Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 vs Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32
Quick take: The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32 costs $30 less; the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 carries more (35 vs 32 liters); the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32 is lighter (1.4 vs 1.5 lbs).
Which one to buy
Trail overnights or rock days? At a similar size and weight, these two Hyperlite packs are tuned for different ground. The Waypoint 35 costs $30 more and carries a single aluminum stay and a padded, pocketed hipbelt, rated to 40 lb, with a recommended base weight around 10 lb. That frame and belt make it the one for fast overnights on trail. The Vertex 32 is frameless with a removable foam panel and rated to 25 lb, so heavier loads ride on your shoulders.
The Vertex wins on fabric. Its body is Dyneema Woven Composite 5.0, the abrasion-led recipe Hyperlite uses on climbing packs, where the Waypoint is mostly the lighter DCH 3.8 laminate with stretch-mesh outside pockets in the brand's lightest mesh grade. Drag the Waypoint up granite and the mesh goes first.
Sizing is close: the Waypoint offers four torso lengths including Tall, the Vertex three, from 15 to 21 in. A Tall torso points to the Waypoint. For scrambles and alpine days, the Vertex's woven body and sit-pad back panel are the reason it exists.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35
For fast overnights on trail with a sub-10 lb base weight, where a stay and a padded hipbelt carry the food and water.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32
Best for scrambles and alpine days with rock contact, where a woven body beats a laminate and the load stays under 25 lb.
| Spec | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380 | $350 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 35 L | 32 L |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs | 1.4 lbs |
| Max Load | Up to 40 lbs; HMG recommends a base weight around 10 lb | Up to 25 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Sized S/M/L/Tall: S 15-17 in, M 17-19, L 19-21, Tall 21+ in | Sized S/M/L (S 15-17, M 17-19, L 19-21 in) |
| Material | Dyneema Composite Hybrid 3.8 and 5.1 with 100D Dyneema Gridstop and Dyneema Stretch Mesh UL | Dyneema Woven Composite 5.0 with DCH 5.1 and 100D Dyneema Gridstop |
| Back Panel | Sewn-through foam panel with a single removable stay | Removable foam back panel |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Guaranteed against manufacturing defects, no term stated | Guaranteed against manufacturing defects, no term stated |
Pros & cons
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35
- ✓HMG's lightest framed pack: 23.5 oz with a single aluminium stay and a padded hipbelt.
- ✓Rated to 40 lbs, the same ceiling as the 55 L Southwest, in a 35 L body.
- ✓DCH 3.8 on the body keeps the weight down while 5.1 reinforces the wear points.
- ✓The hipbelt is padded, pocketed and removable, so the pack strips to a summit sack.
- ✓Four torso lengths, S through Tall.
- ✓6.5 L of external pocket volume in stretch mesh for layers and water.
- ✗$380 is $30 more than the frameless Contour 35 for one stay.
- ✗A 40 lb rating in a 35 L pack is academic; HMG itself suggests a base weight around 10 lb.
- ✗Dyneema Stretch Mesh UL is the lightest of HMG's mesh grades and the first thing to wear.
- ✗No hydration sleeve is listed, no lid and no rain cover.
- ✗Torso length comes in four fixed sizes rather than adjusting.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32
- ✓Dyneema Woven Composite 5.0 resists abrasion better than the plain laminates on HMG's trail daypacks.
- ✓Three torso sizes, which few 32 L daypacks offer.
- ✓The foam back panel comes out to serve as a sit pad or to cut weight.
- ✓25 lb rating is enough for a full day of alpine layers, rope and water.
- ✓22.4 oz is light for a pack with a woven-face body.
- ✗$350 is steep for a frameless 32 L pack.
- ✗No frame, so heavier loads ride entirely on the foam panel and straps.
- ✗Heavier and $140 pricier than the HMG Summit 30 for hikers who do not need the woven fabric.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 vs Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vertex 32: common questions
Is the Vertex 32 enough for an overnight instead of the Waypoint 35?▾
Only a very light one. It is frameless and rated to 25 lb, so a full overnight load rides on the foam panel and straps. The Waypoint's stay and padded hipbelt are built for that job.
Which holds up better on rock?▾
The Vertex 32. Its Dyneema Woven Composite 5.0 body is the abrasion-focused fabric Hyperlite uses on climbing packs, while the Waypoint's DCH 3.8 laminate and light stretch mesh are built to save weight.
I have a long torso. Which fits?▾
The Waypoint 35 comes in a Tall size for torsos over 21 in. The Vertex 32 stops at large, 19-21 in, so a long torso may sit poorly in it.