The new Granite Gear Virga3 26L is a frameless ultralight backpack weighing 1.26 lbs that can enchantment to day hikers and backpackers alike. Weighing 20.2 oz (572g), it has an adjustable torso size so you’ll be able to dial in a customized match with quite a few pockets and attachment factors to hold bulkier gear. Dual sternum straps, shoulder strap bottle elastics, and a detachable webbing belt will enchantment to quick packers, however don’t intrude with utilizing the Virga3 26 like a daily backpack or personalizing it with the preexisting third social gathering shoulder strap pockets or bottle sleeves you already personal.
Specs at a Glance
- Gender: Unisex
- Type: Frame-less
- Adjustable Torso Length/Width: Yes
- Full Weight: 20.2 oz (572g)
- Stripped Weight: 18.6 oz (526g)
- Load Lifters: Yes
- Pockets: 3 Open
- Hydration Compatible: Yes
- Ice Axe/Trekking Pole Loops: 2
- Colors: White (undyed) or Black
- Materials: 100D and 210D Robic nylon
- Max Recommended Load: 20-25 lbs
The new Virga3 26L is in its third technology within the Granite Gear product line. It has at all times been well-liked with hikers who need a decrease capability and ultralight model of Granite Gear’s multiday backpacks. With the exception of the hip belt and shade choices, the Virga3 26 is nearly an identical to the brand new Virga3 55L which can be frameless and has been up to date as properly.
The Virga3 26L is a roll-top backpack arrange in traditional ultralight fashion with two aspect water bottle pockets and a entrance stretch mesh pocket. It has higher and decrease compression straps on three sides, not two, which is a signature function of most Granite Gear backpacks and is available in enormously useful when it’s a must to carry cumbersome gear like snowshoes that won’t match inside your backpack.
The Virga3 26L has an adjustable torso size so you’ll be able to size or shorten the torso to suit higher. This is completed by elevating or reducing the shoulder straps that are connected to daisy chains behind the shoulder straps. Granite Gear has thoughtfully marked the torso size akin to the positions in inches so you’ll be able to simply reposition the straps utilizing the gated buckles that join them to the daisy chains.
In addition to lengthening the torso, you’ll be able to widen or cut back the width between the shoulder straps which is vital for ladies and plenty of males of smaller stature. If you’ve got the straps set large and begin to really feel ache in considered one of your shoulders, attempt shifting the straps nearer collectively. Shoulder strap distance could be a actual concern for some folks, particularly for males with large chests, however this stage of adjustability has been current on most of the Granite Gear packs I’ve reviewed going again the previous 10+ years.
The Virga3 26L is a frameless backpack requiring a unique packing methodology than backpacks with frames or body stays. Many folks place a foam sleeping pad inside the primary compartment, instantly behind the shoulder straps, or rolled like an enormous pipe in the primary compartment to offer the pack some form so it doesn’t collapse in on itself. Once that’s carried out you’ll be able to pack as you usually would stuffing clothes and kit behind the froth pad or contained in the rolled cavity that it creates. Personally, I favor packing 4 sections of a foam ZLite Sol sleeping pad behind the shoulder straps since a rollable foam pad just like the traditional Thermarest RidgeRest takes up an excessive amount of quantity, and thinner pads just like the Gossamer Gear 1/8″ Thinlight don’t present sufficient rigidity. When worn, the Zlite foam pad flattens out towards your again and prevents gadgets contained in the pack from poking your again.
Since it’s frameless, the Virga3 26 tends to barrel when you pack the primary compartment too tightly. This is to be anticipated and the norm for a frameless backpack. Being frameless, additionally signifies that the hip belt, which is an easy webbing strap, just isn’t load-bearing, so the load of the pack will relaxation utterly in your shoulders. The operate of the hip belt on this state of affairs is to drag the underside of the pack nearer to your torso to maintain it from bouncing as you stroll, though it’s additionally utterly detachable when you favor to not use it or need to use a climbing harness with the pack.
The shoulder straps are S-shaped, that are normally comfy for women and men. They have daisy chains sewn to the entrance, so you’ll be able to connect bottle sleeves or pockets to them if in case you have ones you already favor. Alternatively, the pack comes with 4 elastic bottle keeper cords that you need to use to connect smaller ridged bottles to the shoulder straps. I like my very own third social gathering pockets higher.
The shoulder straps include two sternum straps so you’ll be able to switch extra of the load off your shoulders and onto your higher chest, considerably just like the vest straps which are showing an increasing number of on lower-volume packs. This is completely elective nonetheless and you’ll simply take away one of many sternum straps in order for you a extra conventional really feel. I discovered that crisscrossing the 2 sternum straps is extra comfy for me, particularly when hauling cumbersome and heavy winter traction aids.
The aspect pockets are deep and may maintain two Smartwater bottles. They have a shock wire adjustment working alongside the highest so you’ll be able to pull the pockets tight to maintain the bottles from falling out. The lower-side compression strap may also un via the aspect pocket or over it, so you’ll be able to nonetheless have compression even when the pocket itself is full. The pack is hydration appropriate with a middle hose port though there’s only a toggle inside to hold a reservoir and never a reservoir pocket.
The roll prime clips collectively on prime of the pack and there’s a perpendicular prime strap that holds it down. If favor utilizing a roll prime that connects to the aspect of the pack fairly than the highest as a result of it gives higher clearance and compression, you’ll be able to connect the roll prime clips to the clips on the higher compression strap overlaying the entrance stretch mesh pocket. This eliminates any additional webbing straps and is a properly executed design function.
Similar Frameless Backpacks
Recommendation
The new frameless Virga3 26L is a enjoyable pack to hold and can be utilized for quite a lot of mountaineering and out of doors journeys so long as you retain your pack weight underneath 20-25 kilos and keep away from overstuffing the pack. I get a kick out of utilizing the brand new white undyed coloring, though there are plenty of examples of hikers who’ve illustrated their packs with colourful designs on Granite Gear’s Instagram Feed. The solely actual criticism I’ve of the pack is its efficiency in winter circumstances, the place the buckles jam up with snow and gained’t shut. Despite that use case, this new third-generation Virga3 26L is a extremely purposeful and adjustable ultralight backpack that’s good for hikers who need a miniature model of a multi-day day ultralight-style backpack for day mountaineering or fastpacking.
Disclosure: Granite Gear donated a backpack for assessment.
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