The Best Deals on Camping, Backpacking and Outdoor Gear [June 2025]
Women/femme/petite folks: You don’t have to “make do” with a pack not designed for your body anymore! Allow us to introduce you to the Symbiosis Gear Aspen Backpack: a 38L ultralight backpack designed by women, for women.
For decades, backpacking packs have been designed by men, for men. Sure, brands like Osprey and Deuter have had women-specific lines for a minute now, but it’s only recently that brands have done anything besides “shrink it and pink it” (make it smaller and in pretty colors).
Ultralight backpack manufacturers are even worse. From Hyperlite Mountain Gear to Gossamer Gear, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a pack with women-specific straps or that’s designed for smaller bodies, differently proportioned bodies, or people with boobs (Zpacks is an exception as they offer interchangeable women-specific straps).
Fortunately, we found the Symbiosis Gear Aspen Backpack: a new frameless ultralight backpacking pack designed for people with boobs. We tested it on trails this spring to see how it performed, if it was as comfy as described, and if we’d carry it again.
Do I Really Need a Women-Specific Backpack?
What is a women-specific pack? And do you actually need a women’s backpack for day hikes or multi-day adventures? That depends. I went years carrying unisex daypacks and backpacks and rarely complained. But that’s largely because 1.) I’m not curvy, 2.) I don’t have a particularly short torso, and 3.) I’d never spent time carrying a women’s-specific pack so I didn’t know what I was missing. (After carrying more women’s packs, I’ve seen the light–and the difference in comfortable carry).
See, there are a few things that make a pack more suitable for women than men: 1.) We tend to have boobs, 2.) our shoulders are narrower, 3.) our torsos are often shorter and 4.) our hips are often wider and shaped differently. That means a pack is called for that has appropriately-shaped straps that accommodate boobs, shorter shoulder straps and a shorter back panel to accommodate shorter torsos, a curved hip belt that hugs the shape of our hips better, and shoulder straps that are mounted closer together so they don’t slip off our shoulders.
Fortunately, the Symbiosis Aspen has all of these features. So even if your body doesn’t conform to the “traditional” female figure in every way (mine sure doesn’t), a pack designed for women can still be more comfortable, cause less strain and pain, and feel better for miles and miles of adventure. So if you have a femme body by any definition, it’s worth trying one out.
About the Symbiosis Gear Aspen Backpack
The Aspen is the only backpack Symbiosis Gear currently makes (it’s a fairly new company), and it is a woman-founded, woman-run brand. The concept was born on the trail and built by a thru-hiker (Sarah Berkeley) who was determined to make a pack that actually fit bodies like hers. The result: a frameless ultralight backpack designed for women—or more specifically, people with boobs. The straps are contoured for better comfort and fit, boobs aren’t squished under straps, there’s extreme adjustability and more freedom of movement.
That said, anyone can wear this pack, especially hikers with smaller builds.
Here are the deets:
- Weight: 1lb. 9oz. (708 g)
- Size: One Size fits most (really)
- Capacity: 38L + about 10 via exterior pockets
- Price: $299
Features
- Boob-friendly S-curve straps
- Fully adjustable sternum strap to accommodate a wide range of chest sizes and shapes (up to 17.5 in)
- Easily accessible phone pocket on shoulder straps
- Durable water-resistant fabric (400D Extreema®)
- Extra large side pockets
- Large, durable back pocket (made of stretchy Spundura UHMWPE)
- Stealth bottom pocket
- Roll top closure with snaps
- Long Y-strap on top for stowing extra gear
- Zig-zag side compression straps that run the full length of the pack
- Adjustable ice axe/trekking pole loop
- Stowable webbing waist belt (extends to 50 in)
- 38L capacity + 10L in external pockets
- Back panel 18.5 in x 11 in
- Straps fully extended to 30.5 in
- Straps fully tightened down 19 in
Symbiosis Gear Aspen Backpack Review
But while features are important to consider, how the bag actually functions in the field may be even more vital. Here’s our Symbiosis Gear Aspen review after taking it out on the trail for day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips.
Materials
While it may not be as light as other backpacks we’ve tested, the Aspen is certainly no slouch, and the it’s certainly burlier and more durable than many. I mean, this pack is built with ultra-durable 400D Extreema® and feels bombproof. The material is a dense ripstop that we’re confident will stand up to just about anything we could put it through, from scrambling up granite boulders to sliding down scree-covered slopes.
Features like webbing and pockets are similarly durable, which we appreciate even if it costs us a few extra grams. After all, mesh pockets are great, but not if they tear after a few weeks on a long-distance trail. The pockets on the bag, including the stretchy ones, are going to stand up to trail abuse for quite some time.
Pack Weight & Fit
Unlike some one-size-fits-all packs (which this one is), the Symbiosis Gear Aspen actually fits an impressively wide range of bodies. In fact, the waist strap extends to 50″ and cinches down to just a few, so whether you have a narrow or wide waist, the belt is practically guaranteed to fit. That’s one of the widest range we’ve seen in a hip belt, btw.
In fact, Symbiosis says the Aspen should fit folks between 5’2″ to 6’1″ and with boobs ranging from non-existent to at least DDD. That’s a big deal since *most* packs are designed by men, for men, and *newsflash* women have different bodies. So this pack is designed to fit a range of torso sizes with boobs and it does that well.
The straps, likewise are suitable for shorter testers. I’m 5’3″ and it’s almost guaranteed that I will have the shoulder straps pulled all the way down or maybe within an inch of their max adjustment. With the Symbiosis I had several inches of wiggle room left once I got it comfortably dialed in (see photo below). That means backpackers who are even shorter than me (or with shorter torsos–mine’s about 17″) can still wear this comfortably! Groundbreaking.
It’s a 38L pack with about 10 extra liters of storage in the outer pockets plus external lashing. That makes it a great pack for weekend trips or longer—as long as you’re packing ultralight. I carried about 13 pounds total (including food and water), and it handled that weight more than comfortably. The upper limit is probably 20 pounds.
Storage & Access
As for packing and access, the Aspen features a traditional roll-top design with two snaps to keep the top closed if you’ve got it stuffed to the brim plus a Y-strap up top that’s impressively long (more on that below).
There’s a large stretchy front pocket, which I love in a pack, and it’s plenty roomy for an extra layer, a few small stuff sacks with first aid kits, odds and ends, or your bathroom kit. That said, the bungee that zig zags over it is too short in my opinion. Even fully loosened, it compresses the pocket too much. I’ll probably remove or replace it with a longer cord, because a feature like that is handy for hanging gear like a wet shirt or socks.
As for water, the side bottle pockets are super spacious and easily fit a 32oz Nalgene or two Smart Water bottles and a filter. The pocket openings are even outfitted with bungees and cinch locks to tighten them and secure the contents. There’s no hydration hose port, but as most ultralight backpackers prefer bottles to bladders anyway (although we love the One Bottle Hydration system that combines the best of both worlds), we barely gave it a second thought. Bonus: it was super easy to get water bottles in and out of the pockets while on the move. No assistance was required from hiking buddies!
Compression straps run up the sides for the full height of the pack and are removable, which is a nice touch. They make it easy to cinch it down when carrying smaller loads but can also help secure tall items like tent poles or ultralight trekking poles.
External Features
Back to that Y-strap: it’s excellent for attaching things atop the pack. As mentioned, it’s plenty long. I knotted the strap to keep the extra slack out of the way when the pack wasn’t full to the brim, but that length would come in handy if you had it stuffed full and then had to lash a bear canister or similar on top. Length = versatility.
I do wish the pack had attachment points or cords on the bottom to lash a folding foam pad or other bulky gear. You can rig your own system using loops and lash points on the sides and bottom, of course, but I personally prefer an integrated system. It just tends to work better. Why not just mount it up top via the Y-strap? I prefer my pad mounted low to avoid obstructing my view or catching branches and allows me to attach gear on top, too. It’s hardly a deal-breaker, though as a few minutes with some cord and line locks would make it easy to add on a bit of adjustable cord.
There’s a pocket at the bottom, too, which is great for stuffing an accessible extra layer, hat, or trash you collect on trail. You can just reach back on one side and pull out (or stuff in) whatever you need. There’s a high and low bungee plus bottom loops for lashing trekking poles and/or an ice axe. Little loops that the compression bungee goes through also run up the front sides of the pack for endless attachment possibilities.
On the shoulder straps there’s a stretchy drop-in pocket that fits an iPhone 14 Pro, but not anything larger, which is a bummer. I’d love to see it just a smidge wider and deeper. And while I initially wished there was a pocket on each strap, a single one leaves room on the other strap for attaching accessories like a camera clip (I love my Peak Design Capture Clip) or other pockets and such for increased customization.
Comfort
As for comfort, I was surprised how much I liked carrying the bag despite the total lack of any sort of frame or structure. The back panel is just a mesh overlay with very light padding. I expected it to be uncomfortable and/or sweaty, but the light, loose weave actually wicked sweat well and dried quickly. Five minutes after taking the pack off the back panel was dry—my shirt was wetter than the pack.
And because it’s so pliable and not rigid, it conformed perfectly to my back and made it feel more like I was wearing the pack than carrying it, which is the goal.
The shoulder straps, as I mentioned, are designed for people with boobs. They have an extreme S-curve shape, which is also great for smaller bodies in general. They’re mounted close together at the top of the pack, which keeps them from slipping off narrow shoulders. They felt comfortable, even with just a tank top on—no irritation despite the mesh texture. What’s more, they offered more freedom of movement than the S-curve straps on the Zpacks Nero.
The sternum strap is fully adjustable and can be moved up and down daisy chains that run nearly the full length of the shoulder straps. That means you can dial in a perfect position whether you like it high or low, are short or tall or anywhere in between. It offers some of the most versatile placement of any pack I’ve ever tested, which I love.
The hip belt is just a simple webbing strap with no padding or pockets, so it’s not load bearing. I used to hate that, but when carrying ultralight loads, transferring weight to your hips isn’t really necessary. A belt like this offers more flexibility. As for hip belt pockets, I actually prefer using a separate hip pack. It gives me quick access to snacks, my phone, headlamp, and other essentials. It also means I can carry those items with me on short hikes from camp or around camp in the evening.
How It’s Sustainable
While the Symbiosis Gear Aspen isn’t made of recycled materials, the brand is committed to sustainable and responsible labor practices, the bag is PFAS-free, it’s a woman-owned brand, repairs are available, and the pack is ultra durable. And the longer a pack lasts (and stay out of a landfill), the more sustainable it is.
Bottom Line: The Symbiosis Gear Aspen is A Winning Backpack for Women
The Symbiosis Gear Aspen backpack has just about everything I want—minus bottom lash points, which is minor. It’s clearly designed with smaller-bodied hikers and femme bodies in mind, has some of the most comfortable and well-fitting S-curve (women-specific) straps we’ve ever tested, and is a pleasure to use. Despite the lack of a frame, the back panel is tolerably breathable, it’s easy to carry (and a pleasure to carry), and I love the many thoughtful features like extra spacious (but adjustable) water bottle pockets, a long Y-strap on top, and a pocket on the shoulder straps.
So yes, I’d recommend the Symbiosis Aspen backpack to any woman who’s struggled to find a pack that fits well. It’s comfortable, smartly designed, thoughtfully built for women by women and perfect for a weekend adventure (or longer if you pack light). It does only come in one color and style as of now, but we’re not complaining. After all, black goes with everything!
I’ll absolutely be choosing this pack over many others I own (and have tested) time and time again.
Looking for more ultralight backpacking gear reviews? Check out our review of the Gossamer Gear The One ultralight tent and Durston X-Mid 2 tent!
