ULA Ohm 2.0 Review

Overview

The ULA Ohm 2.0 is a 63-liter ultralight backpack from one of the most respected cottage manufacturers in the thru-hiking world. It sits in ULA’s lineup as the lighter, more streamlined sibling to the Circuit — built for hikers who’ve already dialed in a sub-20-lb base weight and don’t need a burly frame to haul it. If you’re still carrying a car-camping tent and a 3-lb sleeping bag, this isn’t your pack yet. If you’ve made the jump to ultralight gear, it’s one of the most proven options out there.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	938 g (~33.1 oz)
Volume	63 L
Max recommended load	30 lbs
Frame	Carbon fiber / Delrin suspension hoop
Body fabric	400D Robic Nylon (standard); also offered in VX-21 X-Pac or 500D Cordura
Closure	Roll-top
Hip belt pockets	2, included
Customization	Torso length, hip belt size, shoulder strap style (men’s/women’s), fabric, color
MSRP	~$260+ depending on options

Performance

Carrying comfort. The Ohm 2.0’s suspension is built around a curved carbon fiber hoop with a Delrin rod running through the hip belt, and that combo is doing more work than you’d expect from something this light. The pack has a curved carbon hoop that flexes with your movement, which is one of the features that make this pack so comfortable. That flex is the whole trick — it lets the pack move with your torso on uneven terrain instead of fighting you, which matters more on a 63L pack than it does on something smaller since you’re more likely to be loading it heavier for multi-day carries. ULA’s own guidance and most reviewers agree this pack is happiest under 30 lbs; push much past that and the minimalist frame starts to feel like exactly what it is — a suspension system, not a load-hauling exoskeleton.

Durability. This is where the Ohm 2.0 separates itself from a lot of the ultra-thin-fabric competition. The Ohm 2.0 is constructed of ULA’s 210 Robic, a near-indestructible material, on the back, sides, and top of the pack, and while it’s not the lightest option, the durability is such that reviewers would use it even more if given the option. One long-term user reported running her old Ohm to the point of being worn out only after thousands of miles, prompting her to pick up the 2.0 for a New England Trail thru-hike — that’s the kind of longevity claim that actually means something in this category, where a lot of ultralight fabrics start showing pinholes and abrasion within a few hundred miles.

That said, durability isn’t uniform across the whole pack. The front and top of the main compartment use uncoated 1.9 oz ripstop, the bottom is Cordura, and the front pocket mesh is lightweight and stretchy — which one reviewer noted doesn’t hold up as well pushing through overgrown Eastern woodland trails compared to more open Western terrain. If you’re hiking brushy, bushwhack-heavy trails on the AT or similar, expect the front mesh pocket to take the most wear.

Weather resistance. Don’t expect this pack to keep your gear dry on its own. The Ohm 2.0 is not waterproof but is more water-resistant than some competitors, and multiple reviewers independently landed on the same workaround: using a trash compactor bag to line the inside, pressing out the air and twisting it up, which kept everything dry with the addition of a pack cover on the outside. Budget for a liner bag as a mandatory accessory, not an optional one.

Organization and pockets. For a pack this minimalist, the pocket layout punches above its weight. The Ohm 2.0 consists of one main body cavity, two side pockets large enough to fit two 1.5L smart water bottles side by side, a stretchy mesh back panel, and two hip belt pockets. Those hip belt pockets are a small but meaningful touch — they’re great for snacks, small camera gear, a compass, or headlamp, and remain easy to reach and open one-handed on the move. The main compartment itself is genuinely huge for a pack this weight; testers have fit all their gear for a 3-day trip, including a drone and its accessories, without any issues.

Fit and customization. ULA’s made-to-order model is a real differentiator here. You’re picking torso length, hip belt size, and strap style at checkout, and ULA is one of the few UL cottage manufacturers that provides female-specific shoulder strap options, which several reviewers called out as a meaningful comfort upgrade over unisex straps. One reviewer summed up the general takeaway on comfort: as a female hiker who’s often found straighter J-shaped straps uncomfortable, she found ULA’s straps the most comfortable she’s used, fitting well across the chest with the right amount of curve.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely comfortable carry for a sub-2-lb pack, thanks to the flexing carbon/Delrin hoop
• 210 Robic construction is exceptionally durable — multiple reviewers report thousands of trouble-free miles
• Huge, well-organized pocket layout (hip belt pockets, dual side bottle pockets, stretch mesh back panel)
• Extensive customization: torso size, hip belt length, strap gender/style, fabric, color
• Roomy 63L main body swallows gear for multi-day trips without feeling stuffed

Cons

• Not waterproof — a pack liner or compactor bag is essentially mandatory
• Front pocket mesh and lighter fabric panels wear faster in brushy, overgrown terrain
• 30-lb load ceiling means it’s not the pack for anyone still carrying heavier traditional gear
• Roll-top closure and frameless-adjacent design take some adjustment if you’re coming from a traditional internal-frame pack
• Made-to-order lead times mean you can’t just grab one off a shelf

Who Should Buy This

The Ohm 2.0 is built for hikers who’ve already trimmed their base weight down and want a pack that can survive a full thru-hike without babying it. It’s a strong fit for AT, PCT, and CDT hikers packing a 63L-appropriate kit under 30 lbs who want more durability than the ultra-thin Dyneema packs offer, without jumping up to a heavier, frame-hauling pack they don’t need.

Verdict

The Ohm 2.0 delivers on ULA’s reputation — a light, genuinely comfortable pack with a suspension that punches well above its weight class, wrapped in fabric that holds up to real thru-hike mileage. It’s not for beginners still working on their base weight, and you’ll need a rain liner no matter what, but for the audience it’s built for, it’s one of the more dependable 63L packs on the market. I’d put it at an 8.5/10.