A close look at two backpacks buyers cross-shop. The Ohm leans on load carry while the Virga3 55 answers with low weight, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| ULA Ohm | Granite Gear Virga3 55 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 70✓ | 67 |
| Capacity | 55 L | 55 L |
| Weight | 1 lb 14 oz | 1 lb 11 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 30 lb✓ | 25 lb |
| Fabric denier | 200 D✓ | 100 D |
| Price | $250 | $200✓ |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
| Frame | Internal | Frameless |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Ohm in blue, Virga3 55 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.
Put the ULA Ohm next to the Granite Gear Virga3 55 and the trade-offs are clear. The Ohm wins on load carry and durability, and the Virga3 55 pushes back on low weight and price.
The Ohm is a higher rated load (30 vs 25 lb) and tougher fabric (200D vs 100D). The Virga3 55 is 4 oz lighter and $50 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Ohm leads 70 to 67.
Pick the Ohm if you care most about load carry and durability, which makes it the better call for rough ground and hard use. Pick the Virga3 55 if low weight and price matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The ULA Ohm. It is a higher rated load (30 vs 25 lb) than the Virga3 55.
The Granite Gear Virga3 55. It is 4 oz lighter than the Ohm.
The ULA Ohm, 70 to 67 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Ohm for load carry, or the Virga3 55 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.