Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L Backpack: 3,000 Mile Review

Embarking on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) demands gear that matches the ruggedness of its terrain and challenges. When I set out to thru-hike the 3,000-mile-long Continental Divide Trail, I knew I needed just the right pack for this adventure, and for that, I chose the Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L Backpack. This review goes over the Nashville Pack Cutaway specs and how it performed throughout my thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail.

My backpacking journey has seen a lot of different packs, each for different trails — the Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50L for the John Muir Trail, the Gossamer Gear Kumo 36L and Pa’lante V2 for the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Pa’lante Joey for the Arizona Trail. I did like each of these packs individually and I still think they are great options, but they weren’t perfect for me. After hiking over 3,000 miles between these various packs, I finally knew what exactly I wanted for my 2023 southbound thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail; it was the Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L Backpack. I think this one is here to stay for me.

Disclaimer: I worked with Nashville Pack as an ambassador for my 2023 thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail, so they refunded me for the pack I had already planned on using for my thru-hike. All opinions are my own. This blog post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small percentage from every purchase at no additional cost to you. Read more about my affiliate policy here.

Wind River Range, Wyoming

Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L Specs

There are a lot of options for the Cutaway Pack. You can either get an In-Stock pack or a Made-to-Order pack. Here are the specs for the exact backpack I used on the Continental Divide Trail:

• Frame Type: Frameless

• Weight: 14.6 oz (weight will vary depending on pack size and fabric)

• Max Load Recommendation: 25 lbs / 11.5 kg  

• Torso Length: 16” (also comes in 18” and 20”)

  • I’m 5’4” with a short torso. I recommend using the Sizing Guide to determine the proper length.

• Internal Volume at Collar: 26L (28L / 30L for the 18” / 20”)

• Total Internal Volume: 31L (33L / 35L for the 18” / 20”)

• Shoulder Straps: 16.0" Hybrid Vest Straps: 4.8 oz / 136 g (The straps also come in 17.5", 19.0", and 20.5" lengths)

• Hip Belt: None (but you can add on a 1" Removable Hip Belt or the Removable Padded Hip Belt Wings. The Removable Hip Belt Pockets can be added to both of these hip belts)

• Sternum Straps: 3 (2 standard + 1 elastic is my favorite combination). You can attach more or fewer sternum straps, if you desire.

• Fabric: White Lightning EPL 200 UltraWeave i.e. Ultra 200X

  • Nashville Pack also has a ton of other colors and fabric options - like I’m talking every color of the rainbow. I’ll go into all the fabric and color options below.

  • See all material options here.

• Water Resistant: Yes (but depends on which fabric you choose for your pack)

• Pockets: So. Many. My personal favorite is the bottom pocket. And all the shoulder strap pockets (6!). And the large continuous external back pocket. More on pockets later…

• Side Pocket Color: White (also comes in black)

• Bottom Pocket Color: Black (also comes in White, Red, Orange, Green, 3D Red White and Blue, Henna Paisley, Pink and Purple Paisley, Plaid, Royal Blue, Navy Blue, Colombia Blue, Vegas Gold, Maroon, Purple, Silver)

• Made In: Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA

• Price: $205 for the in-stock 30L Cutaway Pack ($230 for made-to-order +$55 if you choose Ultra 100X, Ultra 200X, or DCF fabric) + $116 for shoulder straps = $321-$401 USD

Features:

• Running vest-style shoulder straps (which are super comfortable)

• Bottom pocket (this is perfect for storing and eating snacks on the go)

• Large continuous external back pocket that you can access with the pack on your back

• Stake/shelf pocket

• Vest shoulder straps are compatible with all packs by Nashville Pack

• 6 total vest strap pockets (which water bottles can fit into)

• Very adjustable - you can adjust shoulder straps, sternum strap location and number of sternum straps, add/remove a hip belt, etc.

The running vest-style shoulder straps and the bottom pocket are two of the main reasons why I chose the Cutaway - these features truly enhance my backpacking experience.

Let’s Talk Base Weight and Max Load

Base weight is the weight of all your gear not including your worn weight, e.g. clothes you wear and shoes, or consumables like food, water, and fuel. It’s important to note that my base weight is around 10 lbs and roughly 2 lbs of that is my camera equipment that I carry in my fanny pack, dropping down the actual base weight of gear that goes into my backpack to about 8 lbs. I try to keep my max load (which is your base pack weight with food, water, fuel, etc. included) under 25 lbs. The Nashville Pack Cutaway has a max load recommendation of 25 lbs. It is an ultralight backpack and will not be as comfortable to carry if your total pack weight is over 25 lbs. For my full Continental Divide Trail gear list, check out this blog post.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana

What I Love About the Cutaway

The Pockets

Maybe you’ve caught on by now, but I absolutely love all the pockets on the Cutaway. From the 6 shoulder strap pockets to the bottom pocket, they make organizing so easy. I’m the type of person where everything in my kit has a specific home in my pack and I pack it the same way everyday. Organization makes me happy. I love being organized and this pack really allows me to do that.

I personally carry a water bottle (typically a smartwater bottle) in one of the shoulder strap pockets, which helps me drink more water because it is so easily accessible. I also carried my bear spray in a shoulder strap pocket, which provided very easy access, should I have needed it. In the other shoulder strap pockets, I put smaller snacks, stored wrappers securely so they wouldn’t fall out, my earbuds, sunscreen, Aquamira, and my headlamp. An iPhone 14 Pro also fits in 4 out of the 6 shoulder strap pockets, but I personally like carrying my phone in my shorts pocket. There are also little loops to hang things off of on the shoulder straps, which I attached my Garmin inReach to for easy access and clear view to the sky.

The pocket that I think should be talked about more is the bottom pocket. This is a stretchy pocket on the bottom of the pack that you can access easily while the pack is on (bottom pocket pictured below). If you want easy access to snacks while hiking without having to take off your pack, then you should really try out a pack with a bottom pocket. I’ve used other packs with bottom pockets, but this one felt more secure, meaning I felt like it was less likely for something to fall out of it.

The external back pocket is really nice, too. It’s very large and I like that it is continuous because I feel like I can put more into it and it also feels more secure. The back pocket has a little shelf/stake pocket, which I store my trowel and stakes in.

Overall, if you like organization and easy access to important items while hiking, then you’ll love all the pockets on this pack.

Trowel in shelf/stake pocket, Pacific Crest Trail, Washington

Bottom pocket

So many shoulder strap pockets, Gila River, New Mexico

The Shoulder Straps

In addition to all the pockets on the shoulder straps, the straps are also super comfortable because they are running vest style straps. I truly believe these are the best straps you can get on a backpacking pack. Also, the shoulder straps can be removed and put on a different Nashville Pack, making them super versatile. For example, one day I might want to use the smaller 20L pack and I would only need to buy the pack body because I can use the straps I already have. I appreciate that the straps come in different lengths, allowing you to get the proper length strap for your torso length.

Hanging wet socks off of the shoulder straps to dry in the sun during the day, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

The Fabric

The fabric I chose for my pack is the White Lightning EPL 200 UltraWeave i.e. Ultra 200X. I liked that this fabric was water-resistant and very durable. I haven’t used a truly water-resistant pack before this one and I loved how the water rolled off of it, rather than soaking in. I didn’t get any holes in the pack body fabric and I felt like the water resistance held up pretty well throughout my thru-hike. I still lined my pack with a pack liner, just in case. The white did get pretty dirty after thousands of miles, but it’s a nice reminder of all the miles we’ve covered together.

The Comfort

I can’t say enough how comfortable I find the Cutaway. It’s easily the most comfortable pack I’ve used and it rides really well. It’s definitely crucial to choose the proper pack size, strap length, and have the appropriate base weight.

The Customization Options

Nashville Pack offers an array of customization options, from fabric type and color to pack size, additional straps, etc. Here are all the ways you can customize the pack:

All the Current Fabrics and Color Options:

• VX07 (Black, White)

• VX21 (Black, White, Bahama Blue, Dark Green, Bright Purple, Cadmium Green, Coral, Deep Blue, Federal Yellow, Newport Navy, Red, Slate Grey, Spanish Teal)

• EPX200 (Deep Purple, Lilac, Pink Flamingo, Ocean Blue, Bright Blue, Tropic Teal, Green Mountain, Ranger Green, Army Olive, Lemon Lime, Golden Dazy, Bright Orange, Brick Red, Snow White, Silver Bullet, Wolf Grey, Black Knight, Coyote Brown)

• UltraGrid (BlackOut, Very Berry, Key Lime, Blue Wave, Tangerine, Black Beauty, Silverado, Castle Rock, Dark Chili, Avocado, Blue Smoke, Coyote Brown)

• Ultra 100X (Storm Grey, Black Magic, Glacier Grey)

• Ultra 200X (Black Magic, White Lightning, Gravel Gray, Silverado)

• 2.92 DCF Hybrid (Black, White)

• 5.0 DCF Hybrid (Black, White)

Descriptions of each material can be found on the Materials page.

Torso Length:

Three torso lengths are available: 16-inch, 18-inch, and 20-inch. I recommend using the Sizing Guide to determine your torso length.

Shoulder Strap Size:

The Hybrid Vest Straps come in four different sizes: 16.0-inch, 17.5-inch, 19.0-inch, and 20.5-inch.

Pad Attachment System:

When I switched a foam pad on the Continental Divide Trail, I added the Shock Cord and Toggle for Pad Attachment System to my pack, allowing me to attach my sleeping pad to the back of my pack.

Pad attachment system, CDT New Mexico

Add a Hip Belt and Hip Belt Pockets:

You can add on a 1" Removable Hip Belt, a Removable Hip Belt Pocket, or Removable Padded Hip Belt Wings to your Nashville Pack.

Sternum Straps:

You can use either the Standard (not stretchy) or the Elastic (stretchy) Sternum Straps. The great feature of the sternum strap setup is the daisy-chain loops on the shoulder straps, allowing you to adjust the sternum strap’s height and location to your personal comfort preference.

2 standard + 1 elastic is my favorite combination, but you can use more or less.

Additional Straps:

Other straps you can add are:

• Bear Can Straps

• Side Compression Straps

Cutaway Accessory Pack:

This pack bundles the following accessories together at a discounted price if you’re interested in getting all them:

• 1 x 1" Removable Hip Belt

• 1 x Pad Attachment System

• 1 x Set of Side Compression Straps

Hand Sewn in Tennessee

It’s hard to find a backpacking pack that is actually still handmade in the USA and Nashville Pack hand sews all their packs in Hendersonville, Tennessee, which I think is super cool and ultimately results in super high-quality packs.

Pfiffner Traverse Section, Colorado

Idaho with first view of Grand Tetons in the distance

What I Don’t Love

Shoulder Strap Bottom Mesh Pockets Ripped

The only issue I had with the Cutaway was that the mesh on the bottom shoulder strap pockets began to tear in the last few hundred miles of my hike. But I mean, I used the pack for 2,700+ miles through very rugged terrain, so the fact that this was the only issue I had is pretty impressive to me. I can probably sew the holes or put a small patch over them.

The Price

There’s no dancing around it, this is an expensive backpack. But you get what you pay for: a pack that’s hand-sewn in the USA made out of premium, top-of-the-line materials with a very innovative design and one of the best shoulder strap designs available. The beauty of the removable shoulder straps is that you should only need to buy them once and you can switch out the pack body.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Good To Know

Lead Time for Custom Packs

If you are getting a Made-to-Order custom pack and need it by a certain date, expect at least a 6-8 week lead, so plan accordingly. While it may seem long, it is standard in the cottage gear industry to have lead time on custom products, especially since they are hand-sewn with the colors and fabrics you choose. However, if you choose an In-Stock product it typically ships within 2-3 business days so it is still possible to get a pack sooner if you need to. You can check the current lead time here.

Will I keep using my Cutaway 30L Backpack?

Most definitely. The Cutaway will be my go-to backpack for thru-hiking and backpacking for the foreseeable future. I’m so excited to finally have found a pack that meets all of my needs.

Who is the Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L Backpack for?

Everyone! No, you don’t have to be an FKT’er or a super fast hiker to use this pack. The Cutaway 30L Backpack is the perfect pack for any thru-hiker or weekend backpacker who has a max load of 25 lbs or less. Whether you’re thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or doing shorter backpacking trips in the Cascades, this is a great backpack option. Why go ultralight? An ultralight backpack and gear setup can greatly increase your enjoyment of backpacking because it lessens the load on your back and body, giving you the ability to be more comfortable and enjoy your experience more, no matter the distance you’re hiking.

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