The Gossamer Gear Vetta is for minimalist adventures when I’m carrying only the basics for my hike.
Overview: Gossamer Gear Vetta 20L
MSRP: $140
Weight: 14.5 ounces
Capacity: 20 liters
Fabric: 100D recycled robic nylon for the main body; 210D recycled robic nylon for the bottom. UHMWPE stretch mesh for the outer pockets. PFAS-free.
About the Vetta 20L Daypack
Gossamer Gear designed its Type II collection of packs for demanding adventures, and the Vetta is up to the challenge. It’s small and light, but capable of carrying everything I want for a rigorous day hike. Gossamer Gear uses UHMWPE fiber (also used in Dyneema) in the mesh pockets for its ultralight weight and strength.
Carrying Capacity
The Vetta’s main compartment swallows my raincoat and rain pants, a top layer, and other small gear I want firmly tucked away. The roll-top extension collar expands to give the pack 20 liters of inside storage in the main body, and closes with top straps or removable side compression straps.
The Vetta has a feature I love in Gossamer Gear packs — a zippered pocket on the top front of the pack for my wallet and a clip for securing my car keys. The pocket ensures that when I get back to my car I’m not digging deep to find my car keys. And it keeps my mind at ease on trail when I can easily check that my car key is still safely tucked away.
I also like that the strap buckles are large, and easy to see and connect, not reduced to a size that’s difficult to see and buckle.
The Vetta’s downfall is the two shallow mesh pockets on each side which aren’t deep enough to hold 1-liter water bottles without them falling out.
So I put my lunch, water filter, first aid kit or anything else small in the side pockets. My water bottles go in the deeper and larger main mesh pocket.
The stash pockets, one on each shoulder strap, are also small, and don’t hold much more than snacks, lip balm or hand sanitizer. They aren’t big enough to hold my phone, but Gossamer Gear has larger add-on shoulder strap pockets here.
Adjustable bottom and top stretch cords are good for storing trekking poles.
There’s a water bladder loop on the inside back of the main compartment with slits for a hydration tube.
Comfort
The Vetta is a one-size-fits-all pack. I’m 5 feet, 10 inches and the pack fits me comfortably.
The shoulder straps have perforated foam cushioning and a foam back pad that doubles as a sit pad, a feature that Gossamer Gear puts in all its packs.
The sternum strap, with an integrated whistle, slides up and down for a custom fit.
The Vetta does not have a hipbelt, but the pack has attachment loops to add a Gossamer Gear minimalist Fastbelt.
Loops at the bottom of the shoulder straps that are good for resting arms by inserting thumbs instead of letting them hang have become standard on most Gossamer Gear backpacks.
Materials
The Vetta’s main body is made from PFAS-free 100D recycled robic nylon, a relatively low-cost fabric that helps keep the pack’s price down. The UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, an ingredient in Dyneema) stretch mesh used for the front and side pockets combines exceptional strength with abrasion and tear resistance.
Good to Know
It’s important to remember that the Vetta is a minimalist day pack, and the 20-liter capacity is geared toward ultralighters.
The shoulder strap and side pockets are small. The side mesh pockets aren’t deep enough to hold 1-liter water bottles without them falling out.
There’s no hip belt so the pack’s weight is squarely on the shoulders.
But smaller doesn’t mean skimping on features that I like such as the top zipper pocket, the removable sit pad and strap buckles large enough for me to see without putting on my glasses.
For someone who hasn’t reduced their gear to ultralight territory, Gossamer Gear’s Grit 28L pack, reviewed here, might be a good choice.
Vetta Pros
Ultralight: The Vetta weighs 14.5 ounces.
Stash Pockets: The slim top pocket that closes with a zipper is good for holding my car keys and wallet. Two small pockets on the shoulder straps hold small gear such as snacks, lip balm and hand sanitizer.
Vetta Cons
Sizing and Fit: The Vetta comes in one size.
No Hipbelt: This may be a con for some people, but I don’t miss a hipbelt on the Vetta.
Shoulder Pockets: These are very small and don’t hold much gear. I can’t fit my phone inside them.
Side Mesh Pockets: Not deep enough to hold 1-liter water bottles.
Overall Value
Gossamer Gear uses durable robic fabric and a limited amount of Dyneema-like stretch mesh in the Vetta, keeping its $140 price tag well below the cost of packs made completely with Dyneema or Ultra fabrics. The Vetta’s price and minimalist features make it a solid choice for daylong adventures on trail .
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This product was donated for purpose of review.