Ultralight Adventure Equipment Circuit Review

With high scores in weight to volume, comfort, and durability, the ULA Circuit is a great all-around performer. The Circuit is a great all-around pack that can be used in a variety of situations, from ultralight backpacking to wintertime trips into the backcountry.

Performance Comparisons

Weight-to-Volume Ratio

The ULA Circuit receives an average score in this metric for a few reasons. The first being that the difference between its total weight and stripped weight is minimal, making the average weight of the pack higher than packs that can be stripped down quite a bit. Though the Circuit gets a lower score in the weight to volume metric, it is still a pack that feels light because of its simple design. The Circuit weighs 40 ounces total and can carry up to 64 liters. For a large capacity pack, we were impressed by the Circuit's ability to feel lightweight, without sacrificing comfort.

Carrying Comfort

When it comes to comfort, the ULA Circuit performs very well in our field tests. Our qualitative impressions of the pack from multiple days in the Yosemite backcountry lines up with ULA's claims that this pack is designed with comfort in mind. The pack has a 1.2 ounce carbon fiber and Delrin suspension hoop in conjunction with a solid internal foam frame and a single aluminum stay. This frame design gives good back support, load control, and rigidity without sacrificing weight or limiting the range of movement with the pack on.

The straps and waist belt are also designed with comfort in mind. The shoulder straps didn't rub uncomfortably and seemed to be equally comfortable on male and female hikers. The waist belt is comfortable and widely adjustable as well. This pack is up there with our award winners as a pack that earned a "great" in our comfort ratings.

Features

In general, the ULA Circuit has most everything we wanted in an ultralight backpacking pack, with a few small flaws. We found that the two side pockets were constructed with an opening that is set at a steep angle, which made for wasted space and excess fabric. The side pockets were only useful for storing water bottles, which works great, but lacks the versatility of other packs that have many different sized pockets. The Circuit does have a large mesh pocket common in ultralight pack design, which was great for drying out wet items throughout the day.

The roll-top closure system was a feature that took some getting used to, but in the end, we liked the simplicity of the system and the flexibility it provided.

Adaptability

Since it is a large pack, the Circuit scored lower in this metric. The pack performs optimally when loaded with 15 to 25 pounds. It does work with more weight, but we found it began to feel more uncomfortable on the shoulder straps. The roll-top closure is a nice feature since you can synch down the pack when carrying less volume, while still having the capability to fill the pack to its full capacity.

Durability

The ULA Circuit received high scores in durability, mostly due to the fabrics used in its construction. After three months of use and abuse on the trail, we found no signs of wear and tear on the pack. The ULA 210 Robic fabric used for the main body of the pack is incredibly abrasion resistant, as is the Robic fabric used for the side pockets. ULA also received lots of feedback on the large mesh pocket and have recently changed the fabric to a tighter-knit, less see-through mesh that is much more durable.

Value

The ULA Circuit falls in the middle of the road regarding price. Since ULA is a small, Utah based company, you know you are getting a good product when you buy from them. The owners of the company are backpacking enthusiasts and are receptive to input and feedback from customers. Also, they use incredibly durable fabrics in their construction, so you can be assured the Circuit will last a number of years.

Conclusion