Gossamer Gear Grit 28L fastpacking pack review: fast, light and (almost) just right
A featherweight fastpack built for big days and minimalist missions — but with just enough quirks to keep things interesting. On paper, the Gossamer Gear Grit 28L ticks all the right boxes for fastpackers, gram counters and anyone compiling their shortlist of the best fastpacking packs. But is it the ultimate grab-and-go option for your next UK adventure, or does its stripped-back design leave a little too much off the table? We took it out into the wild to find out.
The Gossamer Gear Grit 28L
Ideal for: Fastpacking, day hiking, travelling
Not suitable for: 4-season loadouts, heavy gear
The Gossamer Gear Grit 28L is a minimalist fastpacking backpack designed for fast hiking, running, and ultralight overnights. Weighing just 430g, it’s remarkably light for a 28-litre pack and can be stripped down even further by removing the foam back pad. Priced at $180 (around £145 at the time of writing), it’s squarely in boutique territory — but the construction and quality hold up. It’s not perfect — we’d love an integrated hipbelt (for this, you need to Gossamer Gear’s Fast Belt separately) and better bottle storage — but for speedy day missions and warm-weather overnights, it’s got loads going for it. A solid all-rounder for anyone dialled into fast and light.
The Good
Ultralight and super packable
Streamlined, minimalist design
Easy-to-use roll-top closure
Shoulder straps are comfortable and stable
Base fabric is impressively durable
Versatile pack for running, hiking and travel
The Bad
No included hipbelt (though fully compatible with the Gossamer Gear Fast Belt)
Limited front storage for bottles and food
No front pole carry options
Gossamer Gear Grit fastpacking pack review
Based in Austin, Texas, Gossamer Gear has built a cult following among ultralight enthusiasts. Their motto — “Take less. Do more.” — sums up exactly how they approach kit: keep it simple, keep it functional, and above all keep it light. Over the years, they’ve become a name to know if you’re hunting down the best fastpacking packs, stripping grams from your load, or simply after a quality piece of minimalist design that’ll go the distance. We’ve long admired their larger packs for multi-day adventures, so we were keen to see how the Grit 28L would perform closer to home.
This pack is aimed squarely at fastpackers, minimalist hikers, and anyone after a grab-and-go bag that can switch between uses. At just 430g — even lighter with the back pad removed — it’s incredibly light. The 28-litre capacity is just right for an overnighter if your gear list is dialled and the weather’s on your side, but it’s arguably even better as a rugged day pack or a packable travel option that’s there whenever you need it.
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At £189.99, it’s far from cheap, especially for such a stripped-down design. But once you start comparing it to other contenders for best fastpacking packs, it quickly justifies itself. The Ultimate Direction Fastpack 30 comes in at a similar price with more volume, a more complex layout and a bottle system that’s very forgiving of different shapes. Meanwhile, the Salomon XA 25 is more sculpted and hugs your torso with that running-vest precision that makes it shine for mountain efforts.
Where the Grit 28L stands apart is in its simplicity and sheer versatility. It compresses smaller, feels more fuss-free, and doesn’t swamp you in toggles or unnecessary extras. If your style is minimal kit, maximum ground covered, it’s hard to beat — it’s practically an exercise in restraint.
How we tested the Gossamer Gear Grit 28L
We tested this pack on all sorts of UK terrain — from Dartmoor’s moody ridges to a fastpacking overnight where every gram had to be justified. It came with us through stream crossings, up granite scrambles, and across boggy moorland where your feet vanish every other step. On one Dartmoor loop, we loaded it up with 7–8kg of kit — sleep system, stove, layers, just enough food — and found it performed beautifully. Another day, it served as a fast, barely-there day pack for long miles and steep climbs.
Across all these tests, it was obvious the Grit 28L is designed by people who know exactly what matters. The build quality is top-notch, the fabrics shrug off rough ground, and it always felt like it was made to move. We’d have liked a little more up-front storage on the longest days, but that’s a fair trade for its weight and clean design.
The Grit 28L: Features in practice
The first thing that strikes you about the Gossamer Gear Grit 28L — before you’ve even got it on your back — is the weight. Or more accurately, the lack of it. At just 430g, it feels almost comical in hand, like you’re holding a windshirt rather than a fully capable backpack. That translates beautifully to long days out. Once it’s loaded up and cinched in, it barely registers. It genuinely feels more like a hydration vest than a pack, which is exactly what you want on big mileage days or long climbs where every extra gram starts to matter.
Despite that featherweight build, it’s not lacking in structure. The roll-top design does an excellent job of keeping the main compartment neat and secure. It closes with a simple, satisfying roll and clips down with side straps that double as compression, meaning if you’re only half-full you can snug it right down. On Dartmoor we didn’t come close to needing the full 28L for a day out, so a couple of extra rolls and a quick tug on the side straps turned it into a tight, bounce-free little bundle. It also helps keep the load stable when you’re moving at pace — less sag, less shifting, more freedom to just get on with the trail.
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Swing it round and the outside shows off how well thought through the minimalist design really is. There’s a massive elasticated back pocket that we ended up using constantly. It’s ideal for stashing a wet waterproof, a map you’re grabbing every half hour, or even a layer you know you’ll be pulling on and off with the weather. Above it sits a discreet zipped pocket — just right for keys, a bank card, or anything else you really don’t want bouncing out mid-descent.
Round the front, things get more pared back — but that’s deliberate. You get two soft flask sleeves on the shoulder straps, an extra pocket for snacks or a small phone, plus a zip pocket for valuables. Compared to many running vests that seem almost overloaded with pockets and fiddly elastics, the Grit keeps it minimal, which does mean slightly fewer quick-access options. That said, it keeps the pack from feeling cluttered, reduces points of failure, and really suits people who’ve got their packing systems dialled.
The shoulder straps themselves are one of the nicest surprises here. They’re wide enough to distribute weight properly, lightly padded so they’re still comfortable hour after hour, and crucially they hold their shape even under a decent load. Thanks to double anchor points at the base, there’s none of that annoying side-to-side swing you sometimes get with ultralight packs. The Grit really does hug close to your torso — genuinely snug — unless you’re carrying a load that’s pushing the design’s limits or you’ve not taken the time to tighten everything properly. For anyone wanting that extra bit of security or handy hip pockets, it’s built to pair seamlessly with the Gossamer Gear Fast Belt, which gives you more options without cluttering the main pack.
Then there are the small details that make a big difference over time. The base of the Grit uses a much thicker denier fabric than the rest of the pack. That’s the sort of thing you appreciate instinctively when you drop it down on sharp Dartmoor granite mid-lunch — you’re not flinching, hoping it hasn’t torn. The foam back panel hits that sweet spot too: enough padding to take the edge off the load without adding bulk or interrupting the minimalist feel. It’s perforated to let some heat out, and fully removable for the hardcore gram counters out there who want to go even lighter.
If there’s a minor trade-off, it’s the pole carry. The Grit has a simple loop on the rear for securing trekking poles, but nothing up front. That means when you switch from grinding up a climb with poles to bombing downhill on foot, you’ll have to stop, take the pack off, and strap them on — not a huge issue, but worth knowing if you’re used to packs with chest-mounted holsters that let you do it on the fly.
Taken together, these features tell a clear story. This isn’t a pack trying to be everything at once. Instead, it’s nailed down the essentials: ridiculously light, surprisingly comfortable, impressively tough for its weight, and designed with a quiet confidence that means it stays out of your way. Whether you’re using it for fast day hikes, minimalist overnighters, or as a go-anywhere travel pack, the Grit 28L does exactly what it sets out to do — and does it with style.
A capable pack — but with honest trade-offs
What stood out most was how well this pack handled its core job. On a lumpy day hike along Hadrian’s Wall with around 8kg, it was secure and comfortable. Bottles went easily into the side pockets, and we spent less time faffing, more time moving — always a win.
It also held up on an overnight wild camping mission across Dartmoor’s rugged terrain. With mild weather, we squeezed in a quilt, bivvy, pad, and minimal layers. Anything colder or multi-day and we’d step up to something bigger, but for a lightweight overnighter it was spot on. Even running stretches felt surprisingly stable — the lack of a hipbelt really only becomes noticeable if you’re carrying big loads or haven’t cinched it properly.
Gossamer Gear Grit 28L fastpacking pack FAQs
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It’s impressively comfortable for long miles. The shoulder straps are well-padded and it rides close to your back, feeling almost like a running vest. Even without a hipbelt, it stays snug unless heavily loaded.
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Very tough for its weight. The reinforced base shrugs off rough ground, and the stitching is excellent. We’d trust it on countless UK trails and fastpacking adventures.
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Exceptionally simple. The roll-top is fast and intuitive, the overall layout clean. Just be aware it doesn’t come with lots of extra organisation.
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Breathable enough for most UK conditions, though like any foam-backed pack it’ll get warm on hot days. The pad spreads the load well even when it does.
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At £189.99, it’s definitely a premium buy — but for true ultralight performance and quality construction, it’s well worth it. If you’re focused on simplicity and saving weight, it’s hard to beat.
The Gossamer Gear Grit 28L: Our verdict
All in, the Gossamer Gear Grit 28L is a brilliantly versatile fastpacking pack that nails the minimalist brief. It’s not perfect — more front-access storage would be handy, and it requires a mindful approach to loading. But for what it’s designed to do, it’s exceptional.
This pack slots neatly between running vests and full-scale multi-day haulers. It’s best suited to experienced fastpackers, wild camping fans, and lightweight obsessives who know how to make a 28L loadout work. That said, it also makes a cracking day pack for anyone who just wants something tough, incredibly light, and refreshingly simple.
In short: if you’re building your kit list around the best fastpacking packs, the Grit deserves a serious look. It’s a pack that practically disappears on your back, yet feels robust enough to trust on demanding UK terrain. With a few thoughtful tweaks (like adding the Fast Belt), it might just be the last lightweight pack you ever need.
