Bottom Line
The Nashville Pack Cutaway stands out for its impressive comfort and functionality, even as a frameless pack. During our extensive testing, running, and hiking through the Rocky Mountains, the Cutaway comfortably carried loads up to 25 pounds, thanks to its wide, plush vest-style shoulder straps and optional padded hip belt. The pack’s innovative design, with 9 easily accessible pockets, sets a new standard for on-trail convenience.
The lack of a frame might be a drawback for those new to ultralight backpacking or who don’t have their ultralight kit dialed in. Customization and strategic packing come with a learning curve, so beginner backpackers might want to check out different options on our ultralight backpacks gear guide.
The Cutaway also comes with a higher price tag (especially when factoring in add-ons). However, the Nashville Pack Cutaway is undoubtedly one of our favorite ultralight backpacks for thru-hikers and fast-packers seeking customization, lightweight comfort, and efficiency on the trail.
Quick Specs
Nashville Pack Cutaway 40L
Best Frameless Ultralight Backpack
CleverHiker Rating: 4.8/5.0
Price: $326
Weight: 1 lb. .5 oz.
Volume: 40 L
Max Weight Rec.: 25 lbs
Pros
- Ultra-ultra lightweight
- Good organization
- Customizable
- Excellent carry for frameless pack
Cons
- Takes some getting used to
comfort
While frameless packs typically sacrifice some stability and weight-carrying comfort, the Nashville Pack Cutaway has managed to minimize that sacrifice. Surprisingly, this pack carried loads up to 25 pounds nearly as comfortably as some framed packs.
Most of the pack’s comfort comes from the wide, plush, vest-style shoulder straps. The straps are well-padded with soft mesh that breathes and wicks moisture. The increased width of the vest straps is pleasantly embracing—like receiving a firm hug from a cuddly lion cub. These fully customizable straps are sold separately and can be adjusted to your specific shoulder width.
The optional removable padded hip belt wings are constructed similarly to the shoulder straps and significantly increase the pack’s stability. On scrambly trail sections in the Rockies, the pack rested close to the body, and we experienced minimal(if any) swing weight when using the hipbelt.
Typical of frameless packs, the back panel has no reinforcement from a frame, but strategic packing can effectively add stability and padding to optimize the pack’s comfort.
While most ultralight packs can have a frame that can be removed to shed weight, the Cutaway is designed for frameless comfort from the get-go
Functionality
Nashville Pack’s goal with the Cutaway is that your pack never causes you to stop on the trail, and we think they have far surpassed this goal. The Cutaway has a whopping 9 reachable access points for stashing crucial gear (aka snacks).
The front mesh pocket is huge for a frameless pack and, interestingly, isn’t separated from the side “pockets.” This continuous design increases the overall volume and allows for more varied packing strategies. An additional pocket is sewn into the top of the mesh to keep small items from getting swallowed.
Because of the wrap-around style of the front pocket, water bottles do have the potential to shift from the side “pockets,” but we’ve generally found they stay in place quite well. The stretchy side partitions are also very accessible.
Each shoulder strap is outfitted with 3 mesh pockets – 2 lower ones and 1 reversed upper pocket. The extra wide shoulder straps make these pockets giant. They’re excellent for holding GPS devices and large smartphones, but the sheer amount of snacks you can stuff into these pockets is incredibly satisfying.
Finally, the pack features a stretchy bottom pocket on the back panel, which is excellent for stashing thin or soft items.
Water Resistance
The standard EPX70 RS fabric for the Cutaway is fairly water-resistant but not waterproof. During our water exposure test, our gear remained mostly dry but with one noticeable weak point – the top seam of the back panel. With extended exposure, this seam could allow enough water in the pack to compromise important gear, so we recommend using a pack liner.
The pack’s water resistance comes primarily from its C0 Durable Water Repellent coating. While it is effective at fending off moisture when it’s new, waterproof coatings inherently become less effective over time. The pack does not include taped seams meaning each one is a potential opportunity for leakage.
The mesh on the front and side pockets drains water effectively, reducing the potential for it to pool in the pockets and soak your gear.
Construction
The pack comes standard with EPX70 fabric, prioritizing weight savings over rugged durability. However, it is triple laminated with ripstop fabric on the outer and inner layers, dramatically increasing durability.
Another key feature of the Cutaway’s durability is the 3-panel construction. This design creates a pack with fewer seams, which means better durability and weather resistance.
Nashville Pack offers the Cutaway in a variety of different fabrics for increased durability from 200-denier EXP200 to weather resistant Ultra fabrics, and sustainable Aluula Graflyte.
A characterizing feature of Nashville Pack is its personalization of every pack. The shoulder straps and hipbelt of the Cutaway can be removed completely and feature a wide range of adjustability so you can perfectly dial in your fit. They also offer a myriad of option add-ons, like a bear spray holster, shock cord, and an ice axe kit.
Should You Buy The Nashville Pack Cutaway Ultralight Backpack?
The Nashville Pack Cutaway is an outstanding pick for ultralight backpackers seeking an incredibly comfortable and functional frameless pack. It’s perfect for seasoned thru-hikers and fast-packers who have their kit dialed in and like to crush high-mileage days. With its convenient on-the-go organization and stable carry, the Cutaway is meant to go fast and light.
The Cutaway may not be ideal for those new to ultralight backpacking or who frequently carry heavier loads. The frameless design requires thoughtful packing to maintain comfort and stability, which can be a learning curve for some.
The ability to customize the pack with a variety of add-ons and fabric choices ensures you can create the perfect setup for your needs, although these add-ons can add up in cost. The Nashville Cutaway is hard to beat if you’re looking for a top-tier ultralight pack that prioritizes comfort and efficiency.
What Other Ultralight Backpacks Should You Consider?
Frameless packs aren’t for everyone, so we’ve included a wide variety of ultralight pack styles in our full ultralight backpacks guide.
Pa’Lante V2 Review: The V2 is another frameless pack designed to go fast and light. While it’s not quite as comfortable or water-resistant as the Cutaway, it comes with multiple fabric options and features a simpler, more streamlined design.
Atom Packs The Pulse EP50 Review: Although the Pulse EP50 is a framed pack, the frame is minimal and can be removed to function as a lightweight, durable, trail-efficient, larger-capacity frameless pack. It’s also available in a 40 liter option.
Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 Review: The Gorilla 50 is one of the most comfortable medium-sized packs that we tested. It has a frame and will provide significantly more support than the Cutaway under heavy loads while also featuring a unique, thoughtful design.
