For the first 20-something years of my life, I didn’t stray far from home. I preferred my own bed, an environment I knew, and familiar faces. I attended college about 90 miles away from my hometown, and for the first few years, I was pretty convinced I should have chosen a university that was closer to home. Never did I imagine in the next 20-something years, I’d visit nearly 30 countries, have multiple stints of living abroad, and come to love living out of a backpack.
On my first trip abroad, I overpacked big time. But now that I’ve become a much more experienced traveler, I pack a single carry-on backpack, and I aim to keep it under 20 pounds. Packing more weight means I can’t comfortably carry it from the train station to the Airbnb or through multiple airports in a single day. When Gossamer Gear, a cult-favorite brand of long-term hikers, came out with the Skala 38 Ultralight Backpack, I knew I needed to try it.
The Gossamer Gear 38 backpack weighs just 1.27 pounds and delights me, my shoulders, and my back. But does it stand up to planes, trains, hikes, and cycling on extended trips? I took it halfway across the world to find out if it’s worth the investment.
Gossamer Gear Skala 38
Pros
- Ultralight, coming in at 578 g (1.27 pounds).
- Durable and water resistant materials.
- Comfortable shoulder straps and waist belt.
- Removable back padding that double as a seat cushion.
Cons
- No laptop compartment.
- Only opens from the upper roll-top.
Specifications
- Weight: 578 g (1.27 pounds) with waist belt and seating pad.
- Dimensions: 21 in H x 11in W x 6 in D.
- Capacity: 30 liters in main compartment, 38 liters including pockets.
- Maximum weight capacity: 25 pounds.
- Materials: Riptide Ripstop, 100D recycled Robic nylon, UHMWPE Stretch Mesh.
First impressions
When I grabbed the package Gossager Gear gifted me off the front porch, I kinda thought they mailed me the wrong pack. Surely a 38-liter backpack couldn’t be that small. But I was wrong. The Skala 38 really is that tiny, in terms of overall dimensions and weight. It weighs just 1.27 pounds, comes with wonderfully padded shoulder straps, and the overall design is sleek. I do not like flashy looking packs and the Gossamer Gear Skala 38 appears like a humble workhorse, with no need for massive branding or bright colors. In fact, if you hate branding, it would take no time at all to easily remove almost all branding from the bag.
Within a few weeks of the Skala 38 arriving, I was packing it up for a trip to Europe. I opted to leave the front branding on because I dig Gossamer Gear’s mantra of “Take less. Do more,” which is on the front of the pack. It’s a visible reminder to keep it light while packing.
Packed With Thoughtful Designs, From the Airport to the Trailhead
Gossamer Gear knows how to design a pack, and it shows big time on the Skala 38. Of course, there’s the durable materials, but it’s also impressive with thoughtful design choices throughout. The shoulder strap pockets are ideal for trail snacks, a cell phone, or a small water bottle. The hip strap is comfortable and the zippered pockets there are also optimal for a small snack or energy gel. When I carried the Skala 38 through the airport, I kept my phone in the shoulder strap, granola bars in the waist strap, and a few Awake caffeinated chocolates as a little treat.
The side pockets are large enough for a full-size Nalgene water bottle, and I deeply appreciate the smart cinching mechanism that locks in place. The massive front pouch is made with a stretchy mesh that’s both awesome for travel and hiking. At the airport, this was perfect for storing a Kindle and headphones. On the trail, it’s perfect for storing an extra layer of warm merino clothing, a sandwich, and a rain cover.
The back padding of the Skala 38 is made from a foam layer that tucks nicely into two mesh compartments. You can remove this piece and use it as a seat pad, which I took full advantage of when testing.
Comfort Is Outta This World
Since I carry under 20 pounds, I deeply hate when the backpack itself weighs something like four or five pounds. It doesn’t seem like much, but with a 20-pound limit (self-imposed), a five-pound backpack is 25 percent of that weight already gone to the pack itself. That brings me to the number one reason I was interested in the Gossamer Gear Skala 38: It only weighs about 1.2 pounds. Because of this, I found the Skala 38 to be the most comfortable travel and hiking backpack I’ve ever used.
What I Don’t Love About the Gossamer Gear Skala 38
If I’m being honest, I’m asking the Gossamer Gear Skala 38 to be something it’s not. It was designed to be taken on backpacking and camping adventures. But for the majority of my testing, I took it to Europe where I would be working, hiking, and cycling, which meant I asked it to be my carry-on backpack, which included my laptop and external monitor. Since the Skala 38 is a one-compartment bag, there’s no designated laptop area. Instead, I slid it against the back padding, which actually worked out great. So while I don’t love that it doesn’t have a laptop area, it wasn’t designed for people to haul a laptop with them on a mulit-day hike. Fair enough.
The other objection I have with the Skala 38 is its singular access point — through the upper roll top. That makes packing tricky, and it forces you to pack thoughtfully. Any items or clothing you’ll need right away need to go in last, so they’re easily accessible. Otherwise, it basically requires unpacking the entire bag to find the rain shell packed at the bottom.
Is Gossamer Gear Worth the Price?
At the time of writing, the Skala 38 is selling for $225 and it comes with free shipping. In terms of travel-worthy backpacks, a price of $225 isn’t wild. The incredibly popular Cotopaxi Allpa 35 L Travel Pack also sells for $225, but it clocks in at almost three pounds or about double the weight of the Skala 38. If you’re looking for a lightweight bag, the Gossamer Gear is the clear winner between the two.
It’s impossible to find a direct competitor product to the Gossamer Gear Skala 38, but the Hyperlite Contour 35 comes kinda close, and both brands are cult-favorites in the ultralight hiking community. The Hyperlite Contour 35 is currently priced at $329 which makes the Gossamer Gear look like heck of a deal.
For the materials, durability, and design features on the Gossamer Gear Skala 38, I think $225 is a fair price. Sure, it’s not cheap, but I really don’t want a cheap build and materials when I’m carrying my entire life on my back during an adventure. I also think supporting a smaller company that makes well-designed products and is mindful of the environment is really important these days.
Gossamer Gear Skala 38
Who Should Buy the Gossamer Gear Skala 38?
I think the Gossamer Gear Skala 38 is awesome for anyone who wants a lightweight backpack for travel or hiking. If you’re taking this backpack on a trip around the world as your carry-on, for example, you’ll be forced to pack light, and I’m not mad about that.
I also think this pack is great for people who don’t love the feeling of wearing a backpack. Personally, I used to dread travel days because I didn’t enjoy carrying 15 or 20 pounds on my back. The padded back and straps on the Gossamer, paired with the design, have made travel days way less annoying for me.
Given the design and high-quality materials, the Skala 38 is excellent for anyone who wants a do-it-all bad that can come along on a trip to Europe, to the campground for the weekend, or a long thru-hike.
