I take pride in being a minimalist, but I never thought I’d be able to go truly ultralight—and actually enjoy it—until I met the Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack ($198). I’ve taken this pack out a number of times this summer, but I didn’t consider my mind well and truly blown until a recent weekend trip to Colorado’s Ice Lakes, a string of milky-blue alpine tarns tucked within the San Juan Range. 

The Skyline is only 30 liters, a size I’d normally shun for anything longer than a day hike. But in this case, it’s a roomy 30: I was able to stuff it with my overnight gear, extra layers, water, and three days of food—about 25 pounds total—and still had plenty of room to roll down the high storm collar and buckle it tight. The only downside was that the main pack bag was too narrow to fit even a small bear canister (I recommend bringing a hiking partner who’s susceptible to a little sweet-talking). 

I’m usually a diehard for cushy hipbelts, and, upon noticing the Skyline’s paltry webbing belt, had resigned my shoulders to a weekend of suffering. But once again, the pack exceeded expectations. The belt did offer some stability, but I honestly didn’t need it. The shoulder straps fan out across the chest, starting at about three inches in width at the collar bone and spanning nearly five inches where they touch the base of the rib cage. The broad wings provide outstanding weight distribution across the chest and shoulders, and dual sternum straps provide enough finetuning capability to really lock in loads. The Skyline stayed comfortable and close to my back, even while switchbacking up a rocky trail to our camp at 12,000 feet. The EVA foam-padded backpanel did get a little sweaty, but it was a worthy tradeoff for the bounce-free carry. 

While we haven’t been testing the pack long enough to get a real feel for durability, the 100-denier ripstop Robic nylon body fabric seems sturdy and water-resistant. And the side pockets and dorsal stretch pocket are all made of a superstrong Challenge UltraStretch mesh. It easily shrugged off snags whenever I brushed past overhanging branches in the San Juans and beyond.

The other pro to the wide shoulder straps: plenty of real estate for pockets. A vast network of zippered pouches and mesh sleeves kept my phone, snacks, sunscreen, headlamp, and other items within reach. Two lateral bottle pockets were also accessible on the go. I never had to drop the pack for water or snack breaks. What’s more, at just 1 lb. 4 oz, the Skyline is so light that I didn’t even have to take it off to pee. That meant less time bending over and fussing with gear and more time taking entirely too many pictures of wildflowers.

Ultralight hiking, huh? I could get used to this.