Two backpacks worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| ULA Circuit | ULA Catalyst | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 74✓ | 74 |
| Capacity | 68 L | 75 L |
| Weight | 2 lb 7 oz✓ | 2 lb 12 oz |
| Rated load | 35 lb | 40 lb✓ |
| Fabric denier | 400 D | 400 D |
| Price | $300✓ | $320 |
| Type | Ultralight | Backpacking |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Circuit in blue, Catalyst 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 ULA Circuit and ULA Catalyst take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Circuit is 6 oz lighter and $20 cheaper. The Catalyst is a higher rated load (40 vs 35 lb). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (74 vs 74), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Circuit if you care most about low weight and price, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Catalyst if load carry matter more to you, or you are focused on rough ground and hard use.
The ULA Circuit. It is 6 oz lighter than the Catalyst.
The ULA Catalyst. It is a higher rated load (40 vs 35 lb) than the Circuit.
They are nearly tied at 74 and 74 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 Circuit for low weight, or the Catalyst for load carry. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.