A Budget Ultralight Backpack with Great Potential
Rating: 3.5/5
The MEC SERRATUS Pace UL 40, featuring running vest style shoulder straps, an ultralight design, and priced at just $189.95, offers a compelling combination of affordability and innovative features. In this review, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of the Serratus Pace UL 40 to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your backpacking needs.
Key Stats:
- Price: $189.95
- Weight: Standard/short 930g with frame sheet, 741g without
- Material: Nylon and Spectra body with TPU coating
Watch my video review here.
I received this backpack at no cost from MEC; however, there was no expectation of or compensation for producing content or reviewing it. I do not receive any compensation if you purchase this backpack.
Feature Breakdown
Affordability and Featherweight Design
The Serratus Pace UL 40 stands out for its budget-friendly price of $189.95, offering an affordable option for budget-conscious backpackers. For the price, it is pretty lightweight, weighing only 930g with the frame sheet or 741g without it (size standard/small).
The TPU-coated Nylon and Spectra body provided decent waterproofing during a recent rainy trip (always pair with a pack liner!), and was quick to dry when the sun finally came out. The rolltop closure can be a bit of a hassle with smaller loads, but easy to manage with a fully loaded pack. While the fabric is lightweight and quick-drying, it’s not the most durable —after just nine days of trail use, I found a small cut in the fabric near the bottom of the pack. Because of this, I have doubts about the long-term durability of the pack.
Innovative Vest-Like Shoulder Straps
As a trail runner, I’ve gotten so used to having a days worth of snacks accessible in my vest pockets, that not having that while backpacking was a bit annoying. Which is why, when I saw that this pack had a running vest style front, I immediately knew I wanted to try it out. MEC took the shoulder straps from a running vest and attached them to the front of an ultralight backpack, creating an epic combination. I had seen this done on smaller day packs, between 10-25L, but never on a larger backpack that could be used on extended trips.
Each shoulder has 2 mesh pockets: a large one to fit a soft flask (above right), and a smaller one below it. These pockets provide ample space for snacks and the ability to keep soft flasks or small smartwater bottles accessible while hiking. I did find that having a .75L smartwater bottle in the shoulder pouch for extended amounts of time did cause discomfort, so I preferred using a 500mL soft flask from Ultimate Direction that fit well in the pocket. I will say that the fit of the pockets is a bit tight with a soft flask, and it becomes difficult to store anything other than trash in the smaller pocket. Hopefully in the future they update the size to more comfortably fit a typical running flask.
There is also a hip belt pocket on each side of the pack and I found them to be perfectly sized for small items or snacks, accommodating up to five granola bars or a smaller sized phone (I have an iPhone 13 mini and it fit perfectly, but larger phones may be a tighter fit). Some reviews commented that they were a too small, and while they were a bit on the smaller side, the pockets in the shoulder straps made up for it.
Pack Frame and Padding
The pack features an easily removable frame, allowing you to shed 200g of weight while maintaining comfort and structure, even when carrying a 20-25 pound load and a bear barrel. Without the frame, I found it necessary to pack the bear barrel on its side, with the flat lid against my back to create a flatter surface. Otherwise, the back became incredibly rounded and far less comfortable to wear.
The back, shoulder, and hip straps are well padded, making this the most comfortable backpacking backpack I’ve worn yet! I was worried about chafing with the thicker shoulder straps and because the pack is not a women-specific fit, but was comfortable all day (even after a 8 hours and 20 miles).
Backpacking packs generally tend towards either short and squat or tall and narrow, and this one is definitely on the later end of the spectrum. While the narrow shape of the pack helps keep the weight close to your spine, it can also make it difficult to fit larger, hard-sided items such as bear barrels. The tall, narrow pack shape does tend to favor individuals with longer torsos, so keep that in mind if you are considering purchasing this backpack.
There is a constriction point at the top of the frame that is approximately the same circumference as a Bear Vault BV500/450 bear canister, meaning it’s incredibly difficult to get one in or out without tearing off a bit of hand skin in the process. As someone who recreates mainly in the Sierra, where bear barrels are almost always required, this posed a point of annoyance. But, because I only had to pack or remove it once per day, it didn’t cause too much of an issue. (Note: this is my first ultralight pack, is this a common issue?)
Versatile compression straps
The backpack has a stretchy side compression straps zig zagging down each side, as well as a V-shaped nylon strap over the top of the pack.
The side compression straps are made of elastic shock cord and offer versatility by securing a seat pad, in camp shoes, or wet clothes to the sides of the pack. The straps feature a top cinch point, as well as a clip in the middle for quick release of items. The straps are also reconfigurable and can be removed completely.
The top compression strap is highly adjustable, but not removable, and is great for compressing down the top of the pack or attaching a foam sleeping pad. While the straps offer customization and various attachment points, they can be unwieldy to manage with smaller loads. It would be great if the top strap were removable for shorter hikes or when you don’t have a large sleeping pad to attach.
Poorly-designed pockets
There are 4 pockets on the body of the pack: 2 side pockets, a front mesh pouch, and a zip pocket behind the frame. All of them left me disappointed.
The side pockets are shaped like long narrow Vs, stretching almost the entire height of the frame, with the width at the top being barely large enough to cram in a bottle when fully packed. The odd shape makes me think they were designed to hold tent poles, not water bottles. Due to the height, anything in the pockets is not accessible without taking off the pack. The pockets are made of the same material as the body, a non-stretch fabric, and are not gusseted. With a full pack, it becomes extremely challenging to insert or remove water bottles, even with the pack off. The picture on the website shows a Nalgene in the pocket, but unless you want to fight for your life to get it back in, I highly recommend a narrower bottle– even getting a 1.2L smartwater bottle in and out was a struggle that got old quickly.
The front pocket is more well thought out than the side pockets. I used it as a catch-all “brain” for items that I might want accessible during the day, but wouldn’t need while hiking. Again, it not stretchy, which can make it tricky to get items in and out, but the shape and size of the mesh is good. The current material has no give and, when the pack is fully loaded, it is incredibly difficult to shove even a flat hand in, let alone to pull something out. They tried to make the opening adjustable by attaching the band to the elastic side compression straps, but due to the stiffness of the pocket fabric, there is only so much give.
The final pocket on the body is a small zip pocket above the frame of the pack. It is approximately 3” deep and can hold only very small, flat items. Other than the hip belt pockets, its the only zippered pocket on the bag. I have been using it to store my wallet and a plastic bag with my permits in it, but it can barely fit those things and is a pain to open when the pack is full. It needs to be at least two inches deeper, or just removed all together.
So close, but not quite …
The top 3 things I would like the MEC pack designers to change for the next version of this bag:
Side pockets: These were the single biggest issue I have with the pack, side pockets should be made to fit a water bottle and should be short enough that tall water bottles can be removed and replaced with the pack on. Shorten the pocket to help users get bottles in and out, and make the material ether stretchy, or shaped to fit a cylindrical object.
Mesh front pocket: Make the fabric stretchy, at least around the opening. The size and shape of the pocket is great, but update the fabric and band around the opening (or all of it), and it will be a much more accessible and handy pocket.
Shape of the body: Widen the shape of the pack a few inches. This isn’t a deal breaker, but just give me a couple more inches of width so my hands can comfortably fit around a barrel and pull it out, thanks!
Conclusion
The Serratus Pace UL 40 is an high-quality option for budget-conscious backpackers looking for an ultralight solution. Its vest-style front and innovative design elements, paired with the lightweight body and removable frame, make it a great choice for a weekend backpacker.
The weight savings, as well as increased comfort and vest pockets quickly made the Serratus my default pack. I’m excited to continue rocking it out on the trails and hope its durable enough to hold up for a few more years of regular weekend backpacking adventures.
The Serratus offers a great weight to cost ratio and is a great entry-level ultralight pack, especially for those not looking to spend $400 on a pack. It can’t compete with top-tier options like Hyperlite packs yet, it’s a promising choice and has the potential to be a serious contender on the budget ultralight backpack scene. Keep an eye on this model, as some small improvements could vastly improve the quality of the bag and I can’t help but hope that the vest-style front is the future of backpacking.
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