ULA Circuit Backpack Review
April 29th, 2024
Home > Gear Reviews > Backpacking
Our Verdict
The ULA Circuit is a workhorse of a backpacking backpack that can take you from Mexico to Canada, or from the parking lot to the lake campsite five miles ahead. It can handle pretty much anything most lightweight backpackers will throw at it. The roll-top collar makes it a Goldilocks pack — not too big and not too small for any adventure. Reliable, durable, and comfortable, I would buy this pack again — although it is so durable I don’t know when it would need to actually be replaced. As of 2024, it is now available in Ultra fabric as the Ultra Circuit.
If you are looking for an internal frame pack and want to be ultralight while still having the flexibility to carry bigger water loads and food hauls, this is a great pack for you. Still, the simple design might seem difficult to get used to at first if you are transitioning from a pack with separate organizational pockets and a brain. It is also easy to attach anything extra that you might need on this pack: shoulder strap pockets, a Kula cloth, or chips on the shock cord.
I have carried up to 9 liters of water, and on other occasions, I have carried 10 days of food, and this pack was able to comfortably carry both these loads. When I carried it on a thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail with my dog, I had to carry water during the dry sections for both of us, up to nine liters for short sections. On the Pacific Crest Trail, I had sections where I carried 10 days of food between resupplies. The pack was fully loaded to the very top on the first day of those longer stretches. The ULA Circuit is also in our Best Lightweight Backpacking Backpacks guide.
In this guide, we’ll explore the features and share what I've learned over 5,000 miles of backpacking with this pack, so you can determine if the ULA Circuit is the right backpack for your backpacking trips.
We create reader-supported, objective gear reviews independently selected by our editors. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more.
Specs
Sizes: Torso sizing starts at 15” for a small and goes up to 24” for XL, hip belt sizing starts at 26” for XS and goes up to 47” plus for XXL
Weight: 37.3 oz
Capacity: 68 L
Max Recommended Weight: 35 lbs
Main Body Pockets: One large pocket, 39.3 cubic L with a roll down top
Internal Stash Pocket: Not included
Water Bottle Pockets: Two side pockets 6.6 L, each can hold either two 1 L Smartwater bottles or a 1.5 L with a 0.75 liter smartwater bottle to maximize water capacity
Hip Belt Pockets: Two 1.6 L, each perfectly fit a cell phone, Garmin InReach, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and of course SNACKS
Extension Collar: 8.19 L allows for overflow of food and gear for longer stretches
Mesh Pocket: 6.6 L and allows for stuffing a tent or wet rain gear away from dry clean gear inside
Shoulder Strap Pockets: Add ons available from ULA or from other brands
Suspension: Yes, internal suspension hoop
Load Lifters: Yes
Compression System: Roll top with single strap in addition to side compression straps
Roll Top Closure: Buckles and strap
Material: 400 Robic and now a new Ultra Fabric
Gender: Non-gendered pack, shoulder straps have J or S shape options
Front Shock Cord: Yes
Ice Axe/Trekking Pole Attachment Point: Yes
Bear Canister Capacity: Can carry up to a BV500 vertically inside or horizontally on top
Comparison table
| BACKPACKING BACKPACK | MSRP | VOLUME (L) | MATERIALS | WEIGHT (LBS) | MAX LOAD (LBS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ULA Circuit | $300 | 68 | ULA 400 Robic | 2.3 | 35 |
| ULA Circuit Ultra | $380 | 68 | Challenge ULTRA™ | 2.1 | 35 |
| ULA Catalyst | $320 | 75 | ULA 400 Robic | 2.8 | 40 |
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa | $315 | 60 | 100 & 200 denier Robic high-tensil strength nylon | 2.0 | 35 |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest | $379 | 50 | White: DCH50 (Main Body) & DCH150 (Bottom) Black: DCH150 (Main Body & Bottom) | White: 1.9, Black: 2 | 40 |
Best For
The ULA Circuit is suited for anything from a casual overnight backpacking trip to thru-hiking a Triple Crown trail. This pack is adaptable and can be scaled up or down depending on your needs for your trip. I have carried this pack on a simple overnight backpacking trip and a full thru-hike of the PCT. It is best for someone who has gotten a total pack weight down to under 30 pounds and who wants to have the support of an internal frame pack.
2024 Updates
For those who prefer the water resistance and durability of Ultra fabric, a new model of the Circuit is available in Ultra
For both Ultra and Robic versions, the regular mesh on the front pocket has been replaced with an UltraStretch Mesh for added abrasion resistance and durability
Combination ice axe/trekking pole loops are now a standard feature on both models
Low profile loops are added to the top and bottom of these packs to accommodate removable top or bottom straps to lash gear to your pack on both models
How We Tested
I have carried this pack over 5,000 miles and counting. I actually purchased this pack a couple hundred miles into my 2018 Northbound PCT thru-hike, replacing my ULA Catalyst (which ended up being too big for my needs) with the ULA Circuit. I carried the Circuit all the way to Canada in 2019. Then, I carried that same Circuit on a thru-hike of the PCT Southbound the next year. I also used this pack for my recent Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) thru hike and many other smaller hikes in between.
I have worn it through every type of weather, rain, snow, heat, and wind. I used this pack to carry my own gear and I have also used it to carry gear for my dog. I have taken this on snowshoe trips and day hikes, peak bagging — there aren’t many outdoor adventures where I don't choose to use this pack.
I also use the ULA Circuit on smaller day hikes. To reduce the volume, I kept most of the gear in the main body pocket and rolled the straps down, using all the compression straps to keep it nice and tight.
What We Like
The Circuit is super versatile — the roll top closure allows for it to be scaled up or down depending on what gear you are carrying and how much food you are eating.
The main pocket can hold a BV500 bear canister vertically with gear stuffed around it.
The padded back panel means that you don’t have to be worried about how you load your pack, you won’t feel things poking you.
The large mesh pocket on the back is super stretchy and can hold a tent, rain gear and trash, keeping your gear on the inside cleaner and drier.
The shock cord on the back secures socks you want to hang out to dry and allows bags of chips to be easily accessible (without getting crunched inside your pack).
The top strap can easily hold a foam sleeping pad or rolled up tent.
Plenty of opportunities to customize this pack for your needs.
What Could Be Better
I would love to see an emergency whistle built into the sternum strap.
The hip belt pockets are harder to use for quick access than we've seen on other packs. The zipper placement isn’t ideal for quick access to gear.
I would love to see some sort of slip pocket add-on for a phone on the outside of the hip belt pockets or at the shoulder straps.
Features
Front Pocket
The front mesh pocket is super stretchy and durable. It is great for keeping a toileting kit separate from other “clean” gear. I was also able to shove my Zpacks Duplex tent (see our in-depth review here) into the mesh pocket, along with rain gear and, of course, TRASH. I love being able to separate gross and stinky gear from my cleaner gear that is inside the main body compartment.
Side Pockets
There are two side pockets and each can easily hold two 1 L Smartwater bottles (4 liters total). You can shove a few bits of extra gear like a rolled up Sawyer Squeeze bag in the side pocket or trekking poles, or a sun umbrella. There were times I pushed the limits with a 1.5 L bottle and a 0.75 L bottle, but that made it harder to get the bottles out for drinking while hiking.
Hip Belt Pockets
The hip belt pockets are a decent size, perfect for snacks like bars and gummies. I usually stash a Garmin inReach and sunscreen in there as well for easy access.
Shoulder Strap Options
Two options are either a J or S-shaped strap depending on body size/type. The S shape is more comfortable for individuals with larger chests or bigger builds. I ordered the S straps, and found the shape to be very comfortable. The straps also have webbing and D rings to attach pockets or other accessories.
Hydration Sleeve and Hydration Ports
The hydration ports are located at top of the pack on the left and right sides; these ports have been eliminated in the Ultra versions to keep the packs more waterproof. The hydration sleeve is available as an add on. However when I used a bladder in this pack I preferred to lay it towards the top of my pack horizontally so that as I drank the water, my pack height got shorter.
I found it difficult to slide the bladder into the sleeve multiple times a day. That being said, if you are using this pack for day hikes, the sleeve is an excellent option to keep your water separated and organized.
Trekking Pole and Ice Axe Attachment Loop
These loops are now standard on the Circuit packs and offer a place to attach your gear easily.
Materials
The 400 Robic material is very durable and comes in several color choices. The mesh pocket is stretchy and allows for a decent amount of extra storage in the pack.
Compression System
There are two side straps that can be tightened down to compress the load of this pack.here are also two straps that come off the roll top, allowing it to compress down as well. You can also use the side straps across the front to compress it more.
Padded Back Panel
The back panel is padded with a mesh material. I usually make sure to pack my bag with something like my folded inflatable sleeping pad against the back for extra support just to make it even more comfortable. Check out our favorite sleeping pads in our Best Sleeping Pads for Backpacking guide.
Sternum Strap
The adjustable sternum strap can be raised or lowered. I appreciate this option as someone who likes to vary the position of the support. There is a magnetic strap version available as an add on which has the benefit of one handed operation while hiking.
Roll Top Closure
The roll top closure is really where the magic of this bag comes to light. You can overfill the roll top and barely close it if you have a super long segment of hiking, and likewise you can roll it super tight and small if you are at the end of a segment and have less food and supplies in your bag.
Durability
The 400 Robic fabric is very durable. I have been surprised at how well this pack has held up over several years of hard use. I have sent it in for repairs to replace straps that were fraying, but the pack fabric itself has held up extremely well. The fabric has some fading from the sun —you can see where it has faded when you look at the roll top and the part that is folded inside is darker than the rest of the pack.
Comfort
An adjustable suspension pack allows for customization to carry the load in different ways. I switch back and forth between the weight on my hips and shoulders depending on how I am feeling and if I am hiking up or down hill.
Made in USA
These packs are still made in the USA and you can send it in for repairs to be fixed too.
Warranty and Repair
ULA offers excellent repair options. I have sent my pack in twice to be repaired and ULA has always done an excellent job of taking care of my pack and getting it back to me in perfect trail shape. I don’t have to worry about wearing down this pack because I know I can get anything fixed pretty easily. I usually email or call and they quote me a price on the repair.
The biggest failure points for me have been the male parts of the buckles breaking off and the webbing straps fraying. I know of a few hikers who had a warranty issue on trail and ULA provided them with excellent customer service and got them back to hiking with a replacement pack. You can read more about ULA's repair and tune-up program in Best Sustainability Ideas of 2024 story.
Customization
ULA packs are made in the USA in Logan, Utah. If there is a custom feature that you are looking for, you just have to send them an email for a custom Circuit and they will come back with a price estimate for you. I have emailed them with little requests and they have always been extremely helpful. There's even a spot on their website just for requesting custom packs, so you can play around with options.
Adaptability
Many parts of the pack are removable, from stash pockets and hip belts to hand loops. My partner has this pack and removed the suspension hoop and metal stay to make it frameless. He also removed the hip belt to make it lighter, — just another way this pack can be altered to fit your needs.
Many items are available for add on such as:
Add-on features that allow you to strap gear to the outside of the pack either on top or bottom. The top strap works to help strap a standard bear canister to the top of the pack
Pack covers keep your pack dry in a rainstorm
These pockets attach to the shoulder straps and can easily hold a cell phone or garmin device, snacks, sunscreen and more.
The ULA Flow is a mesh pocket that attaches to the shoulder straps and can hold up to a 1 L Smartwater bottle.
There is an additional attachment with a mesh pocket designed to hold a can of bear spray, making sure it is always ready to be used. This is significantly lighter than the bear spray pockets that come with most cans of bear spray.
Small extra pocket to hold cards, cash, or maps/permit. Available as an add on to hold your keys or cards and permits. The stash pocket hooks into internal loops inside the back.
The internal hydration sleeve holds your bladder so it stays organized in your pack.
Hand loops give your hands a place to rest. This is handy (haha) if you don’t use trekking poles and keeps hiker hands from swelling as they walk.
This is a set of elastic cords and end stoppers so you can attach a water bottle to your shoulder strap.
This is available as an upgrade to the standard sternum strap that comes with the circuit. This strap features a magnetic closure allowing one handed operation while you hike.
Other Versions
Ultra Circuit
Weight: 33.8 oz
Volume: 4,200 cu in
Max load: 35 lbs
There is a newer version of the Ultra Circuit available with Challenge Ultra fabric (aka, Ultra), promising to be waterproof and made of stronger lighter materials.
ULA writes that Ultra is "15x stronger than steel by weight, twice as abrasion resistant as standard 420D nylon, and waterproof to 200 psi." They also say "Ultra fabric lasts longer, absorbs 80% less moisture, and has better UV resistance and color retention than traditional laminated nylon." Ultra is made from 100% recycled polyester. They write, "Every yard contains over 20 plastic bottles and saves over one pound of carbon emissions compared to standard pack fabric."
The Ultra Version weighs about 4 oz less than the robic version for a similar volume pack with similar max load. It is only available in gray. As mentioned above, it has no water hose port.
Weight: varies
Volume: 4,200 cu in
Max load: 35 lbs
You can also get a custom pack made specifically for you with color customization on pretty much every aspect of the pack, including made of other materials like X-Pac.
Other Backpacks to Consider
ULA Catalyst
If you like the look of the Circuit but are looking for a little more room, the ULA Catalyst is a great option. This is the pack that I started with in 2018 before switching to the Circuit. The Catalyst has many of the same features as the Circuit, with an additional metal stay in the pack for support and a wider overall size, adding more available liters of storage. The Catalyst can also hold a BV 500 horizontally inside the pack.
If you are looking for a lighter pack the ULA CDT is a frameless lighter option for areas where you are not carrying heavy water loads or a hefty bear canister.
A framed pack similar in size to the Circuit is the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, which offers a similar load of 30 lbs and can carry 60 L. The Mariposa has unique side pockets for gear storage with one side having a top and bottom side pocket. There is also a top flap with a zipper pocket for quick access to maps or other small gear items.
The Mariposa also has a pocket for a sit pad, which provides extra padding on the back panel and padding when you take a break, so it is dual purpose. The Mariposa frequently is released in limited edition colorways, making it hard to resist when your favorite color is featured.
The HMG Windrider 55 is an option to consider if you are looking to go lighter and don’t need a frame, as this pack shaves off a few ounces and has fewer features. It is another popular thru-hiker pack seen frequently on the long trails.
Superior Wilderness Designs and LiteAF
Superior Wilderness Designs and LiteAF both make custom packs similar in style to the Circuit. If you aren’t on a time crunch and have a larger budget these are fun options.
About the Author / Why You Should Trust Us
I started backpacking 20 years ago and haven’t stopped. I thru-hiked the PCT in both directions and have done multiple loops around Tahoe on the TRT in addition to countless other trips and day hikes. My favorite hiking partner is my dog Ace who is always ready to gear up for an adventure. I love editing my backpacking gear closet trying to get the perfect kit for thru-hiking that is ultralight but still comfy. In the winter I can be found skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing while I wait impatiently for the snow to melt so I can go backpacking on the long trails.
To see all of Sara Kruglinski stories, check her author page.
