Here is how these two backpacks compare on the numbers. The Lightning 60 leans on load carry while the Crown3 60 Women's answers with low weight, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Exped Lightning 60 | Granite Gear Crown3 60 Women's | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 70 |
| Capacity | 60 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 2 lb 11 oz | 2 lb 5 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 49 lb✓ | 43 lb |
| Fabric denier | 210 D✓ | 100 D |
| Price | $300 | $260✓ |
| Type | Backpacking | Ultralight |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Lightning 60 in blue, Crown3 60 Women's 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 Exped Lightning 60 against the Granite Gear Crown3 60 Women's is a study in priorities. The Lightning 60 wins on load carry and durability, and the Crown3 60 Women's pushes back on low weight and price.
The Lightning 60 is a higher rated load (49 vs 43 lb) and tougher fabric (210D vs 100D). The Crown3 60 Women's is 6 oz lighter and $40 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Lightning 60 leads 73 to 70.
Pick the Lightning 60 if you care most about load carry and durability, which makes it the better call for rough ground and hard use. Pick the Crown3 60 Women's if low weight and price matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Exped Lightning 60. It is a higher rated load (49 vs 43 lb) than the Crown3 60 Women's.
The Granite Gear Crown3 60 Women's. It is 6 oz lighter than the Lightning 60.
The Exped Lightning 60, 73 to 70 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Lightning 60 for load carry, or the Crown3 60 Women's for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.