Two backpacks worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Durston Kakwa 40 | Pa'lante Desert | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 69✓ | 68 |
| Capacity | 40 L | 43 L |
| Weight | 1 lb 12 oz | 1 lb 6 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 45 lb | n/s |
| Fabric denier | 200 D | 400 D✓ |
| Price | $250✓ | $300 |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
| Frame | Internal | Frameless |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Kakwa 40 in blue, Desert in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Capacity is shown for context and is not scored, since more volume is a sizing choice rather than better. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full backpack comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Durston Kakwa 40 and Pa'lante Desert take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Kakwa 40 is $50 cheaper. The Desert is 6 oz lighter and tougher fabric (400D vs 200D). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (69 vs 68), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Kakwa 40 if you care most about price, which makes it the better call for getting the most for your money. Pick the Desert if low weight and durability matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Pa'lante Desert. It is 6 oz lighter than the Kakwa 40.
The Durston Kakwa 40. It is $50 cheaper than the Desert.
They are nearly tied at 69 and 68 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Kakwa 40 for price, or the Desert for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.