Granite Gear Virga3 26

Product detailed description

The Granite Gear Virga3 26 is ultralight in weight, and its construction and materials (sturdy Cordura) make it a workhorse for any occasion. It doesn’t have a rigid back panel, so you can roll it up and stuff it into a suitcase or backpack when traveling. On the other hand, it has excellent shoulder straps, ingeniously attached to the pack. This allows you to adjust the back length exactly to your needs. It doesn’t have a rigid, padded back panel? If you place a folded inflatable mat or a piece of sleeping pad—which can also be used as a seat—inside against your back, and pack the backpack carefully, the back panel will be nicely rounded, and the backpack will only touch your back at the lower back and between the shoulder blades, allowing your back to breathe much better than if it had a super-padded back but it presses against you across the entire surface... The same applies in winter, when you’re wearing more warm layers and don’t want to sweat through them under the backpack...

Personal experience

I tested the previous Virgu 26 model during a quick weekend trip in Bohemian Switzerland—50 km in 24 hours—and in the end, it pleased me even more than the small Mountainsmith Scream 25 did years ago—thanks to the roll-top closure, there’s a lot more space inside than in the Scream 25, it has super comfortable shoulder straps for its weight and great large pockets where I can “stow” everything I’m used to—a 0.7L water bottle, a small bottle for alcohol, a waterproof jacket, a filter, documents, a waterproof backpack cover, and waterproof socks. A major drawback for me is the lack of any zippered pockets for small items (headlamp, pocket knife, documents, money). My favorite is a pocket on the hip belt. Fortunately, the backpack has a hip belt, so you can either slip a DIY (homemade) pocket onto it or buy something—I solved this with a pocket from Gossamer.

Compared to the previous model, the new Virga3 26 has added elastic loops on the shoulder straps for attaching a water bottle, and an additional chest strap has also been added. Thanks to the two chest straps, you can better position the backpack in a fast-pack style and even jog with it on faster trips. The backpack has plenty of great technical features—it’s clear that Granite Gear put a lot of thought into its construction—all straps pull along the seams as they should, and reinforcement is provided where needed. We really enjoy the Virga 26.

Granite Gear Virga3 26:

• Roll-top closure.
• Adjustable back length.
• Great shoulder straps with two chest straps.
• Loops for attaching water bottles to the shoulder straps.
• Simple hip belt.
• One large front mesh pocket.
• Two spacious side nylon pockets.
• Practical compression straps on all sides.
• Balance straps.

Technical Specifications:

• Weight: 570 g.
• Volume: 26 L.
• Back Length: 45–53 cm.
• Dimensions: 53 x 33 x 20 cm.

Materials:

• 100D & 210D Cordura® nylon.