Gear Review: Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack by Gossamer Gear
Lightweight, durable, and perfect for ultralight adventures, the Kumo 36 is a minimalist's dream. With smart features, comfort, and versatility, this pack is built to handle big miles without weighing you down. Is it right for you?
Gossamer Gear is a much beloved company in the ultralight backpacking world and I was quite excited when I picked up their superlight Kumo 36 Backpack. This is a little backpack that has a thoughtful design, good size and is made from durable fabrics. As soon as I put it on I decided a hiking adventure needed to happen immediately!
I loaded up the Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack with all my usual day hiking gear and headed to the Needles District in Canyonlands to see what this ultralight pack is all about!
Quick Rundown of the Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack by Gossamer Gear
- 36 liters
- Weight: 20 ounces for medium with hip belt
- Removable SitLight Pad
- 70D & 100D Recycled Robic Nylon / PFAS-free
- Corded trekking pole system
- Frameless design
- Super comfortable fit
My Experience with the Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack by Gossamer Gear
On this initial outing with the Kumo 36, I loaded it up with about 20 pounds of gear, including my wildlife photography lens, which is massive. I had to pack in water as well, which was a great way to see how the Kumo feels when it's all loaded up! At the trailhead I put put the backpack on and was actually quite surprised at how comfortable it felt.
The hike I was on is a great one; quite scramblicious at times, with playful obstacles. During my maneuvering, the Kumo 36 Superlight moved with me in a very nice way, never obstructing my range or movements. It stayed solidly on my back, with no uncomfortable rubbing or sliding.
A nice design element Gossamer Gear incorporates into some of their backpacks is a foam pad you can pull out of the back to sit on while you're resting or having lunch on trail. It makes for a comfortable back panel to the backpack, of course, and I really enjoyed it as a seat. It's a nice built-in feature. While wearing the Kumo 36 Backpack, I can easily reach my water bottle and snacks from the side pockets, which is also great.
The hip belt pockets are pretty small, but I am able to keep the things I usually keep in them; cough drops, Kula Cloth, etc. The stretchy shoulder strap pockets are great for stashing a phone and GoPro.
One thing I would definitely change about the Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack is the adjustable sternum strap. While I find this backpack fits very nice, I wish I could move the sternum strap up a bit higher than it's able to go. I encounter this issue with a handful of backpacks from various brands, and I'm a little disappointed that Gossamer Gear doesn't extend that range a bit higher. That's my only complaint about this backpack, really.
Gossamer Gear's Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack is an interesting backpack. It's big enough for quick overnights out in the wilderness, marathon-distance day hikes and fastpacking. It has some really thoughtful design elements, and just enough features to be extremely useful. It doesn't have enough room for most to use as a backpacking pack, and it isn't particularly fancy. But wow is it functional and comfortable.
I believe after the first 30 miles I wore this backpack on, I declared it the most comfortable daypack I had ever used. So I'm curious to test it out for overnights and fastpacking adventures, because if it is as comfortable for those adventures as it is for long day hikes, that would be pretty remarkable!
Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack by Gossamer Gear: Pros and Cons
The Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack by Gossamer Gear is a fantastic choice for ultralight hikers. Check out the pros and cons below to see if it’s right for your next adventure:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Super comfortable | Not in love with the flap-style closure |
| Weighs just 20 ounces | |
| Lots of nice pockets | Would like more range on the sternum strap |
| Versatile capacity |
Click here to learn more and purchase the Kumo 36 Superlight Backpack for your ultralight adventures!
My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.
