Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35 vs Six Moon Designs Swift X
Quick take: The Six Moon Designs Swift X carries more (56 vs 35 liters); the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35 is lighter (0.98 vs 2.43 lbs).
Which one to buy
At $350 each, the question is whether you need a frame. The Contour 35 is frameless at 0.98 lb, and it stops carrying well around its 25 lb rating, with a webbing hipbelt that steadies the load rather than carrying it. The Swift X puts a flexible Delrin hoop frame behind 56 L of X-Pac, weighs 2.43 lb, and testers describe a six-point vest-style harness that hugs the load to your torso. That is the pack for longer food carries and bear-canister country, where the Contour is plainly the wrong tool.
The weight gap is the price of that structure, and the X premium over the woven Swift V is entirely fabric. Rain is a point for the Contour: its DCF is seam-taped, and a closed roll-top stays dry in sustained rain. X-Pac is waterproof too, but its sewn seams eventually let water in, so a liner is part of the kit.
Fit is the Swift X's open question. Testers praise the harness for stability, but one reviewer finished a trip with bruising from the hipbelt, and fit is personal enough that a return window matters. The Contour comes in three fixed torso sizes. Its known weak spots are no Y-strap for a foam pad over the top and fold-line wear on the DCF.
For most fastpacking the Contour is the better $350, at well under half the weight. The catch is that its ceiling is firm: there is no frame to fall back on when a resupply gap stretches the food bag.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35
Made for fastpackers whose total load stays under about 25 lb, with no canister requirement, who want a waterproof seam-taped pack.
Six Moon Designs Swift X
For trips with long food carries or a required bear canister, where a flexible hoop frame and 56 L matter more than the extra 1.45 lb.
| Spec | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35 | Six Moon Designs Swift X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 | $350 |
| Rating | — | 4.7★ (42) |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 35 L | 56 L |
| Weight | 0.98 lbs | 2.43 lbs |
| Max Load | Up to 25 lbs | 35 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Sized S/M/L: S 15-17 in, M 17-19, L 19-21 in | Adjustable 16-22 in |
| Material | DCF with Dyneema Gridstop and stretch mesh | X-Pac VX21 or LS21, or Ultra 200X laminate, with Ultra Stretch pockets |
| Back Panel | Frameless | Delrin hoop stay frame |
| Adjustable torso | No | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Guaranteed against manufacturing defects, no term stated | Warranted to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship (no time limit stated); excludes accidents, wear and tear, rips and tears |
Pros & cons
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35
- ✓15.7 oz with a removable webbing hipbelt; a padded hipbelt with pockets is a $29 add-on.
- ✓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.
- ✗$350 for 35 L and no frame is among the worst price-per-litre on this site.
- ✗Frameless at 35 L means the load rides on the shoulders entirely.
- ✗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'.
Six Moon Designs Swift X
- ✓X-Pac laminate is waterproof rather than merely treated.
- ✓The Delrin hoop flexes with body movement instead of resisting it.
- ✓Ultra Stretch pockets hold shape better than plain mesh.
- ✓56 L covers a bear canister and several days of food.
- ✓Six Moon Designs has one of the longest track records among cottage makers.
- ✓The hoop frame has no stays to bend or lose.
- ✓$350 ($375 with the vest harness) is mid-range for a laminate pack from an established maker.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets included.
- ✗38.8 oz makes it one of the heaviest packs in this ultralight segment.
- ✗$100 more than the Swift V for the fabric change and 7 L more volume.
- ✗A Delrin hoop is less rigid than aluminium stays under heavy loads.
- ✗X-Pac is harder to field-repair than the Swift V's woven Robic.
- ✗Limited retail presence for in-person fitting.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Contour 35 vs Six Moon Designs Swift X: common questions
Will a bear canister fit in the Contour 35 or the Swift X?▾
Not sensibly in the Contour; the volume and the frameless carry both argue against it. The Swift X's 56 L takes a canister plus several days of food, packed low and against your back as with any hoop-frame pack.
Does the Swift X need a pack liner like other X-Pac packs?▾
The X-Pac itself is waterproof, but the seams are sewn rather than taped, so sustained rain eventually gets through the needle holes. A liner fixes that. Contour owners add one only as insurance for deep fords.
Is the Swift X harness comfortable?▾
Testers praise the six-point vest-style harness for keeping loads stable, but the hipbelt is polarizing and one reviewer ended a trip with bruising from it. Treat fit as personal and buy where returns are easy.