The Swift X is a extremely customizable light-weight backpack from Six Moon Designs. Made with both Liteskin or X-Pac materials, it has a most quantity of 56 L and ideas the scales wherever between 27 oz (0.8 kg) and 40 oz (1.1 kg), relying in your configuration of alternative. Since March 2020, I’ve logged over 2,000 miles (3,219 km) with the Swift X in a wide range of testing environments, together with Mexico’s Sierra Madre, Northern Alaska, Greenland, and Lapland. During this era, it’s turn into my pack of alternative for long-haul journeys through which I’m often carrying heavy hundreds between 22 and 44 lbs (10-20 kg).
The Swift X overview breaks down as follows: 1. At a Glance; 2. Internal Storage; 3. External Storage & Compression System; 4. Backpack Material Options; 5. Internal Frame & Suspension System; 6. Durability; 7. Recommendations & Notes, and; 8. Conclusion.
Climbing in the direction of Dalimaloak Mountain with the Swift X throughout a multi-week trek by Alaska’s Brooks Range (August 2021).
Price (Jan.2023): $350 / $375 (with vest harness)
Weight: 27 oz (frameless & common shoulder straps) to 40 oz (vest harness & hip belt)
Volume: 56L Total (Updated Feb.2023 – 41L primary physique, 10L extension collar, 5L exterior pockets)
Pack Body Material: Liteskin LS21 or X-Pac VX21
Load Lifters: Yes
Closure: Roll-top with Y-strap and side-closing buckles.
Suggested Use: Ideal for folk with base weights between 10 and 15 lbs (4.5-6.8 kg) and/or hikers with even decrease base weights which can be heading out with greater than every week’s meals and/or two gallons (7.6 L) of water.
Maximum Weight Recommended: According to the SMD web site, the load ranking is 35 lbs (15.9 kg). In my expertise, this can be a barely conservative estimate (see Internal Storage and Durability for particulars).
Yours actually on the Greenland Ice Cap – a not-to-be-missed supplemental part of the Arctic Circle Trail (September 2022).
The SMD web site lists the inner storage quantity for the Swift X as 41L for the primary physique and 10L for the extension collar. So what’s that translate to out within the discipline? An instance of an ordinary load for the Swift X can be every week’s value of meals, a bear canister, a few liters of water, and all of the gear mandatory for a backpacking journey through which temps might probably drop all the way down to the mid-teens Fahrenheit (round -9°C) (Note: Based on a base weight of between 10 and 15 lbs/4.5-6.8 kg)
As far as a most load is anxious, in 2021, I carried 16 days of meals (44 lbs/20 kg whole weight) within the Swift X for a hike in Alaska’s Brooks Range. Suffice to say, the pack was crammed to the brim – truly slightly past – for the primary day or two. Nonetheless, because of its glorious suspension system, the pack rode as comfortably as I might have hoped for given the difficult terrain (Note: My base weight for this journey was round 11/12 lbs).
Bonus Feature: There’s a helpful inside pocket that may suit your pockets, passport, keys, and so on., all of which I’ll usually place inside a small LokSak baggie.
Greg “Malto” Gressel along with his Swift X on Day 1 of our 7-day trek by Denali National Park (August 2021).
External Storage & Compression System:
The 2023 Swift X has switched from customary mesh pockets on the facet and entrance of the pack to UltraStretch materials. This is a stable improve – the UltraStretch is significantly extra sturdy, which interprets to extra abrasion resistance and a decreased probability of snags/tears when rambling by overgrown environments.
As for the exterior attachment system, the Swift X makes use of a wire system to compress and stabilize your load on the perimeters of the pack. The prime of the roll-top pack is secured with a y-strap and side-clipping buckles.
UltraStretch Pockets & Cord Compression System (Swift X/2023 Updated mannequin)(Photos – Six Moon Designs)
There are two selections – Liteskin (LS21) or X-Pac (VX21). They value the identical, and the weights are nearly equivalent. X-Pac is alleged to be marginally extra abrasion-resistant and waterproof than the Liteskin mannequin. That stated, over the previous three years, I’ve taken the Liteskin pack by a bunch of overgrown areas within the Sierra Madre and Alaska, and the fabric nonetheless seems to be high-quality. In brief, go along with whichever colour you want greatest (i.e., Liteskin is available in gray, whereas the X-Pac is on the market in blue, black, and coyote brown).
(Note: Even although each Liteskin and X-Pac are glorious for shedding H20, it is best to nonetheless line your pack with a trash compactor bag. The cause? Water can seep by wherever there may be stitching/seams).
SMD Swift X on the island of Mykines, the westernmost level of the Faroe Islands (August 2022).
Internal Frame & Suspension System:
Internal Frame: A Derlin/fiberglass hoop keep that’s vast on the prime and tapers down on the base, the place it’s anchored to the lumbar space. The body’s tapered form helps promote air flow on the perimeters of the pack (helpful when climbing in muggy situations) with out sacrificing stability (Note: SMD refers to this as their “minimum contact back panel”).
Hip Belt: The Swift X consists of an adjustable and detachable two-tiered hip belt with standard-sized pockets that may match a telephone, snacks, or a small digicam.
Load Lifters: Load lifters are principally superfluous for ultralight hundreds. However, for those who’re persistently hauling over 20 lbs/9 kg (which you most likely will likely be for those who’re buying the Swift X), giving them the occasional tweak will be useful in minimizing pressure build-up in particular areas of your higher physique.
Shoulder Harness: There are three selections: 1. Standard shoulder straps; 2. S-Curve shoulder straps, and; 3. Vest harness. I like to recommend going with the third possibility, which is fingers down the standout characteristic of the Swift X.
The running-style vest harness affords a torso-hugging match which helps mitigate undesirable pack motion. The comfortable match is because of the vest’s six factors of suspension (or connection), which apportion the load on the prime, facet, and backside on all sides of the pack. The glorious weight distribution and glove-like really feel particularly shine when negotiating difficult situations corresponding to river fords, snowfields, tussocks, blowdowns, or scree slopes. The vest harness options twin sliding chest straps and helpful shoulder strap pockets, the place I often hold gadgets corresponding to sunscreen, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and telephone.
Before the Swift X, I hadn’t tried a running-style vest harness on something apart from a daypack. However, after three years of utilizing it for prolonged journeys in difficult situations, I’ve turn into a convert. Indeed, I don’t foresee going again to common shoulder straps for backpacking journeys that embrace persistently heavy carries anytime quickly (Note: For journeys on which my whole weight is mostly underneath 20 lb/ 9 kg, I nonetheless choose a frameless backpack corresponding to my outdated favorites, the Mountain Laurel Designs Burn and Gossamer Gear Kumo).
Serial thru-hikers and long-time buddies, Naomi Hudetz and Mike Unger, carrying Swift X packs on Washington’s Loowit Trail (September 2021).
Double thumbs up. As alluded to above, I’ve logged over 2,000 miles (3,219 km) with the Swift X over the previous three years. Much of this distance has been coated with hundreds over 33 lb (15 kg). The stitching and the Liteskin materials on the pack’s primary physique nonetheless look in nice form – simply the odd scuff mark from scraping in opposition to rocky surfaces. There have been a few small tears within the mesh pockets, however nothing that couldn’t be patched up out within the discipline (Note: I’ve the pre-November 2022 mannequin, which doesn’t have the UltraStretch materials for the pockets).
Crossing the Skautflye plateau throughout a loop hike round Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park (September 2022).
1. When first utilizing the vest harness, the straps is usually a little fiddly. Note that not like with different packs, the adjustment comes from the underside up. Spend a while tweaking them till you discover what works for you. The setting will fluctuate in keeping with the kind of terrain you’re negotiating – uphill, downhill, flat, rugged off-trail, and so on.
2. If you’re heading out for a weekend journey in comparatively mellow terrain and your whole pack weight is lower than 20 lbs (9 kg), take into account eradicating the hip belt (6.5 oz/184 gr) or changing it with a easy little bit of webbing strap (1-2 oz). The vest harness ought to present all the steadiness you’ll require for lowish pack weights.
3. There is loads of room to suit a bear canister contained in the Swift X. Fill it together with your meals and/or different heavier gadgets, and place it above your sleeping bag in the course of your pack. “Can I strap it to the top of the pack?” You might, however you shouldn’t, as it could actually probably hinder your steadiness/stability, notably when negotiating difficult terrain and/or river crossings. Indeed, if the peak of your pack is above your head, it’s typically an indication you’re carrying an excessive amount of stuff.
4. The Swift X is a thoughtfully-designed backpack made with high-end supplies. If you fancy choosing one up, however the $350/375 price ticket is greater than you need to spend, take into account its sibling, the Swift V. It’s principally the identical pack, made with cheaper Robic nylon material.
5. I’ve at all times appreciated corporations that hearken to suggestions from of us which have taken their gear by the backcountry wringer. Case in level, Six Moon Designs. In early 2020, they gave me a Swift X after they heard I used to be heading as much as Alaska for a few lengthy hikes. They requested for my opinion on the pack’s efficiency when closely loaded in difficult situations. As you should have guessed for those who’ve learn the entire overview, my analysis was overwhelmingly constructive. However, I additionally had some small strategies, such because the addition of side-closing buckles and the enlargement of the inside pocket (particularly, so it might match passports), which they took on board and subsequently adopted (along with upgrading to a extra sturdy materials for the outside pockets). On a lighter notice, I could have even channeled my inner-John Candy and talked about that I’d wager “six bucks and my right nut” that their earlier inside quantity figures of 38L for the primary physique and 6L for the extension collar had been a wee bit on the low facet (Note: The present figures of 41L and 10L strike me as being a lot nearer to the mark).
Rambling by Gates of the Arctic/Brooks Range, Alaska (August 2021).
According to the SMD web site, the Swift X was “designed with thru-hiking in mind.” With its mixture of sturdiness, mild weight, excessive diploma of configurability, and carrying consolation when crammed with heavy hundreds, I’d say they’ve hit the mark. However, the Swift X additionally offers a wonderful all-around possibility for infrequent backpackers and even of us which can be comparatively new to the game. Whether you’re heading out for an overnighter, a protracted weekend, or a week-long journey with buddies, the chameleon-like Swift X will be personalized to fit your wants.
Naomi Hudetz and her Swift X on California’s Redwood Creek Trail (September 2021).
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Disclaimer: I used to be given the Swift X in early 2020 by the oldsters at SMD after they heard I used to be heading as much as Alaska. They requested for my suggestions on the pack, together with a couple of photographs from the journey (each of which I supplied). I used to be underneath no obligation to write down a overview, and the opinions expressed above are my very own.
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