Here is how these two backpacks compare on the numbers. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Granite Gear Virga3 55 | Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 67✓ | 66 |
| Capacity | 55 L | 50 L |
| Weight | 1 lb 11 oz✓ | 2 lb |
| Rated load | 25 lb | 30 lb✓ |
| Fabric denier | 100 D✓ | 70 D |
| Price | $200✓ | $275 |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
| Frame | Frameless | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Virga3 55 in blue, Gorilla 50 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 Granite Gear Virga3 55 against the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Virga3 55 is 5 oz lighter, tougher fabric (100D vs 70D), and $75 cheaper. The Gorilla 50 is a higher rated load (30 vs 25 lb). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (67 vs 66), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Virga3 55 if you care most about low weight and durability, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Gorilla 50 if load carry matter more to you, or you are focused on rough ground and hard use.
The Granite Gear Virga3 55. It is 5 oz lighter than the Gorilla 50.
The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50. It is a higher rated load (30 vs 25 lb) than the Virga3 55.
They are nearly tied at 67 and 66 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 Virga3 55 for low weight, or the Gorilla 50 for load carry. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.