Pros and Cons of 5 Ultralight Pack Pods

The recent addition of ultralight pack pods to my backpacking kit has been the ultimate upgrade in keeping my clothes, gear and food supplies clean, organized and, most importantly, dry while out on the trail. 

A lightweight carrying case for hiking and camping gear, pack pods come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your needs.

They help compartmentalize adventure essentials, add structure and support to frameless UL backpacks, make it easy to locate and access your gear, and IMO make packing and unpacking more efficient.

In an effort to keep weight savings as a top priority while still maintaining a high level of water-resistance, durability and usability, most ultralight pack pod makers use DCF, Ultra, EcoPak, XPac or nylon ripstop fabrics, often with taped seams, and opt for either a one or two way zipper closure.

 

While ounce counters will undoubtedly question the worth of the negligible added weight, I would say that added cost ought to be the larger factor in determining whether or not pack pods are right for you.

If it fits your budget, I’m of the belief that pack pods will perform time and stress saving miracles when out and about on adventures.

Looking for your sun shirt when the rays hit? Pull out your designated clothes bag. Snack time? Find your food in one spot. Sleep clothes? There’s a pod for that too, and as a bonus it doubles as a pillow!

In the morning, roll, fold or stuff your gear back in their sacks and pile them in order of use (and weight) in your backpack.

 

Sure, those who prefer to rapidly stuff soft goods into every crevice of their bag will find it takes more time to pack up, but ultimately, the time savings is null when you have to pull every item out to get to the one you need that is crammed in the bottom corner of your bag.

Certainly, I’m not alone in feeling a great sense of joy (and relief) when I pull out my sleep kit and camp clothes and they are (relatively) clean, and completely dry. I find pack pods give me added peace of mind when the weather turns for the worst.

I also use zippered pack pods as food bags. After having them slung up on bear lines in hours of overnight coastal rainfall, I’ve woken to find every inside item bone dry in the morning and the external fabric barely wet within an hour.

And while it is always recommended to back up your pack pods with a pack liner for extra water resistance, I’ve had much success running a mix of the following pods in my Zpacks Nero 38L Ultra backpack with absolutely no seepage in some serious days of downpour.

 

If you’re looking to give pack pods a try, there are some really great, affordable options available on GGG from an array of amazing cottage vendors.

Packs Pods by Hyperlite Mountain Gear

I've entrusted the DCF fabric, taped seams and weatherproof zipper on the large 2400/3400 series pod to hold my Enlightened Equipment Accomplice Quilt along with two Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite air pads for myself and my partner.

Stuffed into the bottom of my Zpacks Nero, the HMG pod gives the base of my frameless bag superb structure and a good foundation to build the rest of my pack pod tower on top of. Zipper tabs make it easier to close while the one way zipper lightens the load.

 

Pros

• ultralight
• highly water resistant DCF fabric
• water resistant zippers
• taped seams
• zipper tabs
• assorted sizes
• larger size for bigger items like sleep kit or tent

Cons

• one way zipper (for ease of use, I’d prefer a double headed zipper instead)
• more expensive option

Specs

Weight: 1.2oz - 1.4oz

Materials: DCF11

Cost: $59 - $69 USD

Multi Size Packing Pod Set (3 pcs) by Six Moons Designs

 

A great, inexpensive option for getting into pack pods, Six Moon Designs has created an extremely versatile three piece variety pack.

I use the small bag for electronics like my headlamp, charger cords and satellite communication device, which comes into the tent each night.

The medium bag is used for my Be Free 3L Gravity water filter so that any water droplets remain contained after filtering.

The large bag is the perfect size for my camp and sleep clothes and the soft face fabric and rectangular shape makes it the best pillow.

 

SMD packing pods are also available in a three piece set of just the larger sized pods, a great option for easy stacking.

Pros 

• ultralight
• inexpensive 
• taped seams
• dual zippers
• variety of sizes and colors
• easy organizing
  

Cons

• not as water resistant as other options 

Specs

Weight: 

• Small: 0.3oz 
• Medium: 0.71oz 
• Large: 1oz 

Materials: 

• Sil/PU Coated 40D Ripstop Nylon fabric

Cost: $39.99 USD

Boxy Bags by Ponds Edge LLC

Another great, inexpensive and well crafted pack pod for all your adventure needs, the Boxy Bag by Ponds Edge is the perfect shape for stacking, while the translucent fabric makes it easy to see what contents are inside.

The superb water resistance of the DCF fabric and waterproof YKK zipper makes the small bag a great option for my battery banks, charging cables and anything else I want to keep dry.

I love the small shape and size as a ditty bag as well, and the webbing strap makes for easy carrying and hanging.

 

Pros

• highly water resistant DCF fabric
• waterproof YKK zipper
• array of sizes and colors
• ultralight
• easy to see through fabric
• zipper tabs
• webbing for easy hanging and carrying
• inexpensive
  

Cons

• no taped seams
• no zipper pulls

Specs

Weight: 0.3oz - 0.5oz

Materials:

• 1.43 Dyneema Composite Fabric
• Waterproof YKK zipper

Cost: $18.50 - $24 USD

Ultralite Cubes by Ultralite Sacks

 

For the Ultra fabric fans out there, Ultralite Sacks offer a great array of pack pods in three Ultra weights and three unique sizes. Depending on your weight, durability and performance needs, you can choose between 50, 75 and 100d Ultra options.

All Ultralight Cubes are equipped with a waterproof YKK zipper and corded zipper pull. I like to keep my rain gear in their larger pod, as it’s easy to access when the storm starts, and perfect for containing the moisture when the clouds pass and I gear back down.

Pros

• ultralight
• highly water resistant
• waterproof YKK zipper
• zipper tabs
• zipper pull
• array of sizes and weights
• inexpensive
  

Cons

• no taped seams

Specs

Weight: 0.4oz - 0.9oz

Materials (Option of):

• TX50 Ultra Sail White
• TX70 Ultra Silver
• ULTRA 100 Storm Grey

Cost: $19 - $26 USD

 

Ditty Box Pouch by Packback Designs

 

Looking for a big, boxy bag to store all your odds and sods? Then the ditty box pouch by Packback Designs might just be the pack pod for you. Built with durability in mind, the reinforced seams make for a safe space for your heavier items, like bulky clothes, food or kitchen items.

The long handle at one end make it the ideal bag to clip to a carabiner and hang on your bear line, while the highly water resistant EcoPak fabric gives a great layer of protection from the elements.

I’ve been using the large ditty box as a food bag and it easily stores 6 days worth of breakfast oat mixes and all the snacks needed for two hungry humans. The water resistant zipper has held up perfectly to lots of pressure and having two zipper pulls makes my life much easier.

 

While the Ditty Box is heavier than some of the other UL options on the market, its durability, ease of use and the added peace of mind when fully loaded balances out the extra weight in my books.

Pros

• durable
• reinforced seams
• double headed zipper
• corded zipper pulls
• oversized zipper tab loops
• long handle for easy hanging or carrying
• lightweight
• inexpensive
  

Cons

• heavier than other UL options
  

Specs

Weight: 

• Large: 2.30oz
• Medium: 1.9oz
• Small: 1.5oz

Materials:

• ECOPAK EPX200
• #5 Uretek water-resistant zipper with (2) two zipper pulls

Cost: $22 - $32 USD

Bottom Line

All in all, pack pods are an amazing way to organize and protect your adventure essentials when out on trail. With so many ultralight pack pod options available, there’s never been a better time to manage and maintain your backcountry essentials.

Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.