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Whippa X Scotty's Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack Review

I’d been aware of the Whippa Brand of ultralight packs for a couple of years but never had a chance to test them out so when Whippa contacted us earlier this year and offered us the chance to test out some packs we were very happy to oblige. First up Whippa is a Summit Gear brand focused on manufacturing the best ultralight, purpose built, performance packs and has been designing and manufacturing outdoor adventure equipment since 1981 in Katoomba – the heart of the Blue Mountains in NSW. Whippa’s focus is on making ultralight and lightweight packs for a range of outdoor adventures including hiking with their motto being ‘Lighter, Stronger, Better’ which should give you an idea of their focus.

Manufacturing packs overseas often has the benefit of a cheaper price but the downside is that pack distributors need to commit to a minimum order from the manufacturer. This means making changes is often a time consuming process and has to wait till the next production run. In the case of Whippa, they have the ability to make improvements and changes very quickly.

The first Whippa Pack we reviewed is the newly released Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack (Whippa Colo 55 for short) which was developed in collaboration with hiker Scott Williams of Scotty’s Gone Walkabout fame. The average pack hikers use these days is around 60-65 litres in size so being 55 litres like this one is a good size without being excessive. This is an ultralight pack with my chosen medium size weighing in at 960 grams. As an ultralight pack this isn’t the sort of pack you use as a load hauler. Having said that when I was testing this pack in the field I used 14.5kg and 18.5kg loads which is what I would be carrying on a typical three season hike for around 8-10 days and even the heavier load felt comfortable which surprised me. While Whippa rate this pack to 20kg and I’m sure that it would carry it, I wouldn’t be inclined to go that heavy for extended periods and the only time I will carry that amount of weight these days is when I’m, carrying an extra water load.

I opted for the medium size pack based on the size chart. Any taller than 185 cm or any bigger than a 40 inch waist you would need to go for the next size up. I have a fairly broad chest which meant the sternum strap was almost at its limit but the length will suit the average hiker.

This pack is a traditional ultralight pack coming with a roll top closure. What this means is that if you are carrying a small load you can roll it down tight and small and, with the robust water restraint material you almost have a waterproof pack. In talking with Whippa they do recommend using a pack liner if you are carrying sensitive electronics but otherwise you shouldn’t need a pack cover. This brings us to the only hole in the pack which is the one that feeds a water bladder hose to the left or the right of the pack. As with most packs, this one has an internal sleeve that will cope with a water bladder up to three litres in capacity.

The other feature, an optional one, is the ‘secure pouch’ which attaches into the rear pocket with a couple of clips and is designed to hold valuables like keys, wallets, or toiletries. This easy to locate allowing easy access without searching through your pack. Another optional feature is a pack brain which adds an extra six litres to the capacity. Whether you choose this option is going to depend on how you like to organise your pack and if you need any additional capacity.

The pocketing on this pack is well thought out with the traditional ‘water bottle’ pockets on the sides easy top access although in my case thats where my hiking poles live when I’m not using them. The hip belt pockets are a good size but more importantly the zips are easy to open and close which I find an issue in most packs. The large rear pocket can be filled with things you want to access through the day or in my case my tent.

Material wise this pack only comes in one colour pattern which consists of greys and black colours so you aren’t going to able pick and choose but it means the only decisions you need to make is what size you need and if you want any of the options. The material itself is made of ‘Ultra’ which has now become an industry standard. It is light weight, durable and highly water resistant. The pack body is made of Ultra 200 and the base, which is where the heavy wear is, uses Ultra 800.

Price wise at the time of this review this pack came in at AUD $619.00 RRP which sits squarely in the price range for ultralight packs of this size and quality. In talking with people who have used Whippa packs, they seem to have developed a bit of a cult-like following and if you are into hiking regularly then the pricing is well worth it for the construction and features on offer. If you want to know more about Whippa pack in general listen to podcast episode 327 where we talk to the owner of Whippa packs.

I really like this pack particularly because of the lightweight materials and the thought that has got into the design aspects. I’ve yet to take this pack on a long distance multi week hike but that will happen in the coming months.

We Like

• Robust highly water resistant construction means you wont need a pack cover
• Flattened base of the pack so it stands up more independently
• Large weatherproof stash pocket at the rear of the pack to store items that you want to be readily accessible
• Fits up to a 3 litre hydration bladder
• Compatibility with an optional expedition hood specially designed for this pack and adds an extra 6litre capacity
• Seam sealed for weatherproof performance
• Ultralight pack at only 960 grams (for the medium pack)
• Hip belt pockets are easy to access and zips move freely
• Australian made!

We Don't Like

• At AUD $619.99 RRP this pack is up there in price but consistent with other brands of ultralight packs
• One colour only

Best Uses

• For those who want a very comfortable pack that can take heavy loads with the features usually only found on larger packs

Buy One

You can purchase the Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack online directly from Whippa

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $619.00 RRP

Other Versions

Whippa produces a range of packs and accessories for ultralight and lightweight hiking

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack front view

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack pockets side view including hip belt pocket and water bottle pocket

Close up Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack side view with optional hood. If you choose to add the hood to your purchase you are adding six litres to the pack capacity

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack rear view

Tim wearing his Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack side view

Tim wearing his Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack rear view

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack sternum clip and whistle

Tim wearing his Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack showing load lifters

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack back cushioning

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack roll top fully open

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack showing internal water bladder pocket

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack with the optional Ultralight Secure Pouch in the rear pocket

Whippa X Scotty’s Gone Walkabout Colo 55 Ultralight Hiking Pack with the optional Ultralight Secure Pouch pulled out for a better view

Last updated

26 December 2025

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