Gossamer Gear : Backpacks : Mariposa™ Ultralight Backpack

Mariposa™ Ultralight Backpack

Gossamer Gear Mariposa™ Ultralight Backpack
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Product Description

NEW LOWER PRICE!
NOTE: OUR PACK LINE IS ALWAYS CHANGING TO MEET OUR CUSTOMER'S CHANGING NEEDS. WE ARE DISCONTINUING THE MARIPOSA STANDARD AND THE MINIPOSA BACKPACKS. WE ARE OUT OF THE MEDIUM AND LARGE MARIPOSA STANDARD BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF SMALL PACKS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

"By the way- most brilliant pack design I’ve ever seen. I now have 3 friends with these packs!"
- Doug Johnson, Section Editor | BackpackingLight

"As I mentioned before, this pack was the single best pack I have ever used on a long hike to date in terms of simplicity, weight, functionality, and most importantly . . . Comfort! What a great pack! I couldn't have picked a better pack to hike the 2,500-mile CDT with." Read Full Review
- Lawton "Disco" Grinter | Long Distance Hiker

The Mariposa™ Ultralight revolutionizes ultralight backpacking, with an incredible array of important features, but a maximum weight of just over a pound! This is accomplished by meticulous attention to weight-saving details, like utilizing lightweight silnylon for the pack body, but protecting the bottom half of the pack with tough mesh pockets.

New for 2007 is the incorporation of 3 distinct pack sizes each with its own hip belt size. We have often heard from women that our packs are too large for them so we've resized the packs and now have a true "Small" pack size. This pack will also fit younger hikers allowing kids to "see the light"! There is more room in the bottom of the rear and upper right mesh pockets and the addition of oxford ripstop on the bottoms of the right and left outside pockets for durability. The water bladder tube ports on the upper rear corners of the pack have also been redesigned and we've added two pieces of elastic on the shoulder straps to keep the drinking tube in place. We've also added more compression loops so that the elastic shock cord can be utilized on different areas on the pack. The elastic on the tops of the outside pockets has been updated as well.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The shock cord does not come pre-installed in the loops, but we have included the shock cord with two cord locks for the customer to place where they need it most. This gives the customer the option of cutting the cord into two pieces and using it on the sides of the pack to compress the depth of the pack.

The Mariposa™ builds on the popular features of the stalwart G4™ backpack, effectively incorporating the "dual use" technique of ultralight backpacking. Your sleeping pad (NightLight™, Z-Lite™/Z-Rest™, Thermarest® 3/4 length, or other 20"-wide pad) becomes part of the pack frame by inserting into the back of the pack. (NOTE: Only a 17"-wide pad will fit in the new Small size. We include a smaller SitLight™ pad with each Small at no charge). This way it can be extracted during rest stops to sit/lay on without unpacking your pack. The shoulder straps and hip belt are designed to accept unused articles of clothing as padding. Foam inserts are included if you are disinclined to use sleeping socks, gloves etc as your padding. The left side mesh pocket is deep enough to swallow a 3-liter Platypus®.

The Mariposa™ adds a host of new features in a new trim silhouette, including hollow, aluminum-tipped, carbon fiber pack stays for real load transfer (removable for lighter loads), unique asymmetric side pocket design (right hand pocket is accessible while wearing the pack), dual function removable adjustable sternum strap/emergency whistle, and hydration bladder pocket with ports on each side. Cushy wicking fabric on the shoulder straps and hip belt prevent slipping, and the 3-dimensional weave aids in quicker drying. Multiple pockets help you organize your load. Tons of strategically placed lashing loops enable you to easily adapt the pockets to carry longer items by lashing them to the sides. The unique "Y" top lash strap allows for a more stable 3-point connection to secure items such as rolled sleeping pads or bear canisters, with still only one buckle to operate. The sturdy shock cord compression lacing allows you to reduce the pack volume so it still carries the load tightly for shorter trips. Many of the features are removable, so you don't need to carry the weight if you don't require that feature for a particular trip. You can configure the basic pack, with sternum strap and carbon fiber stays, for under one pound.

You'll love the attention to detail such as the angle on the bottom right pocket to make it more accessible, the use of "V" lash loops to spread the loads over a wider area and for ease of use, and the lining of the shoulder strap and hip belt with silnylon against the wicking fabric, for easier insertion of socks, etc, and to help prevent those socks from getting soggy from sweat.

For more detailed instructions on use, download the User Manual. See Warranty for important information.

Not sure which pack is right for you? Make it easy with our handy comparison chart!

Recommended Uses

General lightweight backpacking with total loads of 25 lbs. (11 kg.) or less

Additional Photos

NightLight™ Torso pad in the back provides structure and easy access for rest stops

Close-up of the 3D wicking mesh on the underside of the shoulder straps

Sleeping sock being inserted as shoulder strap padding

Unique "Y" top lash strap (black) makes it easier to lash
on larger items, with still only one buckle to fasten.
(note: orange stripe is painted on the bear canister)

Removable, adjustable sternum strap with integrated whistle buckle

Side mesh pocket is accessible without taking off pack (right side)

Imporoved hydration port and new hydration tube keeper elastic

New and improved pocket elastic

Shock cord threaded down front of pack

Shock cord threaded on the side of the pack

Purchase This Item

Gossamer Gear Mariposa™ Ultralight Backpack
In Stock

Size: (changes in purchase options may result in page update)

Quantity:

Price: $75.00

Product News and Updates

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
In order to lighten our environmental footprint, we will no longer be shipping a printed user manual with those products that require one. You can view or download and print user manuals in Microsoft Word and PDF format at User Manuals.

Advisory #1
All Mariposa backpacks ship with the following:

1 SitLight pad

2 carbon fiber stays

2 foam hip belt pads

2 foam shoulder strap pads

approximately 120" of shock cord and 3 mini cord locks.

Advisory #2
Recently we’ve had a few reports of the pad holder mesh staining shirts. Last year we encountered this issue in less than 1% of the packs sold and have always thought that it had something to do with specific personal body chemistry which reacts with the dye in the mesh. We have been notified of several more staining issues this season so we have looked into the production of the mesh and have been assured that the fabric is colorfast. We are currently searching for either an alternative fabric or mesh that has been through a more rigorous wash test for the next run of packs. We are also considering a redesign of the back panel that we may test later in the year. In the interim, the best solution is to soak the pack in warm/hot water which should leach out any excess dye in the fabric. Do not put the pack in a washing machine, however.

Features

New for 2007:

Updated pack sizing with the addition of a smaller pack size

Roomier mesh pockets with oxford ripstop reinforced bottoms

Redesigned drinking tube ports click here

Elastic drinking tube "keeper" loop on shoulder straps click here

More compression loops, shock cord and two cord locks for more compression options click here

Carbon fiber stays (removable) for load transfer

Uses sleeping pad as additional frame click here

Shoulder straps and hip belts designed to accept unused clothing as padding click here

Smaller hip belt on Small packs

Includes removable foam inserts for shoulder straps and hip belts