Backpack recommendations

Hi all, didn't see any recent relevant threads. I was about to pull the trigger on an HMG 55L before I noticed that they don't come with load adjusters. The pack will be primarily used for 3-4 day backpacking trips to basecamps with 1-2 days of rock climbing (standard sierra fare). Curious if folks have any recommendations. Looking for ~55L, framed, load adjusters, ideally near 2 lb's, <$400ish. Hoping to support a USA made cottage brands but haven't completely ruled out the big boys. I'm willing to pay a little extra for increased durability. Thanks!

The ULA Equipment Circuit is a pretty sweet pack if you're good to go a little lighter in terms of load. It's got a pretty minimalist frame and it's actually lower-volume than the HMGs, but I've heard that it's a great pack. My friend used hers for the entirety of the AT, plus a bunch of other adventures in different climates, and it's still going strong. I almost got it over my HMG Southwest 55, but the waterproof fabric ended up being a difference-maker for me.

The lack of load lifters on the HMG packs has killed them as an option for me.  The alternative for me has been CiloGear. Very happy with the durability of my Cilogear MOB material backpacks. I recently hauled my 30L for 3 pitches of a 7 pitch route and there's not a mark on it. 

The size you are looking at would come with a frame, it's a USA made cottage company, and has load lifters. It's worth a look. If they fit you well, they carry a load very very well. 

The Cilogear's look cool but appear to be closer to 4 lbs and I think they're only selling the 800$ version right now. Seems like they're sometimes hard to get a pack from as well

I'm using an HMG 70L Porter as an approach pack in the Sierra that can carry all my toys to a basecamp and then I pair it with a smaller 20L pack for rock climbing or day hikes from basecamp. I totally agree, load lifters are sweet, I even added them to my pack (if you look around on the internet, there's other people who have done this) but I didn't find that they made much of a difference at least so far. I just changed the way that I packed, with more of the lighter weight stuff on top. If you do go HMG, know that functionally a 70L HMG is more comparable to a normal 55L pack with an extension collar. When I was shopping, I got a few different packs and filled them up. For example, a 55L Patagonia Ascensionist will carry about the same as a 70L HMG. This is because the patagonia pack has an extension collar as most packs do which adds more capacity, and it appears they are measured for volume prior to taking into account the extension collar. HMG measures capacity by filling the pack to the brim and gently closing the clips at the top with no roll-down. Cilogear is great too, I previously used a 40B, which carried well and likely functioned better as an actual climbing pack as it had an internal strap that pulled the load directly to the aluminum stay that rested between your shoulders (really cool feature that I wish more companies thought about). Both Cilogear and HMG fit me very well as the shoulder straps hang nearly straight down which fits my shoulders as they have developed as a climber. Patagonia and BD packs in the medium/large tend to fit me terribly as the shoulder straps jut dramatically outward and seem to be made for someone built like a linebacker. I can't really wear them even hiking without using the chest strap which is not ideal as it can put more weight on your chest/lungs... I probably have narrow shoulders. I'd also check out those newer Blue Ice Stache packs too as an option.  

Jon.R wrote:

The Cilogear's look cool but appear to be closer to 4 lbs and I think they're only selling the 800$ version right now. Seems like they're sometimes hard to get a pack from as well

There's enough modularity in the 45L worksack that if you strip it down to match the features of a Hyperlite, it's probably 2.5lbs. On their website the 45L MOB is $569, which is more than I thought it was. I believed it was $499 when I made the recommendation. I did have to wait a few weeks when I bought my 30:30 MOB from Cilo direct. I bought a 30L MOB from an actual retailer and that process was very fast. But I totally get it if the price and possible wait time kill it for you. I have no dog in the fight.

The Blue Ice Stache 60 is a good option as well, but does have the disadvantage of the worst top lid that has ever been put on a pack in the history of top lids on packs. The hyperlite doesn't have a top lid though, so the Blue Ice without the lid is comparable to the HMG Porter. 

SWD serves the same niche as HMG but does it better (better suspension, load lifters, better fabric) as long as you don’t need specific features (dedicated ice tool carry, ski carry). 

https://www.swdbackpacks.com/ultralight-internal-frame-backpacks

The osprey mutant 52 might work for you at a much lower price that the other packs being recommended.  

Are you looking for a pack to get to Basecamp or a pack to also climb with on big climbs?  Most of what I see up thread are backpacking packs not climbing packs except the hmg prism and cilogear and will at best be annoying to climb with.

BTW, the cilogear pack I owned was the worst pack have owned in 50 years of backpacking and 45 years of climbing.

 I love my HMG 70L for "3-4 day backpacking trips to basecamps with 1-2 days of rock climbing (standard sierra fare)." That said, I don't have patience for things like lifters and hip belts. I cinch up the 70L pack for climbing; it's a little bulky, but better than bringing a separate climbing pack. And I have lots of nice things to say about the repair/warranty folks at HMG. Their packs have never failed me, but I'm regularly irresponsible for letting the packs get eaten by marmots, destroyed by lightning...

Ended up going with the Kakwa 55, will report back once I test it out.

The Chernobyl pack by Cold Cold World is probably the best pack ever made. They are hand made, great value, and bulletproof. 

There is no need for load adjusters on that HMG pack. It carries beautifully. 

Sam Klinger wrote:

The Chernobyl pack by Cold Cold World is probably the best pack ever made. They are hand made, great value, and bulletproof. 

Second this. 

The only thing lacking is a strap across the top to hold a rope, or cinch down gear. But he will add it up on request for a small charge. Also he is willing to be creative with different color schemes than his standard. 

I bring the HMG Porter in a 55L size for 4 night 5 day trips on Mount Baker (and much more) in the Cascades many times each season working as a guide. It’s been reliable for 3 years so far with no signs of wear other than stains.

I frequently load it with 45-55 pounds.

Not having load lifters on the bag has never made a difference to me. 

Dang this does look fantastic AND affordable 

https://durstongear.com/products/kakwa-55?variant=46299854143779

Tell us how those Sierra missions go 

Have to say I’m highly interested in this Durston brand. They very well might be getting some business from me in the future. Would love to hear more reviews. 

Alex Fletcher wrote:

Not having load lifters on the bag has never made a difference to me. 

On a pack that is properly sized to your back length, load lifters are superfluous.  

On a properly sized pack, the shoulder straps stabilize the pack and pull it into your back, and do a better job of it than load lifters.

Load lifters are important on packs that are one-size-fits-all, but HMG packs come in enough back length sizes that you are likely to be able to get a proper fit without load lifters.  

Wanted to give an update/review on the Kakwa. Haven't brought it on a climbing trip yet, but have used it on an overnight and a 3 night grand canyon backpacking trips.

Overall, the pack is remarkably well designed for backpacking, is incredibly light and feels like it's durability shouldn't be a problem for backpacking. I did a 5L water carry on the last day, which is probably pretty close to climbing gear weight and the pack carried great. Obviously folks feel differently and strongly about this but I personally won't buy a backpacking pack without load limiters. While HMG is one of the most popular, most other UL pack brands have added them back in. I typically end up adjusting the load limiters multiple times throughout a trip as I pack my bag differently and the load changes. From a backpacking perspective alone, pack seems 5/5 stars for me.

Some relevant details for climbing (edited):

-no dedicated ice axe carry loop

-not hydration bladder compatible without cutting a hole. There is a port. One water bottle pocket is shallower with an angled opening so taking smart water bottles (tall and skinny) in/out on the go is super easy. I'd be less likely to trust this pocket on a multi-pitch.

-mesh outer  and shoulder pockets would probably get shredded on gnarly bushwhacks or getting dragged up a chimney

-55L seems fine if your kit is reasonably dialed (down sleeping bag, nalgene sized sleeping pad etc.). If you're reading this forum post it probably already is. I wouldn't have been able to fit my "starter" backpacking gear in here.

-At 5'6", I wouldn't want to climb in the 55L pack. Maybe if you're a big person the pack would feel smaller and more reasonable but the frame extends above my shoulders and would feel pretty bulky. If you take the frame and back panel out, it feels more like a ~35L pack in size. Still too big for climbing anything hard in my book, but probably fine on more moderate routes. The large hip belt pockets work great for sunscreen snacks on the go etc. but they would get in the way of your harness unless you clipped them behind the pack. This seems like it would work but I wouldn't want to use the pack if there was any chimney climbing for fear of damaging the hip belt/mesh outer. If an objective had harder free climbing, I'd most likely end up bringing a summit pack of some kind.

Jon.R wrote:

Wanted to give an update/review on the Kakwa. Haven't brought it on a climbing trip yet, but have used it on an overnight and a 3 night grand canyon backpacking trips.

Overall, the pack is remarkably well designed for backpacking, is incredibly light and feels like it's durability shouldn't be a problem for backpacking. I did a 5L water carry on the last day, which is probably pretty close to climbing gear weight and the pack carried great. Obviously folks feel differently and strongly about this but I personally won't buy a backpacking pack without load limiters. While HMG is one of the most popular, most other UL pack brands have added them back in. I typically end up adjusting the load limiters multiple times throughout a trip as I pack my bag differently and the load changes. From a backpacking perspective alone, pack seems 5/5 stars for me.

Some relevant details for climbing:

-no dedicated ice axe carry loop

-not hydration bladder compatible without cutting a hole. One water bottle pocket is shallower with an angled opening so taking smart water bottles (tall and skinny) in/out on the go is super easy. I'd be less likely to trust this pocket on a multipitch.

-mesh outer  and shoulder pockets would probably get shredded on gnarly bushwhacks or getting dragged up a chimney

-55L seems fine if your kit is reasonably dialed (down sleeping bag, nalgene sized sleeping pad etc.). If you're reading this forum post it probably already is. I wouldn't have been able to fit my "starter" backpacking gear in here.

-At 5'6", I wouldn't want to climb in the 55L pack. Maybe if you're a big person the pack would feel smaller and more reasonable but the frame extends above my shoulders and would feel pretty bulky. The large hip belt pockets work great for sunscreen snacks on the go etc. but they would get in the way of your harness unless you clipped them behind the pack or something. Depending on objective, I'd most likely end up bringing a summit pack of some kind.

Thanks for the review! If you manage to hook up an ice axe carry could you please post it?

I don’t have the pack, but would it be possible to rip or cut the the side seams for that flap circled in red to create an area to pass the picks of an axe/tool through? If so, I’d imagine some shock cord around the compression strap would be enough to hold the handles and shaft upright. Durability could be an issue.

I have that pack (love it for my use cases) and you probably could cut those "seams" that you refer to and make a janky loose pick tunnel, but they're actually pleats, not seams, to give that back pocket more volume. Its much simpler to just use the small webbing loops at the base of the back pocket to tie on a small loop of paracord and use a classic ice axe carry style with the head through the loop and shaft captured by a bungee or cord loop with hook thats attached to another webbing loop higher up near the compression strap. This is what I've done and it works great.

Obviously this attachment style is more for the approach than for actually climbing with, due to it being much harder to access the axe while its on your back. However its not really my first choice of pack for anything that I'd feel the need to be pulling axes while its still on my back. The excellent frame that transfers the load so well and keeps it stable while hiking and scrambling, is inherently pretty limiting when moving into actual climbing terrain. Definitely a pack that is designed more for backpacking and high routes (more walking movement than climbing movement, up to 3rd, maybe a touch of 4th class), compared to traverses (more 4th and low 5th class) and actual climbing. 

Also for what its worth, my version (perhaps 1 generation before the current gen) is hydration compatible, has a port on the side near where the shoulder straps meet the shroud. Id be surprised if he removed that feature in the update, especially since the website still states hydration bladder compatibility.