Hyperlite Mtn Southwest

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

there were a lot of footprints in the sand

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

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.

Oh, those must be animal prints

Or just random patterns in the sand :)

Bigfoot.

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

Bigfoot

More likely one of our thousands of coastal brown bears.

What pack did you end up switching to?

I own a number of packs including the ULA Catalyst and SO Gila, etc., but my main pack is a pretty heavily modified SO Flight 2 in Ultra. I moved the shoulder strap and load lifter attachment points, extended the frame, and added daisy chains to the bottom to run a SWD Wolverine floating hip belt.

Hyperlite packs are a love hate relationship with me. Their achilles heel, or crux, has always been, and likely always will be, the shoulder straps. They desperately need to be re-engineered and re-thought. You’d think that would be enough for me to switch, but it hasn’t. I love most everything about the packs, except the straps. Like an Audi, they’re incredibly fickle. Once dialed in, things are mostly good. I have had the SW in 55L and currently use the Northrim, also in 55L. I’ve found getting the proper size (for me downsizing from spec) and bending, forming the stays to your back curvature, from the generic bends, they come, works well. I don’t care to ever have any more than 27 pounds all out, with the current strap design. I usually keep it down in the 24lb or less range, for a 6 day trip.

I got tired of messing with the stays. I ordered a set of tubular ones from Sockdolager Equipment . If one side is off, one of your shoulders is working a little harder than the other. In trying to compensate, your body gets off kilter. Pain will show up where you don’t expect it. At least that’s my story. The tubular stays are a bit lighter and the pack feels slightly more comfortable though the weight capacity is about the same.

A comfortable, padded hip belt that takes the weight off one’s shoulders is best for me. In the old days, the mantra was, “weight on the pack, pack on the hips.” why? the leg muscles are the most powerful in the human body by a factor of four, or, something like that. So transferring weight off the shoulders and spine and onto the hips, where the legs will do the work, is a good ergonomic design. especially if one has shoulder issues.  or so it seems to me.

I didn’t want to admit that my HMG Southwest pack kills my shoulders while loaded out for a 3-4 night. For a while I thought my technique and load needed adjustment. However, it seems to that others are having a similar negative experience with  slippage of the hip belt and and lack of padding in the shoulder straps.

I will check out those tubes that are mentioned above.

Although I do enjoy this pack for long day hikes and travel. It keeps camera gear and other stuff bone dry.

The ULA packs look excellent in terms of comfort and stability. I am wondering if my HMG Southwest Pack is a good consideration for something like the 3 Passes Trek or the ABC Trek. Or will the lack of shoulder and hip padding become of the pack become problematic on these long treks.

I don’t mean to imply that I’m having a negative experience with my pack. Much depends on your body type and the total weight of your gear. I’ve had mine for several years.