Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35
Ultralight Pack
~$350

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35

The Contour 35 is Hyperlite's frameless fast-and-light pack, and at 15.9 oz it is the only sub-pound pack in this catalog outside the Cotopaxi Batac. Dyneema Composite Fabric makes it effectively waterproof at a weight woven fabrics cannot reach.

Approx. price
~$350
Capacity
35 L
Weight
0.99 lbs
Best For
Fastpacking and low-base-weight trips where every ounce is counted
Buy from Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Price and availability on Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s site may differ.

Type
Ultralight Pack
Frame Type
Frameless
Capacity
35 L
Weight
0.99 lbs
Max Recommended Load
Not specified by the manufacturer
Torso Fit
See manufacturer sizing
Material
DCF with Dyneema Gridstop and stretch mesh
Back Panel
Frameless
Warranty
Manufacturer warranty; terms not published
Raincover Included
No
Fits BV500 Bear Canister
No

Features

Hipbelt Pockets

Pros

  • 15.9 oz makes it the lightest hiking pack in this catalog with a real hipbelt.
  • DCF is waterproof rather than water-resistant, so contents stay dry without a liner.
  • Dyneema Gridstop panels reinforce the areas DCF alone would wear through.
  • Hyperlite's build quality and seam taping are the benchmark in this segment.
  • 35 L is enough for a genuinely light multi-day kit.
  • Stretch mesh front pocket swallows a wet shelter without opening the main bag.
  • Strong resale value, which offsets the price meaningfully.
  • Hyperlite has the deepest track record of any DCF pack maker.

Cons

  • $350 for 35 L and no frame is among the worst price-per-litre in this catalog.
  • Frameless at 35 L means the load rides on the shoulders entirely.
  • No published maximum load figure.
  • DCF creases and abrades at fold lines over time, which is inherent to the fabric.
  • No adjustable torso.
  • Difficult and expensive to repair compared with a woven nylon pack.
  • 35 L cannot take a bear canister with a long food carry.
  • Warranty terms are less generous than the mainstream brands'.

Common Questions

Compare the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 55
~$399
Ultralight Pack

The Windrider is the Southwest with a large mesh front pocket in place of solid Dyneema, so wet gear can drain and dry. The 2025 overhaul moved the line to Dyneema Woven Composite and widened the shoulder straps.

55 L1.83 lbsDyneema Woven Composite with mesh front pocket

Weight

1.83 lbs

Capacity

55 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 40 L / 70 L

Best for: Thru-hikers who want external stowage that drains
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 55
~$399
Ultralight Pack

The Junction sits between the Southwest and Windrider: a hybrid front pocket that is part solid Dyneema and part mesh, aiming to combine the Southwest's durability with the Windrider's drainage. Same 2025 fabric overhaul as the rest of the line.

55 L1.83 lbsDyneema Woven Composite with hybrid front pocket

Weight

1.83 lbs

Capacity

55 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 40 L

Best for: Hikers who want a compromise between drainage and abrasion resistance
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40
~$405
Ultralight Pack

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40

4.8(4)

The Unbound 40 is HMG's fast-and-light pack for dialed kits, with a stretch front pocket and bottom pocket aimed at hikers who move all day and camp minimally. At 40 liters it suits sub-10-lb base weights and shorter resupply intervals.

40 L1.72 lbsFast & Light

Weight

2.16 lbs

Capacity

40 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 55 L

Best for: Dialed ultralighters with sub-10-lb base weights and frequent resupplies
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55
~$420
Ultralight Pack
3.9(8)

The Southwest 55 is Hyperlite Mountain Gear's flagship all-rounder, built in Maine from waterproof Dyneema composite with solid woven pockets for brush country. It's the pack that made white Dyneema the visual signature of modern thru-hiking.

55 L1.85 lbsWaterproof Dyneema

Weight

1.9 lbs

Capacity

55 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 40 L / 70 L

Best for: Thru-hikers who want near-waterproof simplicity and can pay for it
🎒
~$350
Ultralight Pack

The Cutaway is Nashville Pack's frameless 40 L, built around a cutaway front panel that lets the mesh pocket expand rather than being pinched by the pack body. At 22 oz it sits between the Pa'lante V2 and the framed cottage packs.

40 L1.38 lbs210D Venom Gridstop ECO

Weight

1.38 lbs

Capacity

40 L

Frame

Frameless

Best for: Thru-hikers with low base weights who want more volume than a 37 L frameless pack
Six Moon Designs Swift X
~$350
Ultralight Pack

Six Moon Designs

Six Moon Designs Swift X

4.7(42)

The Swift X is the X-Pac version of Six Moon Designs' Swift, using the same Delrin hoop frame as the Swift V but in a waterproof laminate. At 38.8 oz it is heavier than most packs in this segment, which is the cost of the hoop and the fabric.

50 L2.43 lbsX-Pac laminate with Ultra Stretch pockets

Weight

2.43 lbs

Capacity

50 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Hikers wanting a flexible hoop frame in a waterproof laminate