used the 2400 white wind rider completing the Appalachian trail, 3400 black on yoyo the Arizona trail, both worked well without damaging the mesh. used the liteAF on the colorado trail, Northern Arizona trail, and using to attempt the CDT. used the mountain laurel in the pacific crest trail completion and the Tahoe rim trail. moral of the story: try them on at the store with load for comfort!
@@tomsoutdoorsgearguide NYE I received a 15% off deal from REI (big outdoors dealer) so combined with another deal, I bought the HMG SW 4400. All based on your review - That's helpful my friend :)
Some people hate on no load lifters. Since there are no load lifters, the pack compresses and shrinks to be very small, especially in the 40L size. I use the 40L as my main daypack, and do not have issues getting it small enough.
Great review! I was wondering if you’ve managed to include the Unbound into the comparison? I’ve searched around and there’s little reviews of the Unbound. Would be very helpful if you could include one. Again, great review of the bags! Happy New Year!
Thanks for watching! We are still waiting for our Unbound/Headwall shipment to arrive (due Feb), but I look forward to reviewing them once we get our hands on a few and test them in the field 😊
Querry. How do these packs go in 40°c heat with sweaty back. Tossing up between a HMG and a Zpacks arc haul. Leaning towards the Zpacks, just cause of the back air gap. Someone smarter than I, needs to develop, a hybrid Osprey harness with a light sack on the back. If someone managed that, theyd own the pack market.
White looks dope, though. Lighter, easier to see in the dark and easier to see if you walk away from it, and you can see your gear much easier inside of it when you’re sifting around.
Hey Jason! Not sure why Hyperlite haven't taped the seam around the shoulders, however, Hyperlite have never claimed their packs to be waterproof, only water resistant. Personally, even if they were 100% waterproof I would still place important items like spare clothing, sleeping bag etc. in a dry bag to protect from a wet tent fly or a leaking food bag etc. But each to their own!
Hey there! The Junction does have a contoured aluminium frame that is removable. The max carry weight depends on which size Junction you are interested in. The load capacity can be found on each pack's product listing on our website or Hyperlite Mountain Gear's website :) www.tomsoutdoors.com.au/collections/hyperlite-mountain-gear
Thanks for the guide! Does the 40L Junction roll down smaller in the same fashion as the 50L if I wanted to shorten it for use on a day hike as well? Thanks!
Great question! We are still waiting for our Unbound 40 stock to arrive so we are yet to compare the packs out field. Put simply, the Unbound 40 is a pack designed with thru-hikers in mind, so there are fully taped seams, dual entry front pocket and generous side pockets etc. Keep an eye on the channel for a comparison video soon.
Hello, I'm currently looking into possibly buying the Southwest but am stuck on whether to get the 3400 or 4400. When you roll them down to their smaller size (AKA not fully packed) what would the dimensions look like? My plan is to use them as a carry-on for flights and check the gear in inside a duffel, only filling them up once I get to my destination. Thanks
Hey there! Both the 3400 and 4400 should be very similar in size once rolled down. It is the back length that would change the dimensions of the pack, as the shoulder straps and hip belt are fixed, if that makes sense. The aluminium stays can be removed so that the bag is similar to a soft duffel, and as long as it is not overpacked and can squish down into the required size dimensions for carry on, should be okay!
if wanting only one get the 4400 for more versatility. I. used the black 4400 wind rider on the AZT with long water carries. worked great comfortable and looks brand new after 1600 miles.
Isn t it anoying that the white color turn fast into dirty color? What can we do against it? It is misfortunately the only deal breaker at the moment. The black one isn t an option for me because it is heavier
Most people don't mind having a pack that looks a little rugged. A patina that can only be earned from good times spent outdoors! You can give it a scrub when you return from your hike but it's going to collect some slight evidence of use eventually. It's definitely worth considering that the black packs are 150 denier vs 50 denier on most white packs.
Hey there! Unfortunately we haven't walked the Santiago de Compostela route so can't recommend a pack for this specific route. It also depends on the other gear you have and your personal preference of pocket configuration on the front of the bags. If you have the opportunity definitely find a store near you that sells Hyperlite and go and try some packs on!
