ULA Equipment Cicada Review

The ULA Equipment Cicada is a look in a different direction for ULA Equipment, a company we’ve come to know for lightweight hiking packs. Don’t get it twisted—the Cicada is light, but it doesn’t have all the features you’d expect from a bag you’d hit the trail with. Let’s dive in and see what’s going on with this pack!

External Components

The ULA Equipment Cicada we have on hand is crafted from ULTRA 400TX and CORDURA® fabrics. It’s incredibly lightweight, so much so that you notice it while carrying the bag. The fabric is highly durable, tear-resistant, and water-resistant, too, which goes a long way on the trail or while exploring the city. Additionally, the bag features UltraStretch mesh throughout, which is both stretchy and durable due to the UHMWPE weave.

The material is slightly crinkly when manipulated and has a semi-wrinkled appearance, although we don’t mind it much due to the other properties it brings to the table. The material lacks significant structure, resulting in a slightly lumpy appearance if your gear is packed haphazardly inside the bag. However, we’re not surprised that it’s more likely to show the shape of your gear compared to other bags made from thicker materials (we’re looking at you, 1600D CORDURA®). After all, ULTRA 400TX has all the durability of heavier fabrics (if not more) without compromising on weight. Plus, you’ll likely pack this bag full every time, so that’s not a huge worry.

The zippers are from YKK and have basic but effective pulls. They are easy to open and close and have proven durable while cycling and taking short hikes with the pack. The zippers are easy enough to manipulate to access the pockets while actively cycling. This could be an issue if they got caught or weren’t smooth.

On top of the pack sits a handle. It’s padded and has some comfort because of it. The ULTRA fabric can be a little pointy, but it’s comfortable enough for the little we used the handle in transit. When you need it, it’ll be there.

There’s a luggage pass-through behind the back panel. It’s vertical, so your bag is horizontal when you load it onto your rolling luggage or checked bag. The pass-through works well and doesn’t get in your way if you aren’t using it, which we appreciate.

There isn’t much going on externally here, which gives the pack a sleek, minimalistic look, bolstered by a lack of branding and water bottle pockets. The latter will deter some users, though, as you’ll see, there are some internal bottle pockets.

Fit Notes

The shoulder straps are padded but feel flexible. There’s mesh for breathability, too, which helps if you’re on the trail or riding a bicycle. The mesh is a little rough, which doesn’t feel great if it’s on your bare skin. Overall, it’s pretty comfortable and malleable, with the s-curve forming to most body types, but your mileage may vary.

The upper portion of the shoulder straps has attachment loops, which are handy for adding extra gear. The sternum strap is on a rail, allowing for micro adjustments, but it can easily get knocked out of place. When fully loaded, the sternum strap feels necessary. If you want even more support to take the weight off, there are two loops to attach a hip belt, which ULA Equipment sells separately. Add it on when you buy the bag, or purchase it later if you decide you need it.

The back panel is well-padded and has the same mesh as the shoulder straps. It keeps things relatively cool, but back sweat accumulates when cycling in the heat. This isn’t unusual—it’s about average or slightly better than average compared to other packs we’ve tested.

Inside The Pack

The pack has a hidden pocket inside the back panel, ideal for stowing your passport, wallet, or phone. It’s darn near impossible to see (or find) while you’re wearing the pack, so unfriendly hands (and eyes) won’t see it coming. If you put items that are too thick here, you can feel them against your back.

The pack’s front face has three hidden pockets—two on the left and one on the right. These aren’t as hidden as the back panel, but there’s fabric that covers them, which is handy for protection from the rain. There’s no organization inside these pockets, and they’re better suited for skinnier items due to their shape. You can take one shoulder strap off and access one row of side pockets, which is handy. We could even do this while cycling, though you may find it challenging if you can’t ride with no hands on the handlebars.

The laptop compartment is inside the main compartment, but is more easily accessible through a separate zipper on the top of the pack. It’s padded and slightly raised, so your computer is safe in transit. We fit a 15-inch computer here without issue.

The main compartment has a clamshell opening with two zipper heads, which we appreciate because you can leave the zippers anywhere you like—left, right, middle, or elsewhere.

The lid has two mesh zippered pockets. One is pretty huge, and the other is medium or large-sized, depending on what you’re used to. These both work well for stowing accessories and can hold socks and underwear if you use this pack as a travel backpack.

There are two side pockets—one on either side of the main compartment. The mesh easily accommodates a water bottle, though you can stow almost any smaller item here. If you prefer to stay hydrated, their inclusion inside may feel like a miss, as you can’t easily access your water.

There’s a mesh pocket on top of the laptop compartment, which is a nice addition. You can lock down large items here, like a cased Nintendo Switch or a lightweight pair of shoes, but it excels at stowing flat items. Think of a book, notepad, tablet, or magazine. There isn’t much padding here, so ensure that anything sensitive has a case!

Overall, the ULA Equipment Cicada presents a fantastic user experience. It’s different from other ULA Equipment packs we’ve tested—it feels more catered to the everyday carry crowd than to ultralight travel. However, you can find many aspects of the latter in the pack’s minimalistic framework. It’s versatile, as you aren’t locked into any specific features, making it a solid do-it-all bag for urban commuters, cyclists, and lightweight packers.