Gossamer Gear Camo Kumo 36

Is your backpacking kit so dialed in that you sometimes think you could take a daypack on your overnight trips? Or maybe you need a larger summit pack for all-day sunrise to sunset excursions. Well, if you’re thinking of a pack that is slightly more substantial and carries loads better than an average daypack, consider adding the Gossamer Gear Kumo to your arsenal.

Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 Superlight Specs

While I own the Camo Kumo, it is no longer in production. The main difference between the Camo and the regular Kumo is fabric, the Camo using a higher denier Robic nylon. The zipper on the top lid is also waterproof in the Camo version. The Camo weighs 3.5 oz more than the regular Kumo. Below are the specs for the Kumo 36 Superlight - the newest rendition of the Kumo pack (2020).

Capacity	Main Body: 28 L Mesh & Side Pockets: 8 L Total: 36 L
Weight (size medium)	20.5 oz
Carry Capacity	Comfort: 20 lbs Maximum: 25 lbs
Materials	70D Robic Nylon on top, 100D Robic Nylon on boot.
Frame	Frameless. Comes with a removable sit pad for back padding.
Hipbelt	"Fast Belt" is minimal and completely removable. 1 stretchy pocket on each side.
Pack Access	Top Load with a Flap Lid
Number of Exterior Pockets	4
Hydration Bladder Compatible?	Yes
Waterproof?	No
Fits a Bear Canister	Yes, a BV 450
Price	$165

What I Like

The absolute best thing about this pack is just how light it is! Of course, you can’t put too much weight into this ultralight pack (stated comfort rating is 20 lbs, but I find it the most comfortable around 15 lbs). But if you won’t be carrying too much weight, a lighter backpack can work well for you. My longest hike with this pack was a thru-hike of the Wonderland Trail with one resupply and one other hiking partner. My base weight for that trip was just below 8 lbs, which I found to be the sweet spot for this pack. If you have strong shoulders, you might be able to get away with a 10 lb base weight, so long as you are resupplying frequently. For how light the pack is, and being frameless, the comfort level was great. I had some sore shoulders the first 2 days, but after that, it honestly felt like I was carrying a day pack! Definitely made those big climbs more bearable.

The mesh shoulder strap pockets are my favorite features. Being able to keep my most-used items in the pockets was super helpful. Sunscreen, chapstick, headphones, sunglasses, and my phone were commonly found in the pockets. I feel like I’ve been spoiled with them and need them on all of my packs now!

I appreciate the added durability at the very bottom of the stretchy back pocket. This allows me to stuff some more delicate gear at the very bottom of the pocket, but still keep those items more accessible than being inside my backpack. And speaking of the back stretchy pocket, it looks small, but can hold a rain jacket, rain pants, and lots of snacks. The diagonal cut of the side pocket could also allow a very flexible person to reach into it while they are wearing the pack. However, I am not a very flexible person and couldn’t use this feature.

The side pockets are very generously sized for such a small pack! I could easily fit two 1 L Smartwater bottles in one side pocket and my tent poles, stakes, and footprint in the other one.

While the hipbelt is a “fast belt” and pretty minimal, if you don’t overload this pack, there really isn’t a reason to need a super padded hipbelt. You might not even need one! This hipbelt can be removed from the pack (and is also compatible with Gossamer Gear’s other daypacks). For minimal hipbelts, this one is pretty great. The pockets can fit your snacks for the day, and can fit an iPhone XS or a small camera like the Sony RX100 line, thanks to the stretchy material. However, these pockets are not weather or dirt-proof because of that same material, so be careful on bad-weather days.

What I Don’t Like

First off, I got the wrong size for this pack. My torso length is 15.5” long, and I went with the small size. In hindsight, I should have went with the medium size. This would have been much more comfortable with the shoulder straps and hip belt placement, and might have made it easier for me to reach into the side pockets. If you are right on the border of torso length, I would personally size up. I sized up in my next Gossamer Gear pack, and it fits perfectly!

I love Gossamer Gear packs, but in general, I’m not the biggest fan of the top lid. The pocket is pretty narrow, unlike a traditional backpack with a top lid. It can fit a permit, toilet kit, and maybe a headlamp or small first aid kit, but not much else. I’d much rather have a roll-top closure for the pack, but this is mainly personal preference.

The side compression straps on this pack are a little difficult to adjust and use, especially trying to shove tent poles or trekking poles behind the straps. You do have to loosen them up and then re-tighten each time. I prefer the compression straps of Gossamer Gear’s Gorilla Pack much better, but these aren’t that bad and I’m just being picky.

All of Gossamer Gear’s backpacking packs come with a sit pad included, which you can pull out of the back pocket and also use as a sit pad! Which is a great feature, because it’s a dual purpose item. However, the one that comes with the Kumo is the lightest weight, least padded, and least breathable of the compatible sit pads that Gossamer Gear makes. Of course, this cuts down on the weight of the pack, but I wish it was a little more breathable. I swapped it with Gossamer Gear’s Airflow SitLight Seat, which is a little heavier, but more breathable.

Summary

The Kumo is an ultralight, ultra-minimal backpacking pack that can still carry its weight. If you are an aspiring ultralight backpacker and think you can handle going frameless with your current gear load, I would highly recommend looking at the Kumo. If you already have a super dialed-in kit, this could also work for you, but there are lighter packs out there. The Murmur by Gossamer Gear would be more appropriate for those with base weights around 6 lbs or less. If you’re looking for a beefier day pack with an ice axe loop for summit attempts, the Kumo could also be a good choice. The Kumo could carry rope as well, but for a dedicated climbing or mountaineering pack, you might want a framed pack.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. While I am an ambassador for Gossamer Gear and received this product as a gift, all thoughts and opinions are my own.