Is it possible to combine durable materials, a full sized internal aluminum frame, true comfort, and enough space for multiday backpacking in a $200 package? Find out in my review of the Shadowlight 45 by Outdoor Vitals.
The Shadowlight is a 1 lb. 14 oz. ultralight pack from Outdoor Vitals. It is built from high quality Spectra/Robic ripstop nylon, has two large stuff pockets, two bottle pockets, two accessory pockets, two hip pockets, a rolltop main compartment, a full length double zippered access slot on the back. It also features a full perimeter tubular aluminum frame and a padded back panel. It retails $200 for the 45 liter version, but also comes in larger 60 liter versions with various colors and hip belt sizes.
For a full walk around and some impressions, check the video below:
Overall
In summary, I really like the Shadowlight 45. It’s a lightweight pack, but still built with exceptional quality. The fabrics are tough, durable, and yet still feel great to the touch. The DWR coating provides excellent weather protection, but I still recommend a rain cover if you’re in areas with prolonged rain. The full tubular aluminum frame is the real star of the show, providing excellent weight distribution and comfort, while properly moving all the weight of the pack off the shoulders and into the hips where it belongs. The pack comes with a generous amount of organization for an ultralight pack while also providing excellent access to whatever is inside, no matter how deep it has been packed. The pack is stable too, providing minimal sway when packed and cinched down appropriately. The pack does have it’s limits however. 30 pounds of gear including food and water is about the maximum I can pack before the back panel starts to deform and the weight begins to overwhelm the straps and padding. However, ultralight packs are meant to be paired with ultralight equipment, so this ideally shouldn’t be an issue. In the end, it is an exceptional piece of equipment that is priced great, should hold up for a very long time, and it looks great as well. That’s why this is one of my new favorite ultralight packs.
The Highest of Recommendations
Want to learn more about this product and their other offerings? You can check out their products Here. This is an not affiliate link, but if you want to help us out you can click the image below for and check out some stuff sacks and Dry Bags, which I also recommend especially for water sports.
For information on our rating system and our testing procedures, check out our About us/ Contact us page.
I want to extend a huge thanks to Outdoor Vitals for providing this product for review. We couldn’t do it without their help.
Our full disclosure can be found on our about us page. Thanks as always for reading! Don’t forget to follow our blog for future updates and reviews (link on the right also).
If you have any questions, comment below, send us an email, or find us on Twitter or Facebook (links on the right)
TreeLineBackpacker 