That is an in-depth assessment of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Backpack in 2023. That is the newest ultralight backpack from Hyperlite Mountain Gear and presumably the perfect up to now.
Should you’re bored with carrying a heavy backpack loaded stuffed with an excessive amount of gear and wish to lighten your load, then a light-weight backpack might be one thing you will have. And the New HMG Unbound 40L Backpack is their finest effort but. This 40-liter pack is just not solely ultralight however waterproof and has some useful options that almost all different packs do not need.
I’ve hiked virtually 10000 miles / 16000 km in the previous couple of years on most of the finest thru-hiking trails on the earth. I’ve used and examined many of the finest backpacks that you could purchase. In consequence, I do know what separates backpack from a median one.
So, I going to check out the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Backpack and see in the event that they ship one of many finest ultralight backpacks available on the market in 2023.
In-Depth Overview: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L 2023
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Overview
Weight: 30.1 oz / 853.3 grams
Professionals:
> Light-weight
> Waterproof
> Good entry to aspect pockets
> A number of exterior storage choices
> Snug even with a little bit of weight within the pack
> Very Sturdy
Cons:
>Not good for anybody who desires to hold a variety of gear
>Solely are available 40L Capability
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L is an ultralight backpack focused at anybody desirous to lighten their load on their subsequent in a single day backpacking journey or multi-month thru-hike.
Though it’s referred to as the Unbound 40L, it has a complete of 49-liter capability. With a 40L capability in the primary bag and 9L of storage within the aspect and rear pockets.
This smaller-sized pack won’t be for everybody. However after getting a light-weight and compact sleep system, have eliminated all of your unneeded luxurious gadgets, and wish to set off with minimal stress in your physique then that is for you.
With a number of exterior storage areas, it’s excellent for locating a spot on your moist rain jacket after that brief rain bathe. Talking of rain, relaxation assured that your gear will keep dry on this waterproof backpack that even has seam sealing to make sure your gear stays dry.
The aspect pockets are the right place for carrying a number of liters of water throughout that dry desert part of the path. Hyperlite Mountain Gear actually put some thought and energy into the exterior storage areas on this pack.
Total, that is the right backpack for thru-hiking or these shorter multiday backpacking journeys the place you don’t have an excessive amount of stuff. An actual favourite for minimalists.
Body, Harness, and Hipbelt
The backpack is held in form by a verticle aluminum keep that’s surrounded by 1/4 inch foam after which lined with the Dyneema Materials. This mixture does job to maintain the pack in its unique form.
The Shoulder Harness is comfy and has the choice of including some extras to help you customise your pack harness. Objects similar to a digicam pod, shoulder strap bag, or a small fanny bag such because the vice versa that may strap throughout the sternum strap give added gear carrying flexibility.
It’s refreshing that the hip belt comes with waterproof aspect pockets. I like these. Excellent for cash, keys, lip balm, sunscreen, snacks, telephones, headphones and a lot extra. It’s even large enough to suit most ultracompact Climbing Cameras. They arrive full with a water-proof zip and are large enough to maintain most individuals pleased. And if you wish to be ultralight, you possibly can take away it, or exchange it which is an effective possibility if you happen to achieve or shed extra pounds. Or perhaps you wish to share the pack with a number of individuals.
Weight
At 30.1 ounces or 853 grams which locations this backpack on the heavier finish of ultralight backpacks, however properly inside the light-weight backpack class. There are lots of different backpacks available on the market which might be lighter however few might be made in addition to this.
Load carrying base weight
Hyperlite Mountain Gear recommends that the Unbound 40L backpack has a load restrict of round 40 lb / 18 kg. With a light-weight base weight of round 10 lb / 4.5 kg and beneath this backpack hardly looks like it’s in your again. It’s tremendous comfy and does job of distributing many of the load onto the hip belt.
After I examined the backpack with heavier hundreds I discovered it was capable of carry the hundreds fairly properly. Like all ultralight backpacks, you should be cautious when packing. You have to guarantee there aren’t any sharp objects towards your again. Though there’s a padded part between your gear and your again, it’s only 1/4 of froth, so not ok to cease an object like your cooking pot from poking into your again. Pack your backpack fastidiously.
If you’re seeking to purchase a backpack like this, then you have already got light-weight mountain climbing gear or might be shopping for some quickly. Simply don’t have heavy gear on this pack, decide to carrying much less and you’ll love the HMG Unbound 40L Backpack.
Materials
The HMG Unbound 40L backpack makes use of a few completely different supplies, specifically Dyneema Composite Hybrid Materials on the primary physique of the pack, Dyneema Stretch Mesh on the again and backside pockets, Hardline with Dyneema on the straps, nylon daisy chain webbing and nylon elastic compression straps on the aspect to safe your water bottle, tent poles or trekking poles.
Dyneema Composite Hybrid Materials in two completely different weights, specifically DCH50 and DCH150. The Dyneema Composite Hybrid Materials is stronger and extra abrasion resistant than regular Dyneema Composite Fiber.
Regular Dyneema Composite Fiber is 100% waterproof, however the hybrid development of the fabric is just not 100%. For many functions, it’s so near 100% waterproof that you must fear an excessive amount of about your gear in a rain storm. Simply don’t use the backpack as a floatation gadget on a river. Or use a dry again when canyoning or pack rafting.
Throughout preliminary testing, there was no rain. So I loaded the pack with all my gear and poured water throughout it. As anticipated all the things stayed dry.
The again pockets and backside pocket makes use of a comparatively new product referred to as Dyneema Stretch Mesh. I’m unable to touch upon the long-term power and sturdiness of this product as there usually are not too many backpacks made with this materials.
Throughout testing, I attempted to poke a gap within the materials with sticks and failed. As I kind up this assessment I made a decision to attempt to poke a gap in it with a pen. The pen was capable of go partway by means of the fabric and be eliminated with out ripping any of the fabric. So, all appears good for the long-term power of the fabric. It’s definitely higher than what most different manufacturers use in the meanwhile. I’m wondering how lengthy earlier than Dyneema Stretch Mesh is extra extensively adopted by different manufacturers.
Dimension and Capability liters
The Hyperlight Mountain Gear Unbound 40L backpack is available in just one measurement, being 49 liters. It has a beneficiant 40 liters of inside storage and 9 liters of exterior storage within the type of rear and aspect pockets.
The design of the pack permits the primary compartment to develop fairly a bit for these occasions you’ll have a giant load to hold. Like the primary day leaving city when thru-hiking. Because of the roll-top design and compression straps the pack might be closed to a smaller measurement when wanted. I’m a fab of roll-top closures on backpacks.
The rear pockets have an uncommon system of three pockets. There’s one important pocket on the rear, one other situated additional down on the rear, and one beneath.
The principle rear stretch pocket makes use of Dyneema Stretch Mesh materials. It’s a beneficiant measurement, sturdy, and has good stretch properties. After I examined this backpack I discovered this pocket to be excellent for storing rain gear, snacks, sunscreen, trash, and bathroom paper.
It is usually linked to a smaller exterior pocket that can be utilized to entry gadgets on the very backside of the primary pocket. The smaller stretch pocket is just not very large however may be used to retailer gadgets similar to gentle snacks, sunscreen, or bathroom paper.
There are additionally some useful daisy chain webbing loops on the again that could possibly be used to connect one thing like a mountain climbing allow tag, hand sanitizer, or comparable. Though there aren’t any ice axe loops I’m positive you would use the webbing to make one thing work. I suppose the daisy chains could possibly be used for something your creativeness decides, a small carabiner with a ingesting mug, perhaps.
As for the pocket beneath the pack, it’s a stretch pocket that opens from one aspect solely. I query the sturdiness of this backside pocket, even whether it is made with Dyneema Stretch Mesh.
Through the testing of this product I might throw the pack on the bottom totally loaded and sit on the bottom with the pack nonetheless on my again I had no points however I’m unsure how the pack would take care of a number of hundred days of me doing this. Having stated that, it’s a good place to retailer one thing like your sleeping pad.
The HMG Unbound 40L options 2 aspect pockets that are a beneficiant measurement and large enough for a few water bottles. I used to be capable of match a 2x 1L bottle in every pocket for a complete of 4 liters of water carrying capability. It could possibly be stretched to hold slightly greater than that if you happen to use water bladders such because the Platypus vary of bladders.
Sturdiness
The pack is made with one of many strongest and most sturdy variations of the Dyneema Cloth. As such this pack is extra sturdy than another Dyneema Backpacks available on the market from different producers. This added sturdiness comes on the slight price of weight. This pack is slightly heavier than comparable designs from different producers. That’s the trade-off with regards to ultralight backpacking. Sturdiness vs weight.
Total, you shouldn’t have any points with this pack. It is rather sturdy. I solely query the long-term sturdiness of the Dyneema Stretch Materials on the underside aspect of the backpack. Time will inform on that one. Having stated that, the Dyneema Stretch materials is a lot better than virtually some other mesh materials that I’ve seen or used.
Water resistance
As talked about within the materials part of this assessment, the fabric is waterproof however not 100%. I might not use this backpack when pack rafting for example. However I’m assured that you should have no points when utilizing this backpack within the rain.
In fact, something on the surface of the pack, whether or not within the aspect pockets or rear pockets will get moist.
Sizes and Match
The HMG Unbound 40L backpack is available in 4 sizes, specifically Small, Medium, Massive and Tall. I discovered the sizes to be precisely as said however with sufficient wiggle room to help you match into a number of sizes, particularly in case you are in-between sizes.
Take a look at the Sizing Information on the HMG Unbound product web page. Search for the hyperlink ‘Assist Me Choose My Dimension‘.
Carrying Water – pockets or water bladder pocket
The Unbound has bigger aspect pockets than their cousins the South West and Windrider. With the bigger aspect pockets comes a greater and safer technique to carry water bottles or a water bladder. There isn’t a potential to connected and use a hydration bladder inside the backpack.
HMG Unbound 40L vs different backpacks
The HMG Unbound is up towards some stiff competitors within the ultralight backpack market. A few of the stiffest competitors comes inside their very own lineup of backpacks, the HMG Southwest, HMG Junction, and HMG Windrider.
It could possibly be stated that the Unbound is a lighter and extra fundamental model of the Junction with extra exterior storage choices and constructed with light-weight thru-hiking in thoughts. And for that perform, this backpack excels.
Value
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L is available in at round $369 on the time of this assessment. That locations it on the larger finish of the value vary for ultralight backpacks. There are a few ultralight backpacks which might be costlier however in my view, the standard of this top-tier backpack makes it value the fee.
Conclusion
The brand new Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Ultralight Backpack is without doubt one of the higher backpacks available on the market in 2023. There’s little or no to fault on this pack and quite a bit to love. For instance, in comparison with different light-weight packs the HMG pack appears to be extra sturdy and may final a bit longer than another packs. However at 49 liters of whole capability, it is vitally a lot for the ultralight backpacker who has already dialed of their ultralight backpacking gear.
Steadily Requested Questions
Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes a number of the finest light-weight and ultralight backpacks available on the market. The brand new Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L is a good light-weight backpack. So is the HMG SouthWest, HMG Windrider, and HMG Junction fashions.
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The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and out of doors gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
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The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an out of doors retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s vital when utilizing and testing gear for evaluations like this.
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