This is an in-depth evaluation of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Backpack in 2023. This is the most recent ultralight backpack from Hyperlite Mountain Gear and presumably the very best to this point.
If you’re bored with carrying a heavy backpack loaded filled with an excessive amount of gear and wish to lighten your load, then a light-weight backpack shall be one thing you have to. And the New HMG Unbound 40L Backpack is their greatest effort but. This 40-liter pack is just not solely ultralight however waterproof and has some helpful options that the majority different packs do not need.
I’ve hiked virtually 10000 miles / 16000 km in the previous couple of years on lots of the greatest thru-hiking trails on the earth. I’ve used and examined a lot of the greatest backpacks you can purchase. As a outcome, I do know what separates an excellent backpack from a median one.
So, I going to check out the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Backpack and see in the event that they ship one of many greatest ultralight backpacks available on the market in 2023.
In-Depth Review: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L 2023
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Review
Weight: 30.1 oz / 853.3 grams
Pros:
> Lightweight
> Waterproof
> Good entry to aspect pockets
> Multiple exterior storage choices
> Comfortable even with a little bit of weight within the pack
> Very Durable
Cons:
> Not good for anybody who needs to hold plenty of gear
> Only are available 40L Capacity
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L is an ultralight backpack focused at anybody eager to lighten their load on their subsequent in a single day backpacking journey or multi-month thru-hike.
Although it’s known as the Unbound 40L, it has a complete of 49-liter capability. With a 40L capability in the primary bag and 9L of storage within the aspect and rear pockets.
This smaller-sized pack won’t be for everybody. But after getting a lightweight and compact sleep system, have eliminated all of your unneeded luxurious gadgets, and wish to set off with minimal stress in your physique then that is for you.
With a number of exterior storage areas, it’s good for locating a spot to your moist rain jacket after that quick rain bathe. Speaking of rain, relaxation assured that your gear will keep dry on this waterproof backpack that even has seam sealing to make sure your gear stays dry.
The aspect pockets are the proper place for carrying a number of liters of water throughout that dry desert part of the path. Hyperlite Mountain Gear actually put some thought and energy into the exterior storage areas on this pack.
Overall, that is the proper backpack for thru-hiking or these shorter multiday backpacking journeys the place you don’t have an excessive amount of stuff. An actual favourite for minimalists.
Frame, Harness, and Hipbelt
The backpack is held in form by a verticle aluminum keep that’s surrounded by 1/4 inch foam after which lined with the Dyneema Material. This mixture does an excellent job to maintain the pack in its unique form.
The Shoulder Harness is comfy and has the choice of including some extras to assist you to customise your pack harness. Items corresponding to a digicam pod, shoulder strap bag, or a small fanny bag such because the vice versa that may strap throughout the sternum strap give added gear carrying flexibility.
It is refreshing that the hip belt comes with waterproof aspect pockets. I like these. Perfect for cash, keys, lip balm, sunscreen, snacks, telephones, headphones and a lot extra. It is even sufficiently big to suit most ultracompact Hiking Cameras. They come full with a water-resistant zip and are sufficiently big to maintain most individuals completely satisfied. And if you wish to be ultralight, you may take away it, or change it which is an efficient possibility when you acquire or drop some weight. Or perhaps you wish to share the pack with a number of individuals.
Weight
At 30.1 ounces or 853 grams which locations this backpack on the heavier finish of ultralight backpacks, however nicely inside the light-weight backpack class. There are many different backpacks available on the market which might be lighter however few shall be made in addition to this.
Load carrying base weight
Hyperlite Mountain Gear recommends that the Unbound 40L backpack has a load restrict of round 40 lb / 18 kg. With a light-weight base weight of round 10 lb / 4.5 kg and beneath this backpack hardly seems like it’s in your again. It is tremendous comfy and does an excellent job of distributing a lot of the load onto the hip belt.
When I examined the backpack with heavier hundreds I discovered it was in a position to carry the hundreds fairly nicely. Like all ultralight backpacks, you have to be cautious when packing. You should guarantee there are not any sharp objects towards your again. Even although there’s a padded part between your gear and your again, it is just 1/4 of froth, so not ok to cease an object like your cooking pot from poking into your again. Pack your backpack fastidiously.
If you want to purchase a backpack like this, then you have already got light-weight mountain climbing gear or shall be shopping for some quickly. Just don’t have heavy gear on this pack, decide to carrying much less and you’ll love the HMG Unbound 40L Backpack.
Material
The HMG Unbound 40L backpack makes use of a few totally different supplies, particularly Dyneema Composite Hybrid Material on the primary physique of the pack, Dyneema Stretch Mesh on the again and backside pockets, Hardline with Dyneema on the straps, nylon daisy chain webbing and nylon elastic compression straps on the aspect to safe your water bottle, tent poles or trekking poles.
Dyneema Composite Hybrid Material in two totally different weights, particularly DCH50 and DCH150. The Dyneema Composite Hybrid Material is stronger and extra abrasion resistant than regular Dyneema Composite Fiber.
Normal Dyneema Composite Fiber is 100% waterproof, however the hybrid building of the fabric is just not 100%. For most functions, it’s so near 100% waterproof that you must fear an excessive amount of about your gear in a rain storm. Just don’t use the backpack as a floatation machine on a river. Or use a dry again when canyoning or pack rafting.
During preliminary testing, there was no rain. So I loaded the pack with all my gear and poured water throughout it. As anticipated all the pieces stayed dry.
The again pockets and backside pocket makes use of a comparatively new product known as Dyneema Stretch Mesh. I’m unable to touch upon the long-term energy and sturdiness of this product as there should not too many backpacks made with this materials.
During testing, I attempted to poke a gap within the materials with sticks and failed. As I kind up this evaluation I made a decision to try to poke a gap in it with a pen. The pen was in a position to go partway by means of the fabric and be eliminated with out ripping any of the fabric. So, all seems good for the long-term energy of the fabric. It is actually higher than what most different manufacturers use for the time being. I’m wondering how lengthy earlier than Dyneema Stretch Mesh is extra broadly adopted by different manufacturers.
Size and Capacity liters
The Hyperlight Mountain Gear Unbound 40L backpack is available in just one dimension, being 49 liters. It has a beneficiant 40 liters of inside storage and 9 liters of exterior storage within the type of rear and aspect pockets.
The design of the pack permits the primary compartment to increase fairly a bit for these occasions you could have an enormous load to hold. Like the primary day leaving city when thru-hiking. Thanks to the roll-top design and compression straps the pack might be closed to a smaller dimension when wanted. I’m a fab of roll-top closures on backpacks.
The rear pockets have an uncommon system of three pockets. There is one principal pocket on the rear, one other situated additional down on the rear, and one beneath.
The principal rear stretch pocket makes use of Dyneema Stretch Mesh materials. It is a beneficiant dimension, robust, and has good stretch properties. When I examined this backpack I discovered this pocket to be good for storing rain gear, snacks, sunscreen, trash, and bathroom paper.
It can be linked to a smaller exterior pocket that can be utilized to entry gadgets on the very backside of the primary pocket. The smaller stretch pocket is just not very large however is also used to retailer gadgets corresponding to mild snacks, sunscreen, or bathroom paper.
There are additionally some helpful daisy chain webbing loops on the again that may very well be used to connect one thing like a mountain climbing allow tag, hand sanitizer, or related. Although there are not any ice axe loops I’m positive you could possibly use the webbing to make one thing work. I assume the daisy chains may very well be used for something your creativeness decides, a small carabiner with a consuming mug, perhaps.
As for the pocket beneath the pack, it’s a stretch pocket that opens from one aspect solely. I query the sturdiness of this backside pocket, even whether it is made with Dyneema Stretch Mesh.
During the testing of this product I might throw the pack on the bottom totally loaded and sit on the bottom with the pack nonetheless on my again I had no points however I’m unsure how the pack would take care of a couple of hundred days of me doing this. Having stated that, it’s a good place to retailer one thing like your sleeping pad.
The HMG Unbound 40L options 2 aspect pockets that are a beneficiant dimension and sufficiently big for a few water bottles. I used to be in a position to match a 2x 1L bottle in every pocket for a complete of 4 liters of water carrying capability. It may very well be stretched to hold a little bit greater than that when you use water bladders such because the Platypus vary of bladders.
Durability
The pack is made with one of many strongest and most sturdy variations of the Dyneema Fabric. As such this pack is extra sturdy than another Dyneema Backpacks available on the market from different producers. This added sturdiness comes on the slight value of weight. This pack is a little bit heavier than related designs from different producers. That is the trade-off relating to ultralight backpacking. Durability vs weight.
Overall, you should have no points with this pack. It could be very sturdy. I solely query the long-term sturdiness of the Dyneema Stretch Material on the underside aspect of the backpack. Time will inform on that one. Having stated that, the Dyneema Stretch materials is a lot better than virtually another mesh materials that I’ve seen or used.
Water resistance
As talked about within the materials part of this evaluation, the fabric is waterproof however not 100%. I might not use this backpack when pack rafting for example. But I’m assured that you should have no points when utilizing this backpack within the rain.
Of course, something on the skin of the pack, whether or not within the aspect pockets or rear pockets will get moist.
Sizes and Fit
The HMG Unbound 40L backpack is available in 4 sizes, particularly Small, Medium, Large and Tall. I discovered the sizes to be precisely as acknowledged however with sufficient wiggle room to assist you to match into a number of sizes, particularly if you’re in-between sizes.
Check out the Sizing Guide on the HMG Unbound product web page. Look for the hyperlink ‘Help Me Pick My Size‘.
Carrying Water – pockets or water bladder pocket
The Unbound has bigger aspect pockets than their cousins the South West and Windrider. With the bigger aspect pockets comes a greater and safer method to carry water bottles or a water bladder. There isn’t any capability to connected and use a hydration bladder inside the backpack.
HMG Unbound 40L vs different backpacks
The HMG Unbound is up towards some stiff competitors within the ultralight backpack market. Some of the stiffest competitors comes inside their very own lineup of backpacks, the HMG Southwest, HMG Junction, and HMG Windrider.
It may very well be stated that the Unbound is a lighter and extra fundamental model of the Junction with extra exterior storage choices and constructed with light-weight thru-hiking in thoughts. And for that perform, this backpack excels.
Price
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L is available in at round $369 on the time of this evaluation. That locations it on the larger finish of the worth vary for ultralight backpacks. There are a few ultralight backpacks which might be costlier however in my view, the standard of this top-tier backpack makes it price the price.
Conclusion
The new Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Ultralight Backpack is without doubt one of the higher backpacks available on the market in 2023. There could be very little to fault on this pack and rather a lot to love. For instance, in comparison with different light-weight packs the HMG pack appears to be extra sturdy and may final a bit longer than another packs. But at 49 liters of complete capability, it is extremely a lot for the ultralight backpacker who has already dialed of their ultralight backpacking gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes among the greatest light-weight and ultralight backpacks available on the market. The new Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L is a good light-weight backpack. So is the HMG SouthWest, HMG Windrider, and HMG Junction fashions.
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