a PU coating on the fabric so use the paper to keep any of the coating from adhering to the iron or board. This may also compromise the coating, I'm not sure and don't care.

Mine came in just under 4 ounces.

I like the side mesh pocket for a water bottle not because it is a fabulous pocket (it's okay), but because it's an OUTSIDE POCKET. In my Sea-to-Summit, the water bottle is the hardest thing to stow without it poking me in the back. Or, if I had no water (I often don't) or some nice flat, squishy water container in the main compartment, a snack or hat or something could be stuffed in that outside mesh pocket without having to open up the main compartment.

If you want to pack it up tightly again (child's-fist-sized), the original pocket (that in use is nicely positioned inside the pack below the left shoulder strap) is a sung fit. The mesh pocket is an easier place to stuff the whole pack if you accept it being adult-fist-sized.

I'm not keen on the BG logo (easy to cross out) or the BG color scheme (the colors are fine, and mostly muted, but it's recognizably BG), but the annoying functional effect of the color scheme is to raise the weight (over the StS at 2.4oz/68grams). It adds at least 4 extra seams, that orange piping, and the black backing behind the orange piping. A seam is weaker than uncut fabric. And weighs more.

BG versus the Sea-to-Summit:
4.0 vs. 2.4 oz
side pocket vs. none
$11 vs. $33-35

Definitely a good deal. Thanks for the tip, Kent!

So I got 3 of them. Just like the UL BPing concept "you can't eat or wear your pack so why bring any more pack than you need?", I like these for kids on a day hike (a lot of book bags weigh 2-3 pounds and that could instead be a sweater, sandwich, and a pint of water) or for young kids on a BPing trip – they like to feel like they are helping and participating and 20 liters of clothing is 20 liters of stuff I don't have to fit into my pack.

And, like the StS pack is often marketed, having one on you when around town or while traveling, lets you get groceries home, buy things on a vacation, and deal with the fluffage and mission-creep that other family members indulge in.

I also ordered one a little while back, and it was supposed to be here Monday. After looking at the tracking though, it looks like it has left Salt Lake City last week and that is it… hopefully it will show up soon though.

And I was just thinking about sewing a patch over the logo…

"Quality seemed good. Weight of mine was 4.0 oz (less than Riksak2)"

My Riksak is under 3 oz even with the chest strap I added.

Also, it looks like the BG Pack has no padding on the shoulder straps… not good if you're carrying 2 liters of water, lunch and extra clothing to the summit…

billy

Just got mine, and the logo seems to scratch off (using my fingernail) with a little care :)

*I wouldn't use anything remotely sharp or abrasive on this thin material…