Review: Outdoor Vitals CS40 Pack
Through-hikers and light backpackers be warned: there’s a new pack in town, and it might have just raised the bar. That pack is the CS40 Ultra Backpack from Outdoor Vitals—a durable, minimalistic, lightweight bag with a carbon-fiber frame. Specifically, two carbon-fiber stays run the vertical length of the pack, providing functionality to a pair of load-lifting straps that transfer weight from your shoulders to your hips. Foam padding on the back panel adds additional comfort. No longer does ultralight mean uncomfortable.
The bag itself is stitched from an abrasion- and water-resistant fabric. I tested the pack for a week in the Utah desert, running slot canyons and clambering around the notoriously-abrasive slickrock landscape. The pack did show some signs of wear and tear, but nothing like that of my Carhartt jeans and flannel shirt, both of which were torn to shreds in the same time period. If a pack can survive the rigors of the desert, then no doubt it’ll be plenty durable for summer peak-bagging in Montana and the Rockies.
In terms of features, I especially enjoyed the built-in hip-belt pockets. I wish they were big enough to hold an iPhone, but as-is, there’s plenty of room for electrolytes and a couple of snack bars. I also liked the external mesh pocket. It provided easy access to things I needed all day, like a light fleece layer, a raincoat, and a water filter. I also picked up a Shoulder Strap Pocket ($19), which holds a small water bottle close to the chest. Finally, the oversized side pockets provided ample water bottle storage in the desert, and in the future I plan to use them in conjunction with the side straps to hold larger, unwieldy items like trekking poles, fly rods, or a packraft paddle.
The pack comes in three frame sizes with five interchangeable hip-belt sizes. I recommend ordering up a size on the hip belt. According to the size chart I should have worn a small, however it was too tight and I swapped it for a medium, which was easy to do with the company’s quick and friendly customer service. Overall, the CS40 is a great pack for day-hikers and lightweight backpackers looking for a simplistic, comfortable, and lightweight pack that will get the job done.
Available at outdoorvitals.com; $330.
