Help me pick a pack

I just picked up a new Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Porter pack last week but I haven’t tested it out yet. So I can’t give you a tested opinion but you might check their website out.

I’m looking forward to checking it out soon.

Yes, I forgot to include the HMG 2400 as one of the packs I am looking at.  Read a review that wasn’t glowing, but if anyone has a different opinion, let me know.

Porter 4400 but I’m biased.

You could ask the nice people of Superiour Wilderness Designs to make you a custom Long Haul.

Standard they are 50L (internal capacity only) but they can make them smaller on request.

They’re very open to custom work in general and have a lot of great fabrics to pick from.

I have the Long Haul 50 and for heavier loads it’s a very great pack. For smaller loads and faster ‘n shorter trips I use a frameless Superiour 35 by the same company.

Thanks for the suggestion of Superior Wilderness Designs.  I hadn’t heard of them, and the 35 with suspension looks like exactly what I was looking for!

I have a Windrider 2400 with limited mileage.  Reviews often ding the hipbelt pockets, and I don’t disagree.  They are small compared to the ULA Ohm I use more often.  I’m not quite down to the volume you are.

I will say the HMG transfers weight better than the Ohm or Gorilla in my view.  I found the Gorilla with the external pad to be very hot, noticeably warmer than the other packs.

The PNW’s long term forecasting[1] says this will likely be an above average winter. Assuming a start the first of July, you’re going to need a heavier base weight than 10lbs to make it through the all the snow you’ll be crossing. Additionally, if you don’t make it through the Sierra before snow flies, you could need  that equipment again. Some sort of PLB, microspikes, gaiters, and perhaps an ice axe will or could be necessary to cover the hundreds of miles of snow walking that may be present.

All that said, I’d suggest giving yourself some breathing room in your pack, just in case. 50L sounds like it’d work fine. An Ohm 2.0 or HMG Porter 3400 both compress well, are light, and give you some breathing room if the forecasted winter materializes.

[1] http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/NaturalResources/Documents/Weather/dlongrange.pdf

Good advice, Kyle.  I have been watching the snotel station data with interest, and it does seem to be a fairly high snow year, especially in the north part of Washington.  I didn’t think I’d ever say it, but I hope there’s not too much snow this year!

You should try calling HMG and ask if they have any seconds/discounted packs available.  In 2016 my wife managed to score an ‘old logo’ pack for 30% off by calling.