Gearnalysis

ULA Ultra Circuit vs. Circuit

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
Ultra Circuit
74GearScore
68L · Ultralight
wins 2 specs
ULA
Circuit
74GearScore
68L · Ultralight
wins 1 spec
ULA Ultra CircuitULA Circuit
GearScore74✓74
Capacity68 L68 L
Weight2 lb 5 oz✓2 lb 7 oz
Rated load35 lb35 lb
Fabric denier400 D400 D
Price$380$300✓
TypeUltralightUltralight
FrameInternalInternal

Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Ultra Circuit in blue, Circuit 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 Ultra Circuit and ULA Circuit take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.

The Ultra Circuit is 2 oz lighter. The Circuit is $80 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (74 vs 74), so neither runs away with it.

Pick the Ultra Circuit if you care most about low weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Circuit if price matter more to you, or you are focused on getting the most for your money.

Common questions

Which is lighter?

The ULA Ultra Circuit. It is 2 oz lighter than the Circuit.

Which is cheaper?

The ULA Circuit. It is $80 cheaper than the Ultra Circuit.

Which has the higher GearScore?

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.

Ultra Circuit or Circuit, which should you buy?

It depends on your priorities. Go with the Ultra Circuit for low weight, or the Circuit for price. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.