Hyperlite Mountain Gear

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the long term durability of hyperlite mountain gear packs. I am a new owner of a southwest 2400 in the black all 150 denier fabric.
In particular I'm wondering how the 150 denier polyester fabric on the HMG pack compares to the 210 denier gridstop fabric that you see on lots of ultralight packs like the ULA packs.

I have a 2400 SW that I've abused for ~4 years. The first two years I used that pack almost every day between riding to work and climbing. I still use it ~3 days a week and it's finally starting to break down. Worth the money in my mind, and I'll get another when I finally bury this one.

My dyneema summit pack was awesome for 3 ish years.
Expected it to last a lot longer, honestly. Not sure if I'll buy again but it isn't entirely off the table I guess if I see one used or get a good sale

That said - best pack I've ever had other than the pitiful durability. (Only being so harsh because the bag was marketed as durable and half of it disintegrated)

Amazing pack, but got destyroyed with normal use in about 2-3 ice seasons ( used only in winter )

Anyone else out there have any more experience with these? Specifically as a crag bag as well as carrying a lot of trad gear?

b k wrote:

Anyone else out there have any more experience with these? Specifically as a crag bag as well as carrying a lot of trad gear?

If you're putting a ton of heavy stuff in a pack, I wouldn't use a pack that's optimized for lightness of weight. Get an actual burly crag bag that survives being inadvertently being pushed off a cliff. If you're hiking across the country, think about about a lighter weight bag.

Long Ranger wrote:

If you're putting a ton of heavy stuff in a pack, I wouldn't use a pack that's optimized for lightness of weight. Get an actual burly crag bag that survives being inadvertently being pushed off a cliff. If you're hiking across the country, think about about a lighter weight bag.

Some of these are rated to carry 60 plus pounds. 

I’ve had the 70L Ice Pack for a long time, I’ve put a ton of days on it in the mountains and it’s still going strong. It carries weight really well when carrying overnight gear up and over a route. And it packs down super nice when I’m leaving a camp behind that I had to carry up. This is really what it is design for, and for that, I think it’s best in class. 

However, I would totally not use it as a crag bag. Aside from being on a fast track to destruction, it’s really just not the tool for the job.  For a crag bag, I’m looking for features like an unzipping back panel, external and internal organizer pockets, etc. The HMG is the polar opposite of this (by design). I actually don’t really care if my crag bag is light or carries weight super well, because the walks are usually short. I use the  Blue Ice Octopus as a crag bag and am really happy with it. 

b k wrote:

Some of these are rated to carry 60 plus pounds. 

If you’re trying to turn 40/30 into 30/20, then ultralight is right.  If you’re planning on carrying 60, then an ultralight pack is potentially a risky wasted effort.  The delta between burly and ultralight would not be noticed.  Durability and comfort would be the overriding factors for a pack to carry 60 lbs of gear.   

Ive had  a dozen different bags over the years and I don't like having more than 1 bag for everything.  Crag bag, trad/wall bag, bolting bag, backcountry camping bag, etc.  It has served me well, but obviously results in burning through bags much quicker. I can always get a haul bag, which will last forever, but they are so damn heavy.  So far my favorites for this "all-in-one" approach have been the Crux AK-70 and the Arcteryx Nozone 55 & 75.  If they made the Metolius Freerider pack in a 65 liter version, or a haul pack around that size, I would buy it in a split second and be done with it. Hyperlite seems to project this aura that their bags are indestructible. Was wondering if that was just BS.

Def not indestructible and no laminated composite fabric will ever be.

If you want one bag to rule them all, McHale come to mind if you can both 1) navigate diplomatic conversations with Dan and 2) deal with the sticker shock. Neither are trivial, but the bags are the lightest and most capable indestructible option around. 

b k wrote:

Some of these are rated to carry 60 plus pounds. 

It's more application -- THAT much abrasion is just not a place I'd champion DCF. Like ask yourself: have you ever seen a DCF haul bag? Look at this pack: 

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/122986768/the-wallpinist-65l-dyneema-haul-bag

I know it says "Dyneema", but we'll have to ask the maker what the black stuff is. If it's Challenge 800, that's really tough shit (and pricey). He's using it to replace that vinyl tarpaulin that was originaly sourced from truck liner material. I still wouldn't use it personally, except for the right project -- but where "every ounce matters" and "still needing to bring a haul bag" is a small overlap. Backpacks for long trails are made with 200 or even 100 Challenge. 

A lot of pack makers -- basically everyone except HMG -- have moved away from DCF as a pack material. HMG just has an excellent relationship with their supplier. I could see suggesting using HMG products for many applications, but trad haul bag... I think there are better options for your upfront investment in $$$ that are far more repairable with a simple patch. DCF is repairable, but the repair is slapping DCF tape on it. For a crag bag, man I dunno. Get something you can sew a patch on.  Even a bag made of X-Pak I think hits a good price for performance balance.

Long Ranger wrote:

It's more application -- THAT much abrasion is just not a place I'd champion DCF. Like ask yourself: have you ever seen a DCF haul bag? Look at this pack: 

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/122986768/the-wallpinist-65l-dyneema-haul-bag

I know it says "Dyneema", but we'll have to ask the maker what the black stuff is. If it's Challenge 800, that's really tough shit (and pricey). He's using it to replace that vinyl tarpaulin that was originaly sourced from truck liner material. I still wouldn't use it personally, except for the right project -- but where "every ounce matters" and "still needing to bring a haul bag" is a small overlap. Backpacks for long trails are made with 200 or even 100 Challenge. 

A lot of pack makers -- basically everyone except HMG -- have moved away from DCF as a pack material. HMG just has an excellent relationship with their supplier. I could see suggesting using HMG products for many applications, but trad haul bag... I think there are better options for your upfront investment in $$$ that are far more repairable with a simple patch. DCF is repairable, but the repair is slapping DCF tape on it. For a crag bag, man I dunno. Get something you can sew a patch on.  Even a bag made of X-Pak I think hits a good price for performance balance.

Thank you. I will stay away from HMG for my needs. Currently exploring McHale. Extremely pricey but for what I use my packs for, probably worth it.

There is a new breed of packs made from aluula composite, which is a more stable fully woveb dyneema laminate(without delamination issues). Currently only the italian "parbat design" brand makes alpine bags(but they are highly rated by hardcore expedition leaders: feedingtheratsexpedition ), Also arcteryx will join the club in 2025 with their alpha range backpacks made from this material. 

Also there are other high-end a brands who are utilizibg DCF Poly laminate for alpine backpacks, for example Samaya which is an well-regarded  european,cottage brand, used by a lot of pros. (altough requirements may differ for a day2day backpack 

The kite boarding world has a lot of experience with aluula fabrics, and the opinion over there is definitely mixed. Maybe it will work out fine with the lower seam stress of packs, but seems like you might have to baby it like the challenge ultraweaves. 

Just to be pedantic, the Canadian brand Durston also makes an Aluula material pack called the Wapta, 

https://durstongear.com/products/wapta-30-ultralight-backpack

(Aluula being a Canadian company as well)

Bel Aoros wrote:

Also there high-end a brands  DCF Poly laminate, for example Samaya which is an europe, cottage brand, which is used by a lot of pros, altough maybe that may not be a good marker for a robust daily backpack.

It would be fair to call Hyperlite Mountain Gear's packs "DCF Poly laminate" 

https://hyperlitemountaingear.com/pages/dyneema-hyperlite-mountain-gear-technology

You'll see it listed as different weights. "DCH50" and "DCH150". That primarily corresponds to the thickness of the poly of the laminate: 50 denier vs. 150 denier for the poly. "CH" = "Composite Hybrid"

You may also see "DCHW" which HMG doesn't use much. Sometimes it's utilized on the bottom  of the pack for extra durability. It's late and my memory is hazy, but I believe they use a woven dyneema rather than woven polyester. Pricey stuff. 

again if weight's not critical, I wouldn't spend $400+ on a pack to drop a few ounces, esp when there are cheaper alts that will last a lot longer. Get something made out of vinyl-laminated nylon and call it good. It'll survived being thrown off a 20 pitch climb and keep your lunch safe from the errant crag dog. Save you a few hundred in the process and outlast you.

Talked to a guy at Ouray last season about the HMG pack he had, only "complaint" he had was how "loud" it was... but reading this thread with interest.