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Durston Gear Kakwa 55 UltraGrid Pack Small vs Zpacks Nero Classic 40L

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Zpacks Nero Classic 40L is the lighter option — 531 g lighter than the Durston Gear Kakwa 55 UltraGrid Pack Small (65% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Durston Gear Kakwa 55 UltraGrid Pack Small Zpacks Nero Classic 40L
Weight 820 g · 0.820 kg · 1.81 lb 289 g · 0.289 kg · 0.64 lb
Brand Durston Gear Zpacks
Category Backpack Backpack
Durston Gear Kakwa 55 UltraGrid Pack Small
820 g

Updated ultralight pack size S, 28.9oz, with improved hipbelt and durability

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Zpacks Nero Classic 40L
289 g

Frameless ultralight pack in 30L or 40L, built from Dyneema CF fabric. One of the lightest load-carrying packs available for thru-hiking.

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Durston Gear Kakwa 55 UltraGrid Pack Small vs Zpacks Nero Classic 40L: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Zpacks Nero Classic 40L wins — at 289 g it is 531 g (65%) lighter than the Durston Gear Kakwa 55 UltraGrid Pack Small (820 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest backpack page, or browse the full gear weight database.

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