Mariposa vs. Circuit

[Type38]

Hi all,

I have been downsizing my gear list (both in amount of gear taken as well as weight) over the last few years and have finally decided go to after the backpack element. I've looked though all the major options and have narrowed things down to the Gossamer Gear Mariposa and the ULA Circuit. My base weight comes in at about 15 pounds with a max weight of 34 pounds (7 days of food and 3L of water, more than I will ever carry, but the weight is there if needed).

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these packs and what your thoughts are on them. The Mariposa is lighter and more versatile, but I hear so man good things about the Circuit. Let me know what you think in regards to reliability, comfort, pack ability, and usability. Thanks!

[swjohnsey]

I have several ULA packs and a Gossamer Gear daypack. The ULA seem to be much sturdier. The Circuit is a very nice pack, very popular on the trail. I used the Ohm 2.0 which is a little smaller and the Catalyst which is a little bigger. Does the Mariposa have a removeable hip belt?

[Type38]

Yes it does. You can get it sized to fit. Since you have used multiple sizes of the ULA packs, may I ask which size has worked best for you, at least through the lens of an AT Thru Hike? I ask because at the moment I have a massive 90L that I got 15 years ago. 70L (like the Circuit or Mariposa) is what I'm aiming for just because I know a lot of people use that size for thru hikes. However, do you have any experience using anything smaller on similar length trips? I know I would be easier for me to just take my stuff to an outfitter and see what size pack I can fit my stuff into, but I am just curious what you think. My current gear list is below:

Item	Description	Weight (oz)	Weight (lbs)
Pack
Pack	Gossamer Gear Mariposa w/o SitLight Pad	27.0	1.58
Total		27.0	1.58
Shelter
Tent	Tarptent Notch	27.0	1.69
Footprint	None
Total		27.0	1.69
Sleep System
Sleeping Bag	ZPacks™ 900 Fill Power Down Solo 30 Degree	15.1	0.94
Bag Liner	None
Ground Pad	Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Short	10.0	0.63
Total		25.1	1.57
Cooking and Water
Stove	MSR Pocket Rocket	3.9	0.24
Fuel	MSR IsoPro 4 oz	4.2	0.26
Pot	GSI Minimalist	7.6	0.48
Utensils	Snow Peak Titanium Spork	0.4	0.03
Water Teatment	Sawyer Squeeze w/ 2 Bags	4.3	0.27
Bladder	CamelBak Antidote L	6.5	0.41
Water Bottle	Smart Water Bottle 700mL	1.3	0.08
Total		28.2	1.76
Packed Clothing
Rain Jacket	GoLite Tumalo Rain Jacket	10.0	0.63
Rain Pants	GoLite Tumalo Rain Pant	7.0	0.44
Insulation Jacket	GoLite Selkirk Ultralite	6.0	0.38
Head Net
Shirt	Columbia OmniFreeze Zero Short Sleeve	4.8	0.30
Basketball Shorts	Adidias	8.5	0.53
Socks (2)	SmartWool Hiking + Darn Tough Hike/Trek	3.5	0.44
Underwear	Under Armour BoxerJock	2.6	0.16
Base Layer Top	GoLite BL2 Crewneck Longsleeve Baselayer	5.0	0.31
Base Layer Bottom	GoLite BL2 Full Length Bottom	5.0	0.31
Sun Hat	SRAM Trucker Hat	2.4	0.15
Winter Hat	IU Toboggan Hat	3.0	0.19
Gloves	Guess	1.0	0.06
Glove Rain Shell	Mountain Laurel Designs eVENT Rain Mitts	1.1	0.07
Camp Shoes	Unshoes Pah Tempe	3.0	0.19
Total		62.9	4.15
Miscellaneous
First Aid Kit	Assorted	3.8	0.24
Toothbrush and Paste	Crest	1.8	0.11
Toilette Paper	Full Roll	4.2	0.26
Hand Sanitizer	Purell Travel Size	2.4	0.15
Sun Screan	None
Insect Repellent	Off! Deep Woods Sportsman 1 Fl. Oz.	1.5	0.09
Nail Clipper	Toe Nail Clipper	1.4	0.09
Lip Balm	SPF 50	0.4	0.03
Compass	Silva	0.8	0.05
Rope	Nylon Rope	3.5	0.22
Headlamp	Black Diamond Storm	3.8	0.24
Batteries	4 AAA's	1.6	0.10
Knife/Multitool	Gerber Air Ranger G-10	3.2	0.20
Firestarter	Guess	1.6	0.10
Earplugs (2)	Foam	0.1	0.01
Cell Phone/Charger	LG Flip Phone	5.9	0.37
Wallet	IU Wallet w/ ID, Insurance, Debit, Cash	1.6	0.10
Map/Guidbook	Guess	8.9	0.56
Pen	Regular Ball Point Pen	0.2	0.01
Glasses	Oakley Radars	1.0	0.06
Towel	12 Square Inch Sham-Wow	1.1	0.07
Additional Stuff Sacks	None	0.0
Total		48.8	3.05
Luxury
iPod	iPod Nano	2.1	0.13
Bible	Guess	5.2	0.33
Journal	Guess	8.9	0.56
Large Charging Battery	Guess	3.5	0.22
Total		19.7	1.23
Total Base Weight		238.7	15.03

[12trysomething]

I have both the OHM and the Circuit. Unless you are in need of carrying a bear canister the OHM seems like it will do you fine. Here are a couple of different pack load out videos going into my OHM. Good luck!


http://youtu.be/L-w4pjjXUnE

http://youtu.be/HTTon3JunJY

[swjohnsey]

If you have the discipline to take only what you need the Ohm 2.0 will work well. You will smile every time you see someone struggling along with a huge pack. The downside is that everyone will think you are a dayhiker. My base weight was around 10 lbs.

[colorado_rob]

If you have the discipline to take only what you need the Ohm 2.0 will work well. You will smile every time you see someone struggling along with a huge pack. The downside is that everyone will think you are a dayhiker. My base weight was around 10 lbs.

I agree the OHM 2.0 is plenty big for long hikes, mine is never completely full, but I'm at 10-11 lbs base weight as well. If you're really around 15lb base, I'd opt for the beefier Circuit, which cost you an additional 10-11 ounces of pack weight. Basically the OHM is fine up to about 25 pounds total, the Circuit about 30 (with food/water/fuel). I owned both briefly and this was my experience.

Since I've had such fine hiking comfort/success with my Ohm 2, I just bought one for my wife, and after a long weekend outing in CO, she absolutely loves it. It even comes in a girly-purple color (mine is a manly green...). Another ULA convert!

[Type38]

What, from your experience, do you suggest I cut (or change) from my gear list to achieve a base weight closer to that 10 pound range?

[colorado_rob]

What, from your experience, do you suggest I cut (or change) from my gear list to achieve a base weight closer to that 10 pound range?

Well, you've got a good kit, but since you asked, here are a few thoughts, really just nit=picks, but that's what UL is about, shaving ounces in a lot of places:

You're carrying a cell phone (who doesn't?); rather than carry a separate bible, why not get a Kindle app and read your bible on that? Basically if you own an Android with a replaceable battery, just carry an extra battery or two rather than the 3.5 oz charging battery thing.

An 8.9 oz journal seems heavy; mine weighs 2.5 oz, can you downsize a bit there?

You're carrying an awful lot of extra weight for water storage; I carry two Gatorade bottles (1.6 oz each) and the 2L Sawyer squeeze bottle, sometimes one extra. If you get a ULA pack, the large and low side pockets make for very easy water bottle access, first and only pack I've owned where I can get a bottle easily, and put it back, with pack on. So maybe lose the bladder?

A 3.2 oz knife.... for what??? A 1-oz swiss army knife would be plenty.

Pot seems a little heavy, lots of 4-oz ones out there.

Rope seems heavy; should be able to get under 2 ounces there.

My pocket rocket weighs 2.9 oz; lose that silly red case which adds an ounce.

My purell weighs an ounce, I guess a smaller travel size. Plenty for weeks on trail.

Lithium AAA's weigh half that; Kroger's has them on sale often for about a buck each, yeah, expensive, but saves a bunch of grams and they last longer to boot.

8.9 ounces for the map/guide book? Are you talking AWOL, seemingly the best? Tear it in portions and carry only a couple/few ounces at a time. Don't see a need for a map on the AT, if you really want one, load something into your phone.

A set of Dri-ducks weighs 11 ounces (in large size), saves 6 ounces over your current rain wear, but not as durable; but durable enough, Dri Ducks are all I carry on long hikes.

Anyway, you asked, but really you have a decent kit, but could lose a couple/few pounds just by ounce counting.

[colorado_rob]

One other thing I just thought of: I don't count the clothes I plan on wearing all the time on the trail in my "base weight"; I do count all the other clothing, of course. So in your case you B-ball shorts, base layer top, sun hat and extra socks would not be included in what I call "base weight". that's "skin-out" weight, at least by my definitions (in what I call my own 10-11 pounds base).

[Type38]

Thanks for the suggestions. Much appreciated!

[Miner]

When I hiked the PCT in '09, I used a Circuit. My baseweight was between 12-13 lbs. It carried the weight comfortably, including a 9 day food carry with a bear can in the Sierra Nevada and 6L of water in the desert. I did think it was a bit big for my gear though for the rest of the trip. Looking back, an Ohm would have likely been a perfect fit for me. For a 15 lbs. baseweight, the Circuit should be just fine.

[QiWiz]

New Mariposa just came out; new fabrics. Still a great pack.

[88BlueGT]

New Mariposa just came out; new fabrics. Still a great pack.

I've heard of a lot of durability issues with the Mariposa. Do you think the new fabrics will help with some of this?