Nashville Cutaway Pack Review: Insights from Te Araroa and the Pacific Crest Trail
The Nashville Cutaway has joined us on two iconic long-distance trails—Te Araroa (TA) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). With its adjustable hybrid vest straps, the Cutaway offers hikers the ability to tailor the vest strap position, length and angle to fit their body. As such, we have found it to be the most comfortable frameless pack we have used for long distance hiking.
Disclaimer: Maddie and Tom purchased their first Nashville Cutaway at full price. They are now Nashville Pack Ambassadors and were provided their packs for their Te Araroa FKT.
Testing
- Maddie used a VX07 30L Cutaway for the final 1000km (~20 days) of the PCT.
- We both used a 20L 2.92 DCF Cutaway whilst setting the self-supported FKT on Te Araroa (3000km, 55 days).
- We use an 18” torso length, 19” strap length (with a foam pad) and two elastic sternum straps. Maddie also uses the 1” webbing hip belt.
Key Features and Specifications
| Model | Internal volume (L) | External volume (L) | Total volume (L) | Total weight (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20L | 25 | 8 | 33 | 386 |
| 30L | 34 | 10.5 | 44.5 | 414 |
| 40L | 43 | 12 | 55 | 434 |
- Models: There are currently three models of the Cutaway, outlined in the table above. Note that the weights listed are for our preferred setup: 18” torso, 19” straps, ALUULA Graflyte V98 body fabric, and two elastic sternum straps.
- Weight: 413.9g for the 30L version (weight may vary slightly due to the handmade nature of the pack).
- Material: The stock model is made with EPX70, however you can get a custom Cutaway made from ALUULA, EPX200, UltraGrid, Ultra 100X or Ultra 200X.
- Recommended max load: 11.5kg.
- Straps: Hybrid Vest Straps with optional sternum strap(s) for added stability.
- Torso Length: 16”, 18” or 20”.
- Strap length: 16”, 17.5”, 19” or 20.5”.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight: At 414g for the 30L model (~45L total volume), the Cutaway is a relatively lightweight frameless pack.
- Gear accessibility: Easy to access all exterior pockets without removing the pack.
- Customisable build: Offers various fabric and strap options to suit different needs.
- Adjustable straps: Allows you to customise the strap length and position for a better fit. This makes it more comfortable than most frameless packs.
- Secure bottom pocket: The top-access bottom pocket is more secure than traditional side-entry pockets.
- Wide opening: The widened, expanded collar makes packing bulkier items easier.
Cons:
- Single front compartment: The continuous pocket can lead to mixed-up gear, making organisation difficult.
- Weight limit: Frameless packs like the Cutaway are ideal for total loads under 10kg; heavier loads may require a framed pack.
- Price: Starting at $600 AUD, it’s significantly pricier than the average frameless pack ($300-400 AUD). Optional accessories also add to the cost.
- No trash port: The top-access bottom pocket lacks a trash port, which some hikers might miss.
Design and Build Quality
The build quality of the Cutaway is excellent. The seams are strong, and we have never had any issues with the pack falling apart.
Overall, it is a very cleverly designed pack. The standout feature is the adjustable shoulder strap system. Not only can the length of the shoulder straps be adjusted, but also their position on the pack (i.e. wider or narrower depending on your preference). As there are three adjustable buckles on each strap, you can also taper the strap to get a more precise fit. We have found these adjustments have made the pack significantly more comfortable for us compared to other frameless packs.
Framed vs. Frameless Packs
Frameless packs like the Cutaway are perfect for their lightweight, fast-moving design. However, they can become uncomfortable when carrying loads above ~10kg. We’ve found that, for us, the hip belt can increase carrying capacity by 1-2 kg. However, for regular heavier loads a framed pack is more suitable.
Accessibility and Organisation
Overall, the Cutaway is great for accessing gear on the go. There are lots of small pockets on the vest straps which make it easy to store little items that you access frequently. We find this is ideal for our general consumables such as sunscreen, lip balm and water purification tablets. Additionally, these pockets are perfect for holding our phone and food to snack on.
For us, the biggest drawback of the Cutaway is the single wraparound front pocket. This design makes it easy to access everything in your back whilst moving, however, we have found that it makes organisation more difficult. In particular, we find this is most annoying when taking our water bottles out to drink. As there is only one front pocket for everything, removing the bottles causes other items to fill the space where the bottles sat. This makes it tricky to put them back in. This happens despite having plenty of space and not overfilling the front pocket.
We would prefer a more traditional three-pocket setup. Ideally, this would be a solid version of the pockets found on the Zimmerbuilt Quickstep. We think that this would significantly enhance organisation, making it easier to separate and access gear while on the go. A solid material would also be more durable and versatile in snow (at the expense of items bouncing more if running sections).
Sternum Straps & Hip Belt
We are both big fans of using elastic sternum straps with our Cutaways. We find that they hold the vest more securely to your body, and don’t restrict your breathing like a rigid strap. We both opt to use two sternum straps each, as we feel this provides the most stability and comfort.
When it comes to the optional hip belt, we have differing preferences. Tom prefers to go without the hip belt, as he feels it restricts his hip movement and slightly alters his natural gait. On the other hand, Maddie finds the hip belt useful for distributing weight more effectively when carrying heavier loads.
Durability
The Cutaway packs are as durable as the fabrics from which they are made. Our experience with the packs is that the mesh and elastic pockets are the weakest link and will wear out faster than the main body fabric. Whilst the elasticised pockets are great for holding things in securely (particularly useful if you plan on running), solid pockets would have an increased lifespan.
Conclusion
The Nashville Pack Cutaway is an excellent option for a frameless hiking pack. Its adjustable shoulder strap design makes it the most comfortable frameless pack we’ve used and sets it apart from other products. The hybrid vest straps are equipped with lots of small pockets, and the front pocket is easily accessibly whilst moving. However, the pack could benefit from more organisation in the front pocket, and it is important to recognise that the elastic components of the pack will wear out faster than the main body fabric.
