Gossamer Gear Mariposa Backpack Review
Campfire Guy here. In an earlier post, I talked a little about my journey to find my first backpack. Well technically, I tried six packs, only keeping one, the Gossamer Gear Mariposa. The Mariposa is manufactured by Gossamer Gear, a cottage company, based in Austin, TX. Cottage in the sense their gear can only be ordered online, not in the sense porridge eating bears live in their offices. Ordering outdoor gear online, without having easy access to a return line is always a bit nerve-wracking.
The 30-day return policy certainly eased my concerns. I did my homework and decided on the Mariposa model because it could hold a bear canister. (Now, bear country is approximately 1,200 miles away from Dallas, but you can bet your John Muir that I’m a big dreamer when it comes to trips I’d like to take one day.)
Gossamer Gear made ordering simple. I figured out my torso length at REI, then figured out my pack size on Gossamer Gear’s site, and the hip belt size is based on pants size. I ordered the large pack with the medium hip belt. In about a month I received my shiny new pack. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, and I still found the pack easy to assemble.
First Impressions
This thing is light! On my kitchen scale, it comes out to 1 pound, 15.5 ounces. While I was waiting on the Mariposa to arrive, I picked up an Osprey Atmos 65 AG pack so I could compare the two. The large Atmos AG weighs 4lbs 8 oz empty and hugs you like a race car seat. The Mariposa seemed little thin in comparison. Once I assembled it, I stepped back to look at Gossamer Gear’s handiwork. With those seven pockets, the snugly placed “SitLight” pad and all the attachment points, the Mariposa sure looked nice.
To quote the venerable Mrs. Teevee from Willy Wonka, “She’s Tres Jolie, but is she seaworthy?” I loaded up about 30 lbs into both the Atmos and the Mariposa and took turns with the two of them, walking around my neighborhood. My logic was if it’s not comfortable for one mile on the sidewalk, it definitely won’t be comfortable for any great distance in the woods.
Taking The Mariposa For A Spin
After several neighborhood rounds, (and numerous strange looks,) the Mariposa was more comfortable, despite its seemingly thin feel. Also to my great surprise, no neighbors reported me for lurking about. The shoulder straps on the Mariposa were comfortable and the “SitLight” allowed my back to ventilate. The Mariposa’s load carried closer to my back and didn’t make any strange noises with each step.
Next, I gathered up all the gear I had laid out for an upcoming trip. I loaded and unloaded both packs a few times to get a feel for the process. Again, it was the Mariposa shined. Its flexibility on how and where I could pack my gear –three side pockets, two zippered pockets on the hip belts, a zippered pocket on the lid, and the enormous mesh pocket on the back–set this pack apart. The Atmos was a good pack, but I had strict orders from Campfire Wife that I could only keep one. That pack went back to the store, and the Mariposa followed me into the woods the next day.
Pack Interior
The Mariposa is a 60 liter, internal frame, ultralight pack leaning towards a more traditional top-loading pack, minus the weight. The pack also has an internal hydration sleeve and drinking tube keepers on both straps. My first trip with the Mariposa was on yet another Boy Scout trip where the Troop provided the food and water. I brought the Jet Boil Flash because, coffee. Accidentally stepping on a kid at night in the tent doesn’t make for a good trip, but not having coffee? Yikes.
I crammed 32 lbs of gear into the Mariposa. With a slightly smaller tent, I would have had plenty of room for food. The photo below shows what I packed, which was by no means an ultralight set up, but does give a sense of how much gear this thing can hold. From left, Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol sleeping pad
(Please note that the affiliate links above help offset Campfire Guy’s operation costs, do not cost you anything or require you to go recruit 10 friends.)
Pack Exterior
The “Over the Top” closure has a zippered pocket perfect for stashing my headlamp, wool cap, and all my references to arm wrestling movies. One hip belt pocket was large enough for my iPhone 5S. The other hip belt pocket held my chapstick and phone charger. The right side lower pocket holds a 20 oz Aquafina bottle and is placed where you can actually get to the bottle without having to take the pack off. Top right pocket held my Jet Boil Flash.
The left side pocket held my REI Flex Lite Chair and toiletries. The large pocket on the back of the pack held my rain gear. In the spirit of ultralight hiking and multifunctional gear, the “SitLight” (picture an egg crate mattress, but better quality than the one you slept on in college) pad pulls double duty as support for the pack against your back as well as a small seat at camp. My Thermarest Z Sol Pad attached perfectly to the lashing points at the bottom of the large pocket on the back. The Robic nylon has fared well in the woods of North Texas. I haven’t taken this thing far off trail yet, so I’m not sure how the mesh fabric would fare in rough brush. Load lifters help snug up the load and give you a comfortable carry.
Final Thoughts On The Mariposa
The Mariposa was the last pack standing after my year-long process of elimination. In my use, it has proven to be seaworthy. It’s comfortable and the load carries well. On most trips, the Mariposa gets ogled and I get asked where I found it. I have used it on six Boy Scout camp outs and so far, it has exceeded my expectations. I’m always surprised at how much I can stuff into it.
Price wise, it’s cheaper than a lot of the 60-liter packs you’ll find at REI. The only downside of the pack is it doesn’t have compression straps like you’ll find on most traditional, heavier packs. You can’t cinch down to tighten the load. The volume of the pack’s interior needs to be filled enough to get the “Over the Top” closure snug. I’m still paring down from car camping, so this hasn’t been an issue for me. While you can’t try it before you buy it, if you are looking at getting into lightweight or ultralight backpacking, I highly recommend the Mariposa.
Specs
Manufacture: Gossamer Gear
Model: Mariposa – 2015 model
Capacity: 60 liter
Weight (large size with a medium hip belt, per my kitchen scale): 1 lb, 15.5 oz.
Disclosure: This pack was purchased by the author with his own funds. This article contains affiliate links which help to fund my outdoor adventures and feed my family of six.