Article by Sam Winebaum
Gossamer Gear Grit 28L Fastpack ($180)
I am a big fan of “do it all” packs suitable for hiking, running, commuting and travel. For years now the Camelbak Octane 22 has been my go to. The Grit 28L, for sure, now replaces it. I have hiked, run, and traveled with the Grit over the last several months. Its light weight, thoughtful details, copious adjustable storage including for flasks at the run vest style front harness (a must in any pack of any capacity for me) and no bounce ride have won me over.
Gossamer Gear is an Austin, Texas company specialized in ultralight backpacking gear and our Markus Krebs has reviewed a number of their products for his long ultra light Alpine treks, most recently the somewhat higher capacity Skala 38 here.
The Grit 28 L is designed to be versatile and that is what I discovered in test. A super ultralight backpacker could overnight and more with it but my uses are more daily in nature. It has been on hike/runs in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, trail runs, travel to Montreal and was even my pack for reporting the Boston Marathon.
Official Features and Specs
Features
The Grit is a 28 L roll top type pack with a novel “twist”. Instead of clipping the roll to the center 2 thin cords are pulled down on either side. The mechanism is super easy to tighten and up tighten. A top strap at the center attaches to the rear of the harness.
The advantage of this system is that you can reach in without unrolling the whole top just by loosening one or both of these cords.
I also appreciated= the exterior zip pocket which is decently deep and provides secure easy access to items on the go. Most packs put such secure zip pockets on the inside. I prefer this approach.
Rain Shell on board out back and room for much much more
There is a giant stuff pocket across the back made of stout mesh along with 2 side pockets of the same UHMWPE stretch mesh which have held their shape and hold items such as water bottles securely. Shown below with a 650ml LifeStraw Peak Series flask on board.
The harness is more than the usual flimsy padded mesh.
It is thick with a robust foam center. Very comfortable it spreads and secures any rear load size from full to minimal (such as trail running) while also keeping your front load from bouncing on the go.
The harness pocketing is just right by me.
Both deep pockets to the rear on the harness will hold a 500ml Salomon flask although if you put your phone in the zip front pocket on the left side it is a bit difficult to move in and out.
The right side has an exterior mesh pocket. The harness is adjustable via easy to reach and use V straps.
The back of the pack has Gossamer’s removable Sitlight Pad back panel; it can be replaced with a 17” Airflow Pad.
I have used the pack with and without the pad. For trail running removing it lightens the pack without any real effect on hold or bounce. As the load increases towards 28L and 20lbs the Pad is welcome as it provides some structure. I will leave it in. Easily removable, it is nice to sit on as well!
The interior is a single compartment. There is no separate area for a hydration bladder but a webbing hang strap is included. Not hike or run related but in other similar packs a separate stretch sleeve is a good to have for a laptop or iPad for travel/commuting purposes.
The pack materials include Riptide Ripstop, 100D Recycled Robic Nylon, and UHMWPE Stretch Mesh and are PFAS-free. The pack is not seam sealed but for keeping things dry I usually put my gear in dry bags.
Fit
The Grit is single size. I am 5’9” 160 lbs and the fit is perfect.
Snug at the shoulders and across the chest using the two adjustable sliding clips and straps (with reflective highlights, nice touch).
Unlike some such packs, I didn’t realize the sliders were not even in the picture below and didn’t even notice it, tribute to the harness, Sitlight Pad, and side adjustments.
Performance
Light with highly adjustable capacity for different activities with never any impact on performance, well designed , with ample and easy to reach storage upfront and at the sides, no bounce on the run and comfortable to wear all day, the Grit 28 is one versatile well designed companion for multiple activities.
It is now “officially” my single goto daypack, travel and commute pack, hike/snowshoe pack, and long run with winter season gear pack. It is an ideal pick as a single pack for all of the preceding . At $180, not much more than a dedicated run race vest or day pack, it is also a very solid value.
The Grit 28L is available at Gossamer Gear
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. No compensation was provided by brands for writing this article. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
2 comments:
Talk a bit more about the phone case. Does, say an iPhone Max Pro fit? Also, in a pinch could the body comfortably fit a laptop?
@howard I have a 16Pro with silicone case and it does not fit in the zip pocket on the harness.It fits in either of front drop in pockets and I suspect your Max would as well. Sam, Editor
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