Got my ULA OHM 2.0 a few days ago so I thought I would do a quick review.

For ULA’s specifications for this pack click here

Comfort

While I haven’t gone hiking with the pack yet (this week!), I have walked a few miles at a local park with it. The ULA OHM 2.0 is a very comfortable pack that transfers weight to the hips very efficiently. While the extra shoulder and hip padding is nice, I feel it’s not all necessary due to the weights most people will be carrying in this pack. Because there is no real back padding (just a thin piece of foam), packing the bag correctly is crucial (unless you want a pot poking you in the back). ULA was spot on with their recommended max load of 30 lbs. I loaded the pack with 32 lbs and could definitely see it getting uncomfortable after a few miles (thankfully I will rarely, if ever, plan on carrying that much).

Features

I got my OHM in solid black in the same 210 robic material but apparently ULA stopped selling it. The solid black is a little boring, but it’s nothing a patch or two can’t fix. The robic material definitely seems like it could take a beating which is good, I’m rough on packs. Almost immediately after receiving my pack, I removed the stash pocket, hydration sleeve, and hand loops (later the bottle holders). This saved about 4.5 oz. The stash pocket seems pretty cool, so I may decide to add it back; just don’t know what I would use it for. Even though I’ve always used a hydration bladder, the side pockets are large and luxurious, so I’ll probably switch to the water bottle method (each can carry a 2 l+ more!). While nice, the side pockets are a little difficult to reach with the pack still on, but not impossible with average length arms. The hip-belt itself uses a dual tightening system that makes the belt fit much more secure than a traditional one on my hips. I was kind of hesitant on the hip belt pockets at first mostly because I’ve only had bad experiences with them, but I love them! The pockets are large enough to easily fit my phone (Galaxy S5) as well as a few snack bars and maps while still being low profile. The pack also has a very narrow bottom which makes a little hard to pack.

Now, time for the negatives. I bought this pack thinking the front pocket was a stretchy mesh, sadly it’s not. ULA unfortunately changed this to a thicker more durable mesh that is on their other packs. If I knew this, I may not have been in as much of a hurry to get this pack. All the extra straps are a turn-off for me; while I can easily tuck them away, it’s just annoying and another inconvenience. The side compression cords are also a negative. In theory, all I would have to do was pull the cordlock on top of the pack to easily compress the pack. That didn’t really work. To actually compress the pack at all, I had to pull along each section of cord then tighten it at the top. I’m considering replacing the cord with an elastic cord, which may work out better. ULA would have been better off using the same buckle and webbing design as their other packs.

Overall, the ULA OHM seems like a very well-made pack that will last a long time. It’s great for hikers that want to travel fast and light. It’s volume and ability to expand is great for an ultralight/lightweight section or thru-hiker. I’m not in love with the pack yet, but maybe a few trips in the back country will change my mind.

*I was not compensated for this review in any way (obviously)