Here’s a quick look at my SWD DCF/cuben 40L pack with internal aluminum stays. This pack has become my go-to pack for UL backpacking and was used in Colorado in summer 2018 for about 200 miles of hiking, including the section of the CT from Twin Lakes to Lake City. I’m really in love with this suspension system–I’ve been using my HMG Southwest 3400 now for about 5 years and ended up selling my ZPacks Arc Blast because I preferred the HMG style stays which can be bent to fit your pack and make it ride close to your center of gravity. I decided last year that it was about time to get that base weight down to around 8 lbs, so I thought I’d give this pack a try.
Overall, I love the pack. My only complaint is that the shoulder strap was hurting my left shoulder pretty bad (i.e., shoulder was pretty sore). I’d say that my HMG pack is more comfortable overall (the way the straps hug/curve around my shoulders)–I may look into having the shoulder straps modified to fix this issue. Eventually, the issue went away after 3-4 days of hiking, so I’m not sure what to make of it. I’ll be using this pack again this year to finish my CT hike and other hikes I have planned on the AT.
Anyway, enjoy the vid! I’m curious to hear your thoughts on your SWD packs as well.
