Gossamer g4-20 vs. Kumo??

Test Hike Results/Impressions  (YMMV)

I loaded it up with gear (not my final kit as don’t have everything made/bought yet). Scale with 5 days food and 1.5L water came out to right at 22lbs. (Gear list: https://lighterpack.com/r/fuyur1)

After some fiddling I got it in a stable and balanced load (Thanks Matthew for the idea to split the food!)

Set off on 10.5 mile hike and carried it both with and without the hip belt latched.  I found that it carried just as well without the hip belt if I cinched up the sternum strap tighter – it almost made it like a vest with the shoulders and sternum tightened.

First impressions:  GREAT pack at a GREAT price.  (they are still on sale as of 5/30/20 for $120)

Pros:

• Just the right volume
• Deceptively huge outside pockets
• Carried close to the body with or without hip belt
• Shoulder pockets
• Lightweight yet durable

Cons:

• Side pockets are tight and tall enough that you can’t reach back and get/replace water bottles without being a contortionist
• Top flap pocket doesn’t hold much if the pack is at max
• Bladder sleeve can get in the way when loading

Final Thoughts

• I removed the sit lite pad and put the 1/8″ GG pad in its place
• Takes some practice to pack as placement of gear/weight is crucial
• Even with near max load i barely felt it most of the time
• I put so little in the hip pockets and it rode fine without so could drop the hipbelt altogether and save a few ounces….though the pockets would work great for snacks.
• Though my shoulders were red by the end of the hike from the straps rubbing this would go away as you get used to it.
  • Note that carrying without the hip belt means you need a strong core — my obliques were starting to yell at me by the end….need to get back to the Gym!
  • With a frame pack the weight almost exclusively sits on your hips (the Kumo probably 70%)  so your core doesn’t really have to do much to stabilize the load but with this your core has to stabilize.
• I used some stick-on Velcro to keep the bladder sleeve closed which makes loading easier
• I got around the side pocket issues by releasing the hip belt and sternum strap, then could slip one arm out and reach around to grab/replace bottles.  It’s SO light that this works without slowing down (just like how we all used to carry our school backpacks in the 80s and 90s)

I hope these thoughts/impressions helps anyone considering the Kumo.

spot on!! Well said.

For what its worth. I just picked up a blue G4-20, size medium. First thing i did was cut the hip belt off. #1.. im not a fan of hip belts. #2.. that hip belt is just plain horrible! It kind of rides up a little hi and was just awkward,  also the pockets on it were in weird place and kind of useless, in my opinion.  I use the Gossamer Gear hipster or Bumster anyway, so that makes up for the pockets. I like the fanny pack because i can leave that on for day hikes and/or around camp and i can also bring it in my hammock with me at the end of the day. The hip belts on packs just get in the way.

Anyway.. so i cut the hip belts off.. seems ok. I really with they would have made the pockets on the shoulder straps like the Kumo. Big mistake on Gossamer Gear there!! Those mesh pockets are the BOMB!  Im still going to use my Kumo but i want to see how the G4-20 would carry for extended trips where i will be carrying a bearikade blazer with 7 – 9 days food.

I will probably load it up and take it out for a quick overnight trip.. hopefully soon.. but first i have a few whitewater kayaking trips planned before any backpacking trips.. so for now i will just load it and unload it and load it and unload it.. yadda yadda yadda.

Look forward to your review Dirtbag.

I love the kumo size and features, but have come to realize a few things…

1) the hipbelt is almost useless — like you mention on the G4-20 the pockets are too far back and it seems to ride high.  I’ve hiked with it hanging loose 90% of the last 30 miles.

2) It is probably better suited for 3-4 day trips, I haven’t dialed in my base (9.9) and not sure I’m ready to pony up for SUL but it’s really the 5 days of food that brings it to max capacity.

I am going to go back and look at a few mid-size (30-35lb max, 40-45L) which should cover 5-7 days.  Just gives me more options based on length of trip or section.

For starters i weighed the G4-20 last night. Empty.. minus the hip belt and i swapped out the back pad with my Gossamer Gear 1/8 thinlight foam pad, it weighed in at 18 ounces on my scale.

It’s weird they put the shoulder pockets only on the Kumo and not on any of their other packs. I predict that built-in shoulder pockets and/or hiking vest style shoulder harnesses are going to become an option on more and more packs.

Yes. I emailed gossamer gear asking if they would custom that for me.. shoulder strap pockets Kumo style on the G4-20. They promptly replied.. no we dont do custom orders and those pockets are styled for Kumo packs and they like to offer different variety on different packs.

I personally think they should at least give the option for something like that.. those pockets are one of my favorite aspects of the Kumo.. so convenient and well placed, and they dont get in the way at all.. empty or packed and they add minimal weight to the pack itself.

I’ve read that most of the cottage vendors (SMD, GG, Granite, etc.) don’t customize their standard packs.  I’m sure it’s a matter of cost/efficiency.

Add on pockets for shoulder straps from pretty much all the manufacturers (GG, MLD, ULA, Zpack, etc.) are bulky.  Not nearly as sleek as the sewn on ones of the Kumo which are just big enough for a couple snack bars, your TP kit, bandana, etc.

If you can sew or know someone that does, you may be able to self modify them.  I’m actually looking into doing so myself as many of the midsize packs I’m considering (including the G4-20) don’t include shoulder pockets.

I do like your idea of using the hipster/bumster, especially if not using a hip belt and a smaller pack.  Like you said, you can set your pack down and still have those few necessities with you.

If you do get out with it, let us know.