Hipbelt sizes run true. Size up if you winter hike, size down if you slim down on long trips in summer.

Select options desired and add to cart. A live inventory feed will tell you if the pack is in stock or if there is a lead time.

Our frame will support over 300 lbs in vertical load. YOUR max load will be determined by your body, not by the pack.

All of our gear uses the best fabrics and materials we can source, is made in-house by experts at their craft, and is backed by our outstanding warranty.

The Gila Wilderness was the first designated wilderness area in the United States, receiving protection in 1924. Like it's namesake, this backpack is built for the solitude & peace that you find in the lonely places.

The Gila is purpose built for the quick overnight, day hike, or a longer trip for an experienced minimalist. Featuring our patented Revolution Frame, the Gila is very comfortable with loads of 30-50 lbs and can handle loads of 200+ lbs. X-Pac construction eliminates the need for a rain cover, and the large side pockets and mesh face pocket provide ample organization for your gear.

Instructions:

Check out our Backpack Fit & Instructions Page to find many videos that cover common questions and give in depth information.

Backpack Instructions

Fitting:

A good fit requires several things:

Correct Torso Length

Frame height suitable for your torso and load ranges

Correct Belt Size

Correct Belt Adjustment (high, medium, or low grommet)

After fitting the pack to your body, you can tune comfort with three hard breaks. These adjustments drastically change the feel of the pack and users typically have a strong preference for each of these.

This is good because it speeds the adjustment process....if you don't like the way the pack feels change one of these and it will feel very different.

These cause hard breaks in the feel of the pack:

Lumbar pad or no lumbar pad. Captured or floating hipbelt. Captured or floating harness.

Torso Length

Achieving a good fit starts with the correct torso length. To read in-depth about torso length, adjustable frame height, and load ranges, see Which Frame Height is Right for Me?

Torso length is the distance from C7 (the prominent vertebrae at the base of your neck) down the spine to an imaginary line drawn connecting the points of the hips (iliac crests). Common measurements for a 6' tall male would be 17 to 19", while a 5'5" female may be 15 to 16", though these measurements vary widely based on body composition.

Match your torso length with the correct frame height for your expected load ranges. One advantage of our Field Adjustable Frame Height is that you can shrink the pack down for day loads and expand the height for heavy loads on the fly.

How to know your pack adjustment is correct:

With 25 lbs in the pack, you can rest your index finger on C7 and touch the top of the harness with your middle finger (i.e. only a finger width between C7 and harness). With heavy weight (75 lb +) in the pack, you can take weight on the shoulders OR transfer it all to the hips by adjusting the shoulder straps and load lifters. Loosen shoulder straps and tighten load lifters transfers weight to hips. Loosen load lifters and tighten shoulder straps puts weight on shoulders. This allows you alternate resting hips or shoulders, whichever is tired. If you CAN’T do this then the shoulder harness is too high or too low.

Frame Height

Frame height preferences vary person to person, so be sure to experiment and see what YOU prefer.

Shorter frames give less shoulder lift (upward angle to shoulder strap, lifting the harness), but they give you more freedom of movement to look sharply upslope, and snag less on overhanging branches.

Taller frames give more shoulder lift, but also can limit head movement and snag more.

In general users often prefer shorter frames for lighter loads and taller frames for heavier loads, but preferences vary.

The Ear Guideline

People wear hipbelts high and low. This can change their effective torso height and throw off the guidance above. So using the frame height relative to the ear can be a better guideline in some cases.

Below the ear is fine for lighter loads.

Low ear works well for middleweight loads.

Low/mid ear or above works well for heavy loads.

Belt Size & Adjustment

The padded portion of the hipbelt should wrap around the front of your hipbones, yet not so far that you run out of webbing adjustment. Consider seasonal use and clothing worn when selecting your size.

Most users want to center the hipbelt over the points of the hips. This is an excellent starting point for belt position on the body.

Wearing the belt too low can impede leg movement.

Wearing the belt too high can cause discomfort in the waist.

Note that hard edged belts can cause pinching or hard spots when worn under a hipbelt, especially for those with bony hips. An elastic belt or no belt can make a big difference.

Hipbelts are connected to the frame with a grommet and screw. The Hipbelt has three grommets - a high, medium, and low.

Many users prefer the highest position to raise the frame up relative to the belt, but again preferences are all over the board here. If the belt isn’t comfortable try a different position.

Hard Breaks in Adjustment

Lumbar Pad vs No Lumbar Pad - you will probably strongly prefer one or the other. Telephone pole builds (flat back, straight up and down) often prefer no lumbar pad, while curvy or beefy builds often prefer the lumbar pad.

Captured vs Floating Belt - Captured can only be done WITH a lumbar pad. Floating can be done WITH or WITHOUT a lumbar pad. Less significant than the lumbar pad in changing the feel of the pack, users still usually prefer one or the other. Captured keeps the hipbelt upright and can help prevent the 3D mesh face from collecting snow or pine needles.

Floating vs. Captured Harness - the straps that adjust torso height have holdfasts on the suspension that secure the harness. Two adjustments can be made to free the harness.

To free the harness:

Reroute the torso adjustment straps (1” webbing) so it does not pass through the holdfast tab on the Frame Panel or behind the cross stay on Integrated packs. Reroute the webbing so it passes through only one side of the two sided triglide on the back of the harness.

These two changes move you from a captured / stabilized harness to a floating harness. People who prefer a floating harness often roll their shoulders forward when hiking, and the extra give in the harness system conforms to their upper back better.

Captured Harness - helps control side to side sway with heavy loads, less reliance on load lifters (can run load lifters looser).

Floating Harness - side to side sway with heavy loads is controlled with the load lifters. Load lifters are usually run tighter than with a captured harness.

One final tip - Users who prefer no lumbar pad often prefer a floating harness.