Two backpacks worth lining up side by side. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| Osprey Exos 58 | Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 65✓ | 63 |
| Capacity | 58 L | 59 L |
| Weight | 2 lb 13 oz | 2 lb 9 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 35 lb | 35 lb |
| Fabric denier | 100 D | n/s |
| Price | $285 | $285 |
| Type | Backpacking | Ultralight |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Exos 58 in blue, Minimalist V2 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 Osprey Exos 58 and Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2 take different routes to the same job. The Exos 58 wins on balance, and the Minimalist V2 pushes back on low weight.
The Minimalist V2 is 4 oz lighter. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (65 vs 63), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Exos 58 if you care most about the overall package. Pick the Minimalist V2 if low weight matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2. It is 4 oz lighter than the Exos 58.
They are nearly tied at 65 and 63 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 Exos 58 for the overall balance, or the Minimalist V2 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.