ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit vs Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35
Quick take: The ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit costs $0.01 less; the ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit carries more (68 vs 35 liters); the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 is lighter (1.5 vs 2.3 lbs).
Which one to buy
One of these $380 packs holds almost double the other's volume. The ULA Ultra Circuit holds 68 L on the Circuit's carbon hoop and aluminum stay, rebuilt in waterproof Ultra 400X and 200X. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 holds 35 L on a single aluminum stay in Dyneema Composite Hybrid, and weighs 0.8 lbs less at 1.5 lbs.
The question is what you're carrying. The Ultra Circuit takes a bear canister plus a week of food without strategic origami, which is exactly the trip it's built for, and testers confirm the Circuit platform stays composed with loads in the mid-30s. HMG rates the Waypoint up to 40 lb, but it also suggests a base weight around 10 lb, and in 35 L that heavier rating is mostly academic. The Waypoint also isn't built to carry a bear canister.
For sub-10 lb base weights on trips with frequent resupply, the Waypoint is the lighter, simpler pack, and its padded hipbelt comes off to turn it into a summit sack. For canister country, long food carries or anything with bulk, the Ultra Circuit's volume is the reason to carry the extra weight. Its laminate resists tears but abrades at crease points and is harder to patch than woven fabric, so carry repair tape. The Waypoint's ultralight stretch mesh is the first part of it to wear.
Both come in four fixed torso sizes. ULA's sizing system is unusually thorough, and its lead times swing with demand, so order well ahead of a start date.
ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit
For thru-hikers in canister country or on long food carries who want the Circuit's proven carry in waterproof laminate.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35
Right for hikers with a base weight around 10 lb who resupply often and want a framed pack at 1.5 lbs.
| Spec | ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $379.99 | $380 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 68 L | 35 L |
| Weight | 2.30 lbs | 1.5 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | Up to 40 lbs; HMG recommends a base weight around 10 lb |
| Torso Fit | S 15-18 in, M 18-21 in, L 21-24 in, XL 24+ in | Sized S/M/L/Tall: S 15-17 in, M 17-19, L 19-21, Tall 21+ in |
| Material | Ultra 400X body with Ultra 200X panels | Dyneema Composite Hybrid 3.8 and 5.1 with 100D Dyneema Gridstop and Dyneema Stretch Mesh UL |
| Back Panel | Foam pad with carbon fibre hoop and aluminium stay | Sewn-through foam panel with a single removable stay |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | ULA lifetime warranty: original owner, defects in materials and workmanship (wear, accidents and misuse excluded) | Guaranteed against manufacturing defects, no term stated |
Pros & cons
ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit
- ✓68 L is the largest capacity in this ultralight group and handles a bear canister plus a week of food.
- ✓The carbon hoop and aluminium stay combination is a proven load-transfer design across many Circuit generations.
- ✓Ultra 400X on the body puts the heaviest laminate where abrasion happens.
- ✓Waterproof laminate rather than a coated weave.
- ✓ULA's sizing system is unusually thorough for a cottage brand.
- ✓Rated for heavier loads than most packs of this weight, which is the Circuit's long-standing reputation.
- ✓36.8 oz for 68 L is a strong ratio given the frame hardware.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets included.
- ✗$380 is a significant premium over the standard Circuit at around $300.
- ✗36.8 oz is the second-heaviest pack in this comparison group.
- ✗Ultra laminates are difficult to field-repair.
- ✗No adjustable torso; sizing must be right at purchase.
- ✗ULA lead times fluctuate with demand.
- ✗68 L invites overpacking, which defeats the purpose of an ultralight pack.
- ✗Limited retail presence for in-person fitting.
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.
ULA Equipment Ultra Circuit vs Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35: common questions
Does the Waypoint 35's 40 lb rating make it a match for the Ultra Circuit?▾
Not in practice. HMG itself suggests a base weight around 10 lb, and 35 L limits what you can pack. Testers confirm the Ultra Circuit's platform stays composed in the mid-30s of pounds, and it has room for a canister and a week of food.
Can the Waypoint 35 carry a bear canister like the Ultra Circuit?▾
It isn't built for one, and 35 L leaves little room around a canister. The Ultra Circuit's 68 L takes a canister plus a week of food without strategic packing, which is the trip it was designed around.
Which laminate pack is easier to repair on the trail?▾
Neither is as easy as woven fabric. The Ultra Circuit's laminate resists tears but abrades at creases and is hard to field-repair, so carry tape. The Waypoint's stretch mesh is its first wear point.