The ULA Extremely Circuit SV (48L) is an ultralight-style roll-top backpack made utilizing an ultralight waterproof cloth referred to as Extremely that’s considerably extra abrasion-resistant than Dyneema DCF or the Robic Nylon utilized in different ultralight backpacks. The ULA Circuit SV (Small Quantity) reviewed here’s a decrease quantity model of the favored ULA Circuit (68L) backpack for hikers who don’t want to hold as a lot gear, water, or meals. The one distinction between the smaller ULA Extremely Circuit SV (48L) and the bigger ULA Extremely Circuit (68L) is the amount of the principle compartment.
No, your web connection just isn’t unhealthy. ULA simply has a VERY sluggish web site. Be affected person. The web page you requested will load finally.
RELATED: Finest Ultralight Backpacks with Frames
- Weight: 35.8 oz (measurement medium)
- Quantity:Â 48 Liters, together with the extension collar and exterior pockets
- Cloth: Extremely 200 and Extremely 400 in high-wear areas
- Mfg. Rec’d Max Load: 35 lbs
- Mfg. Rec’s Base Weight: 15 lbs
- Torso Lengths: 15-18″, 18-21″, 21-24″, 24″+
- Hip Belt Sizing: 26-30″, 30-34″, 34-38″, 38-40″, 42-47″, 47″+
- Seam-taped: No
- Hydration system compatibility: No
- Load lifters: Sure
- Bear canister compatibility: BV500 matches vertically, BV475 matches horizontally within the extension collar, BV450 and BV425 match horizontally in the principle compartment.
- Made within the USA
- Professionals: Ultralight, waterproof cloth, wonderful hipbelt, big selection of sizes, female and male fashions
- Cons: Not seam taped or seam-sealed, high Y-strap interferes with load lifters
ULA determined to create a smaller 48L quantity model of the unique 68L Circuit Backpack as a result of backpacking gear has turn out to be noticeably extra compressible and lighter weight prior to now 5 years and there’s much less demand for high-volume backpacks like the unique 68L Circuit.
The Circuit SV is out there in 400D Robic Nylon or Extremely 200 and Ultra400. All of those supplies are extremely sturdy, though the Extremely Cloth is considerably extra abrasion-resistant than Robic Nylon and waterproof.
Backpack Storage and Group
The ULA Extremely Circuit SV is laid out like an ordinary ultralight backpack with a entrance mesh pocket, aspect water bottle pockets made with stable cloth, and a single tier of aspect compression straps. It’s a roll-top pack (with none high snaps, a stiffener, or velcro on the high of the extension collar) that may be secured to the edges of the pack with straps and buckles or clipped collectively on high. If the latter, the additional aspect straps may be looped across the backpack to offer entrance compression or act as an attachment level to lash gear over the entrance mesh pocket. This may be useful for carrying snowshoes since they received’t match below the aspect compression straps.
The aspect water bottle pockets are straightforward to achieve whereas carrying the backpack, and you will get bottles out and in of the pockets. There may be an elastic wire with a wire lock alongside the highest of the pocket to safe tall skinny bottles, and whereas a 32 oz Nalgene bottle matches, the pockets aren’t deep sufficient to retailer it reliably: you’re higher off utilizing a taller skinny bottle. The pack’s shoulder straps run by way of holes in entrance of aspect pockets and are anchored inside. Whereas this helps pull the pack nearer to your hips, small gadgets can fall out if positioned contained in the aspect pockets.Â
The entrance mesh pocket, made with extremely sturdy UltraStretch Mesh, is great for storing moist or unfastened layers you need quick access to with out having to open up the roll high. The pack comes with an elastic wire that lays over the mesh and is sweet for attaching moist gear to the backpack’s outdoors, though I want to take away it so it doesn’t snag on protruding vegetation.
There are two zippered pockets on the outside of the hip belt, massive sufficient to retailer a point-and-shoot digital camera, snacks, bug dope, and such. The fronts of each pockets are hard-faced and have heavy-duty waterproof zippers. Hipbelt pockets are a spot that always experiences excessive abrasion if you happen to hike off-trail and the place the Extremely cloth shines.
The within of the pack bag is one massive area with none hydration ports or a spot to hold a hydration system, though there are two gear loops inside from which to hold a hydration pocket or a smaller accent pocket (offered individually). Whereas your complete pack can maintain 48L, the principle pack bag, together with the extension collar, solely has a quantity of 37L of storage whereas the rest is distributed within the open and hipbelt pockets.
The within of the pack bag can be NOT seam-taped or seam-sealed, regardless that that is attainable, and different pack producers who use Extremely and Dyneema DCF achieve this. ULA says they don’t seam-tape as a result of it will intrude with making pack repairs. I don’t perceive why that may make a distinction.
Regardless, I nonetheless suggest utilizing a pack liner, even on packs which are seam-taped and made with waterproof cloth, as a result of a liner has extra makes use of past protecting the within of your pack dry. (See: Do You want a Pack Liner for a Waterproof Backpack?)
The Extremely Circuit SV has two body elements: a Delrin (fiberglass) hoop that runs across the perimeter of the again panel and a central aluminum body keep. The ring doesn’t present a structural operate when it comes to load switch to the hip: its major goal is to stop the pack from collapsing on itself whenever you pack it. The body keep does the actual load switch work and helps stop the pack bag from barrelling when the pack is full. It’s pre-curved and helps drive the load into your lumbar area. Each the Delrin loop and the central body keep elements will not be supposed to be detachable.
Backpack Body and Suspension
By way of load distribution, it’s finest to position your heaviest gadgets, corresponding to meals, nearer to the middle of your again or simply above the hip belt. Weight positioned larger up on this pack, with its single body keep, tends to sway and might throw you off steadiness.
The again of the pack is made with skinny foam lined with mesh cloth that retains your torso comfy even on sizzling and humid days. It’s not ventilated like a suspended mesh pack, so that you’ll nonetheless sweat, however it’s additionally not easy like a again panel made with nylon. It could, nonetheless, choose up forest particles, like pine or spruce needles, if you happen to lay it down on the bottom.
Like ULA’s different backpacks, the Extremely Circuit SV is out there with conventional male (J-shaped) or female-friendly and unisex (S-shaped) shoulder straps, though many males want these S-shaped straps as effectively. I requested them on this pack to point out you what they appear like (above). The S-shape is appropriate for folks with sloping shoulders or well-developed chests and might help make the sternum strap (which slides up and down on a webbing strap) extra comfy. ULA packs are extremely popular with ladies backpackers for that reason.
The hipbelt is equally spectacular, if no more so. It has high and backside webbing straps, so you’ll be able to regulate the strain to match the curves of your hips whereas preserving the simplicity of a central buckle. I believe the ULA Circuit SV backpack has one of the best hipbelt out there right now amongst ultralight pack makers on this weight class when it comes to match, consolation, and cargo switch. It rides securely and comfortably over your iliac crest and received’t slip even in case you have a closely loaded pack.
The hipbelt can be replaceable and out there in a formidable vary of sizes, so you’ll be able to dial in a very good match even if you happen to’re on the ultra-slim or the outsized finish of the spectrum. It attaches to the pack with an enormous block of velcro behind the padded again panel. That velcro block is taller than it needs to be by about 2″, so if it’s essential, you’ll be able to elevate the hello belt up and shorten the torso size or vice versa. In different phrases, you get the comfort of an adjustable torso size with out incurring the added weight and complexity that having one often requires. This diploma of adjustability has all the time been a characteristic of ULA’s bigger backpacks that has set them aside from different mounted torso-length packs.
Exterior Attachment Factors/Compression
The Extremely Circuit SV has one tier of aspect compression straps situated above all sides pocket. Along with serving to compress puffy gear saved contained in the pack, they will also be used to safe lengthy skinny gadgets to the aspect of the pack, like Tenkara fishing rods or a trekking umbrella. They’ve restricted utility for winter climbing and backpacking; nonetheless, since they shut with webbing strap adjusters, which freeze up in winter, and never side-release buckles.
Like all ULA backpacks, the Extremely Circuit SV’s shoulder straps have plastic rings to hold gear like GPS receivers or a Garmin Inreach mini 2. The sternum strap slides up and down a chunk of webbing sewn to the entrance of the shoulder straps and is simple to regulate.
The Circuit SV comes with a single high strap that runs from above the shoulders to a buckle within the entrance of the pack to carry down the rolltop and any gadgets you would possibly wish to stick with it high of the pack. A Y-strap is out there as effectively, however I like to recommend towards utilizing it. The slack webbing within the Y-strap may be very lengthy and hangs down over your shoulders, not down the entrance of the pack, out of the best way. That is ungainly and interferes with utilizing the load lifters. It’s a really curious design, and I like to recommend rolling your individual moderately than utilizing the ULA Y strap until they modify it.
There are further gear loops on the base of the pack the place you would additionally safe a tent and additional gear loops across the entrance mesh pocket. Once more, the straps for these are offered individually. Lastly, the Extremely Circuit SV features a pair of elastic trekking pole/ice axe shaft holders on the high of the entrance mesh pocket. These are free.
Comparable Ultralight Framed Backpacks
Suggestion
The ULA Extremely Circuit SV Backpack is a 48L model of the favored ULA Extremely 68L Circuit Backpack and is designed for 3-5 day journeys that don’t require carrying massive quantities of substances, meals, and water. Whereas the 2 packs are just about equivalent (aside from the amount of the principle compartment), I want the 48L model as a result of it’s nimbler and extra comfy to hold than a higher-capacity backpack. (It’d be good if ULA would come with the width and top dimensions of each packs on the merchandise’ internet retailer pages so you would examine them.)
The Extremely Circuit SV is made with Extremely 200 and Extremely 400, a pack materials that’s extra abrasion-resistant than Dyneema DCF or the 400D Robic Nylon used within the Robic Circuit or Robic Circuit SV backpacks, additionally offered by ULA. Should you hike in mountainous terrain or off-trail, I’d suggest getting the Extremely model of the Circuit SV for the added abrasion resistance.
Should you’re contemplating buying a ULA Circuit SV, the issues that set it aside from different producers’ backpacks are sizing and match. Should you require particular sizing in top or girth or need S-shaped shoulder straps, the Circuit or any of ULA’s different higher-volume packs are laborious to beat.
Â
Disclosure: ULA donated a backpack for assessment.
SectionHiker by no means accepts cost for gear critiques or editorial protection. Whenever you purchase by way of affiliate hyperlinks on our website, we could earn a small fee at no additional value to you. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear critiques, climbing and backpacking FAQs, and free climbing guides.
