Best UL Expedition Size Backpack 90-110L?

Are you sure you won’t just buy more stuff? 🤔

I think the SWD pack sizing doesn’t include the pockets. My side pockets are huge. I could have done without the front pocket supplementing with a Bow bag if necessary. More of a personal choice.

The 400 Ultra is robust, but doesn’t compress as neatly as my old Dyneema HMG.

The SWD belt is very comfortable and provides good support.

Good folks to deal with. Options can raise the price tag considerably.

The SO has many fans. Another consideration might be the Bad Larry.

How about a Llama?

Terran,

So you’re implying the capacity of SWD is understated. That’s fine by me. Zpacks Arc Haul seems to be overstated in it’s sizing. My 70L seems more like a 60 or 65L. Even in spring and fall, I regularly max out the capacity of it.

I did discover the trick of attaching my two 1L bottle cozies by sliding the hip belt through the handle of the cozy (instead of placing them in the side pockets as usual). This leaves the side pockets free for other items like tent poles, chair, table, tripod, etc. So this in turn frees up valuable internal space. This will def help this fall/winter. But there is no question I could make good use of an UL pack with over 90L capacity.

Good to know you’ve had positive experiences with the SWD.

Seek Outside seems quite pricey but I’ll look into them more.

Thanks for bringing Bad Larry brand to my attention.

I use a couple Versa packs on my hipbelt. Not much room left without interrupting my arm swing, especially with poles. The side pockets still take a little dexterity. I don’t like water bottles on the shoulder straps. I prefer them bandolero style. I’ll use a bladder in the side pocket. Lately I’ve been using a Companion Pouch from Etsy or GGG. Use it as a front pack hanging from the apex of my shoulder straps with hooks on my hipbelt. It keeps my hipbelt up too. Experimenting trying to redistribute the weight. It will hold four liters. I don’t use 90 liters. I do prefer a wider circumference and I like that it swallows a bear can along with whatever else.

It’s been decades since I have normally carried that sort of weight / volume. Two packs I would consider based on brief experiences with them would be a custom pack from McHale or Seek Outdoors.  I have no experience with SWD, but certainly know a number of people who love theirs. I find that my 50l Arc Hauler holds just a smidge more than the 40l pack I previously used.

As to cost… none of these manufacturers has unreasonable prices. You are paying for the quality of the product. It’s carry less, find ways to attach items to the outside of your existing pack, or purchase something that gets the job done.

What model and size SWD did you get Terran? Did you go with the Big Wild 95 or Wolverine 95 or some smaller model?

I notice their packs get wider at the top. That makes some sense. If too much weight is at the bottom, you will have to lean forward more to balance the extreme low center of gravity to keep you from falling backward. Otherwise you get that Igor hunchback look. And lots of bulky items have lower density so it makes sense to store them near the top in a wider circumference area. The downside is that it will feel top heavy when going up steep scrambles. But this can be balanced by packing the densest items down low.

I rarely need to carry a bear vault, but my -10F Bristlecone Western Mountaineering sleeping bag is pretty huge and about 4lb 5oz. Might have to store it near the top (if I can’t fit it in horizontally at the bottom). That eats up a ton of the space there if I can’t fit it in the bottom.

The side pockets are indeed huge. Could easily fit a large 2P winter tent in one of them and still have a bit of space left over. I have extra hip belt pockets and top side pocks from Zpacks. So I could attach these as needed for additional outer storage for easy access.

The main difference between the Wolverine and the Big Wild appears to be that the former includes a back pocket while the later does not.

Ha. A pulk has it’s place. But that won’t work anywhere that isn’t mostly flat.

That Companion Pouch seems like it could put a lot of strain on the back of your neck. 4L of water seems like a lot of weight to hang from your neck on your chest. I just carry a half liter of water on one shoulder strap.

I will use a chest rig sometimes when I want to carry a few denser items with easy access while relieving a bit of load from my pack.

I’m not a believer in the concept of “best” but I’ll give it a go :)

Generally, even the stoutest of UL packs are really not designed for weights above around 40-45lbs max, and most packs that are truly UL can’t handle much above 30lbs (if that).

Seek Outside packs are essentially a hybrid external/internal frame. Most of the SO line can carry pretty stout loads. I don’t consider them “ultralight” packs, but rather “lightweight” packs.

We currently have a fairly extensive array of packs between my wife and I, including three SWD Wolverine 70’s, an SWD Long Haul 50, a ULA Catalyst, a 70 liter Mountain Hardware loaner pack of some forgotten name, and a Seek Outside Unaweep 4800.

The only one of those I’d want to carry a load above 50lbs in is the SO Unaweep. I have it for hunting/hauling out 80lb+ loads of dead elk, but it’s also my wife’s favorite backpacking pack lol (her Wolverine is brand new and surgeries this year have prevented she and I from backpacking – my guess is she’ll love the Wolverine when we’re back on trail next year).

Of all the packs listed above, I’d say the ULA Catalyst is in reality the largest, even though all but the 50L SWD are listed as 70L.

The SWD 70L Wolverine is my favorite backpack, hand’s down.

For what you’re describing, I’d recommend the SO Unaweep 6300. I’d also add, in my experience packing out heavy loads (unfortunately I have a fair bit of experience with heavy loads), I absolutely find that a full wraparound hipbelt like those on the SWD or SO packs handles weight “best” (as opposed to a belt like those on the ULA Catalyst that passes behind a lumbar pad).

Happy trails.

Mark Verber,

Thanks for bringing McHale packs to my attention. I love the customized designs with funky colors. I’ll have to study up on them.

Yeah I don’t necessarily think any of them are ripping you off. Considering that top of the line Ospreys are well over $300, I think their prices are fair.

From what I’m seeing though, the SWD models (Wolverine 95 or Big Wild 95) stay at $429 with the spec selections I’m choosing while the Seek Outside Unaweep 6300 (roughly 104L) goes from a base price of $621 to $716 when I choose the specs I want. So that’s nearly $300 more.

I’m hearing 12 week lead times on the SWD. A purchase this big requires a good amount of research. But I could possibly decide and have one of their packs by Thanksgiving if I choose in the next week or two. That would be pretty good timing for the cold weather season. I still want to see how far I can push my Arc Haul with some packing tricks. It may be possible to do a 50lb hot tent trip with it which would be awesome as I could hike with that to some pretty spectacular places.

I modified the straps on the Companion pouch so the weight is on the shoulder straps or I can flip it overhead and use it like a brain. It will hold four liters. I don’t carry four liters in it. I use it like a man purse hiking around camp.

I have the 95 liter Wolverine with a “front” pocket, though you’ll catch me calling it a back pocket. Everything else appears to be the same.  One tall side pocket as an option. The optional collar pocket is a safe place for keys and such.

Cash up front. You can add options and change models before the actual build. You could order a cheaper model to get in line or pay later for your options. Mine arrived early in the last month of the waiting period.

Now I see the current lead time is 6 months on new orders. So I wouldn’t get it until mid winter. Hmmm…. maybe I’ll make do without it this winter to give myself time to test out max carry on my Arc Haul and compare against my AMG 105. Then when I’ve had plenty of time to study large packs, placing an order in March would do well to get me one by start of fall 2027.

On the other hand, if I ordered one soon, I could well see using one from Feb-May of 2027 before it gets to warm for me to want to carry so much.

Here is a good video review of the Big Wild 95L: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53vcEM9Ry6w

Thanks for the inside scoop on SWD Terran.

Having a front pocket of some kind makes sense – though you could still add one to the Big Wild. Wolverine sounds cool. I could imagine myself being a vigilante against a communist invasion with my 95L pack with explosive arrows like in Red Dawn shouting – “Wolverines!” :)

Now I see they will nickel and dime you for all kinds of custom add-ons which will also slightly increase the weight – just as with Zpacks. But I’d probably hold off on those to see how some of my existing Zpacks add-ons work with it. Might not need much of any add-ons.

That’s good to know you could always add more features to the build once you’ve locked in your place in line.

Right now, SWD is def more appealing to me than any other brand so far. The Seek Outside doesn’t have the wide top shape as much. My hunch is, a bigger top will make me hunch over less :)

Be aware, SWD no longer builds their packs with “flat stock” aluminum stays that can be bent and customized to the wearers back. They now ship with tubular aluminum stays with a predetermined bent shape. This doesn’t work for me or my back, so I always request flat bar stays when buying from SWD.

One more question Terran, I’m curious what torso size did you get? I see they allow you 3″ of adjustment via the hip belt. How tall are you?

I’m 5’11” and I believe my torso is about 19″. I should have someone else measure it with a soft tape measure just to be sure. But I think I’d be on the line btw Medium and Large torso. They recommend to size up if you are on the line.

With my Zpacks Arc Haul, I was able to dial in the fit and the weight sits right on my iliac crest. I also added a lumbar pad so it carries very well. I don’t feel much strain on my shoulders unless I have something top heavy in the bag.

My AMG 105 is the Large size but they only offer two sizes. It is also an excellent fit for me. But the design of that doesn’t go as high up as it could. The backpack could extend higher up than it does. It has a very wide circumference thru the body of the pack especially at the bottom.

I don’t want to hit the back of my head on the aluminum stays. But I think as long as I’m not wearing a wide brimmed hat – that is unlikely to be a problem with the SWD.

Thanks for the warning on the shape of the stays bradmacmt. The Arc Haul has flat stays – two vertical, and 3 horizontal (one on top, middle, and bottom). The SWD’s just have two vertical stays I believe. This is a simpler design but not necessarily worse. But I could well see flat stays vs tubular having a very diff feel. Something to be aware of and think about.

The floating hip belt seems like a plus. My AMG 105 has that and it does help reduce hip strain.

Pardon me, going old school here as it is not UL.  I used to have a Dana Design LoadMaster Longbed.  It is an external frame pack with load lifters but it is heavy at 7 pounds.  That being said, the pack is about 100l and has been used to comfortably carry loads in the 90 pound range.  For pack volume and comfort, it is legandary.  Even today, hunters will pay a premium as one of the best packs for hauling out game.  Worth a look.  My 2 cents.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/388078487118

6′

19″+ back

Large fits well.

Speaking strictly for myself, I prefer the tubes.

Pardon me, going old school here as it is not UL. I used to have a Dana Design LoadMaster Longbed. It is an external frame pack with load lifters but it is heavy at 7 pounds. That being said, the pack is about 100l and has been used to comfortably carry loads in the 90 pound range. For pack volume and comfort, it is legandary. Even today, hunters will pay a premium as one of the best packs for hauling out game. Worth a look. My 2 cents.

Jon, I had a Dana Longbed. It’s a beast for sure. I just didn’t find in any more comfortable than the current SO packs at 1/2 the weight. The Dana’s also didn’t have a full wraparound belt, or “pull forward” belt tightening arrangement that definitely limited its ability to comfortably haul heavy loads. Of course, 100 lb loads just aren’t comfortable, so it’s a matter of degrees lol.

100 lb loads with various 7lb internal frame packs… I no longer like doing this no matter the pack :)

Impressive Elk antlers bradmacmt. They do look heavy. It’s amazing that Bull Elk shed the antlers and regrow them every spring. Boggles the mind to think of the amount of caloric effort it must take to do that. Females produce milk, and males produce antlers.

I have the Wolverine 70l and find it to be the best pack I have ever owned.  it carries weight extremely well with excellent distribution to the hips.  If you can be patient enough for the lead times it is well worth it.  Extremely comfortable pack.

AArn Front Pack completely changed my hiking abilities. So much better balance. Heaviest items that will fit go in it, water, food, stove/fuel depending on trip needs.

I’m 5’11” and I believe my torso is about 19″. I should have someone else measure it with a soft tape measure just to be sure. But I think I’d be on the line btw Medium and Large torso. They recommend to size up if you are on the line.

Yes, I’d go with a Large in your case.

It’s amazing that Bull Elk shed the antlers and regrow them every spring. Boggles the mind to think of the amount of caloric effort it must take to do that.

It truly is. One of the great marvels to be found in nature for sure…