Advice Please: ULA Catalyst or Circuit for BV 500

I carried a BV500 in a Circuit on a 10 day trip last summer.  The BV500 fit vertically in the pack, but not horizontally.  It was the most comfortable if I put the BV500 off to one side (not in the middle).  Then I balanced the pack by putting my cook kit, fuel, first aid kit, toiletry kit, etc. next to the BV500.  It was actually quite balanced and comfortable.  I also put my thin (1/8 inch) foam sit pad between the BV500 and my back.

When I tried hiking with the BV500 in the middle of the pack, it did poke into my back.

I’ve carried a BV500 in a Catalyst, it swallows it easily, horizontal or vertical. I’ve seen one carried in a Circuit; as Sharon says, it will only fit vertically.

I carried a BV500 vertically in my Ohm for a 7 day trip last year and managed to make it comfortable. So the smaller of those two should probably be fine.

I assume you don’t want to keep your food in a bag during the hike and carry an empty can under the strap up top?

Correct, I do not want to carry the BV up top.

Thanks all for the feedback. Based on your comments I decided on the Elemental Horizons Kalais

Lowell

Great choice!  When I returned from the previously mentioned 10 day trip, I set out in search of a pack that would do a better job of transmitting the weight of the pack to my hips.  I settled on the women’s version of the Elemental Horizons Kalais.  I’ve been out on a few shorter trips with it.  It carries a BV500 comfortably (vertically), and it does a great job of transmitting weight to my hips.  I can’t recommend it enough.