Wapta 30

Just finished the TMB with my wife. We both used the Wapta. It’s simply perfect. Love the removable hip belt so I could use it as a carry-on pack. Pockets and tie-downs were well suited water bottle and trekking poles. Huge expandable front pocket turns this 30L pack into 40-45L. My only suggestion for Dan and Team is to make the Wapta in a 20, 40, 50, and 60 liter versions. Believe me, there’s a market for all sizes 😉

Just back from a 10-day trip without a tent, sleeping bag, or sleeping mat. The backpack is incredibly comfortable, and the frameless design makes it much easier to duck under branches—the pack doesn't snag. I didn't really test the waterproofing because the weather was good. I used the Kalkwater 55 in Scotland in June, where we had plenty of rain; the seams leaked slightly, but that was after a full day of facing wind and rain. I’m not worried about the waterproofing.

I used the Wapta 30 on the GR5 Trans Alps hike this summer. I found it to be comfortable, durable enough, and large enough for multi day hikes with a full kit. It's not big enough for multi day full kit hikes where more than 2 days of food are necessary. My gear is pretty compact and quite ultralight but there isn't a lot of room for food. I found it carried well and held up to normal wear and tear risks. It's quite water resistant but you still need a waterproof bag to protect your gear totally. The only damage done over 25 days of alpine usage was one shoulder strap seam tape on the inside pulled loose. Probably due to heavy lift using one strap. I found it to be one of the lightest packs on the trail this summer and worked well for me.

After having owned the Kakwa 40 and 55, I bought now the Wapta, too. With my Kakwa 55 I crossed the North of UK on the "Wainwright's Coast to Coast Path" with my X-Mid 1 and full camping gear. That was a great experience, so I ordered the Kakwa 40 UltraGrid for a Pilgrim Camino in Spain. Surprisingly, the shoulder straps with that yoke design were less comfortable for me, so I sold it and bought a used one in Ultra200X here in Germany. This one provided the same comfort like my 55 version.
Before I ordered the Kakwa 40 at Kaviso, I checked the availability of the Wapta, already, but it was out of stock then. I was not sure, whether the missing frame would lead to discomfort, but it did not at all! I just had to change the packing method a little, just to avoid the barreling. I could achieve a perfect fit after 2 attempts.
I have a 90 cm waist and the M/L hipbelt allows only 2 inches more of tension. So incase I lose some more weight, I will have to order the S/M version.
In order to increase the comfort in the lumbar area, I added a 10 mm thick foam pad under the series pad (see pics). That is not really necessary, but it is at least possible w/o problem and adds 4.5 grams, only.
Summary: After having tested over 30 different backpacks during the last 8 years, my search has finally ended, because I am now owning the best possible backpacks in 3 different sizes for all kinds of hiking adventures!
Thank you, Dan!

The Wapta 30 inaugural trip was to the iconic highest point in the contiguous US. I needed a smaller pack to minimize weight and still be able to function like a daypack. I was able to carry just enough gear to get me to Outpost Camp and summit Mt. Whitney from there. Super comfortable and handled the trip like a true Durston. Thank you Dan for another fantastic outdoor adventure product!!

Hello, I have an XMID 1 tent, a Kakwa 40 backpack, Iceline trekking poles, and a Wapta 30 backpack. I'm very happy with all of them. Unfortunately, the waterproof tape along the seams of the shoulder straps has come loose. How can I fix this?

Thank you so much for your reply — it makes me feel genuinely valued as a customer. I was really surprised to receive a full refund of my shipping fees, and the way you responded to each of my suggestions demonstrates Durston’s genuine commitment to product improvement. I’d be glad to share photos of the stitching issue with you for your reference. The uneven stitching on the shoulder strap anchor points doesn’t interfere with my use of the pack, and I barely make use of these mounting points anyway.
I want to stress that these are purely constructive suggestions rather than complaints. The Wapta 30 has plenty of outstanding strengths. First of all, its colourway and silhouette are fantastic, much like the older generation Arc'teryx Arro 22 — its attractive appearance made me overlook its flaws. The fabric also boasts an incredibly soft, pleasant hand feel. The M shoulder harness fits my body perfectly, and the waist belt delivers above-average comfort.
I hope this can be improved in the next version.

i am coming from a waymark mile 28. this bag was _the_ bag for me, having my gear dialed in for the trips i take (3-4 nights typically). last year, i was looking at trying something new and different. i was losing my backpacking "spark" if you wanna call it that, and i figured trying new gear items would bring back that inspiration i had previously.

given the political climate and all of the BS that is happening south of our border, i decided this year that i was going to support a fellow Canadian company (my other choice was the Evolved Ranger backpack since it is very close to the Mile 28). i am glad that i did. i was already familiar with the support Durston gave to its customers (potential, new, and exising) as well. i compared the Wapta 30 to the Mile 28 in most aspects and ended up ordering a size SM torso. i orderded the Wapta 30 with no hip belt (baseweight is under 10lbs). when i received the backpack and tried it on, it was a tad too small for me. Dan was like "hey no problem, we got you" and set up a return for me, in exchange for a size M torso variant. i asked him several questions and he helped me understand torso sizing and its relationship to other components of the backpack.

i finally was able to put the bag through its paces. wow, i cant believe how comfortable the shoulder straps are. and the back having some padding, prevented huge pools of sweat from forming on my lower back. cool! the Mile 28, while also very comfortable, did not have this padding and so, my lower back would be wet all of the time. while i was on trail, i was picking up garbage from other hikers, and storing it all in the bottom pocket of the backpack. hell yeah, what a great feature to have. i was able to reach for my water bottle and stow it away while on the go without having to take the backpack off.

i really like how large the shoulder strap pockets are, and that they are integrated with the straps. i purchased my Mile 28 with 1 shoulder strap pocket. it has worked out for me, but having 2 of these pockets is a nice feature. the 2 side pockets on the backpack are also very large, being able to store many items inside (2 smartwater bottles, water socks, filter, mio electrolyte mix; i could have put a few more things inside likely), as well as the front pocket. i was talking to myself comparing the sizes of the main compartments for each bag. the Wapta 30 offers more internal volume in comparison, while still offering extra room in the external pockets.

overall, i am excited to take it out on some more trips this year. i am glad i decided to purchase the Wapta 30, and i finally get the Durston hype when it comes to support. cool product, Dan! you and your team did very good :).

Just the right pockets in just the right places. ‘Water bottle’ pockets tilted for easy access whether they contain toque, mitts, or actual water. Shoulder pockets that adjust to fit anything: sunglasses, phone, hankie, gloves within reach and never in the way. Back pouch low enough that it can be accessed with an agile arm. Daisy chains make lashing anything possible - even an extra mesh pocket (user supplied). Love the flexibility with multipurpose features.

Have done 2 x10km with 30lbs loaded on local trails. Rucking training for upcoming trips. The pack was very comfortable and efficient. I could reach my water bottle and used the under pocket. I like it.I think it will be perfect for my GR5 Trans Alpes this summer.

I've abused this pack for two full seasons: 5 Wonderland Trail hikes, stick poking, log crawling off trail jaunts, part of the GR10 hiking, biking across the Pyrenees (and as a travel pack to and from Europe), peak bagging, bike-hike trips, hiking in Switzerland. You get the gist. I've got over 40 years of experience, so when I say that this is the most versatile, comfortable and robust pack I've used, it should mean something. The Aluula material wears well and the pack still looks new. Construction is top notch and the features are well thought out. Bonus, I've also had the pack in all day rain and the only water that got in was when I opened the top or put something damp inside it. The cherry on top; customer service is outstanding and prompt (in my case, concerning a different Durston product). Soon it will be on my back for traveling and hiking in the Dolomites to kick off the '26 season. My other packs are lonely.

I recently took the Wapta 30 out on a test overnight in the desert. It performed just as I was hoping. Baseweight was 10.94lbs. My test included running the pack without the hip belt, with a full load of around 21.75lbs (including food and 4L of water). Not only was it comfortable, I found that not having a hip belt was surprisingly liberating! I could also feel the build quality in the carry.

Really looking forward to some High Sierra trips this summer with it. It'll likely become my primary 3 season pack.

Very happy with the wapta 30 super comfortable and carries weight well for how light this pack is. The material is tough!

Ever since it arrived, I’ve been sleeping with it right by my pillow every night.

I have been using this pack in the White mountains of NH since early October and it has been awesome! It’s the perfect size (for me) for winter day hikes. The huge pocket on back perfectly fits my MSR bag that holds my snowshoes and crampons without any straps/tiedowns/etc. This makes traction transitions very quick and convenient in cold temps! Bottom pocket is great for snacks. Super light, durable, and comfy. Just ordered the 55 liter Kakwa because I love this 30 so much.

… until I got this. Anyway, clickbait aside, I have taken this pack out on 2 overnighters so far and it has been phenomenal. I was unsure about sizing as I am right in between a small and a medium. I went for a small because I wanted it to sit a bit higher. I immediately loaded it up with gear when I received it, and I was amazed how comfortably it carries. I did an 18km day, so nothing crazy, but it performed super well, and didn’t get in the way on some sections of scrambling. My back did get quite sweaty, however it was in the mid to high 20s (Celsius) and extremely humid. Even my trampoline pack (Exos pro 55) wouldn’t have really helped in those conditions. My reason for buying this over other options such as palante or HMG was the fact that it’s made out of aluula, which I really wanted to try out. It’s a really cool fabric, it’s crazy light but still feels tough enough for some bush bashing (unlike me exos pro). I have a few complaints, although they’re not necessarily all the fault of the pack. I found the shoulder straps are a bit uncomfortable if I don’t have them adjusted perfectly. Also, the buckles are sometimes annoying to close, in that they have to be aligned with more attention than I would like (it’s an inherent design flaw of these “winged” style buckles as opposed to a more traditional buckle like the one on the hip belt). I found that my arms tend to rub on anything I put in the shoulder pockets, but I think that’s my weird anatomy. And my final complaint, which isn't really a complaint, is that I wish it was just a little bit bigger. Extending the collar length so that it’s maybe 35L internal would make it the perfect all round pack for me. At that volume, I could just get a kakwa 40, but I actually quite like the lack of rigidity of the frameless pack. So overall, great pack that carries well, definitely a good option for anyone looking to go frameless.

This pack carries so comfortably that it has set an entirely new bar for what I am willing to put in a frameless pack. As a result, it has become my new go-to pack for most backpacking trips and wet day hikes. I recently used it on a backpacking trip in the Trinity Alps where I brought a bear can, and had plenty of room and didn't push the pack's comfort limit. The hip belt is the most comfortable I've ever used-- I think the shaping of the pack really helps. I also love the hip pockets-- roomy and easy one hand opening and closing. The only thing I wish for is more pockets on the straps (my favorite feature of my gossamer gear kumu 36 fastpack), but having the bottom pocket is a great feature!

Used the first time for an overnight camp, high on a hill on Autumn here in England.
The Wapta 30 was the perfect combination of comfort and load carrying capability.
I have used many packs of all sizes over the years and this is by far the best one for my current level of adventures.