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Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack vs Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40L

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

Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40L is the lighter option — 225 g lighter than the Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack (29% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40L
Weight 765 g · 0.765 kg · 1.69 lb 540 g · 0.540 kg · 1.19 lb
Brand Outdoor Vitals Zpacks
Category Backpack Backpack
Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack
765 g

40L ultralight backpack with carbon fiber frame stays. Weighs 27oz and supports up to 35 lbs with full functionality.

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Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40L
540 g

Dyneema 40L pack at 540g. Compact version of Arc Haul for minimalist backpacking setups.

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Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack vs Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40L: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40L wins — at 540 g it is 225 g (29%) lighter than the Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra Backpack (765 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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