Shadowlight Hip Belts (Original)

Unbelievable the pack tore on the bottom on its maiden 6 day voyage. To make matters worse they first said it was caused by rodents. Not a chance. Then they said normal wear and tear are not covered by their warranty period. No offer to fix it no store credit nothing. And I've purchased over 1000 $ in the past 6 months. Just a pathetic company. sTAY AWAY!!!!

I give it 4.5 stars. I got the new Shadowlight 60 Carbon at an amazing discounted rate via ExpertVoice before the ski company cut off my access to deals for the season. I have since hiked the Oregon Coast Trail with it and am about to LASH the PCT, so will likely have more to review after lugging this thing through the Sierras with a bear canister.

For the most part it has performed really well for me. I think the foam padding and load lifters offer a comfort not in other ultralight packs like Hyperlite or Durston I have used on thru-hikes. It feels amazing with just 1-2 days food, but loses a lot of that in the 4-6 day food carry range same as any ultralight pack.

I think the upper pockets are interesting over other models, as I can keep my pot, fuel, and stove on one side. Food for the day on the other so I never have to open my pack. Frees up a bit of internal space.

The things I don't like about it are some of the features it promotes. From a thru-hiker perspective, the whole zipper is pretty much useless. As it not being a waterproof pack pretty much guarantees I'm using a contractor bag or liner. I never unzipped it except to dry it out in the sun. Maybe if you were doing something like the Arizona Trail without rain at all or had something like a waterproof pod or dry bag system maybe you would use it more. Connected to that I've gotten used to a big back pocket on my packs and having two narrow ones is a bit odd. I would prefer if they made a version without the zipper, one big pocket, and a pull to close top to the pocket like the upper side ones. I could picture a thicker Y-strap up top being more useful as well.

That said, I have been able to adjust to this design. Rolling rain gear into the pockets. It also holds fruit or cans really well. There is just some loss to not having a big net pocket, like being able to dry a tent on the move, etc. I don't know that it's a dealbraker, it's just something I would like to see in a new design. Or like a variation, similar to how Hyperlite does a lot of regional weather based editions of packs. I think the features of this iteration match drier climate a lot better than wet for these reasons.

The only signs of wear after 400 miles is the paint on the metal drain holes on the bottom of the pack/ water bottle pockets scrapes off if you have to scooch across rock scrambles. It would maybe be microscopically better for the environment if they used unpainted ones to start knowing that happens.

60 liters is the right size and when carrying only a little food it rolls down like a 40.

Looking forward to another couple months with this thing on my back for the PCT and will report back.

I just purchased this pack and took it on a three day backpack into the Bob Marshallwilderness this last weekend. This pack was very comfortable and light and did exactly what I needed it to do. I am 6‘1“ and 160 pounds and got the small waist belt and a regular for the torso size and fit well but is maxed out for me on torso. I was able to fit everything in but did use the full 60 L. If they were going to improve anything, they could put a top zip bag on with some straps like you see other packs or some loops on bottom of the pack to be able to attach more gear. I am very pleased with my purchase and I may be getting another pack soon for my son.

The north south exterior zipper is a clutch addition. The fabric has handled harsh desert camping like a champ, and the hip belt somehow feels supportive without restricting movement — like a hug.

And having TWO exterior stuff pockets instead of one giant dump pocket keeps gear much more organized and accessible on trail.

OV… you conquered yet another backcountry essential.

Loving my Shadowlight so far. It's well made, super light, and carries well. It has just the right configuration of pockets and tie-down points for my gear. I DIY'd webbing on the bottom with some paracord to hold my camp chair. Thanks OV!

I've been testing four packs from different manufacturers for my upcoming Colorado Trail thru-hike. To date, this is my favorite pack and likely the one I'll use. The only constructive critique I have is that the shoulder straps don't have adequate lashing points for accessories like water bottle holders, etc. I intend to sew on horizontal lashings to the shoulder straps. Otherwise, I have nothing but good things to say about this pack, its material and design.

We just finished the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas. My wife carried the original Shadowlight and I carried the Carbon 60. The pack was great. It kept the weight on my hips and my shoulder never felt any fatigue.
I was able to store all of my gear where I would know exactly where everything was. The center zipper and outside pockets were a huge help. The improved angle of the water bottle pockets made it easy to grab the bottle without help.

I really love this pack.

I used this pack for a 4 day desert trip during a heatwave. It comfortably held a lot of water. Each side pocket holds 2 narrow 1-liter bottles. I slid a camp chair in one of the rear pockets and a 3-liter water bag in the other. The only thing I might change is the top strap could be slightly longer if the pack is really full and you want to add a sleeping pad on top. Otherwise, it's perfect.

I received the Shadowlight 60L UL backpack ~2wks ago. First of all, I want to say thank you for utilizing the "Try B4 U Buy" program. I would never have ordered it without trying it out first with a "No Questions Asked" return policy, if returned within 8 days. This led me to 4 significant hikes in 5 days to thoroughly test it out. Here are my four Strava logged hikes:
LINK to Hike #1 https://strava.app.link/xQKvpwFPy1b
LINK to HIke #2 https://strava.app.link/M9chPSJPy1b
LINK to HIke #3 https://strava.app.link/iM1D67LPy1b
LINK to Hike #4 https://strava.app.link/Snzm9lOPy1b
Ultimately the pack felt very good. It took me a mile or two to really fine adjust the belt, shoulder, load lift and shoulder connector straps. But once I got that dialed in, it felt as good as carrying 37lbs on your back can feel. As for the pack itself, I really like the low reachable pockets on the side and the hip belt pockets as well. I know a lot of people complained about the zipper down the middle in the back but when I want to avoid digging down through the top for something at the bottom, this is going to come in SUPER handy. All in all I like it so far and will give my ultimate rating after our first multi-day backpack trip in a month or two.

This past summer I purchased the original Shadowlight in hopes of using it on the Uinta Highline Trail only to find that it was too small and they didn’t have the next size available. So glad I waited! The Shadowlight Carbon has definitely seen some upgrades. I have take it on several day hikes to test for comfort and wish I had it compared to the REI Flash 55 I used on the Highline. Love the hip belt and belt pockets. Excited about the ease of access to the main compartment of the pack with the long front zipper. Pack looks and feels like it will last a lifetime of use. Highline 2.0 here we come!

This is perfect. 60 liters is the just-right size for my kit. I like the plethora of pocket organization and the fit for my frame. It's too cold right now to take on an overnight, but my couple of short test hikes confirmed that I made a good choice. I wasn't sure at first about the "split" front pocket, but I do like the way I can put my camp shoes and tent/sit pad on one side and my trash bag on the other.

I haven't yet field-tested it, but I think the center zipper will work well to stuff my rain jacket for easy quick access in off-and-on rainy weather.

I'll give it the full shakedown when the weather warms up; so far, so good.

This pack is very nicely put together and rides quite comfortably. I’ve only had about 30lbs in it so far but plan on testing the 40lbs limit this summer on a 12 day trip with no resupply. My only reason for not giving it a full five stars is on my first overnight trip I experienced a few hours of medium/light rain, nothing crazy and some water made it into the pack. I think it was coming in through the middle access zipper, it would be nice if one of those water tight zippers was used instead. Other than that it’s a great pack.

While training for the appalachian trail, I lost a lot of weight. so much that I needed a newhip belt. I contacted Outdoor Vitals on advice and in no time Narissa shipped me out the new belt. The backpack feels so much easier to carry with full loads even. Outdoor Vitals has become my go to company for gear and apparel.

I have taken this pack out on two excursions already and it has performed great! Check out my YouTube review for more info!

I've been able to take the Carbon 60 pack out on a couple of trips now and it's the best pack I've owned so far. Brigham nailed this hip belt. It was comfortable and didn't slip or move during my whole trip. Thank you for all the work your team has done on making this product. Keep up the good work.

Took it on its maiden voyage this week!! I also have the original shadowlight 45 that i have taken everwhere! And this pack is absolutely amazing! Every "problem" that my original has "which is not much" has been upgraded to the max!! I have owened alot of outdoor vitals gear over the years and they are by far my favorite outdoor gear company!!! I tey and turn everyone i see on trail and in day to day passing onto this company!!

I took the new Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Carbon 60 out for a 19-mile overnight this weekend, and here are some early impressions.

For context, I’ve used a ULA Circuit in years past, and most recently a Durston Kakwa 55. I ended up selling the Kakwa to pick up this new Shadowlight, and after one trip, I think I made the right call (for me at least).

Why I Moved On from the Kakwa:

Fit-wise, the Kakwa nailed my torso length, but that hipbelt was just too small — it kept sliding down after a few miles, dumping the weight onto my shoulders. Maybe if I had a 28” waist that wouldn’t be the case, but it didn’t feel it wrapped my hips enough to be useful. The pockets were set too far back, so I always felt like I was doing a slight yoga twist just to grab a snack.

The Ultra 200x fabric was super tough but honestly too stiff for my liking, and the pack overall felt a little too minimalist for me. I also like to stow my trekking poles on long easier stretches, and there wasn’t really a good way to do that.

Shadowlight First Impressions

Picked this up during the Shadowlight launch, and I could immediately tell the hipbelt feels more like my old ULA Circuit — it actually carries weight. It stays put, and the pockets sit at my sides where I can reach them one-handed with ease.

The torso feels a touch taller than the Kakwa’s, so maybe not a perfect match there, but close enough that it’s not a dealbreaker.

Organization Wins!

This is where I’m really like the Shadowlight. The two top pockets are super handy — I keep my cook kit in one and my first-aid stuff in the other. That zipper divider on the outside mesh pocket seemed gimmicky at first, but it actually helps a lot with keeping things organized instead of everything turning into one big mesh blob.

Early Verdict:

After 19 miles, I’m honestly impressed. The Shadowlight feels like a mix between the comfort of the Circuit and the modern feel of the Kakwa, with better organization than either. Still early days, but it’s shaping up to be a keeper. For now, I’m pretty happy with the 2 oz weight penalty (compared to the Kakwa) for a pack with a lot of options and better comfort (for me at least).