Pack comparison - mountain laurel vs hyperlite

[Desk Jockey]

I am thinking about adding an ultra lite pack to the stable. It would replace my Metcalf as a backpacking rig and get used for scouting and select hunts where it would be suitable.

I have been doing research and am focusing on these two packs:

Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 55L

EXODUS 55L | 3500 CI

The unisex Exodus 58L | 3500 CI pack is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made, which might just explain why it won Backpacker Mag...

mountainlaureldesigns.com

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400

Southwest

Built to withstand rugged trails, the Southwest features solid Dyneema® pockets for maximum durability. Available in 40, 55, & 70L for any demanding adventure.

www.hyperlitemountaingear.com

The MLD is crazy light but lacks any sort of frame or stays and is rated to 25#. the Hyperlite is 2.5#, has some stays and is rated to 40#.

Anyone owned / used one or both of these that offer thoughts?

 

[fngTony]

I’m considering something similar for the same reasons. The hyper lite would get my vote because of the increased weight rating. In the summer I always start with two liters (4.4lbs) of water which would be a fourth of the mld.

 

[duchntr]

I own a 3400 ice pack from HMG. I use it for ski touring, upland bird and winter predator hunting. Don't think I ever put 40Lbs in it but for a normal load out it is really comfortable and so far has been pretty durable.

 

[Eric4]

I recently received my 3F UL Trajectory 35L in multicam Xpac. It was ~$110 when I ordered on aliexpress.

Link to pack

28oz - Comes with a center aluminum framestay that's quite nice. The hip belt is adjustable via two separate straps to sit on your hip comfortably. Cordura bottom, which should be plenty durable. The mesh on the front doesn't feel too weak, but if you're crawling through brush, I wouldn't expect it to survive long.

It can also be stripped down to 16oz by removing hip belt, framestay, upper back padding, and elastic cordage. All of these are non-permanent removals.

Just got the pack the other day, and haven't used it with much weight in it yet, but I'll report back when I do.

 

[Beendare]

I've played with a similar version of frameless pack. Its not suitable for hunting purposes IMO. The extra pound [or so] for a frame is worth it IMO

 

[Desk Jockey]

I've played with a similar version of frameless pack. Its not suitable for hunting purposes IMO. The extra pound [or so] for a frame is worth it IMO

Thanks and noted. If I used it on a hunt it would be for super light overnights where hauling meat wasn’t a need.

It’s an interesting exercise to go through even to learn. The lightweight guys are really dialed in on some things and just researching has led me to question some gear choices.

 

[Elkangle]

What about attaching the mld to a kifaru ultralight frame?? I've been considering this as it would double as a carry on and then I could have the hard frame in my luggage...also I like the layout

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Funny you ask this question. My front yard is part of the unofficial cdt trail. To be fair it’s not but a lot of people do the town route and hook back onto it a few miles up the road.


Anyways a real nice guy was walking by yesterday and I chatted for a wee bit. He had a hmg 3400. Perfect for a crazy minimalist. He had his kit sorted to perfection.

No way would I want to rock 40 in it. 30 would be pushing it.

A Kuiu frame/harness with super strategic pad cutting and a custom roll too dyneema bag could be super lightweight.

 

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Ndbowhunter hopefully someday I’ll get to walk past your front yard lol the cdt is a life goal of mine

 

[Floorguy]

I was just given a HMG 2400 Southwest. The shoulder pads are straight and not S shaped so far I am digging the pack I don't think I will ever get to the 40lb weight limit. There aren't any horizontal stays so it could barely depending on how it gets loaded. I might see what I can do to attach it to my SO evolution frame.

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[LASTINLINE]

been on a quest for a lightweight frameless also. the ali express 3F UL prices have gone up in the last month. for not much more you can get a Zimmerbuilt or Superior Wilderness Designs. theres so many options though my head is spinning. if you wanna understand the frameless pack world i suggest getting on YOUTUBE and watching the thru hiker videos. they seam to have lots of experience with those style packs.

 

[Desk Jockey]

been on a quest for a lightweight frameless also. the ali express 3F UL prices have gone up in the last month. for not much more you can get a Zimmerbuilt or Superior Wilderness Designs. theres so many options though my head is spinning. if you wanna understand the frameless pack world i suggest getting on YOUTUBE and watching the thru hiker videos. they seam to have lots of experience with those style packs.

Thanks. I am soaking it in. Some good gear sites and gear lists output there. I have added gossamer gear and zpack to my consideration set. Trying not to drop too far down this rabbit hole but there is a whole world of ultralight that I haven’t paid attention to. Heading into the Grand Canyon for 4 nights on Friday with my brother. My Metcalf is 35 pounds loaded. My brothers HMG is 20. Lots of gear choices informing those weights but it tells me that their is a lot of room for economy. I sure some of the weight savings wouldn’t be useful for hunting but some of them absolutely would.

 

[McD18]

I have the Hyperlite pack and love it. I haven't hunted with it (yet) but it's been great for backpacking. I'm planning to give it a go in a few months to see how it works out and to see if I need another pack or not.

I think it's quite comfortable.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

I think if ur gonna try to hunt with a frameless pack ya might want to figure out how to make a deer backpack.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Ndbowhunter hopefully someday I’ll get to walk past your front yard lol the cdt is a life goal of mine

Blessing and a curse this time of year. Hard to get yard work done when so many people I just got to talk to. Haven’t a clue wtf is up with the ear bud kooks. They got them in way back off the grid in the Gila too when I see em. Take the person out of the city but not the city out of the person. Maybe sometime on the trail they’ll embrace the solitude.

To be fair i’d Rather spend the 3 months it takes deep in the bush in New Zealand hunting and fishing instead of just walking along some damn trail.

 

[Desk Jockey]

After a bit of research and shopping I pulled the trigger on a gossamer gear Mariposa. I looked into hyperlite, MLD, seek outside, granite gear, REI, zpacks, my trails and a few others.

Hyperlite was my second choice but it gets dinged for carrying comfort and the dyneema seems to be prone to wear and punctures. Seek outside was also a finalist but it is more than a pound heavier and I wanted something with a significant weight savings advantage. The gossamer has a lot of industry awards and got high marks for carrying comfort, durability and it is 2# with a hip belt.

Mariposa 60 Backpack

This world-famous pack weighs a little and hauls a lot. Recycled Robic nylon resists cuts and tears. Ample pockets make organization a breeze. The Mariposa is sized for big trips, bear canisters, and serious mileage. An S-curve harness and load lifters provide even weight distribution, and...

www.gossamergear.com

It has a max rating of 35-40#s so I don’t see it replacing my precious mystery ranch hunting packs but I am going to try this out on some Summer backpacking trips and see what I can learn about lightening my load.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Gossamer pack arrived today. Light as heck. 2# with the hip belt. After years of .mil packs and then hunting packs the hardware and overall build just feel dinky. Tiny buckles, thin webbing and lightweight fabric. I get it. That is the way it is supposed to be. Just enough to haul ~30# or so and last a reasonable length of time.

I am going to use it on my next few backpacking trips to see what I can learn about going light weight.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I have the HMG Porter 4400. While I wouldn't use it for mountain hunting, as I often end up with over a 100 lb pack, it is great for general backpacking, packrafting and scouting. I went on a 6 mile, 3,000 ft hike the other day with 40 lbs in it. The pack carried absolutely fine. I would recommend the 4400 over the 3400, as you quickly run out of room. The bag is alot narrower than the Stone Glacier Sky 5900 that I am used too. You can really suck the 440 down into a daypack when it is not full.

 

[Floorguy]

I took my HMG 2400 Southwest on Ressurection trail last week with a group of teens. One of the dads overpacked and to get him to make it I took his tent. A circa 1990's REI Camp Dome 4 man. That sucker weighed somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds with steel stakes and everything. Honestly as to comfort even being right around the limit for the pack it never felt uncomfortable but I will say with just my load it was awesome. Here are some pics.

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[North61]

If it fit me (My back is too long) this is what I'd go with in the light weight category that still might take 60 pound loads

https://sectionhiker.com/sierra-designs-flex-capacitor-backpack-review/