Granite Gear Vapor Trail Backpack - 3600cu in

I've been using my Vapor Trail for 2 years now and it quickly became my pack of choice. It holds a ton of gear, rides great on high mileage days, and even though it's an ultralight pack, it's surprisingly rugged in design.

Had this pack for over a year and have used it on multiple trips. It is light and holds everything I need for up to a week long trip. Just got back from an AT section hike in the Smokies and it came through like always.

The Vapor Trail weighs 2lbs 5.25 oz as received and placed on my Ohaus Triple Beam. When I called, Granite Gear danced a jig.

Very Light

Back is well designed and outfitted for it's purpose. Lightweight excursion with heavyweight expectations. Carried all my gear, food and water comfortably during a weekend outing of mountainous hiking. Will continue to push it's capabilities to see if it has any weaknesses.

I like the pack very much. It is very light and comfortable. I purchased several items from BC Gear - some I liked and some I didn't - the ability to return new gear for exchange (i presume a refund if requested) is a good reason to get the stuff through this website. I would buy Granite gear again and again - it is well built and priced right.

I bought mine in April '06. I have used it on several 3-day trips, and it has worked very well. It is large enough to hold my gear internally except for my 3lb tent. Normally I carried 22-25lbs. and it felt very comfortable. Once I had to pack an additional 3 quarts of water hanging off the back to a dry camp, and I estimated the weight to be near 30lbs. It handled the extra weight fine. This pack is rated at 30lbs, and I don't think the suspension could handle carrying any more then that for any length of time. My only complaints are the water hose opening was too small for my Big Bite Cammel Back tube to go through, and the extension collar is too tall. It just gets in the way of putting stuff into the pack. You would never be able to carry enough gear in this pack to have the collar fully extended as it wouldn't carry well. Overall, it's nice lightweight pack.

The pack fits great. However, the fact that the outside pockets are essentially useless forced me to return the pack. It was tough to turn away from a pack that is so light and feels so comfortable on the back. The problem can be easily resolved by Granite Gear designing the pockets to have buttonhole-like slits allowing the outside horizontal straps to run inside the pocket against the outer wall of the pack. This would allow the user to now place and remove his/her water bottle or whatever item they chose in the pockets with ease. Should the user feel the need to strap a large or bulky item such as tent poles to the side of the pack and slid into the pocket, the horizontal strap could simply be looped around the item to properly secure it. This would add no extra weight to the pack. As an additional change, I suggest the pockets be mesh netting to allow a bit more flexibility outward instead of the material currently in use which further limits the use of the pockets because of the tight fit—especially when the interior of the pack is full. My replacement choice was first the Vapor Latitude. I thought with the larger interior capacity I could overcome the capacity lost by the inadequate pockets. However, I could not find a Vapor Latitude at a sale price a liked. In the end I was relieved I did not purchase the Vapor Latitude. The additional weight was a concern to me. I finally settled on the GoLite Speed Pack. While the stated capacity may be slightly less, in reality I gain more useable space with the Speed and its various outside pockets than with the Vapor Trail with its inefficient outer pockets. I hope this review will be of benefit. Sincerely, Clay R. Farris

Very adjustable, tough, comfortable on the back and seems perfect. I tend to be a tough customer. Be certain what your torso size is and buy accordingly. At about 2lb it makes a great start to go light. Plan on enjoying the hike? You must stay 33lb or less. (Titanium is great!) It has webbed pockets at the bottom on the outside. An elastic web holds your largest item in place inside. It feels more durable than I expected. It will be hot item in early spring. IMO

This two-pound backpack carried 30lb for three days in comfort! I tried on EVERY ultralight out there and wore them in the stores with a 30lb load. The Vapor Trail was the only one comfortable for me. The straps and hip-belt were more comfortable then my heavy duty Kelty. No issues with the single bag concept. Final word—I’m going to buy another for my bride.

I recently completed the 270 mile long "long trail" in Vermont with this pack. With around 30 pounds loaded, including food for 5 days and water, it never felt unstable or uncomfortable. The only problem I had was when it was not packed properly and there was too much weight at the top, the top shoulder straps would work themselves loose a little. Other than that, this pack is incredible.

As others have said, it's very comfortable carrying loads in the teens and 20F. You can't use the full extension collar, so volume can be tight, but that encourages you to bring less, which is a good thing. Plenty o' straps on the outside for overflow though. I didn't have a problem w/the side pockets, but I have no idea how anyone manages to use either the internal or external hydration sleeves—I did manage to carry my map in one of them though.

I have a 7 day pack that is about 25lb. My Gregory pack was looking a little flat and empty! This pack holds all my stuff and weighs a few pounds less! I liked: The suspension system which was very comfortable and easily good to 30lb and I liked the compression setup. I disliked: It is hard to load as the extension gets in the way. The solution is to fold it over the pack inside-out. The pack lacks pockets but the external pockets work well. I use an MSR bladder in the pack’s hydration pouch and don’t put 1l bottles in side pockets. I ordered the Granite Gear “top” for the pack after my last trip. Yes, I would easily buy this pack again given the chance. It may just be the pack made for me!

This is the only backpack I would consider ultralight, that can hold loads for weeklong hikes. It weighs in at 2 pounds exactly. At first it looks like a small pack, but you can topload an extra 600 or so cubic inches. The vapor trail hugs you back well even though it isn't suited with the standard suspension systems, and fits on your hip very comfortably. This pack has no zippers, just alot of adjustable straps. Their is enough room in the middle to stick an ultralight tent in, but if you were to put a larger 6 pound tent it will pull you back a little uncomfortably. Their is a slot for your hydration pack in-between the pack and back padding. Remember don't put more than 30 pounds in, other then that it will stay a good comfortable pack.

3600 cubes my arse. Only if you want to extend the extension collar to the moon and look/feel like a weeble wobble. Pack is big enough for my gear so the extra material in the form of a bag extension needs cut off IMO. NOT a water friendly pack. Either dismount or dehydrate. You will have to hang an external pocket on this thing to actually get at anything on the move, which works out well actually. My Waist is 31, chest 41, torso 17ish. Straps didn't fit me at all. Editior choice Award went to the vastly superior Nimbus Ozone NOT this one?? Backountry was fast to charge my card and slow to credit, but I would definitely buy from them again.

This pack can be summed up in one word… "comfort". I just got back from a 20 mile hike into the Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho. This is the first trip out of many where getting the pack off of my back wasn't a priority. Hands down the best pack I have ever used. Good job Granite Gear!

Yes it is bare bones. I was surprised to find a pocket for my water bladder. But on my next hike, with many water sources, I'm using the bladder pocket for all the little stuff (vitamin I, bear bag line, extra trash/dry bags etc. The water bottle side pockets are great/elastic firm. You won't loose anything out of them. There are many ways to strap things to your backside. My first 35 miles with it are coming up - I'll give an update as to how it "feels"! Rob

I recently used this pack for 3 days with 30 pounds of gear while flyfishing 4 different lakes over 11,000 ft. in the Pecos wilderness in NM. I was able to carry all gear including a TNF sleeping bag, TNF tent, MSR stove, lantern, water filter, titanium cookware, food, axe and clothing inside the pack. I also got rained on for 3 hours straight and none of my gear got wet. This pack is extremely comfortable and light yet easily supports 30 pounds.

This pack is desperately in need of pockets - somewhere, anywhere - which will obviate the need to dig through the pack searching for the moleskin or power bars. The advertised size of the pack is grossly misleading. You will never load this pack in a way that will come even close to 3600 cu in in volume. The "fantasy/reality" gap with this pack is a chasm.

I recently took a six day trip in Rocky Mountain National Park where we summitted Long's Peak (14,200 ft.) and Hague's Peak (13,500 ft.). I took the Vapor Trail since we were only out 2-3 nights at a time. I was able to carry everything I needed, less the tent, and was fine. The only complaint I have about the pack is that when the pack is full, it is difficult to get the Nalgenes back in their pockets. Other than that, it was great. And since it only weighed two pounds, I used it as my day pack when making the summit trips.