New Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50

Makes sense in the context of their line up (they have a lot of packs and the g420 is a hard sell to me at the weight it is for a frameless  when it has similar capacity as the gorilla). But I felt the 40l size was good – partner has one and it’s generous.

That said I prefer the design of the gorilla to the Mariposa, which is my winter pack. If the gorilla had been available in 50L a year ago I might’ve gone for that over the Mariposa.

I don’t think a framed pack of this size needs a removable belt. But I guess that makes it easier for them to account for different body sizes without doing custom orders. And I guess swapping to the “fast belt” might let someone cheaply test out a frameless pack. But, I think a sewn in hipbelt would ultimately be better.

It seems it comes with a medium hipbelt and you need to buy a second belt if that doesn’t work for you? So you end up with two belts? Which seems… silly?

Yellow is my favorite colour but the yellow on the gorilla is a bit ugly. I think it’s the grey bits that don’t work aesthetically for me.

Be curious to know how the new sitpad back pad is. I don’t use the stock one – my torso length 1/4” pad is only a little heavier, and I don’t notice if it provides any worse structure than the stock one. I don’t notice any airflow from the dimples. If the new pad was a better back pad it might be curious

So, it doesn’t seem like any significant changes, other than the weird hipbelt thing and a few changes to “streamline” their product line – so changes for GG more than specifically improving the product?

Where is the extra capacity? Main bag still low 30s.

Hah. According to the old product page, it was 28.8L internal – now 32L

https://web.archive.org/web/20200327134133/https://www.gossamergear.com/products/gorilla-ultralight-backpack-all-bundle

On the dimensions, they’ve only added 0.5″ of depth – which would only add 2L of volume (not 3.2).

They mentioned changing the mesh on the back. Maybe it’s even stretchier? Maybe the bottle pockets are bigger?

Hard to see where they’re genuinely finding 10 litres – looks like they’re using volumes fairly vaguely as a marketing tool.

I noticed that when I was buying my Kumo and comparing it to the Gorilla, it has about 6L less volume and a shorter extension collar. Yet they claim it as being only 2L less internally than the gorilla 40L. Their claimed volumes are pretty inconsistent, and seem to be a branding/naming tool more than anything.. (I really like all the packs we have from them, just they’re kind of misleading in this regard).

Opo, I also have a Kumo. Very comfortable, about same volume as a 30 liter pack. By comparison, my Durston Drop 40 holds as much as Osprey or Gregory 50 liter packs. Unfortunately, as much as I like the Durston features and Xpac fabric, the shoulders straps can’t handle wide shoulders and big chest. I considered a used GG Silverback due to comfort of the Kumo. The G4 is fine for the AT, but not southern New Mexico, AZ or CA water hauls. The Mariposa is too big. Like Goldilocks, the new Gorilla 50 seems just right.

Opo, the frame stays do fit into the waistbelt to enable load transfer to hips. A number of GG users requested the Fastbelt like the Kumo uses.

Yeah, I like the Kumo a lot. Partner likes her Gorilla a lot. And I’ve only used the Mariposa on one trip, so jury is still out.

I had a similar, but opposite problem with the Drop 40. It couldn’t handle narrow shoulder and a small chest. Even in size s, the straps seemed to be set too wide, cutting into my armpits. I am quite narrow, so I won’t fault the pack for it, but I haven’t had that issue with the other few packs I’ve tried

Like Goldilocks, the new Gorilla 50 seems just right.

Except, by their own dimensions the internal capacity is only 2L more (they claim 3.2L more on their specs sheet), and the pockets don’t seem to have had a major redesign – so I’m kind of questioning their volume claims.

Last gen (40l claimed) Gorilla
28.8L claimed internal capacity – so 11.2L in external pockets (yet the Mariposa apparently has 24L in external pockets, despite only adding a slightly taller front pocket, taller side pocket, and one small side pocket – I don’t think it’s truly twice as much external capacity)

11″ x 22″ x 6″ = 23.8L
+ 11.5″ extension collar = 36.2L
So the internal volume is pretty much splitting the difference – that makes sense as the closure system eats some of the volume.

New 50L gorilla
32 internal claimed (+3.2L)

Dimensions 11.5″ x 22″ x 6″ = 25.8L (+2L)

+ extension collar of 11.5 = 39.2L (+3L)

So maybe the 32L claim, using their kind of vague volume calculations makes sense.

But have they added another 8L in external pocket capacity?

Was the old external pocket capacity understated?

—–

It’s all a bit odd and vague.

To do the same with the Kumo
28L claimed internal
22x11x4.5 = 17.8L
+ extension collar of 9″ = 25.1L

So using the same kind of volume convention of “splitting the difference of the extension collar volume and volume up to the extension collar” doesn’t work here. Heck, it seems the claimed internal volume is higher even max specs would allow for.

Gorilla = No Load Lifters

Mariposa= Load Lifters

A few comments.

Re:  Hipbelts.  A few days ago (before this thread was started) I emailed GG with that question.  I paste their reply here.  “Yes our packs now come standard with a medium hipbelt installed on our Mariposas and Gorillas.  We have expanded the range on our medium hipbelt from the old range of 30” – 40”, to the new range of 28” – 45”.  In the past, we found that even with our older reduced sizing range, a majority of our customers were returning the small and large belts they ordered, resulting in wasted shipping costs and time, as well as a larger carbon footprint.  So with new sizing range on our medium belts, we’ve calculated that our new medium sized belt will fit ~85% of our customers!  We would encourage you to try a pack with just a medium belt first before ordering a small or large, unless you are absolutely sure you are outside of that 28” – 45” sizing range.  If you end up ordering a large or small and would like to return the medium, you can always return it for a full $25 refund.”  (Which sounds fine except for the part about not making this clearer on their site.)

The published specs on the current Mariposa in small, with small hipbelt, are only about 1.5 oz. more than the equivalent Gorilla, and you get the extra top pocket on the right, which I really like having.  The excess internal volume of the M can be compressed.  And it can come in handy on long water carries, if you encounter those where you backpack.  (Of course that doesn’t apply to everyone.)

I my experience the M’s load lifters don’t do much of anything–not enough play in the system to make a difference.  So if you prefer the G which doesn’t have them, no great loss.

I’ve ordered the new Gorilla and will post when it arrives. To echo Mina’s point, last year I ordered the Mariposa but returned it because the weight seemed to settle on my lower back. (5’9”, 31” waist, s/m torso). The Mariposa load lifters didn’t seem to make any difference when I tightened them.