ULA Circuit roll top vs drawstring

I'm a drawstring fan. I've had both and I guess I'm lazy because I like that quick easy access. I sold my roll top.

I have a Conduit and Catalyst and the roll top does take longer to roll and close up. The good news is that if I pack right, I rarely need to get into the main pack. I kind of wish I had the drawstring. Can you really cinch up the drawstring? Even a small opening would be annoying.

As for the pocket, the stretch mesh doesn't get caught on things. I find the normal mesh (which is pleated) makes it easier to pack a lot of stuff in there and get to it easier.

I converted my Starlite pack to a drawcord. There is enough slack in the top when cinched up to fold it over once and secure with the top strap eliminating that hole on the top that some people freak out about. So easy to live with and no buckles to break or deal with cold fingers.

My custom Circuit has the drawstring top and the stretchy front pocket. Love them both.

My first Circuit was stock, and the roll top and heavy mesh pocket were the two things I disliked. I had used a Starlite before that, so I thought the roll top would be fine, but the ULA implementation was not as good as the SMD. I also had a ULA Ohm, and really liked the stretch mesh pocket and the ease of using the drawstring top. So when ULA was offering some interesting fabric choices, I was able to get the features I wanted in the pack.

The one thing I would change next time is to get the entire pack made from the Robic fabric, none of the black trim fabric. The black fabric in the extension collar on my Circuit is seriously delaminating on the inside. I met a very experienced long distance hiker this summer, and her new pack was a 100% Robic Ohm for durability and water resistance.

Given I seem to attract rain, I have always preferred a roll top closure. Having said that, my new pack has a drawstring closure and as Ken indicates, I have plenty of fabric to roll and prevent moisture from getting in.

"The one thing I would change next time is to get the entire pack made from the Robic fabric, none of the black trim fabric."

+1 Should have done that with my custom one recently. Great idea. Small hit on weight.

It was 4 oz added to my Circuit for the all Robic option.

I've bought 3 different ULA packs over the years so I have experience with all the options you are talking about. The drawstring is quicker to close, but you can't close it completely. Water will get in if you don't use a rain cover. Sure you can try to bunch the fabric up and roll it over using the top buckle strap to try to hold it close. But that only works if the pack is only partially full. But the drawstring saves material so it should be a bit lighter. The string from the drawstring on my ULA CDT pack is fraying a little bit after about 1000 miles of use. But it's not going to break anytime soon. The string tends to catch the velcro of the top Ice Axe holders which is the the main cause.

The elastic mesh is far more fragile then the regular mesh though it is a bit lighter weight. The regular mesh on my 2009 Circuit was hardly damaged after the PCT; there is one small hole in the mesh. My 2012 ULA CDT pack with the elastic mesh is full of holes with less then half the mileage. It's to the point that I'm going to have to send it back to ULA for them to repair if I want to use it for much longer as small items can almost fall out now. I like the lighter weight, but I miss the durability of the regular mesh. The strechiness doesn't seem to buy me much as I never had problems with things staying in the regular mesh pockets on my first 2 packs.

Thanks for all the info!

Any other mods folks have had Chris make to ULA packs?

Thanks!