Gear Review: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter Pack
A backpack made for ultralighters who travel in wet climates
VERDICT
Who says light can’t be versatile? I pushed this pack’s carrying capacity on a trail-building stint with a 40-pound load, and pressed its durability by using it as a sled to glissade down a ridge in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. The thinly padded backpad has two removable stays for load transfer, and the hipbelt and shoulder padding is contoured and cushy. The waterproof, armor-tough Cuben Fiber/poly fabric kept my gear bone-dry through heavy rains (though seams aren’t taped so it’s not submersible). Downside? The lack of external pockets and hydration hole limits convenience.
BEST FOR
Ultralighters who travel in wet climates
TESTER DATA
> Tom Moose
> Duration Jan. to March
> Locales/conditions NC, MT; 10℉ to 70℉
> “Three pairs of side compression straps let me stabilize my loads and even cinch the pack down for dayhikes.”
THE SPECS
> Weight 1 lb. 10.5 oz.
> Price $300
> Sizes One Size (15- to 21-inch torsos)
> Infohyperlitemountaingear.com
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