Review: The Gossamer Gear 38-liter Skala Ultralight Pack
BY ASH CZARNOTA
Let me start by saying this: I am a Gossamer Gear fan girl–have been for years. I’ve put their products through their paces, racking up over 3,000 trail miles on their flagship Mariposa and frameless G4-20 packs. But after years of adventure (read: abuse), my G4-20 with its scars, stains and crudely patched over holes was nearing the end of its life. After retiring Ol’ Bessie to the back of my gear closet, I was back on the market for a new, slightly smaller pack.
Around this time, Gossamer Gear announced a brand-spankin’-new line of packs and among them was the Skala, a 38-liter, 14.5 oz pack (without the hipbelt and sit light pad), touted as the perfect companion for ultralight overnighters. I took this as a sign, waited with bated breath for my pack to arrive, and took it on an all-day shakedown outside LA city limits in the San Bernardino National Forest.
The weather was toasty, the terrain varied, and the desert's prickly flora were out for blood. The function-forward Skala is made from sleek, durable 100-denier recycled Robic Nylon, a high-tenacity fabric that tends to be more resistant to tears and abrasion—especially ideal when hiking in desert terrain where your pack is constantly grinding against rock and coarse sand.
The Skala features a roll-top closure and a top compression strap along with removable side compression straps to stabilize and snug up your load. The side pockets are roomy enough to hold a 1.5-liter water bottle or small tent. It also includes a cleat to cinch down the pocket opening so your water bottle doesn’t tumble out in transit (although, I’m not fully convinced the cleat’s finicky retention mechanism will hold over prolonged use). The pack’s cushy shoulder straps include hearty UHMWPE stretch mesh pockets to stash smaller items like a phone, snacks, lip balm, or a 0.5-liter water bottle. I found that while the pockets could technically hold a 1-liter bottle it didn’t sit securely and the tension in the mesh kept nudging the bottle up toward my chin.
Minor grumbles aside, the Skala still managed to impress over how well it carried a 20-pound load and contoured to my body’s anatomy for a breezy ride on a hot SoCal day. While the Skala doesn’t break new ground, the designers at Gossamer Gear took what worked in their other packs, shrunk it down, and delivered a solid backpack for overnighters or weekend excursions. If you’re looking for a lightweight, no-frills pack that can get the job done, the Skala is worth your consideration.
