[Unbiased, Self-Funded Review] The Durston Wapta 30: Overturning the stereotypes of traditional frameless backpacks with its surprising lightness and comfort

UL (Ultralight) hiking is a style of hiking or mountain climbing that aims to reduce weight by simplifying equipment, reducing the burden on the body and allowing you to enjoy it. Interest in UL hiking has been increasing in recent years, and it is becoming established as a part of the culture

I'm one of those people who enjoys UL hiking and keeps my gear as light as possible. I was looking for a backpack that I could carry on both day trips and camping trips, and I was given the opportunity to test out the DURSTON Wapta 30 backpack , so I'll write a quick review.

I highly recommend this backpack to anyone who wants to achieve UL status but wants to carry it comfortably, or who suffers from shoulder pain after long periods of activity. It's not just a lightweight backpack, but it's also a highly comfortable, well-made backpack with convenient features and attention to detail for ease of use

Main features of DURSTON Wapta 30

The Wapta 30 is made from the new material "ALUULA Graflyte™" and is a lightweight backpack weighing just 520g for a medium size, yet is waterproof, durable, and resistant to abrasion

The hip belt distributes the weight to your waist, allowing you to carry the frameless backpack stably. The back is heat-welded with mesh padding, ensuring breathability to reduce discomfort caused by sweat

The main compartment is approximately 30L (M: 30L, L: 32L), and in addition, the side pockets and front pockets have a total capacity of approximately 15L.The Y-shaped top strap and daisy chain increase the expandability, and if you use lightweight equipment, the capacity is large enough to accommodate long-term tent stays

The backpack is designed to allow you to continue moving around without taking it off, with mesh pockets on the shoulder straps, hip belt pockets, bottom pockets and side pockets that can be accessed while wearing the backpack

Favorite points

• ALUULA Graflyte™ fabric is lightweight yet highly durable
• 30L+ capacity for camping or day trips
• Frameless and lightweight, it can be carried on the hips (hip belt is removable)
• Mesh pad on the back ensures breathability
• The front and side pockets are more spacious than you'd expect
• Hip belt pockets and bottom pockets can be accessed without taking off the pack
• High scalability
• Shoulder pocket that can hold a 750ml PET bottle
• Daisy chains can be used conveniently depending on your ideas

Points of concern

• The shoulder pads are a little thin, so if you get carried away and make it too heavy, you may feel some damage to your shoulders
• The individual holes in the daisy chain were small, so I wanted them to be large enough to fit a carabiner through

Main specifications and evaluation

Detailed Review

ALUULA Graflyte™ fabric is lightweight yet highly durable

The fabrics and materials used in outdoor backpacks, such as Cordura nylon, Robic nylon, DCF, ECOPAK, and Ultra fabric, are constantly evolving

The fabric used in this Wapta30

Wapta30 was the first backpack to use this fabric

ALUULA Graflyte™ is a fabric made by fusing a durable waterproof film with extremely strong UHMWPE fiber (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, also known as Dyneema and used in DCF, DCH and Ultra fabrics). This fabric is not only ultra-lightweight yet waterproof, durable and abrasion-resistant, but also has new and unprecedented properties such as ease of processing (e.g. laser drilling) and recyclability

To be more specific, Ultra 200X, an ultra-lightweight, highly durable material that is now increasingly being adopted by UL Garage brands and others, weighs 133 gsm, while ALUULA Graflyte™'s V-98 fabric, which has roughly the same strength and thickness, weighs only 98 gsm, making it even lighter. Of course, there's no doubt that Ultra 200X is also an excellent fabric, and since strength and properties cannot be simply compared, it's hard to simply say that it's better than Ultra 200X

The secret behind ALUULA Graflyte™'s lightness, and perhaps the most surprising feature, is that it uses a unique fusion process that eliminates the need for adhesives, which are normally required when making fabrics (as are used in DCF and Ultra fabrics). This prevents the fabric from increasing in weight and also prevents deterioration of the fabric's performance over time, allowing it to maintain its waterproof performance and durability for a long time

The bag feels thick and firm to the touch, and feels sturdy. It's not just the fabric that's durable; it's sewn with durable, thick thread, and the backside of the seams are sealed for waterproofing. The exterior side, front, and bottom pockets are made from the same material as the main compartment for durability, so there's little risk of wear and tear. It also features a generously padded hip belt. Despite this, the bag weighs just 495g (measured for the L size) for a 30-liter capacity, which is surprising (according to the company's website, the M size is 520g and the L size is 540g)

The back of the seams are tightly sealed

Most frameless backpacks, generally classified as UL (Ultralight), weigh less than 1kg. While the recommended load capacity is often set at 10kg or less, the Wapta30 boasts a lightweight frameless structure weighing just 500g, yet is rated for a load capacity of up to 12kg, within the normal allowable range. This figure also allows for a certain amount of weight to avoid straining the shoulders and lower back. We tested the backpack to see how comfortable it would be to carry a load over 12kg, and found it to be quite comfortable (though according to the official website, it's possible to carry loads heavier than 12kg for "short periods").

I actually tried carrying about 16kg of luggage in the backpack, and it definitely felt like 12kg was the borderline for comfortable carrying. It seems possible to go out with more than 15kg of equipment, but because the shoulder pads are thin, it may be manageable for a short period of time, but over a long period of time it seems like it would cause significant damage to your shoulders. If you plan to carry more than 12kg of equipment, you should choose a more sturdy backpack with a frame

30L+ capacity for camping or day trips

The Wapta30 can also be used for camping in a tent by simplifying the equipment

The Wapta30 has a capacity of 30L in the M size and 32L in the L size. The side and front pockets have a total capacity of about 15L, so when fully utilized, the capacity is about 45L. With this size, you can use it for a long time by limiting the equipment

The shoulder pockets, hip belt pockets, side pockets, and bottom pockets can be accessed without taking off the backpack, and it is clear that the bag was designed with long-distance hiking in mind, allowing you to walk for long periods of time while wearing the backpack

Tighten the side compression for day hikes

With a capacity of 30L, this backpack is a little large for a day trip, but by using the side compression, you can prevent items from moving around inside the backpack even when you are not carrying much, allowing you to carry it stably

Dual strap closures for side compression allow for easy adjustment with a single action, and the buckles are removable for ease of use

It is generally not advisable to use a large-capacity backpack for camping and a small backpack for day trips together, as they are used in different areas, but the Wapta30 was comfortable to carry even on day trips by tightening the side compression

I was able to use it without any problems on day hikes, but one thing that bothers me is that hikers who aren't UL-oriented might find the Wapta30's capacity a little insufficient. It may feel too small for camping, and too large for short day hikes

Frameless design that allows weight to be carried on the waist

As mentioned above, most UL backpacks weigh less than 1 kg (depending on whether they have a frame or not and the capacity)

There are many frameless backpacks like the Wapta30 that weigh less than 500g, but most of them are not designed to be worn on the waist, and most of them have simple waist belts that are only designed to prevent the backpack from flapping while you are moving. Among them, the Wapta30 is one of the few backpacks that can be worn on the waist

Backpacks that can be carried from the waist, which are common among mountaineering backpacks, are designed to allow heavy equipment to be carried stably for long periods of time.On the other hand, backpacks designed for UL hiking, which keep the base weight excluding food and fuel to under 5kg, are lighter in weight and are carried from the shoulders rather than the waist, with simpler waist belts to make them even lighter

When you actually carry a UL backpack that you wear on your shoulders, your shoulders will hurt a little, although this will vary from person to person. If the base weight is 5kg, the pack weight including food and fuel will be around 8-10kg. It may be a little heavier if you are in the winter mountains or if you are unable to replenish water. If you carry a backpack that weighs around 10kg for a long period of time, your shoulders will start to hurt. You can reduce the strain somewhat by changing the way you pack, but there are limits to how much you can do

Simpler equipment can make it lighter, but if your shoulders hurt after a long time, you won't be able to enjoy hiking. The Wapta30 is a lightweight backpack that doesn't sacrifice comfort, and because it distributes the load to your waist, it can be carried comfortably even for long periods of time

Detachable hip belt if not needed

There are probably many people who would like to try out a UL backpack, but are reluctant to buy one because they are reluctant to carry it with the weight resting on their waist, or because they are concerned about the risks of carrying it on their shoulders only and it not being a good fit for them

The Wapta30's hip belt can be removed if not needed, so you can carry it on your shoulders only. If your shoulders hurt or if carrying it on your shoulders only doesn't suit you, you can just use the hip belt. This lowers the barrier to trying out a UL backpack

By removing the hip belt, you can expect to reduce the weight by approximately 100g, making the Wapta30 attractive for those who are looking for more rigorous weight savings.With the hip belt removed, the backpack weighs approximately 400g (actual measurement for the L size)

About the size

You can choose from two back lengths: M and L. The recommended back length is 41-48cm for the M size and 47-55cm for the L size, so I chose the L size based on the measurements on the official website. I have a normal build and my shoulders aren't that broad, but it fit just right and without any problems

It's also comfortable to carry

The Wapta30 does not have the load lifters that are often found on mountaineering backpacks (load lifters are used to pull the top of the backpack closer to your body)

However, the top part of the bag does not flap around when you wear it, and it is stable to carry. I actually carried the Wapta30 for a long time, and it was comfortable to wear because it was weighted down to my waist and the S-shaped shoulder straps fit firmly on my shoulders

The shoulder straps are not very cushioned, so when carrying a heavy pack for long periods of time, you may feel some strain on your shoulders, but since you can carry it with your weight resting on your waist, the strain is not so great that it becomes stressful

Mesh pad on the back ensures breathability

UL backpacks are designed to be as lightweight as possible by being as simple as possible, so some backpacks have specifications that compromise comfort. The most obvious example of this is the back pad

When wearing a backpack, the back, which comes into contact with the body, is the part that gets the sweatiest. Many hiking backpacks are made with highly breathable materials or mesh, which allows sweat to escape from the parts that come into contact with the body and reduces discomfort, but many UL backpack models do not even have this, which means that you will be plagued by the discomfort of sweat building up on your back while you are out and about

The Wapta30 has mesh padding that reduces discomfort when sweating. While it doesn't completely eliminate the discomfort of sweat on the back, there's still a big difference between having it and not having it

The front and side pockets are more spacious than you'd expect

The front and side pockets outside the main compartment have more capacity than they appear, which was very convenient

First of all, the left and right side pockets have enough capacity to hold two bottles. I tried different bottle sizes and was able to fit a 1L bottle and a 750ml bottle

There is a cord attached to the top of the pocket, so you can pull the cord to prevent it from falling out

The front pocket is made of the same ALUULA Graflyte™ material as the main body. While the material itself isn't stretchy, it has a gusset for easy storage and a large capacity. There are also three drainage holes at the bottom of the pocket, designed to prevent water from building up inside the pocket even if you shove wet gear inside or get caught in bad weather

The large-capacity front pocket has three drainage holes, making it ideal for bad weather

The front pocket has a large capacity, so you can fit a double-wall tent, pegs, a ground sheet, etc. In winter, when you wear a lot of clothes, you can also put in clothes that you take off when you get hot

It has a gusset so it has more capacity than you would expect

The front pocket has a large capacity, so you can fit a double-wall tent, pegs, a ground sheet, etc. You can easily store clothes you take off when you get hot during the winter when you are out and about wearing a lot of clothes

Hip belt pockets and bottom pockets can be accessed without taking off the pack

Hip belt pocket (left) Bottom pocket (right)

It's clear that the Wapta30 is designed for continuous movement. This is because it has many pockets that are easily accessible even while wearing the pack, including shoulder pockets, hip belt pockets, and bottom pockets. It's perfect for storing frequently used items like snacks and rain gear, and you can keep walking without stopping even if the weather suddenly worsens

Even if you don't plan on walking for long periods of time, there will be times when you need to take a break while wearing your backpack. In those cases, having easy-to-access pockets throughout the backpack will help you reduce the frequency with which you have to wear it

Highly expandable with long streamers, V-shaped straps, and daisy chains

Long streamers accommodate changes in equipment

Whether camping or hiking, the heaviest load is when you set out with food (or immediately after resupplying). The Wapta30 has a roll-top design and a long windsock, making it easy to adjust to changes in your load

There's also a V-shaped strap at the top. The V-shape allows for two straps to be fastened together, providing a stronger hold than a single strap, allowing you to securely fasten a sleeping mat, stuff sack, clothing, etc

V-shaped straps allow you to secure your gear securely

Daisy chains are provided on the sides of the backpack and under the front pocket, so you can attach items like ice axes or trekking poles using bungee cords

I often store my photography equipment, such as tripods, in the side pockets, so the ability to attach trekking poles separately is extremely useful. I also used it to attach an Insta360 (360-degree camera), and it could be used in a variety of ways depending on your imagination

Daisy chains can be used for a variety of purposes depending on your ideas

Shoulder pocket that can hold a 750ml PET bottle

The mesh pockets on both shoulder straps can hold up to a 750ml bottle. The stretchy material keeps things from falling out, and the pockets are perfectly positioned when wearing the bag. The Wapta30's shoulder pockets are perfect in both capacity and location

I personally found this very convenient, but even with backpacks that have mesh pockets on the shoulder straps, the pockets are so small that they can't even fit a 500ml bottle, or they are too big to fit sunglasses or other small items, or the bottle is positioned too high up when you put it in while wearing the backpack, making it difficult to use

Small inconveniences can lead to you not using the product in the end, so it's important to check carefully before purchasing

Summary: UL styles vary from person to person! The journey to find the best solution for you never ends

UL hiking is not a competition of lightness. It is not just about making things lighter, but rather, I believe that the quickest route to UL is to find your own comfortable range by utilizing your own physical strength, knowledge, and experience, and enjoy reducing weight while finding your own optimal solution

To avoid aiming for a UL style that exceeds your limits and making hiking or mountain climbing less enjoyable or too difficult, be sure to "know enough" and enjoy UL hiking (mountain climbing) without compromising on the "comfort" that suits you!

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Yosuke

A person who travels around with just one backpack, with the motto of "as light as possible" without causing inconvenience

From spring to autumn, I go fishing in mountain streams in pursuit of char deep in the mountains. I hike the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. I camp to relax by a bonfire. I snowboard to experience the feeling of floating in the silvery white mountains

A freelance writer with over 20 years of outdoor experience who enjoys the outdoors in his own way all year round. Based on his experience writing articles for over a dozen outdoor web publications, he will share his own experiences and the best tools he has used

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