Gear Review

Granite Gear Vapor Trail

1. ultralight
2. best for moderate loads
3. not a large-capacity pack
4. 2 lbs 6 oz (long)

Granite Gear's Vapor Trail sits comfortably in the gap between a modern internal frame pack and an ultralight frameless thru pack.

While the Vapor Trail will not satisfy the most hardcore ultralight hiker (many of whom make their own packs out of silnylon and string), it is nonetheless an excellent compromise for those seeking a light overnight pack that still offers durability and a viable frame.

Keep the total load under 30 pounds or so, and you'll be the envy of your group on most any trail-bound backpacking excursion, thanks to the Vapor Trail's exceptionally-light two pound, six ounce weight (measured).

Unlike a traditional pack, the Gear Gear Vapor Trail employs a lidless design.

Instead of being capped with a lid, the top of the Vapor Trail just rolls down and buckles in place.

Going lidless can take some getting used to, especially if you're fond of storing frequently-accessed items in zip-pockets.

You'll either have to keep everything in the Vapor Trail's main body, or stash what you can in the two external mesh pockets.

The obvious benefit of the lidless design is 8-10 ounces of saved weight (though it can be argued you can always clip off a regular pack's lid).

Despite going light, the Vapor Trail features a generously padded waistbelt and shoulder straps—essential for keeping you comfortable mile after mile on the trail.

The Vapor Trail has steadily worked its way toward becoming one of the most popular thru-hiking packs available.

Granite Gear estimates roughly 40% of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail carry the Vapor Trail—a fine endorsement, to be sure.

The Vapor Trail comes with an extremely long expansion collar.

Given the design of the suspension, it's hard to belive that the Vapor Trail can be effectively pushed up to its stated volume of 59 liters.

Let's call it a 45 liter pack to stay conservative.

You'll likely want to keep the pack's load as small and compact as possible in order for it to carry well. In my experience, Granite Gear's lidless packs tend to torque backwards a bit under load, making them less suitable for heavy loads.

Consider the Vapor Trail's recommended maximum of 30lbs as a limit best obeyed. Stay under 30 lbs (give or take), and you'll likely be quite happy with the Vapor Trail for your long-distance trips. The padding will keep your hips and shoulders from bruising, and you'll love dropping two or more pounds of pack weight.

» Bottom Line: Ultralight euphoria, as long as you keep the load below 30 lbs

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