Two backpacks worth lining up side by side. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| ULA Ultra Circuit | Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 74✓ | 68 |
| Capacity | 68 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 2 lb 5 oz | 2 lb 2 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 35 lb | 35 lb |
| Fabric denier | 400 D✓ | 100 D |
| Price | $380 | $315✓ |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Ultra Circuit in blue, Mariposa 60 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 Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 take different routes to the same job. The Ultra Circuit wins on durability, and the Mariposa 60 pushes back on low weight and price.
The Ultra Circuit is tougher fabric (400D vs 100D). The Mariposa 60 is 3 oz lighter and $65 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Ultra Circuit leads 74 to 68.
Pick the Ultra Circuit if you care most about durability, which makes it the better call for rough ground and hard use. Pick the Mariposa 60 if low weight and price matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60. It is 3 oz lighter than the Ultra Circuit.
The ULA Ultra Circuit. It is tougher fabric (400D vs 100D) than the Mariposa 60.
The ULA Ultra Circuit, 74 to 68 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Ultra Circuit for durability, or the Mariposa 60 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.