CS40 Ultra Backpack

This pack does it all! I just finished the Four Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells Wilderness for this pack's inaugural tour. I easily dropped 5 pounds from my old setup and felt like I was flying up the climbs. The CS40 has so many incredibly well thought out features that make all the difference. The side pockets are some kind of houdini pockets that hold the big, odd sized things perfectly. I packed my MSR Windburner Stove and tent poles on one side and a 1L Smart Water bottle and Sawyer Squeeze filter in the other. The mesh back pocket just keeps on taking everything you give it, the stretch is amazing! I packed jackets, (puffy, rain, wind), rain cover, and bug net in it and it still could have held more. The interior of the main compartment held everything I needed for a 3-day/2-night adventure. I love how you can keep rolling the top down compressing everything as the food supply decreases. The hip pockets held all the easily accessible stuff like snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, headlamp, etc. I purchased the shoulder pocket accessory and kept a 1L Smart Water bottle in it which made keeping up with the hydration super easy. (And yes, the pocket is tall enough to hold the entire bottle!)

I got SO MANY questions and admiring comments about this pack on the trail! I felt like a brand ambassador out there sharing all the features and could not say enough good things about it. The size, the color, the fabric, the pockets, the features - it is the perfect pack!

I've used this pack for almost two years and over 3500 miles, and absolutely, positively, love it! Even though it's extremely compact, it carries everything I've needed on many weekend backpacking trips as well as two "shorter" thru-hikes and the first half of the PCT. I only replaced it on the PCT because I've managed to rip several holes in the back pocket crawling under blowdowns and didn't want to keep repairing in while on trail. Nothing else has failed.

The fit has been perfect and even when packed with a bear can, ice axe and microspikes plus eight days of food, it carries comfortably. I've literally never had back or shoulder pain while using it. The minimal frame and load lifters do their job wonderfully. The hip belt, back pocket and side pockets have enough room to keep what I need on the outside of the pack, and everything else goes inside. Even the bear canister, once I learned how to do that correctly from an OV video. I plan to keep using it once I repair the holes and use it for many weekend trips to come!

Great bag, the frame is perfect, makes the ride super comfortable. I can stretch my shoulders and barely notice the full through hike set of gear. Be sure to measure before purchase, I did and it fits perfectly.

I have only used the CS40 on one trip so far - a 37mi hike on the AT in mid-September. It fits nicely and carried my gear (baseweight, water, and food at <27lbs) with no problem. I am 63 yrs old, 5'11 and 160lbs, so lightweight and comfort are important. The CS40 accomplished that. The only issue was the bear cannister. It fit but was very tight and consumed lots of space (but that's not the pack's "fault"). The side pockets are awesome and you can easily reach your water bottles. The only reason I did not give it a 5 was that I have not walked that part of the trail with that weight with my old pack to draw an accurate comparison. Also, i a bit concerned on how well the mesh stretch pocket will hold up. But only time will tell. And yes, that is the Altitude Sun Hoodie in the pictures.

Finished a 7-day trip in harsh conditions with the CS40 backpack: It is perfect. Yes, it is very light weight, but it’s best feature is how comfortable it is to wear: I’m an old guy in my late 70s so pack weight is a major factor for me. The design is not only light-weight, but it is able to distribute the pack weight perfectly over the body. This pack is a replacement for a famous-brand pack that did not seem to fit me well. The difference in comfort is amazing. The CS40 is plenty large enough for a week-long trip, even in harsh condition that require extra layers of clothes. Outdoor Vitals, hit a home run with this great back-pack!

Went with the CS-40 as a replacement for another brand as Lightweight is Super important for my Nerve Damage. I def need to learn to pack it. It doesn’t seem as wide(from back to front ways as my others and that is interesting for sure to me. Can’t wait to use it on my CT thru-hike this year. But my base weight of basic 4 needs is 9.2lbs. Happy Veteran here.

So far after one hike the pack seems well made and comfortable. Looking forward to many adventures.

YeeFit Gear & Review - Hey there, everyone! Welcome back to YeeFit Adventures. Today, we're diving into an exciting unboxing and first look at the Outdoor Vitals CS40 Backpack. This backpack is designed to tackle the great outdoors with style and functionality, and we're going to explore its fabric, features. Let's jump right in!

The CS40 Backpack is constructed using a high-quality and durable fabric. It's designed to withstand the rigors of the outdoors while remaining lightweight. This fabric choice strikes a balance between durability and weight, which is essential for a reliable hiking companion.

To wrap things up, the Outdoor Vitals CS40 Backpack impresses with its lightweight yet durable fabric, thoughtful features, and competitive pricing. While just as minimalist as the Hyperlite Mountain Gear or as innovative and durable as the Dan Duston Kakwa 40 pack, it strikes a balance that will likely appeal to a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts.

If you found any of this helpful, don't forget to hit the like button, subscribe to YeeFit Adventures channel for more gear reviews and outdoor content, and hit that notification bell to stay updated. Thanks for joining me today, and I'll catch you on the trails!

I am not affiliated with the company nor being paid or sponsored for my review. I purchased this with my own money and give my honest opinion, both what I like and dislike about the product. I hope this video is helpful, Enjoy! #backpackinglife #OutdoorVitals

Activities: #Fastpacking / #Mountain Walking / #Trail Running

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I’m not the most experienced backpacker but I am a well seasoned day hiker so take that for what it is. First off, this pack is comfortable, like stupid comfortable. On the debut backpacking trip for this pack was the Narrows Top Down. This pack held up great even being rubbed against the sandstone of the canyon. The pack rode extremely well and transferred literally all the pack weight to my hips spectacularly. On a hike like the narrows the last thing you want is your pack rubbing wrong or not adequately transferring the weight. While this pack is not water proof in the sense that you can submerge it, it did exactly what I needed it to do. It kept all my gear dry even though I had the low portion where the drain hole is submerged a frequently and had things in a dry bag. However, there was a negligible amount of moisture below my dry bag in the bottom. This will be my go to pack from here on until something else catches my eye. If you’re on the fence, you can’t go wrong here.

This pack rides like a dream. The carbon fiber stays and the EV foam really are form-fitting to your back. To have a minimalist pack that rides this well and carries a load as well as this pack does makes this the pack I've always been looking for. This pack has everything I need and doesn't have any of the extra's that I don't need. I have used a multitude of packs ranging from traditional to minimalist and this pack really does stand apart from the rest. This pack really does move and flex with your body as you are moving along the trail. If you have your gear dialed in and your needing an ultralight pack to accommodate your weight savings without the trade-off being comfort, then this is the pack.

Finally used my CS40 in the San Gabriel wilderness with a summit at Mount Gorgonio @11,500. I loaded it to the max and was pleased. Hopefully in the future a larger pack for higher payloads will be offered.

I just returned from bagging my first peak using the CS40. It performed great in this application. It carried 30 lbs very well. The carbon stays really do make a big difference in transferring the load to my hips. The construction and materials are both very high quality, but I do wish the seams were sealed or taped. I know they talked about why they chose not to do that in the deep dive podcast and basically said “just use dry bags” which, yeah, of course I do, but why use such a high quality, waterproof material like Ultra and not finish the job by taping the seams? Feels like a shortcut. I’ll just end up doing it myself. The OV shoulder pocket is nice, I plan to get a second one for the other side. Overall it’s an excellent pack and will be my go-to for fast and light objectives.

Used it two days after I got it on a three day 60 Mile trip up Mt Whitney. Pack was super light and very durable. Held up well in the rain and rocks. Was very happy with it and can’t wait to use it again.

Just took this on a ten mile day hike fully packed with 25lbs. It went so well the pack fit great! No sore shoulders or hips.

I couldn’t be happier with the CS40 Ultra Backpack. After using several top brand backpacks, this has become my favorite. I was initially skeptical about the fit and feel without a rigid frame, but after a two-day backcountry trip I was completely sold. I even showed it to multiple hikers along the trail in the Grand Canyon because I was so impressed. Once home, I sold three of my other backpacks knowing I would not be going back.

The lifters and carbon inserts are well designed and perform better than expected. It takes some adjustment compared to packs with more traditional pockets, but the rear panel access is very convenient for quickly reaching essentials. The waist belt pockets are also well placed and actually usable, fitting a full-size phone and hygiene kit on one side, with the other holding more electrolytes and gels than needed for four days.

Its a great backpack so far.

Very well designed pack with feature where it counts to achieve low weight with great structure and support. Only improvement would be a little more webbing length on the waist belt.

I could not be more pleased with this purchase. For backpacking in the Frank Church Wilderness and Bob Marshall, on volunteer or personal trips, this is my go to pack now. Comfort on my back, minimal weight, durability, it is the best backpack I own and first experience with OV. Used for more than 500 miles, no issues. When on trail crews the water bladder holder works great along with the capacity for my essentials out in the field. Light to continuously pick up and place down throughout the day.

I have tried so many bags...and I don't mean just flop it on willy nilly. I've tried bags from Osprey, Gregory, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, REI, Black Diamond, Arcteryx, Fjallraven, Gossamer Gear, Mystery Ranch and Deuter to name a few over the last few years. I adjust, readjust, shift the weight around, change shoes, and walk probably at least 30 miles in circles in my house before I make my mind up on any anything. This bag is the most comfortable bag I have ever put on. I put 200-300 miles on my last gossamer gear gorilla before trying this but I just still wasn't sure if it was the perfect bag. Once I put this on I cut the tags off instantly...I have never felt so sure about anything! The straps, hip belt and back have the most perfect cushion. The frame sends the weight to my hips so well. The frame also removes easily and can tilt in the bag for airline travel carry on dimensions (I never check a bag). The straps are well spaced at my neck so they don't hurt like the Gossamer Gear Kumo or Hyperlite bags. It is lightweight and carries anything I put in it like a dream. I am so mad I didn't just order this when it first came out...would have saved me a few hundred dollars and so many other tries. I didn't get the strap pockets because they weren't instock and I am leaving soon for a trip but my chicken tramper gear pockets fit well with no modifications. I love the size of the hip belt pockets! They can fit a Lenny and Larry's cookie which is nice! I can reach the water bottle pockets very easily which is usually a struggle for me. I can't wait to take it on my 100 mile!! Thank you Outdoor vitals! This bag is perfection!

I waited to review this CS40 backpack until I put some miles on the pack. I had first ordered the ShadowLight pack, I really liked the features of that pack but it just didn’t fit me right. Then with the help of your customer support staff I then ordered the CS40 in a completely different sizing and it works perfectly. I love the fit, comfort and size of this backpack all due to your support team. THANKS!