Waymark Gear EVLV Review

Overview

The Waymark EVLV is a 35-liter frameless roll-top pack from a small Utah company. It is built for thru-hikers whose base weights are low enough to leave the frame and hip belt at home. At 450 g it carries more features than most packs at its weight, including shoulder-strap load shifters, deep side pockets and a stretch front pocket. The price of that simplicity is a hard ceiling on how much weight it carries comfortably.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	450 g
Capacity	35 L
Main fabric	ECOPAK EPX70 Black
Bottom fabric	ECOPAK EPX200 Black
Frame	Frameless
Torso size	14–16 in
Closure	Roll top with Velcro and buckle
Front pocket	Lycra stretch
Load control	Load shifters on shoulder straps
Construction	Made in the USA

Performance

Carry. The EVLV’s most talked-about feature is also its most misunderstood. Waymark calls the straps near the top of the shoulders “load shifters” rather than load lifters, and the distinction is accurate. On framed packs, lifters attach at the frame stays and tune the balance between shoulders and hip belt. On the EVLV they attach about an inch above the shoulder straps, where the extension collar begins. Garage Grown Gear’s reviewer, who logged roughly 250 miles in the Cascades, found they change how and where the strap surface area meets the shoulders. The effect is most noticeable when the extension collar is fully loaded.

A Trailspace reviewer who took the pack on several thru-hikes had doubted the shifters would work without a frame. They did. The reviewer had disliked how other frameless packs let the load sag off the back, and now wants the feature on any future ultralight pack. The pack has no hip belt and is intended for loads under 20 lb. Owners who push past that tend to add Waymark’s separate padded belt. One owner who did so carried 29 lb, water included, on a five-night Wind Rivers trip and reported it felt fine every day.

Storage. The side pockets draw the most consistent praise. Trailspace’s reviewer called them excellent, and owners describe them as deep and easy to reach while walking. The lycra front pocket handles the wet tent, layers and snacks. A roll top with Velcro and a buckle keeps the main bag simple, and the 35-liter volume suits a lightweight thru-hiker’s kit. Reviewers also note easy attachment points for trekking poles and an ice axe.

Durability. ECOPAK EPX70 is a laminated, Dyneema-free X-Pac-style fabric, with the heavier EPX200 on the base where abrasion concentrates. Owners generally describe the pack as tough. One reviewer reported it held up well for off-trail hiking. One owner of another Waymark model worried the fabric was thin enough to tear on branches. Long-term wear shows up in the soft parts instead. After several thru-hikes, the Trailspace reviewer found the shoulder padding badly compressed and the back mesh pocket worn down by UV exposure. The mesh has since been upgraded on newer packs, and the current model uses lycra for the front pocket.

Weather. The seams are not sealed, so the EVLV is not fully waterproof. Hikers in wet climates will want a pack liner. This is standard for the category, but it matters for anyone expecting an X-Pac-style fabric to shed a week of Pacific Northwest rain on its own.

Fit. The pack is built for a 14–16 inch torso. Owners across body types describe the shoulder straps as wide and comfortable. Trailspace’s reviewer noted the padding loses loft with heavy use.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 450 g with load shifters, large side pockets and a stretch front pocket
• Shifters measurably change how weight sits on the shoulders, even without a frame
• Durable ECOPAK EPX70 body with a heavier EPX200 base
• Easy hold points for trekking poles and an ice axe
• Made in the USA by a small company
• Add-on padded hip belt extends the load range

Cons

• Frameless and beltless by design, so it is comfortable only under about 20 lb
• Seams are not sealed, so it needs a liner in sustained rain
• Shoulder padding compresses after heavy thru-hike mileage
• 35 L is tight for bulky gear or long food carries
• Torso range of 14–16 in is narrow

Who Should Buy This

The EVLV suits thru-hikers and weekend trekkers whose base weight is low enough to keep the total pack weight under 20 lb. Hikers who have gone frameless before, found the load sagging off their backs, and want a pack with more organization than a basic roll-top bag will like it. It suits warm-season trips and off-trail routes where durable fabric matters. Anyone regularly carrying bear canisters, winter gear or a week or more of food should look at a framed pack. Hikers who want a fully waterproof shell should look at one with sealed seams or a Dyneema-style fabric.

Verdict

The EVLV does what a small frameless pack should: it carries a lightweight kit well, has useful pockets and stays light at 450 g. Its limits are the weight ceiling, the unsealed seams and padding that wears down over thousands of miles. It earns a recommendation from hikers who keep their loads light enough for it.