First Look: Gossamer Gear 2014 Murmur Hyperlight Backpack

By Will Rietveld

Introduction and History

The Murmur is a frameless minimalist rucksack for ultralight backpacking. The 2014 version is generation 3 of this popular pack. The dimensions and volume remain unchanged: 2200 cubic inches (36 liters). The pack is available in only one size.

The original silnylon Murmur Gen 1 came out in 2008, weighed 7.5 ounces, and had wide, thick shoulder straps padded with lightweight foam or your spare hiking socks. It even had a pair of side compression straps.

The 2012 Gen 2 Murmur is made of 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop and silnylon, has an Over the Top flap (no pocket), and thinner shoulder straps. The pack gained 1.5 ounces, but added useful features and durability.

Now the Gen 3 2014 Murmur is being introduced. This version is constructed of lightweight and durable Cordura high-tenacity nylon 6-6 ripstop nylon and Robic high-tenacity nylon, has thin perforated foam shoulder straps, replaces the Over the Top flap with a drybag closure, and adds hipbelt wings with pockets. The weight by my scale is 10.85 ounces without the provided SitLight pad and shock cord system. So, the latest Murmur has gained another 1.85 ounces; what are the changes and how much has the pack been improved?

The new 2014 Murmur backpack is unchanged in dimensions and volume and is available in one size. The weight has increased 3.3 ounces from the original.

Description

The fabric used for the body of the new Murmur is 20-denier Cordura high-tenacity 6-6 ripstop nylon, the bottom is 100-denier Robic 100% high-tenacity nylon. These fabrics are lighter and more durable than the previous 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop fabric. Why? -- Because Dyneema Gridstop fabric is ordinary nylon 6 with a grid of high-strength Spectra fibers for strength. High-tenacity 6-6 nylon is industrial strength and highly abrasion-resistant.  If you are interested in learning more about these fabrics, Google “6-6 nylon” and “Robic fabrics” to get the details. There is a big difference between ordinary nylon 6 and high-tenacity nylon 6-6 and Robic.

The following photo sequence shows important details of the new Murmur.

The frontpanel has the same pocket design as previous versions. The big front pocket is a new more durable Darlington Mesh; fabric panels with lashing loops are attached to the mesh. Trekking pole holders have been added on the bottom left and removable tool loops on the upper body.

The backpanel has a thin Power Mesh for the pad sleeve. Note that it absorbs water (and sweat) as shown. A SitLight pad is included with the pack, which can be removed and used as a sit pad on breaks.

Side view: the side pockets are fabric and stretch mesh (same mesh as the front pocket), and are fairly tall. With the pack on, a water bottle can be inched out and replaced in the side pockets, but I would not rate it as easy. Note that there are no loops sewn in the side seams to attach a shock cord or compression system.

 

The top has a new drybag-type closure that replaces the Over the Top flap on the previous version. One side has a stiffener to facilitate rolling the top down. It’s held down with two side straps (see previous photo); their ¾-inch width is a bit on the heavy side for an ultralight backpack.

The bottom of the pack, including the bottom of the side pockets, is a 100% high tenacity Robic nylon fabric, which is very abrasion resistant. The hipbelt wings are attached with clips, so they are removable. There are two attachment loops, so the pack torso length can be shortened if desired.

Close-up view of the front and side mesh pockets.

The hipbelt wings each have a zippered mesh pocket. Note the clips that attach the hipbelt to the pack, and the second loop 2 inches higher to shorten the pack torso length.

Trekking poles attached to the pack’s trekking pole holders.

A folded ThinLight pad (about 3 ounces) in the pad sleeve adds a bit more weight than the provided SitLight pad (1.75 ounces), but it’s more versatile.

The new pack’s shoulder straps (and hipbelt wings) are padded with a thin perforated Wall Mesh, which should be very breathable.

 

Initial Testing and First Impressions

I carried the new Murmur packed with weights of 10, 15, and 20 pounds on seven day hikes, one of which was an ascent of a 13,000’ peak. The other hikes were my daily 5 mile walk up a local mountain. Following are my initial impressions.

The new Murmur comfortably carries loads up to 15 pounds; it’s less comfortable at its limit of 20 pounds. This agrees with Gossamer Gear’s specifications. The reason for its reduced comfort with heavier loads is pack torso collapse, which puts more weight on the shoulders, and the thin shoulder straps distort and do not spread the weight.

This photo shows the exact same load in the original silnylon Murmur. The shoulder straps are wider, thicker, and more supportive. As with any frameless backpack, pack torso collapse still occurs, putting more weight on the shoulders, but the wider, thicker shoulder straps in this case spread the weight over the shoulders, substantially increasing comfort.

The new Murmur’s hipbelt wings, padded with the same Wall Mesh, are no better than the shoulder straps; they collapse with heaver loads and do not spread the weight. I found that the ordinary webbing waist strap on the original Murmur is just as comfortable.

• The new Murmur effectively uses the latest high-tenacity nylon fabrics and mesh to enhance durability while minimizing weight.
• Small webbing loops in the side seams have been eliminated, so the pack does not have any volume compression capability. On previous versions I was able to run thin cords with cordlocks through those loops to create a compression system.
• I really like the new drybag-style top closure; it’s easy to use, keeps water from entering the pack, and tightly secures the top.
• The trekking pole holders are a nice feature and add little weight. There are many times on a backpacking trip where I want to stow my poles and have my hands free.
• The Murmur is available in only one size. I measured the pack torso length at 18.5 inches (center of hipbelt to shoulder strap attachment), which translates to a size Medium. Connecting the hipbelt wings to the upper loops results in a pack torso length of about 16.5 inches for shorter hikers. I found the pack to be a bit too short for taller hikers like me, but usable with lighter loads.
• Overall, I like all of the changes in materials and design of the new 2014 Murmur, except the very thin padding in the shoulder straps and hipbelt wings. When I compared the new pack with the original Murmur’s thicker/wider shoulder straps, I found the original pack substantially more comfortable carrying the same 20-pound load. Also, the new version does not have any volume adjustment capability as previous versions did.

 

Specifications and Features

Manufacturer	Gossamer Gear (www.gossamergear.com/)
Model	2014 Murmur Hyperlight backpack
Sizes Available	One size (Medium), adjustable to Small
Volume	2200 cubic inches total (36 liters)
Specified Weight	Minimum weight 8.5 oz; weight with hipbelt 9.2 ounces; total weight 12.7 oz
Measured Weight	Minimum weight 8.65 oz; weight with hipbelt 10.9 oz; total weight 13.65 oz
Materials	Pack body is 20 denier Cordura high-tenacity ripstop nylon coated  one side with silicone and the other with a PU/silicone blend; bottom is 100 denier Robic 100% high-tenacity nylon; front, side, and hipbelt pockets are Darlington stretch mesh; pad sleeve is Power Mesh
Features	Stretch mesh front and side pockets, front pocket has attached lashing loops, trekking pole holder, ventilated foam padded shoulder straps, drybag top closure with 2 side straps, interior hydration reservoir hangers and two hose ports, detachable padded hipbelt wings with zippered mesh pockets, 2 attachment heights for hipbelt wings, backpanel sleeping pad sleeve with SitLight pad included, 2 tool loops, ice axe loop, haul loop
MSRP	$147

 Questions for Readers

I have been pondering the following questions, and hope that you can enlighten me. Your responses will help me keep up on current trends.

1. Does anyone use the virtual frame technique anymore? That requires a closed cell foam pad. With the availability of LW comfortable inflatable sleeping pads, it seems like most hikers are adopting them, which makes it difficult to create a virtual frame. How do you create pack rigidity, or not?
2. When you use an UL frameless backpack, like the Murmur, what is your initial weight? How comfortable is that weight in a frameless backpack, or do you go to a different pack for those weights?

After further testing of the new Murmur on backpacking trips I will add additional comments to this article and convert it to a review, stay tuned.

First Look: Gossamer Gear 2014 Gorilla Backpack – Some Nice Improvements to an Already Outstanding Pack

By Will Rietveld

At 46 liters, the Gorilla is a medium volume pack suitable for hikers on the upper end of ultralight or the lower end of lightweight, in other words a base weight between 8 and 12 pounds. It’s intended for loads in the 15 to 25 pound range, and optimally in the 15 to 20 pound range.

When I reviewed the original Gorilla for Backpacking Light Magazine in 2009 I gave it a Highly Recommended rating. Now, in August 2014, Gen 3 will be arriving soon, and I can safely say its better than ever.

Gorilla Genealogy

The original Gorilla was constructed of a durable 210 denier PU-coated nylon ripstop fabric, had mesh outside pockets, a removable contoured one-piece aluminum stay, two webbing compression straps on each side, and stuffable 4-inch wide shoulder straps and hipbelt. The weight was 24.2 ounces.

In Gen 2 the Gorilla was constructed of Gossamer Gear’s 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop fabric, had fabric side pockets and a mesh front pocket, and retained the wide shoulder straps and hipbelt but without the option to stuff them with clothing. The side compression straps were dropped in favor of an external shock cord compression system. Pack weight increased to 26 ounces.

Now Gossamer Gear will soon be introducing Gen 3 of the Gorilla; what are the changes and how much do they affect pack weight?

The Gen 3 2014 Gossamer Gear Gorilla – What’s New?

The main changes are as follows:

• The Gorilla is now constructed of Robic fabrics (see below for a description); the previous 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop exclusive to Gossamer Gear will be phased out.
• The side compression straps are back (hooray!!), two on each side.
• An internal hydration sleeve with two hose ports has been added.
• The shoulder straps are narrower and thicker, with spacer mesh on the inside.
• The hipbelt is wider and thicker, also with spacer mesh. (Identical and interchangeable with the Mariposa)
• New stretch mesh on the pad sleeve and front pocket.
• A trekking pole holder has been added to the front of the pack.
• Webbing cinch straps replace the previous cord/buckle to hold down the top cap.
• Cord loops are added to zipper pulls on the hipbelt pockets and top cap pocket.

As you can see, the changes are basically the same as the updates to the Mariposa pack. The main difference from the Mariposa (besides volume) is the Gorilla has side compression straps and only one pocket on each side (versus the Mariposa’s one tall pocket on the left and two pockets on the right). The weight of the pre-production Gen 3 Gorilla is 28.3 ounces (size Medium) by my scale.

Fabric Changes – What is Robic?

As you can see, the 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop fabric of Gen 2, which was touted as “the ideal lightweight backpack fabric”, has been replaced in Gen 3 by Robic fabrics. Robic, made by South Korea’s Hyosung Corporation, is designed for applications where very high resilience and durability are needed. It surpasses Nylon 66 in tensile strength, tear strength, puncture resistance, and abrasion resistance. According to the manufacturer, this fabric is 100% high-tenacity nylon that can easily retain its original exterior even after long periods of use. The "old" Dyneema Gridstop contains super strong Spectra fibers in a grid pattern, but the rest of the fabric is ordinary Nylon. Bottom line, Robic is more durable than Gen 2’s 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop, lighter weight, and more cost effective. Gossamer Gear uses 100 denier Robic in the body of its new packs and 100x200 denier Robic in abrasion areas.

Photo Tour of the Gen3 Gossamer Gear Gorilla

The backpanel view shows the Gorilla’s new narrower, thicker shoulder straps, which are more female friendly. The new ones are 2.5 inches wide and 5/8-inch thick, replacing the 4-inch wide ¼-inch thick straps that are too wide for some people. The hipbelt is now 4.5 inches wide and ½-inch thick and is interchangeable with the Mariposa. It replaces the previous 4-inch wide ¼-inch thick belt. The pad sleeve mesh is a bit lighter weight and a looser stretch. The sternum strap is nicer webbing then before and the whistle is gone.

The frontpanel view shows the new webbing straps (gold) to snug down the top cap and new mesh on the front pocket.

The side view shows the pack’s side compression straps; welcome back! Side pockets are durable Robic fabric.

The Over-The-Top lid is retained. The zipper pull on the top pocket, and hipbelt pockets, now have a cord loop that is easier to grab.

Bottom view. Note that the removable Thinlight pad supplied for the pack’s backpanel overlaps the hipbelt, providing extra lumbar padding.

Close up view of the new narrower/thicker shoulder straps.

Close-up of the new spacer mesh on the inside of the hipbelt, and shoulder straps.

The hipbelt pockets remain the same size and have a cord loop on the zipper pull to make them easier to open.

 

First Impressions

Based on my experience with previous generations of the Gorilla, and my testing of Gen 3 so far, following are my initial impressions:

• After researching Robic fabric I am very impressed by its claimed strength, durability, and lower cost. It’s very easy to understand why Gossamer Gear made the switch. However, this is a new fabric to outdoor gear and its suitability needs to be tested under field conditions.
• I am delighted to see the return of real webbing side compression straps.
• Refinement. I like all the upgrades; the Gorilla just keeps getting better!
• Pack weight continues to creep upward, another 2.3 ounces by my measurement, but that could change in the production pack.
• Frame. Since the Gorilla is a medium size backpack, Gossamer Gear’s removable stay system is probably sufficient for weight transfer and carry comfort. Even with pack weights down to 15 pounds, my research has found that the removable stay effectively maintains pack torso length, transfers weight well without a closed cell foam pad, and helps the pack conform to the user’s back. The standard contour of the stay fits many users, and can easily be bent more or less to tailor it to the contours of a user’s back. Simply pull the stay out of the pack and bend it on the edge of a kitchen counter.

 

The Ideal Lightweight Backpack?

If your base pack weight is in the 8 to 12 pound range, with the volume that normally goes with that weight, the Gorilla is arguably the ideal pack for you. There several good packs out there in this size range (46 liters) that will comfortably carry the load, but the Gorilla is the lightest one I know of and has the best utility.

First Look: Gossamer Gear 2014 Mariposa Backpack – New Fabric and Lots of Nice Upgrades

By Will Rietveld

The Gossamer Gear Mariposa, their largest volume backpack at 70 liters, first appeared in 2004. Now, in August 2014, Gen 4 will arrive. It has come a long way. One can compare it with the evolution of a trend-setting car model, like the Toyota Prius. We are now in Gen 3 of the Prius, with each new generation dazzling us with advanced design, new technologies and features, better performance, more comfort, and more reliability. But the basic concepts have not changed. The Mariposa follows this same evolution.

Mariposa Genealogy

The original Gen 1 Mariposa was constructed of silnylon, featured two carbon fiber arrow shafts in sleeves on the backpanel to enhance weight transfer, and allowed the user to pad the 4-inch wide shoulder straps and hipbelt with clothing (or use provided lightweight foam pads). The outside pockets were all mesh. The measured weight (size Medium) was 17 ounces.

Then came the Mariposa Plus (Gen 2) constructed of a more durable grey ripstop nylon. It retained the straight carbon fiber stays, stuffable shoulder straps and hipbelt, and mesh pockets. Measured weight was 20.5 ounces.

The 2012 Mariposa (Gen 3) made further advances by introducing Gossamer Gear’s 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop pack fabric, a one piece contoured aluminum stay, a new Over-The-Top closure, fabric side pockets, and eliminating the option of stuffing clothing in the shoulder straps and hipbelt, while retaining their wide width. Measured weight is 28 ounces.

Now, in August 2014, the latest (Gen 4) Mariposa debuts, which is the subject of this article. How has it changed, and how much weight has been added?

What’s Different?

The new Mariposa is an upgrade, not a makeover. The pack has the same dimensions, volume, sizes, and basic features. There are a few bigger changes and lots of smaller ones. Overall, the new Mariposa is more elegant, professional, and refined.

The main changes are:

• The Mariposa is now constructed of Robic fabrics; the previous 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop exclusive to Gossamer Gear will be phased out.
• An internal hydration sleeve with two hose ports has been added.
• The shoulder straps are narrower and thicker, with spacer mesh on the inside.
• The hipbelt is wider and thicker, also with spacer mesh.
• New stretch mesh on the pad sleeve and front pocket.
• A trekking pole holder has been added to the front of the pack.
• Webbing cinch straps replace the cord/buckle to hold down the top cap.
• Cord loops are added to zipper pulls on the hipbelt pockets and top cap pocket.

So how do these changes affect pack weight? Not much; by my scale the pre-production Gen 4 Mariposa is only 0.9 ounce heavier than Gen 3; size Medium weighs 28.9 ounces without the external bungie system.

Fabric Changes – What is Robic?

As you can see, the 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop fabric of Gen 2, which was touted as “the ideal lightweight backpack fabric”, has been replaced in Gen 3 by Robic fabrics. Robic, made by South Korea’s Hyosung Corporation, is designed for applications where very high resilience and durability are needed. It surpasses Nylon 66 in tensile strength, tear strength, puncture resistance, and abrasion resistance. According to the manufacturer, this fabric is 100% high-tenacity nylon that can easily retain its original exterior even after long periods of use. The "old" Dyneema Gridstop contains super strong Spectra fibers in a grid pattern, but the rest of the fabric is ordinary Nylon. Bottom line, Robic is more durable than Gen 2’s 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop, lighter weight, and more cost effective. Gossamer Gear uses 100 denier Robic in the body of its new packs and 100x200 denier Robic in abrasion areas.

Photo Tour of the Gen3 Gossamer Gear Mariposa

The backpanel view shows the Mariposa’s new narrower, thicker shoulder straps, which are more female friendly. The new ones are 2.5 inches wide and 5/8-inch thick, replacing the 4-inch wide ¼-inch thick straps that was too wide for some people. The hipbelt is now 4.5 inches wide and ½-inch thick, replacing the previous 4-inch wide ¼-inch thick belt. The pad sleeve mesh is a bit lighter weight and a looser stretch. The sternum strap is nicer webbing then before and the whistle is gone.

The frontpanel view shows the new webbing straps (blue) to snug down the top cap, new mesh on the front pocket, and trekking pole holders (lower left).

The left side of the pack still has a large, tall pocket.

The right side has two pockets as before. Overall, the four outside pockets will hold a lot of gear and clothing.

The Over-The-Top lid is retained. The zipper pull on the top pocket, and hipbelt pockets, now have a cord loop that is easier to grab.

Bottom view. The SitLight pad provided with the pack overlaps the hipbelt, providing a padded lumbar area.

Close-up of the new narrower/thicker shoulder straps, which are identical to the ones on the new Gorilla backpack.

Close up of the spacer mesh on the inside of the new hipbelt. The new belt is wider and thicker than the previous one, and is interchangeable with the Gorilla.

The attached hipbelt pockets are the same size as the previous version; cord loops have been added to the zipper pull to make them easier to open.

The outside pockets on the Mariposa will swallow a lot of gear. My entire gear kit will fit in the outside pockets of this pack.

Even the “smaller” side pockets on the Mariposa are big and will hold a lot of gear.

First Impressions

Based on my experience with previous generations of the Mariposa, and my testing of Gen 4 so far, following are my initial impressions:

• Pack Weight. On my scale, the new pack weighs 28.9 ounces in size Medium. That is a gain of only 0.9 ounce (based on measured weights) from Gen 3, which is extraordinary considering the changes (mostly additions) made to the pack.
• Materials. The new Robic fabric is impressive, and its specifications indicate it should outperform the previous 140 denier Dyneema Gridstop. This is one of the first applications of Robic fabrics in backpacks, so it needs some time to develop a track record. Switching to lighter weight Robic fabrics was the key factor to offset the weight gain from adding several comfort and convenience upgrades.
• Refinement. The new Mariposa really looks professional and dialed in for the lightweight backpacker. The word “Spartan” no longer applies. The new Mariposa provides loads of volume, comfort, utility, and convenience for a sub-2-pound backpack.
• Utility. This is a very functional backpack, with a total of seven external pockets to organize your gear and make it readily available on the trail without having to dig into the interior of the pack. The three fabric side pockets and mesh front pocket will hold a huge amount of clothing and gear.
•  Pack Volume Compression. The Mariposa does not have any traditional side compression straps (as the new Gorillia pack will have). Rather, as with previous generations, an external elastic cord compression system for the front and/or sides of the pack is provided, which basically squeezes the pack to a smaller size. For a discussion of this issue, read my article LightweightFrameless Backpacks State of the Market Report 2011: Part 1 – Choosing andUsing a Frameless Pack. On the Mariposa, the asymmetric side pocket design (a tall pocket on one side and two shorter ones on the other) makes it very difficult to add conventional side compression straps without interfering with the pockets.
• Frame. The Mariposa has a removable inverted U-shaped, contoured aluminum stay that slips into sleeves on the backpanel. For its light weight, the contoured stay contributes a lot for transferring weight, retaining pack torso length, and contouring the pack to the user’s back. The Mariposa is a big pack (70 liters), and filling that entire volume usually adds up to a weight of 25-30 pounds or more, so the Mariposa needs an appropriate frame to effectively transfer that weight to the hips. In my limited testing carrying 20 pounds, I found the new Mariposa’s improved suspension system, in combination with the removable stay, helps a lot with weight transfer and carry comfort. 

 Important Tip for Pack Selection

• When comparing Gossamer Gear packs, many buyers will notice that the new Mariposa backpack weighs only slightly more than the new Gorilla, so they will reason “why not get the Mariposa so I will have plenty of volume when I need it, and the cost is not much different either.” Don’t do it!! Unless you really need a large volume pack, you are much better off choosing a pack that matches the volume of your gear kit plus room for 5-6 days of food (see the above referenced article). The Mariposa lacks a good pack volume compression system, so it will not carry that well when partially full. It is far better to choose a smaller volume pack, like the Gorilla (which has good compression), that will be closer to full most of the time, and compressed, compared to carrying a larger volume pack that is not full most of the time. Bottom line, many people overestimate the pack volume they need; its best to take the time to accurately determine the pack volume actually needed (its usually smaller than you think) and avoid the error of purchasing a pack that is too big.