I completed the PCT with the ULA Catalyst and she was an absolute workhorse. I took her on the Superior Hiking Trail, the Camino Portugués, and the Appalachian Trail. Only on the Appalachian did she really start to show some wear. I purchased the Ultra Circuit when I retired the Catalyst and took her on the Camino Francés, and she was flawless. However, we are limited to a 25 liter pack for the Inca Trail, so we needed some new gear. I cannot say enough about ULA Equipment, so it was only natural that we would buy our packs from them.

The smallest pack they make is the Custom Photon. They list the Photon as a 35 liter pack, however, the internal section is 25 liters. The only difference between my wife’s and my pack are the sizes, colors and I added the frame and load lifters. I simply prefer a more rigid pack. Also, I’ll be the one to carry the extra heavy gear.

My pack is similar to the one they show above, except I had the bottom made with their reinforced black material. It weighs in at 26.1 ounces, and is mostly waterproof. We will still use a garbage compactor bag on the inside to provide extra water proofing.

We have carried these on all our hikes for the past year, and they show no sign of wear. They are very comfortable to wear. We highly recommend them.