Six Moon Designs Swift X vs Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2
Quick take: The Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2 costs $90 less; the Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2 carries more (59 vs 56 liters); the Six Moon Designs Swift X is lighter (2.43 vs 2.68 lbs).
Which one to buy
The $90 gap here is mostly fabric. The Six Moon Designs Swift X is a 56 L hoop-frame pack in waterproof X-Pac laminate; the Minimalist V2 is a 59 L pack in Robic nylon, which isn't waterproof, on the same Delrin hoop idea. Six Moon rates both at 35 lb with the hoop in and 25 lb run frameless.
The question is whether waterproof fabric is worth $90 to you; at 2.43 lbs the Swift X is also about a quarter pound lighter than the Minimalist's 2.68. The Swift X's laminate makes showers a non-event, but its seams are sewn rather than taped, so sustained rain still finds the needle holes and a liner is still wise. A Minimalist owner would carry that liner anyway. Meanwhile the Minimalist gives you 3 L more room. If you want both laminate and the Minimalist's design, its EPX200 laminate build costs $100 more.
Testers praise the Swift X's vest harness, whose six connection points hug the load like a running vest, but the hips are polarizing: one reviewer ended a trip with bruising from the hipbelt. Treat fit as personal and keep the return window in mind. For bear canisters, the Swift X's 56 L holds one plus several days of food, packed low against your back. Six Moon only describes strapping a canister on top of the Minimalist under its lid.
Unless you hike in persistent wet weather or carry a canister inside on most trips, the Minimalist is the better value.
Six Moon Designs Swift X
Worth the extra if you hike in frequent rain and want laminate fabric, or need a bear canister to ride inside the pack.
Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2
For thru-hikers who want 59 L, a removable frame and $90 back in their pocket, and who already carry a pack liner.
| Spec | Six Moon Designs Swift X | Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 | $260 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (42) | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 56 L | 59 L |
| Weight | 2.43 lbs | 2.68 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | 35 lbs with the stay (25 lbs run frameless); 15 lb recommended base weight |
| Torso Fit | Adjustable 16-22 in | Adjustable 16-22 in; harness S/L, hipbelt S/M/L |
| Material | X-Pac VX21 or LS21, or Ultra 200X laminate, with Ultra Stretch pockets | Robic nylon with 4-way stretch pockets (EPX200 option) |
| Back Panel | Delrin hoop stay frame | 3D mesh contact panel over a removable Delrin hoop stay |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Warranted to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship (no time limit stated); excludes accidents, wear and tear, rips and tears | 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
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.
Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2
- ✓Adjustable 16-22 in torso on a sub-$300 cottage pack; most ultralight makers sell fixed torso lengths.
- ✓35 lb rated with the Delrin hoop in and 25 lb with it out, so one pack covers resupply-heavy stretches and stripped-down days.
- ✓Modular harness: standard or S-Curve shoulder straps at $260 or a vest harness at $285, with three hipbelt sizes bought to fit.
- ✓59 L total including the 9 L collar and 10 L of exterior pockets is more volume than the Swift V for $10 more.
- ✓The integrated top lid straps a bear canister on top, which the roll-top Swifts cannot do as neatly.
- ✓Component weights are published (Robic body 25.1 oz, stay 3 oz, large shoulder harness 7.5 oz, medium hipbelt 7.2 oz), so you know exactly what stripping each part saves.
- ✗42.8 oz fully built is heavy against frameless cottage packs of similar volume, which run 16-20 oz.
- ✗Robic nylon is not waterproof; the EPX200 laminate build costs $100 more.
- ✗No hydration sleeve, only dual hose ports.
- ✗Bear-canister fit inside the 40 L body is not stated; Six Moon Designs only describes strapping one under the lid.
Six Moon Designs Swift X vs Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2: common questions
Is the Swift X's X-Pac worth $90 more than the Minimalist V2's Robic?▾
Only if rain is a regular problem for you. The Swift X's laminate shrugs off showers, but its sewn seams let sustained rain through, so you'll still want a liner. A Minimalist with a liner gets you most of the way there.
Which carries a heavy load better, the Swift X or the Minimalist V2?▾
Neither is a heavy hauler. Six Moon rates both at 35 lb with the Delrin hoop in, and the hoop flexes with your stride, so neither will match aluminum stays at a maxed-out load. Pick on fabric and volume rather than carry.
Will a bear canister fit inside either pack?▾
The Swift X's 56 L holds a canister plus several days of food, packed low and against your back. Six Moon describes strapping one on top of the Minimalist under its lid, so if yours has to ride inside, test it in the 40 L body before a permit trip.