Evolve Supply Co Ranger Review: A Modular 35 to 40 Liter Ultralight Pack

Introduction

The Evolve Supply Co Ranger is a frameless roll top backpack that carries between 35 and 40 liters, depending on how far the collar is extended. It was designed in Arizona and made in Colorado, and it was tested well beyond its home trails, from the Himalayas in Nepal to the high Andes in Ecuador, the Amazon jungle, and trails across the American Southwest. The design draws on roughly 13,000 miles of testing and about seven years of design and development experience.

This review covers what the Ranger is made of, how its modular system works, what each of the two builds includes, and which type of backpacker it suits best.

Who the Evolve Supply Co Ranger Is For

The Ranger is built around a single idea: one pack with multiple purposes. Stripped down, it works as a 35 liter ultralight option for long distance thru-hikes. Built out, it expands to 40 liters for weekend backpacking trips with extra food, extra water, and a few luxury items. It also works as a carry-on bag for domestic flights. Torso length runs from 16 to 18 inches, and the maximum comfort carry range is up to 25 pounds.

That flexibility is the reason the Ranger exists in two builds rather than one, and it is also why so many of its features attach and detach instead of being permanently sewn in. The pack is intended for hikers who would rather adapt a single pack to different trips than maintain a separate ultralight pack, weekend pack, and travel bag.

Build and Materials

The main body uses EcoPak EPLX200, a fabric made from 100 percent recycled bottles. It is laminated, which supports high water resistance and makes seam taping possible. The side pockets use EPX200, which is also made from recycled material but is not laminated. A large outer front and bottom pocket is made from Venom UL stretch mesh.

The shoulder straps use half inch thick foam, a 3D spacer mesh, and HDPE gridstop on the face, along with two load lifters. Finishing details lean toward a classic outdoors look rather than a race oriented one: a Ranger Green color palette, a cream patch logo, and a custom aluminum hook with a brass finish closing the roll top.

Modular Features That Change the Carry

The expandable roll top collar is what turns this into a 35 to 40 liter pack. Rolled down, it carries a smaller load at 35 liters; extended, it swallows a larger one up to 40 liters. Multiple top compression attachment points support both setups. A single top compression leash is attached to the pack, and an optional Y-strap can be added for carrying a bear can, a water bladder, or extra food.

The shoulder straps include a traditional daisy chain, plus a thicker piece of webbing sized for a camera clip. Attaching a clip to that webbing keeps it off the foam, which avoids compressing the strap over time. Shoulder strap pockets can be attached over the top of the same area. A padded hip belt attaches when a longer comfort carry range is needed. Smaller details include a bottom pocket trash port, a stowable ice axe loop, and two side compression cords for lashing larger items to the sides.

Because each of these pieces is optional, the same pack can be configured as a bare 35 liter shell or as a fully built out weekend setup. The complete version bundles the Y-strap, two shoulder pockets, the hip belt, and a Nylofume liner. The stripped down version leaves those out, and every one of them is also sold separately.

Carry Comfort and Capacity

The half inch foam shoulder straps, 3D spacer mesh, and two load lifters carry most of the weight on shorter trips. For heavier loads, the attachable padded hip belt extends the comfort carry range, and the stated maximum comfort carry is up to 25 pounds.

Because the Ranger is frameless, it performs best with loads inside that range rather than at the edge of it. The torso length of 16 to 18 inches and the adjustable hip belt are the two fit variables worth confirming before a purchase, since a well matched torso is what keeps a frameless pack stable on long descents.

Weather Performance and Long-Term Durability

The laminated main fabric is the standout material choice here. It sheds water rather than absorbing it, dries quickly once conditions change, and can be seam taped because of its laminated construction. During testing in the Himalayas at the tail end of monsoon season, three days of continuous rain left the contents of the pack dry. In warmer and drier environments the face fabric dried fast instead of staying damp.

Several alternative fabrics were considered during development, including Ultra, an older X-Pac construction, and DCF, before the team settled on EPLX200. The recycled content and the ability to tape seams were the deciding factors.

The Ranger has been carried on long distance style trips, weekend loads, and as a carry-on during film work travel, which is a useful spread of conditions for judging how the fabric and hardware age. After that mileage the pack still relies on the same roll top closure and metal hook rather than zippers, so there are fewer moving parts to wear out.

Things to Consider Before Buying

• The Ranger is frameless. Its stated maximum comfort carry is 25 pounds, so it is not intended for heavy loads.
• The stripped down build does not include the Y-strap, shoulder pockets, hip belt, or Nylofume liner. If you want any of those, you either buy the complete version or add them individually.
• The complete build weighs 21 ounces against 16 ounces for the stripped version, so the accessories add about 5 ounces.
• Accessories are sold separately, which means the final cost depends on how you configure the pack.
• The Ranger is currently offered through a pre-sale, so delivery timing is tied to that release.

Buying Advice

The stripped down version weighs 16 ounces and retails for $250. The complete version weighs 21 ounces and retails for $330, adding the Y-strap, two shoulder pockets, the hip belt, and a Nylofume liner for $80 more than the base pack.

If you already own a hip belt you like, or you rarely carry enough weight to need one, the stripped down version plus one or two individual accessories is the cleaner route. If you want the full modular toolkit from day one, the complete build packages everything at once, and it is worth comparing that $80 difference against the cost of the same pieces bought separately.

Either way, the decision comes down to how you actually hike. Someone planning a long thru-hike will likely want the lightest possible setup and add pieces only as needed, while a weekend backpacker carrying extra food, water, and comfort items gets more value from the hip belt and shoulder pockets up front.

Conclusion

The Evolve Supply Co Ranger is a genuinely adaptable ultralight pack. Its recycled laminated fabric, taped seams, expandable roll top collar, and attachable accessories let one 35 to 40 liter pack cover thru-hiking, weekend trips, and travel. The trade-offs are clear and easy to weigh: a frameless design capped at 25 pounds of comfortable carry, and accessories that are optional rather than included on the lighter build. For backpackers who want one pack that changes shape with the trip, the Ranger makes a strong case.