Need Higher-End Pack Recommendations

Lots of good ones mentioned.  I looked long and hard and ended with Elemental Horizons Kalais.  Here is my piece on the search and runner ups.

Welp, I was going to take a bit longer to mull it over, but Katabatic Gear is having a closeout sale on Helios 55 in V40 and medium size (25% off, $243.75), so I went ahead and took the leap.

At $80 off, it’s difficult to resist, I think. At the very least, it’s cheap enough to try and sell if it doesn’t suit me.

Dan, Are you able to compare the Hanchor Marl’s harness, frame, and carry to HMG’s? Does the Marl handle a heavier load (>30 lbs.) better? Thanks.

I can take a stab at this. I’ve got a Hanchor Marble, which is larger volume than the Marl but uses the same frame/harness. My wife has a HMG pack, which I’ve borrowed on occasion.

The short answer is that the Hanchor frame is at least as capable. There are two big differences. The first is that the Hanchor has an optional horizontal frame stay, which is useful when you’ve really got the pack jammed full and it otherwise wants to “barrel” into a tube. The vertical stay keeps the pack close to your shoulders. The second difference is that the Hanchor stays extend further upwards to load lifters, which aren’t available on the HMG. Normally I don’t find this to be an issue on the HMG, but if the pack is really overloaded and tall, then the load lifters are nice to keep that weight forward and not pulling back on your shoulders.

So under normal loads, I think both packs carry well but if you’re going to push the load to the max then I think the Hanchor would handle it better. I’ve had up to 65 lbs in my Marble and the pack seemed to handle it reasonably. I definitely don’t like carrying packs that heavy, but I was hiking with fat pow skis and boots.

I’d think of the Marl as basically a beefier version of the Windrider 2400. Some extra weight but it adds tougher fabric (VX21 vs 50D hybrid cuben), load lifters and a horizontal stay. Plus it’s cheaper (~$250 USD w free ship).

Thanks, Dan. I really appreciate your insight.

Hey Dan, One more quick question:  I really like HMG’s hipbelt. Specifically, the overall stiffness of it so it’s not easily deformed (vertical profile). Hanchor’s hipbelt, from what I can glean from pictures & video, appears to be much more pliable; is this correct?

Hi Alex. I had a look at this today.

The Windrider that my wife has is an older one (~2011) so I’m not sure if it’s the same as current hipbelts. If definitely doesn’t have the lumber pad that the current packs do.

Anyways, the hipbelt material appears to be exactly the same stuff. Both the HMG and Hanchor have identical looking 1/4″ thick 3D mesh/foam for the wings, with the same nylon bias tape/edging plus pack face fabric sewed to the outside. So the vertical stiffness should be, and is, very similar – if anything the HMG was softer but likely because it has ~200 days on it vs. 20.

Also worth considering is how the wings are attached to the pack. On our Windrider the wings are rigidly sewn to the edges of the pack bag, so it’s a pretty stiff connection. The Hanchor has a removable hipbelt that connects a bit closer to the center, so the connection itself is less stiff. However, newer HMG’s also have the hipbelt sewn in from the edges, so I suspect for all practical purposes the HMG and Hanchor are identical in this regard. I’m not sure if the current HMG hipbelts are replaceable.

Very helpful, Dan. Thanks again.

“I’m not sure if the current HMG hipbelts are replaceable.”

I just ordered and received a new HMG Windrider 2400.  I toyed with the idea of ordering a removable hipbelt, which they offer as an option.  Some have said they were able to install ULA hipbelts, that they preferred.  HMG has a nominal custom order fee – $35.  They will make other changes like pocket material (hardline outside – net on the back) or remove the hydro port or hydration sleeve.  You can can any or all of these mods for the one fee of $35.  I think that’s reasonable, but I didn’t take them up on it because it’s non-returnable – even for size.  I’m excited to get my stock 2400 out on the trail soon!

$35 is reasonable, but a lot of the HMG packs can be had on Campsaver for 20% off. Here in Canada a custom Windrider 2400 totals $390 USD from HMG ($290 + $35 + $65 ship), but only $232 from CampSaver ($290 less 20%, free ship). It’s too bad because I wouldn’t mind custom things, but for us Canadian’s the difference starts at $160.

My Helios came in today. Wow, is it comfy. I’ve only carried about 20lbs around the living room, but the cut of the shoulder straps are incredible.

I thought I’d just chime in as a tentative Katabatic pack convert. I’ll probably put 20-25lbs into it this weekend and walk around town. See how it feels.