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Nashville Pack The Cutaway Review

When it comes to frameless ultralight packs, this one leads the way in weight, design, and innovation
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Nashville Pack The Cutaway Review (The Cutaway from Nashville Packs takes frameless, ultralight backpacks to the next level.)
The Cutaway from Nashville Packs takes frameless, ultralight backpacks to the next level.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Price:  $326 List
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Manufacturer:   Nashville Pack
By Justin Simoni ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Sep 6, 2024
75
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 23
  • Comfort - 40% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 25% 6.0
  • Weight-to-Volume Ratio - 20% 9.0
  • Adjustability - 15% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Cutaway from Nashville Pack is a dream pack for expert UL backpackers. The large-capacity body is made from tough, laminated X-Pac and securely holds your gear without wasting an extra ounce of weight. The simple roll-top enclosure easily adapts to the volume of the load, making this pack as versatile for a four-day carry between towns as it is for a four-hour hike up to a local high point. Pockets on the running vest-style shoulder straps conveniently place snacks, electronics, and other essentials close at hand, and the unique, continuous wrap-around pocket offers options for exterior storage. With a frameless design and padless back, it takes a little creativity to set up this pack for comfortable hiking. Although the uncompromising ultralight ethos of The Cutaway likely won't appeal to everyone, if you're looking to up your game, then this pack can help elevate you to the next segment of your backpacking journey. If you'd rather own a framed pack, there are plenty of great options in our review of ultralight backpacks.
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent customizable options
Impressive weight-to-volume
Voluminous internal compartment
Convenient pockets on vest-style shoulder straps
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the best option for beginners
Frameless design demands near perfect packing
Lower load limit than some other packs

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Pack for Expert Ultralighters
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Ultralight Backpack
Best Buy Award
Best Bang For Your Buck
Top Pick Award
Best for Long Distance Thru-Hikes
Top Pick Award
Best High-Capacity Pack
Price $326 List$315 List$275 List$369 List
$369.00 at Hyperlite Mountain Gear
$275 List
$275.00 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
75
93
93
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81
Star Rating
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Bottom Line A perfect choice for wizard-level hikers looking to make the leap to a frameless pack to further shed weight, without losing out on great features or carrying capacityAs an all-around great pack, it can carry large and light loads with ease, has plenty of external storage options, and is super comfortableOne of our favorites that scores highly in all metrics, is comfortable and versatile, and has just enough features for a reasonable costAn excellent lightweight pack with a multitude of external storage space options to complement its main pack compartmentThis ultralight pack shines for carrying large loads, especially when comfort is paramount
Rating Categories Nashville Pack The... Gossamer Gear Marip... Gossamer Gear Goril... Hyperlite Mountain... Six Moon Designs Sw...
Comfort (40%)
7.0
10.0
10.0
9.0
9.0
Ease of Use (25%)
6.0
10.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
Weight-to-Volume Ratio (20%)
9.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Adjustability (15%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
Specs Nashville Pack The... Gossamer Gear Marip... Gossamer Gear Goril... Hyperlite Mountain... Six Moon Designs Sw...
Measured weight 21.0 oz 32.6 oz 31.1 oz 34.6 oz 38.0 oz
Weight per liter (full pack) 0.53 oz/L 0.54 oz/L 0.62 oz/L 0.87 oz/L 0.76 0z/L
Advertised volume 40 L 60 L 50 L 40 L 50 L
Stripped weight 16.4 oz 18.0 oz 17.2 oz 26.0 oz 27.8 oz
Measured volume (main compartment) 40 L 42 L 39 L 35 L 55 L
Organization compartments Main compartment, center pocket, running vest-style pockets Lid, side pockets, center pocket, dual zippered pockets on hip belt, main compartment Lid, side pockets, center pocket, dual zippered pockets on hip belt, main compartment Side pockets, center pocket, dual zippered pockets on hip belt, bottom stash pocket, main compartment Main compartment, stretchy side pockets, stretchy center pocket, dual hip belt pockets, running vest pockets, internal water resevoir pocket
Hydration compatible? No Yes Yes No Yes
Single side pocket 700ml Smartwater capacity Continuous wraparound pocket 5 3 5 2
Single hip belt pocket capacity N/A 5 Clif Bars 5 Clif Bars 6 Clif Bars 8 Clif Bars
Able to strip off frame and hip belt? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Whistle on sternum strap? No Yes Yes Yes No
BearVault BV500 compatibility OK Good Ok Ok Good
Sizes available Torso: 16', 18", 20"
Hip Belt: S (28"-38"), M (32"-42"), L (26"-48")
Should Straps: 16", 17.5", 19", 20.5"
Torso: S, M, L
Hip Belt: S/M curved (M/L curved and S, M, and L straight sold separately)
Torso: S, M, L
Hip Belt: S/M curved (M/L curved and S, M, and L straight sold separately)
Torso: S, M, L, Tall
Hip Belt: M (S & L sold separately)
Torso: Adjustable, 4 lengths
Hip Belt: S, M, L
Shoulder Straps: Vest, Classic Shoulder, S-Curve Shoulder
Frame type None SitLight foam pad / removable stay SitLight foam pad / removable stay 1 removable aluminum stay, embedded, non-removable foam pad Delrin hoop stay frame
Fabric Main body: EPX70 RS (X-Pac) 100D & 200D Robic nylon 100D & 70D Robic nylon 150D DCH fabric, Dyneema Stretch Mesh, Hardline with Dyneema Main body: 100D Robic nylon,
Pockets: Ultra Stretch

Our Analysis and Test Results

What The Cutaway brings to the table may actually be what it leaves behind. This super lightweight pack cuts weight by going without a frame or back padding, and a hip belt is an optional accessory. The running vest-style shoulder straps are covered in pockets, and a large main compartment easily holds all of your ultralight essentials plus many days of food.

Performance Comparison


nashville pack the cutaway - go farther with an ultralight pack, and grab some solitude with...
Go farther with an ultralight pack, and grab some solitude with amazing views!
Credit: Justin Simoni

Comfort


Comfort is somewhat of a mixed bag with The Cutaway. You can comfortably carry this pack just as long as you take the time to optimize your gear. Because of its frameless design, it works best with streamlined load-outs of less than 30 lbs. This shouldn't be a difficult number to hit for seasoned ultra-lighters – who already have a base weight down near 10 lbs – but it might be a tough mark for more novice backpackers.


We used the optional attachment system and a small bungee to add our own sit pad to the back panel, which did wonders for enhancing the overall comfort of this pack. We also must highlight the standout running vest-inspired shoulder straps. These not only do an excellent job of distributing the pack's weight, but you can order them at various lengths to suit the pack wearer perfectly.

nashville pack the cutaway - available as an accessory, you can add a bungee to the cutaway that...
Available as an accessory, you can add a bungee to The Cutaway that allows you to carry a closed-cell foam pad on the back for padding and storage. We found this was fairly essential for loads over 20 lbs. (Note that only packs size Large or bigger support sleeping pads 20" wide, but our smaller butt pad worked for the size Medium pack we tested.)
Credit: Justin Simoni

The optional hip belt improved comfort to a lesser degree, though it did help transfer some weight off of our shoulders. However, carrying a heavier load will never be optimal with The Cutaway.

nashville pack the cutaway - we also opted to add a hip belt strap for this review. it's comfy...
We also opted to add a hip belt strap for this review. It's comfy, but without any internal frame in the pack itself, it only allows for minimal support of the pack's weight.
Credit: Justin Simoni

Ease of Use


The exceptional ultralight performance of The Cutaway does come at a cost: this won't be the easiest pack for more casual backpackers to use to its fullest extent. The lack of an internal frame means that the pack lacks form, which makes it harder to fill up the main compartment. Not only will you have to be an expert packer to keep the overall weight low, but without the bring-your-own style back pad, you'll have to carefully consider what's resting against your back.


While they may feel like “gotchas,” all of these little compromises contribute to the flyweight of this rig, which is really why we love The Cutaway. Due to its minimalist nature, we encourage anyone looking at this pack to have some on-the-trail experience and the know-how to pack a bag like this. Or it should be someone who has an extremely high stoke level and is okay with learning from mistakes made along the way!

nashville pack the cutaway - simple side cinches work triple duty by compressing the main...
Simple side cinches work triple duty by compressing the main compartment and keeping the center pocket tight.
Credit: Justin Simoni

Weight-to-Volume Ratio


As a true expert-level pack, The Cutaway rivals many packs for how much gear it allows you to carry compared to how little it weighs on the scale. Even considering the budget-friendly X-Pac material it's sewn with, this pack weighs a remarkable 21 ounces.


Alongside the cavernous, 40-liter internal compartment, you'll find only one main external pocket instead of the more common center and two side pockets. This further reduces weight while also providing you with options on how to stow your gear. A nearly hidden bottom pocket is a nice compliment to stash additional gear, and the six smaller pockets on the running vest-style shoulder straps allow you to carry essentials within reach.

Our volume test powered by ping pong balls measured an impressive 40 L of internal volume on The Cutaway.
Credit: Justin Simoni

We measured a maximum internal volume of 40 liters, and the external pockets can hold approximatley 9 liters more. This works out to an approximate weight-to-volume ratio of 0.53 ounces per liter. Often, packs putting up these weight-to-volume numbers are made of more exotic materials and tend to cost a fair amount more than The Cutaway.

The Cutaway fits a ton of gear, as illustrated on our real-life...
The Cutaway fits a ton of gear, as illustrated on our real-life load-out for a backpacking trip in Colorado.
Before taking the packs on the trail, we weigh our load to more...
Before taking the packs on the trail, we weigh our load to more fairly compare them with each other.
We were amazed by how much we could fit inside this pack and just how lightweight it felt out on the trail.

Adjustability


The ability to customize your own pack is a part of The Cutaway's DNA. You'll have the option to choose pack volume, torso length, and even shoulder strap length to really dial in the fit based on your body type. (Don't worry, well-produced videos from Nashville Packs help guide you through the process.) Additionally, you can pick out accessories like a hip belt and back-pad accessory cord – both of which we opted for and highly suggest – and an ice axe attachment kit.


Once your bespoke pack has been delivered, you'll discover an incredible amount of adjustability baked into The Cutaway. The custom-cut shoulder straps attach to the frame in multiple positions, which help people with wider or narrower shoulders easily adjust based on personal preference.

nashville pack the cutaway - each shoulder strap is fixed to the main pack by three smaller...
Each shoulder strap is fixed to the main pack by three smaller straps, allowing for very detailed adjustment. These straps can also move closer or farther from the center, using the array of daisy loops found on the top of the pack, to accommodate different shoulder widths.
Credit: Justin Simoni

The roll-top extends out from the shoulders and features a few snaps across the top. These allow you to actually close the expanded roll-top, say when your pack is overloaded with extra starting rations. For shorter trips, the roll-top extension can be rolled all the way down to create a more compact pack, and if you find that the pack weight doesn't necessitate a hip belt, it is easily removable.

nashville pack the cutaway - the wide opening helps swallow up gear, and the snaps across the top...
The wide opening helps swallow up gear, and the snaps across the top make it easy to overload, but still close the pack.
Credit: Justin Simoni

Should You Buy Nashville Pack's The Cutaway?


If you're already sold on the idea of a frameless ultralight pack, then The Cutaway is one of the best on the market. Even though it doesn't come with its own back padding, with a little experimentation, we were able to able to master the fit of this pack fairly easily. However, we feel like it's important to reiterate that this is the pack we would suggest to expert ultralighters – if you're new to the game of UL backpacking, then this custom pack is likely not worth your investment, at least initially.

What Other Ultralight Backpacks Should You Consider?


Another similar but simpler – although slightly smaller – frameless pack to seriously consider is the LiteAF Multi-Day 35L Frameless. This pack is down right affordable compared to The Cutaway, yet still offers a similar weight-to-volume ratio. If you'd rather go up than down in size, the Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L is exceptionally lightweight for its size. If you love the running vest-inspired shoulder straps on The Cutaway but want an internal frame to start, look no further than the Black Diamond Beta Light 45. The frame is even removable if you decide to go without it in the future.

Justin Simoni