Gossamer Gear Gorilla Backpack Review by Dave Collins

The Gossamer Gear Gorilla is a fantastic backpack. It’s light, comfortable, tough, and appropriately priced. GG clearly spent a lot of time designing every detail of this pack and it really shows. I feel very comfortable recommending this backpack to any lightweight backpacker.

 

Gear Review: Gossamer Gear Gorilla Ultralight Backpack by Annette McGivney

Most versitile ultralight backpack – Are you a part-time ultralighter? This chameleon pack lets you strip away features (and weight) for the ultimate UL experience, then add them back for trips when heavier loads or rougher terrain make you wish for more stability and comfort.

Ultra-lightweight camping: Carry less, do more – by Jessica Glazer

A good current overview of UL camping with a mention of Gossamer Gear

 

“Lighten Up” by Pamela Le Blanc

Gossamer Gear president interviewed along with a general description of the UL way to backpack

 

“How To Get Out in the Woods (and Survive the Bears!)” by Nicholas D. Kristof

Gossamer Gear mentioned as a major provider of ultralight equipment

 

“How to Recharge Your Soul” by Nicholas D. Kristof

G4 is mentioned in the article as one of 10 ways to make your backpacking experience better.

 

“Walking Around the Alps” by Judy Armstrong

Mariposa and Nightlight pad listed as gear used on her Alpine Challenge

 

Gear Guide by Staff

Lightrek poles featured in article as a third of the weight of the next lightest trekking poles.

 

Lightrek poles and Ultralight-Sports fingertip toothbrush garnered “Best of Adventure 2004” awards.

 

Placed in the “Ultralight Smackdown”, mentioned in “Battle of the Flyweights”

 

“Guru of Lightness” – Peter Jensen

“Lean, tall, clad in his hiking clothing from head to toe and carrying an alarmingly simple pack, Glen Van Peski of Carlsbad strides into a room…” “As he unpacks… [he] makes it clear that he really has entered a realm of Extreme Lightness of Being.”

 

“On the Trail, With the Clothes On Your Back and Little More” by James Gorman.

Glen Van Peski was featured in the article

 

G4 pack reviewed by Chris Townsend. “It makes ultralight packs look heavy.”

 

G4 backpack selected by write-in ballot for the “Challenge the Editor: The Ultralight Report – I saw the Light”

 

“Brian Robinson: ultra-ultra-ultralight hiker” by Katie McDowell

G4 backpack featured in article

 

“Unburden Thyself! – Embrace the light(weight)” by Leonard Adkins

“For it’s well-thought-out features, use of materials, and rock-bottom price, I hereby give the G4 the Leonard Adkins “Backpacking Equipment Award of the New Century”.

 

Ray took his G5 as a summit pack to the top of Mt. Vinson, the highest point in Antarctica. Temperatures were 120 degrees below zero with wind chill.

 

The Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles and the Ultralight-Sports fingertip toothbrush garnered “Best of Adventure 2004” awards in the December/January issue of National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

 

Brian purchased and used a G4 (pack no. 5) for the start of his Calendar Year Triple Crown in 2001. After meeting up with Brian at the PCT Kickoff in April, Glen made him a customized G4/G5 with three embroidered gold crowns, which he used for much of the PCT and CDT. Brian was unable to finish his historic trip with his custom pack because it got misplaced on the Greyhound Bus journey back to the AT. It later resurfaced and was returned to him.

 

Nimblewill used a G4 for his Transcontinental Hike in 2001, and used a pack based on the G4 for his Sea to Shining Sea trek in 2002. Nimblewill holds the honor, as far as we know, of the most miles on a G4 (9,500)…and a sad-lookin’ G4 it was indeed! Nimblewill has continued to lighten his load, and took a Murmur on his 2008 thru-hike of the PCT, and used a Murmur for his 2009 thru-hike of the North Country Trail.

 

Ray used his G4 to set the record of 83 days for a Pacific Crest Trail unsupported through-hike.

 

Ryan Jordan was one of the first customers of Glen’s, purchasing the G4. He has also used the 3.5-ounce Whisper Uberlight Pack in the past as a core component of his “SuperUltraLight” gear kit, which weighs less than four pounds for summer backpacking in the Northern U.S. Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming (e.g., Tetons, Winds, Yellowstone, Glacier).

 

Carol Crooker included her G5 in her prize-winning ultralight gear list to win the BackpackingLight.com gear list contest.

 

Selected by write-in ballot for the “Challenge the Editor: The Ultralight Report – I saw the Light” May 2002. Placed in the “Ultralight Smackdown” August 2003

 

G4 awarded the Leonard Adkins “Backpacking Equipment of the New Century” Award. August 2001