Katabatic Gear Helios 55

The Katabatic Gear Helios 55 is an ultralight thru-hiking pack with a nominal 55 L capacity at 915 g — about 16.6 g per liter, putting it on the lighter end of the category. The main fabric is Dyneema Composite Hybrid (CTF3, a Cuben Fiber laminate) with high water resistance, closed via a zipperless roll-top. The back panel uses foam padding with removable aluminum stays, so the frame can be pulled for extra weight savings on shorter trips. The hip belt is padded with pockets but sewn in rather than removable; shoulder straps are standard padded with a chest strap and load lifters for dialing in carry. Two stretch-mesh side pockets and one front pocket give quick access to small items, and the pack is hydration-bladder compatible with side-only compression straps. It's built for adults on multi-day trips in the 3–5 night range and an ultralight thru-hiking packing style. Between the DCF fabric and sub-kilogram weight, the Helios 55 suits hikers who already have a dialed-in low base weight rather than anyone needing a heavy-duty frame for expedition loads.