Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 Ultralight Backpack Evaluation

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. Large exterior pockets and a minimalist design present ample accessible area for day by 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 situations. 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 critical customers.

Some potential downsides embody the comparatively skinny shoulder straps, which might create stress factors above 30-pound hundreds, and the minimalist group system that won’t swimsuit these preferring quite a few small pockets. Nevertheless, for skilled ultralight backpackers prioritizing sturdiness and climate safety, the Southwest 55L units a compelling commonplace in our information to the perfect ultralight backpacks.

consolation

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L delivers succesful carrying consolation by 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 snug underneath average hundreds, although we seen elevated stress 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 enough 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 significantly admire that the skinny however succesful padding permits for a superb vary of movement and pack management throughout scrambles and stream crossings. 

Whereas the minimalist padding reveals its limitations underneath heavy hundreds, the general consolation system excels when used inside its meant ultralight parameters – making it a superb alternative for skilled backpackers who keep disciplined pack weights beneath 30 kilos.

Performance

The HMG Southwest 55 encompasses a minimalist group system that favors high quality over amount. The pack closes with a typical roll-top design that fastens on the pack’s facet. This creates a clean, unobstructed prime 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 day by day necessities, whereas the 2 facet pockets provide quick access to water bottles on the go. The facet pockets are additionally fairly tall, making wonderful storage for trekking poles or tent stakes. The hipbelt pockets are properly positioned and have good capability, simply swallowing bigger smartphones, snacks, sun shades, and snacks. An inside hydration sleeve accommodates giant bladders, and an ice axe loop extends versatility into technical terrain.

We admire how the Southwest 55 embraces a “much less is extra” method 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 additionally simplifies gear group and entry – a profit we’ve discovered significantly worthwhile throughout lengthy days on path.

Water Resistance

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

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

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

The HMG Southwest is considered one of few packs that you might safely skip utilizing a pack liner. Nevertheless, we nonetheless suggest utilizing waterproof stuff sacks for essential objects 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 immediately 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 instances stronger than metal by weight! You gained’t simply bust holes by 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 skilled backpackers who prioritize light-weight sturdiness and climate safety of their gear decisions. This pack significantly shines for long-distance thru-hikers, backcountry lovers in difficult climate situations, and people who admire minimalist design paired with considerate performance

The Southwest 55L is a big funding, however its sturdiness and efficiency justify the worth level for the precise person. The pack’s use of high-quality supplies alone creates long-term worth for many who log critical path miles or steadily enterprise into harsh situations. When 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 hundreds would possibly discover higher choices elsewhere. Moreover, budget-conscious hikers who don’t want the last word in climate safety may discover related performance in additional reasonably priced packs.

What Different Ultralight Backpacks Ought to You Contemplate?

For our tackle another choices, see beneath or try our full information to the perfect ultralight backpacks.

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

Hyperlite Unbound 40 Evaluation: 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 further pockets and strengthened seams.

Durston Kakwa 55 Evaluation: The Kakwa 55 is equally waterproof and sturdy, however comes at a a lot cheaper price level.