Hyperlite Mtn Southwest

[David G]

Hey All,

 

Wondering if anyone has experience with the Hyperlite Mtn Southwest backpack and putting in a frame sheet or something else to act as support in the backpack?  I used mine in July and August and didn’t have a problem with it, but suspect the lack of a frame sheet hurt a muscle in my shoulder/back (above the shoulder blade).  Outside of that, I like it and would like to keep it long term.  I’ve seen posts about added a piece of foam, but am wondering how much people have found that effective.

I am sort of on the boundary of selling it or keeping it with some sort of frame sheet.  Thanks for the advice.

David

[George H]

Like a sheet of ABS plastic in the desired rigidity? On my Porter there is not a sleeve for it, and adding one looks hard. Maybe just stick it in the pack and hold it in place with your gear, but that would be on the ‘wrong’ side of the frames imo. The area that holds the foam panel should be where it goes, but it is inaccessible on my pack without unpicking/cutting

[JG H]

I had a SW 40L and loved it! I didn’t think it needed a frame sheet. I would imagine that you could have a sleeve sewn into the pack on the inside that would hold an HDPE sheet if needed. That said, if only one side of your body had issues (thats how I read your post), that would lead me to believe the issue isn’t pack-related. How much have you used the pack since and have you had the same issue present itself again?

[David G]

Thanks for the replies all!

You are both right in that I would like to put an HDPE sheet in it since it would provide protection for my back, similar to what Osprey and Gregory packs have, along with some additional support for the pack.  I asked Hyperlite if a modification would be possible but they said it was not.  I have not tried to find anyone in the Denver area (where I live) to see if they could modify the pack to remove the existing 1/4 inch sheet and put in an HDPE sheet.

Since the August trip where I had my issue I used an older Gregory pack to do 4 other backpacking trips (102 miles in total) without issue and have not used the Hyperlite.

I had about 35 pounds in the Hyperlite pack (includes 4 days worth of food) for the August trip.  Normally I am right around 29 pounds for an overnight trip.

 

[Terran Terran]

Mine carries up to around 25 pounds comfortably. Consistently more than that, I’d get a different pack. It’s a very good pack for what it does. The padding is thin and there’s no load lifters. I think they claim 30 pounds, but that’s pushing it.

[Dan]

I don’t know what the weight ratings are supposed to mean, maybe how much the pack can hold without ripping. But in my experience, if you’re going to carry more than 30 lbs on a regular basis, you would probably be happy with a more structured and padded pack. I’m sure there are some people who can carry heavy weights in very minimalist packs, I’m just generalizing.

Or, if you took the time to study some gear lists, you might find that you can reduce your load by 5 lbs pretty easily. I have to think that would make things more comfortable for you. With such a high quality lightweight pack, it would be good to check that the rest of your gear is in the same ballpark.

[Philip Tschersich]

I stopped using my tall 3400 (55 L) HMG Junction for multi-day trips 6 years ago after this one:

Despite trying to get all the weight onto my hips, there was still enough pressure on my trapezius shoulder muscles to cause exactly what the OP described; a sharp, piercing pain just above the shoulder blade.

Switching to a pack with well-executed and adjusted load lifters was the cure. I am doubtful that a frame sheet is going to address your issue.

[Jerry Adams]

there were a lot of footprints in the sand

I’m surprised a lot of people would be on that route

[Philip Tschersich]

Huh? I don’t think I saw any human tracks other than perhaps a few around the mouth of the Ayakulik River near the lodge or at TW’s cabin at Grant Lagoon. The beaches certainly are animal highways.

[Jerry Adams]

Oh, those must be animal prints

Or just random patterns in the sand :)

[Terran Terran]

Bigfoot.

I actually got my Porter when HMG offered a frame sheet. Which I ordered. I still find anything over 25# too much.

[Philip Tschersich]

Bigfoot

More likely one of our thousands of coastal brown bears.

[Author]

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