Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Ultralight Backpack Evaluate

Backside Line

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) Southwest 55 is a long-standing winner within the ultralight backpack world. 

The Dyneema building supplies unparalleled climate safety and sturdiness, eliminating the necessity for a pack liner. Big exterior pockets and a minimalist design present ample accessible house for each day necessities.

Whereas the premium worth level facilities round its superior supplies and building, the Southwest 55 is a worthwhile funding for devoted backpackers who demand constant efficiency in difficult circumstances. We’ve witnessed this pack maintain up over hundreds of miles of abuse on the PCT and Colorado Path, translating to distinctive long-term worth for severe customers.

Some doable downsides embody the comparatively skinny shoulder straps, which might create strain factors above 30-pound masses, and the minimalist group system that will not go well with these preferring quite a few small pockets. Nonetheless, for knowledgeable ultralight backpackers prioritizing sturdiness and climate safety, the Southwest 55L units a compelling commonplace in our information to one of the best ultralight backpacks.

consolation

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L delivers succesful carrying consolation by way of its minimalist but strategic design, although it prioritizes ultralight efficiency over most cushioning. The shoulder straps make the most of skinny however dense padding that proves surprisingly comfy underneath average masses, although we seen elevated strain factors when pushing past 30 kilos. The hipbelt’s dual-density foam building—combining 1/8-inch inflexible foam with 1/4-inch closed cell foam—creates a secure and cozy basis that successfully transfers weight to the hips.

The pack’s consolation facilities round its clever suspension design. Two detachable aluminum stays create wonderful construction and cargo switch with out requiring conventional load lifters – a testomony to the refined geometry of the body system. The pure curvature maintains sufficient separation from the again for satisfactory air flow throughout difficult ascents, although it doesn’t present the identical airflow as mesh trampoline designs. This minimal body design successfully balances weight financial savings and carrying consolation, permitting the pack to maneuver naturally along with your physique whereas sustaining stability on technical terrain.

The spacer mesh on the shoulder straps and hipbelt successfully manages moisture and supplies supplemental cushioning with out including bulk. We notably recognize that the skinny however succesful padding permits for a wonderful vary of movement and pack management throughout scrambles and stream crossings. 

Whereas the minimalist padding reveals its limitations underneath heavy masses, the general consolation system excels when used inside its meant ultralight parameters – making it a wonderful alternative for knowledgeable backpackers who preserve disciplined pack weights under 30 kilos.

Performance

The HMG Southwest 55 contains a minimalist group system that favors high quality over amount. The pack closes with a normal roll-top design that fastens on the pack’s aspect. This creates a clean, unobstructed high panel for sleeping pads or bear canisters whereas securing them with the highest strap.

The pack’s exterior storage is easy and well-executed. A spacious entrance pocket holds all of the each day necessities, whereas the 2 aspect pockets supply quick access to water bottles on the go. The aspect pockets are additionally fairly tall, making wonderful storage for trekking poles or tent stakes. The hipbelt pockets are nicely positioned and have good capability, simply swallowing bigger smartphones, snacks, sun shades, and snacks. An inner hydration sleeve accommodates massive bladders, and an ice axe loop extends versatility into technical terrain.

We recognize how the Southwest 55 embraces a “much less is extra” strategy to group. Fairly than cluttering the design with quite a few small compartments, the pack supplies fewer however extra substantial pockets. This philosophy not solely reduces weight but in addition simplifies gear group and entry – a profit we’ve discovered notably worthwhile throughout lengthy days on path.

Water Resistance

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L stands out as some of the weather-resistant packs we’ve examined, due to its Dyneema building. Throughout our intensive water publicity assessments, the pack proved mainly impermeable – just about no moisture penetrated the principle compartment even when soaked.

The pack’s superior climate resistance stems from its Dyneema Composite Cloth (DCF), which supplies inherent waterproofing with out requiring extra coatings or therapies. That is notably worthwhile for long-term sturdiness, as conventional waterproof coatings typically degrade.

One minor consideration we found throughout testing entails the aspect pocket design. The absence of drainage holes means water can pool in these pockets throughout heavy precipitation. The material will drain the water finally, however preliminary pooling will happen.

The HMG Southwest is one among few packs that you would safely skip utilizing a pack liner. Nonetheless, we nonetheless suggest utilizing waterproof stuff sacks for vital gadgets throughout prolonged wet-weather expeditions. With the Southwest and all ultralight packs, this stage of built-in climate resistance is a minor trade-off for weight financial savings.

Building

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L showcases distinctive building high quality that balances sturdiness with weight financial savings. With a weight-to-capacity ratio of 0.6 ounces per liter, it sits on the higher finish of the ultralight spectrum – however the added ounces translate instantly into enhanced sturdiness and climate resistance that we’ve discovered invaluable on long-distance trails.

The pack’s physique is wholly constructed of Dyneema Composite Hybrid (DCH) cloth, roughly 15 occasions stronger than metal by weight! You gained’t simply bust holes by way of this pack. 

The pack can also be accessible in two variations—black and white. The white model employs 50-denier DCH for the principle physique and reinforces the underside with 150-denier materials. If most sturdiness is your precedence, go together with the black model, which makes use of 150-denier all through. We’ve put hundreds of miles on the white Southwest, and it’s nonetheless holding up.

This pack is constructed to endure years of heavy use whereas remaining true to ultralight rules—a steadiness notoriously tough to realize in pack design.

Ought to You Purchase The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Ultralight Backpack?

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L is purpose-built for knowledgeable backpackers who prioritize light-weight sturdiness and climate safety of their gear decisions. This pack notably shines for long-distance thru-hikers, backcountry fans in difficult climate circumstances, and people who recognize minimalist design paired with considerate performance

The Southwest 55L is a big funding, however its sturdiness and efficiency justify the worth level for the correct person. The pack’s use of high-quality supplies alone creates long-term worth for many who log severe path miles or continuously enterprise into harsh circumstances. Should you’re tough on gear, the sturdiness of DCH is a no brainer.

Backpackers preferring quite a few organizational choices or require substantial padding for heavier masses would possibly discover higher choices elsewhere. Moreover, budget-conscious hikers who don’t want the last word in climate safety might discover comparable performance in additional reasonably priced packs.

What Different Ultralight Backpacks Ought to You Take into account?

For our tackle another choices, see under or take a look at our full information to one of the best ultralight backpacks.

HMG Southwest 40L, 70L – This pack additionally is available in a 40 liter and 70 liter model. The 40 liter shall be barely lighter and extra streamlined whereas the 70 will clearly be capable of carry far more gear for longer journeys. 

HMG Unbound 40 Evaluate – The Unbound is a reasonably new product for Hyperlite – taking their tried and true basis of the Southwest sequence and including a couple of extra options like extra pockets and bolstered seams.
Durston Kakwa 55 Evaluate – The Kakwa 55 is equally waterproof and sturdy, however comes at a a lot smaller worth level.