HMG Owners! White or Black?

off the original topic, but this seems to have digressed into general HMG talk anyway:

ive never tried one, but… no one misses load lifters on these things?… that’s the part i haven’t figured out with the HMG build.

I agree with Ken, temperature is irrelevant; I have the HMG in white, I’ve had packs in black.

As for load lifters, I don’t find them necessary at all; I like simple packs.  And the HMG Southwest is a very simple pack, but a very well designed simple pack.  Paying retail of $330 plus tax and shipping is a bit much though.  I see they’re on sale for $280 at HMG right now, which seems a bit more reasonable.

I was told the Y strap on top acts as load lifters when packed and cinched down.  It sorta makes sense since it would compress the pack toward the backpack straps where they are attached to the pack.  True load lifters usually pull the pack into the strap a few inches or so away from (i.e. forward from) the pack/strap connection.  I’m still a shopper, so real Windrider users could confirm if this has a similar affect to load lifters on other packs.

The Y tightens the top but I don’t think it moves the body towards you like load lifters do.  For load lifters to work, they have to be attached to the pack body and frame higher than where the shoulder straps attach.  That’s not the case with the Y strap, it only provides compression and a lashing point so far as I’m concerned.

Bob, if you’re in So CA you can always take a look at mine if it helps.  I’m in Altadena.

i greatly prefer having almost all of my pack weight on my hips, so load lifters and/or an adjustable height torso are important to keep the straps floating a bit.

lots of weight on my shoulders ultimately leads to a headache, which isn’t ideal for getting to my happy place(tm).

Don wrote:  >>I bought my HMG on campmor with a 20% off coupon

I looked all over this website and even called them on the phone. It looks like they don’t sell HMG stuff.

I guess I’ll have to wait until the next Black Friday sale or bite the bullet and pay full price.

Perhaps he meant Campsaver.com … they often have 20% coupons and has HMG stuff in stock …

http://www.campsaver.com/brand/hyperlite-mountain-gear

Yes, I bought one of my HMG packs thru Campsaver with 20% discount – good deal.

I have 3 black and 2 white HMG packs of various types. The black ones still look brand new (and the 3400 black Windrider is the one I use most frequently) while the white ones look like they were rode hard and put up wet. No visible abrasions or tears, just green grass stains and grey smudge marks. Looks like stuff a dirt bag climber would own. Or the kid’s tee shirt in the Tide commercial.
I humbly disagree with the comment that the fabric is the only thing special about HMG packs. For me, it is the fit and the carry. The large size fits like it was custom made for my back and it carries a fair load as well as any pack I’ve owned. The fact that it only weighs 2 pounds is just a bonus.