Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 55
Ultralight Pack
~$399

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 55

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.

Approx. price
~$399
Capacity
55 L
Weight
1.83 lbs
Best For
Thru-hikers who want external stowage that drains
Buy from Hyperlite Mountain Gear

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

Type
Ultralight Pack
Frame Type
Internal Frame
Capacity
55 L
Weight
1.83 lbs
Max Recommended Load
Not specified by the manufacturer
Torso Fit
See manufacturer sizing
Material
Dyneema Woven Composite with mesh front pocket
Back Panel
Removable aluminium stays with foam pad
Warranty
Manufacturer warranty; terms not published
Raincover Included
No
Fits BV500 Bear Canister
No

Sizes Available

CapacityPriceWeight
40 L$399
55 Lthis pack$3991.83 lbs
70 L$399

Features

Hipbelt Pockets

Pros

  • The mesh front pocket drains and dries, which solid-fabric packs cannot do.
  • 29.2 oz for a framed waterproof 55 L pack is excellent.
  • The 2025 Dyneema Woven Composite update is up to ten times more abrasion resistant than the previous fabric.
  • Widened shoulder straps in the 2025 revision address a long-standing complaint.
  • Three volumes from 40 to 70 L on the same design.
  • Removable aluminium stays allow stripping the pack down further.
  • Hyperlite's build quality and seam taping set the benchmark in this segment.
  • Strong resale value offsets the high entry price.

Cons

  • $399 is expensive, and all three volumes cost the same regardless of size.
  • The mesh front pocket is the first thing to fail on this style of pack.
  • No published maximum load figure.
  • No adjustable torso.
  • Dyneema creases and wears at fold lines over time.
  • Field repair is difficult and expensive compared with woven nylon.
  • Hyperlite's own site lists only 'From $395', so per-size pricing had to come from retailers.
  • Warranty terms are less generous than the mainstream brands'.

Common Questions

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
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35
~$350
Ultralight Pack

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.

35 L0.99 lbsDCF with Dyneema Gridstop and stretch mesh

Weight

0.99 lbs

Capacity

35 L

Frame

Frameless

Best for: Fastpacking and low-base-weight trips where every ounce is counted
Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60
~$399
Ultralight Pack

The Arc Haul Ultra 60 is Zpacks' engineering statement: a 21.7-ounce pack whose carbon arc frame tensions a mesh panel off your back — the only true ventilation in the sub-1.5-lb class. Backpacker magazine named it the best ultralight pack of 2026.

60 L1.34 lbsVentilated Arc FrameVentilated back

Weight

1.32 lbs

Capacity

60 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Also in 40 L / 50 L / 70 L

Best for: Gram-counters who refuse to give up back ventilation
🎒
~$380
Ultralight Pack

The Ultra Circuit is the Ultra-fabric version of ULA's best-known pack. It keeps the Circuit's carbon hoop and aluminium stay combination but rebuilds it in Ultra 400X and 200X, making it waterproof and considerably more tear-resistant than the standard Robic version.

68 L2.24 lbsUltra 400X body

Weight

2.24 lbs

Capacity

68 L

Frame

Internal Frame

Best for: Thru-hikers who want the Circuit's carry in a waterproof laminate