Exped Lightning 45 Review

Overview

A lightweight, top-loading pack with a roll-top closure, the Exped Lightning 45 is a deceptively simple design.

It sits in that increasingly popular middle ground between ultralight packs and traditional backpacking models — trimming bulk and excess features while still offering more cushioning and support than stripped-down options from brands like Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Gossamer Gear, and Zpacks.

It’s designed, according to Exped, for “any multi-day trekking adventure where minimal weight and functionality are essential.”

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	1,150g / 40.6 oz
Volume	45L
Dimensions (H×W×D)	72 × 32 × 25 cm
Back Length Range	41–58 cm
Hipbelt Range	84–142 cm
Load Limit	24 kg
Frame	T-Rex aluminum stay (partially external)
Material	210D HMPE Ripstop Nylon, PU coated
Certifications	Oeko-Tex 100
Closure	Roll-top (drybag-style)
Comparison	See how Lightning 45 compares to similar gear

Performance

The T-Rex Frame: Where the Lightning Earns Its Keep

The Lightning’s defining feature is the T-Rex suspension — and it genuinely changes what a pack at this weight can do. It consists of a removable aluminum stay and a stiff cross-piece sewn into the pack bag across the top, forming a T. The aluminum stay slides into reinforced slots on the top cross-piece and in the hipbelt, locking it in place while providing excellent momentum control, ensuring that the top of the pack follows the movement of your hips. What that means in practice: most packs this light have trouble with more than 25 pounds, but the Lightning’s aluminum stay anchors directly into the hipbelt, resulting in above-average load transfer and a close-to-your-back ride.

One BPL forum user loaded the Lightning 60 (same frame architecture) up with about 35 lbs and was able to place 100% of the weight on their hips.

That’s the same direct-transfer magic at work in the 45, and it’s the main reason this pack has a loyal following.

Fit & Adjustment

The torso adjustment range — 41 to 58 cm — covers a wide swath of body types in a single SKU, which Exped says fits riders roughly 165–195 cm tall. That’s convenient in theory, but the mechanism takes some patience. The harness adjusts through a wide range of sizes, although the mechanism takes a little figuring out — it adjusts at the bottom, via a buckle hidden behind the lumbar pad, which detaches via Velcro pads. Reviewers consistently flag this as a first-trip friction point: plan to spend 15–20 minutes dialing it in before you hit the trail, not when you’re 10 minutes from the trailhead. Once set, though, it holds well. Adjusting the torso height can even be done with the pack fully loaded, and takes less than a minute once you know the system.

Load Carrying & Stability

In field testing, the Lightning struck a happy medium: it was a full pound lighter than comparable non-ultralight packs and also handled heavy loads without leaving users complaining, ably toting up to 50 pounds thanks to its central aluminum framestay.

With correct adjustments, the Lightning 45 provides a stable fit even with a heavy load — though some users find themselves having to re-tighten the cinch straps through the day.

The M-shaped compression straps are effective at cinching down a partial load, but they tend to work their way loose on rough terrain — worth a quick check at every break.

Weather Resistance & Storage

The current version is still a very lightweight, top-loading backpack with no lid — instead, there’s a highly weatherproof roll-top closure.

The PU-coated, 210-denier nylon kept contents dry in an epic downpour during testing.

There’s no separate rain cover needed in most conditions, which is a meaningful quality-of-life win.

Storage is minimal but practical. In addition to the roomy main compartment there’s a mesh inner pocket for a water reservoir, and a deep outside top pocket with a water-resistant zipper. Stretch side pockets and zipped hipbelt pockets round out the feature set, along with numerous compression straps that can be used or removed as preferred. The side pockets are generous — each can take a one-liter bottle plus a 500ml bottle. The hipbelt pockets are large enough to hold a GPS unit, a mobile phone, and other small items. What you won’t find: an exterior map pocket or any bottom-panel access — both genuine omissions that some users miss.

The Strap Situation

It sometimes feels like there are straps almost everywhere. It’s worth deciding how you’re going to use the pack and adapting accordingly — which might mean removing some or even all of the exterior webbing. Fortunately, most of the straps are buckled to the main body rather than sewn in, so this is easy to do.

Stripping the pack down to just what you need results in a noticeably cleaner, faster setup. New owners: do this before your first trip.

Height & Profile

One genuine quirk worth flagging: when a load is small enough to compress the pack below shoulder height, the fixed-height frame means the Lightning may still stick up above your shoulders — which is annoying if you don’t need the pack to be that tall. If you’re a consistent light packer who rarely maxes out 45L, you’ll notice this more than a heavy hauler will.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• T-Rex frame delivers genuine hip-load transfer that most packs at this weight can’t match
• Wide torso adjustment range fits a broad spectrum of body types with one SKU
• Roll-top closure offers solid weather resistance without a separate rain cover
• Most exterior straps are removable, allowing real customization
• Durable 210D HMPE fabric with PU coating and Oeko-Tex 100 certification
• Generous hipbelt and side pockets for trail access

Cons

• Torso adjustment mechanism is fiddly on first setup — buckle hidden under the lumbar pad
• Compression straps can work loose on rough terrain; check frequently
• Fixed-height frame looks and feels disproportionate when the pack is only lightly loaded
• No exterior map pocket or bottom-access zip
• Minimal internal organization — one large compartment and a hydration sleeve
• At 1,150g, it’s heavier than frameless ultralight options (HMG Southwest 55 is under 454g)

Who Should Buy This

The Lightning 45 is the right pack for the weight-conscious backpacker who regularly carries loads ranging from 20–40 lbs — think shoulder-season trips where the sleeping system is heavier, resupply carries on a thru-hike, or multi-sport days where the pack doubles as a climbing haul bag. It’s especially well-suited for long-distance backpackers, fastpackers, or anyone covering big miles who values a streamlined, efficient setup over extra features. It best suits more minimalist, weight-conscious use cases. Those looking for a traditional workhorse for lugging heavy loads in maximum comfort will probably prefer something with more structure and more features — though they’ll inevitably pay a weight penalty for that.

Verdict

The Exped Lightning 45 has earned its decade-long place in Exped’s lineup for a good reason: it’s one of the few packs that genuinely moves the load to your hips without tipping the scale past 1,200g. The T-Rex frame is the key differentiator, and it works. The trade-offs — a fiddly initial fit, compression straps that drift loose, and a tall profile when lightly loaded — are real but manageable with some attention. If your loads typically run 20–40 lbs and you want something that won’t feel like a frameless stuff sack at mile 15, the Lightning 45 is a strong, proven choice. Rating: 7.5/10