Superior Wilderness Designs Packs?

I haven’t used one, partially because I’ve been put off from the massive SWD logos they slap on their packs. Two huge ones on each pack is just too much. Yeah I could remove them….

The packs do look nice though.

I’d go with XPac over hybrid cuben though. VX07 has a similarly durable face fabric as 2.9oz hybrid cuben, and is just as waterproof, plus it costs less and there isn’t that spectra inside to fray everywhere once the pack starts to wear out. I don’t think there are any advantages to hybrid cuben, other than sounding exotic.

I just got a Long Haul 50 last week. So far, I’ve only used it on the step machine at the gym with 30 pounds of weights in it.

It seems well built and fits well. I added bottom sleeping pad straps, an upper side pocket, dual belt straps, internal bladder sleeve and shoulder pocket and is 2 pounds.

There’s info in this thread:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/zpacks-arc-haul-vs-swd-long-haul-50-for-philmont/

I have two, actually: a full suspension Long Haul 50 bought in may 2017 and a frameless Superiour 35, bought november 2017.

The LH50 is made out of VX07, VX21 for the bottom and I chose Dyneema X for shoulder straps, side pockets and hipbelt (& it’s pockets).

I’ve used it on several trips, including the Tour du Mont Blanc where I carried personal gear + that of my GF. I also took it for a section of the GR54 and a big amount of overnighters.

The Superiour 35 (same materials for the build) has only seen daywalks, but I’m planning on using it late april for a truhike of the Eifelsteig.

I’ve used an MLD Exodus in the past and I can say for sure that the build quality is excellent. Not a seam out of place and everything is well thought out.

In particular, I quite like the shoulder straps; they’re quite wide and thick without being too wide & thick.

The Long Haul carries really well: the most I carried was around 15 kg (33 lbs) and the pack was still comfortable since most of the weight was transferred to my hips. I wouldn’t go much heavier then that, to be honest.

Some dislikes to the Long Haul: the frame tends to pop out of it’s velcro-closed sleeves. I fixed that permanently by just sewing them shut; I can never see myself not using the frame when using 50 liters of internal volume.

And this one is personal: I prefer a non-waterproof material for the bottom. On the TMB, there was one extremely rainy day in particular and water got into my pack. The materials are very definitely waterproof, but the seams aren’t sealed. Due to the waterproof bottom, the water stayed in the pack and had nowhere to go. I think 500/1000D cordura would be a better choice for a bottom, but that’s another debate.

I didn’t get enough use with the Superiour 35, but so far so good. Build quality is very good as well. IMO the webbing for the shoulder straps should have been a bit wider for easier adjustment, but it’s workable.

I can understand Dan’s thoughts about the logo. My LH50 has a big logo on the lower back on the pack, but my Sup35 has a small one on the lower back and ‘SWD’ on the shoulder straps. They’re easy enough to remove though.

Another thing which I like is their communication & customization. They are willing to change every single thing on a pack if you have a great idea. Plus, they’re just very nice people to deal with. Very fast in responding to emails.

You can’t really go wrong with a SWD-pack. If you have any other questions, I’d be glad to help out.

Hi. Just wanted to give a quick review of the frameless Superior 35 I received last April. I’ve had close to a year of packing with it now and it’s still one of my favorite pieces of gear.

I had it special ordered in vx03/vx07 with lycra shoulder pockets, 4way back pocket, hydration sleeve and top roll pocket. Comes in at a hair over 16oz. It’s impeccably made, stitching is straight and even all throughout. Because of the materials I chose for it I find myself babying quite a bit, if I was to order another I’d get it in all Dyneema X 210.

They have since changed the size of the brand tags to be smaller and less noticeable though it never bothered me to begin with. In my opinion, the design of the pack is better looking than most of the current offerings from the other makers. Its a bit wider, less tube-like which I prefer.

If you’re on the fence of buying one I would tip you to the side of getting it. I truly believe SWD is one of the premium cottage companies today along the likes of MLD and Katabatic Gear and a pleasure to work with in getting your pack ideas made.

I’ll leave others to comment on the quality since mine isn’t coming until March (I ordered the 35 FS, customized to essentially be a framed Pa’lante), but they were definitely excellent to work with. They really seem to get a kick out of making people’s ideas happen, and, from looking at their Instagram feed, they’re definitely game for most requests.

That said, I did have a dream that it came last night (not joking- even had the right feature set and color combo). It carried well on my imaginary overnight. I’d probably give more weight to the opinions of people who’ve used it in the real world, however.

Hmmm dreaming of rucksacks….. Please step this way and then lie back on my couch. I have some questions for you……

David,  I bought the Superior 35L with frame about 5 months ago.  I gotta say that I really like this pack a lot.  These are the accessories I ordered….

Roll Top Pocket

Load Lifters

Dual Adjust Hip Belt Buckle

Roll Top Side Compression

1 Upper Side Pocket

1 Tall Side Pocket

X-Pac front pocket instead of the standard 100D mesh front pocket.  I throw my pack on its front to sit on the back all the time.  With a mesh pocket the dirt gets in through the mesh.

The total weight of my pack is 1lb 14.2 oz.  The workmanship is as high as any pack maker on the market.  I really like the dual adjust belt buckle.  My hip bones always get rubbed raw.  This belt allows me to adjust the top and bottom height of the belt independently.  A game saver for me.  The tall pocket is similar to the GG Mariposa….allowing a nice place to slide my tent into.

You can’t go wrong with this pack!

had to get in this thread. old pack is a Kelty/Mystery Ranch Bigfoot 4200 and weight to heavy.  I’m shopping around for a new pack and from what I’ve read, SWD seems to be very well constructed and thoughtful. Looking forward to learning more.

Thanks, guys, for the replies.  I definitely would do the cuben if I went this route.  Basically, what I’ve been wanting for probably the last 4 years is an Arc Blast but with the vertical aluminum stays that HMG uses–and it seems that SWD produces exactly this.  I’m guessing a pack in cuben would come in around 22-23 oz with the stays, which is just a hair over the Arc Blast and well under the 28 oz listed for the 2400 Southwest/Windrider.

Can anybody speak to the dual adjust hip belt buckle? What purpose does this serve / is it worth the extra weight? In general, is it needed for heavier loads? Or does it serve a function at lower weights also?

Ordered a Long Haul 50L for a PCT thru, wondering whether I should email to request the dual adjust buckle. I haven’t heard anybody discuss the feature on the SWD, but I came across a thread where somebody praised the “double buckle” that McHale uses, so it got me wondering…

Thanks!

Don’t know specifically re SWD, but in general, double buckles seems very much YMMV. Some people swear by them, others not so much. May depend on anatomy?

Personally, I’ve worn old (single buckle) and new (double buckle) hip belts on my SO Divide pack, and noticed no benefit. It was certainly more finicky to take on and off though.

I think if you carry large weights the really snug and fitted aspect it gives you, could help to ensure the weight is really directed to the belt by having a nicely stable and firmly (fitted) belt. I have it on my Long Haul 50 in which I  carry winter stuff (heavier) and once you do it up it holds really nicely but importantly doesn’t feel overtight.

For $5, I say take a punt. I think it is especially useful if you feel other standard belts don’t hold-I am pretty sure this one will. I don’t think you will know if you like it unless you try it and for a small cost in $ and weight you can’t really lose I don’t reckon.

Here is what Will Rietveld wrote in his review of the Kalais pack with it’s four pull hipbelt

four-pull hipbelt tightening system makes a big difference for carrying heavier loads. By separately tightening the upper and lower pulls, the top and bottom of the hipbelt can be tightened separately, which conforms the hipbelt to the hips and prevents it form slipping under heavy loads.

I agree but I like it even with smaller loads which is pretty much all I carry, I have even put a ULA hipbelt on another pack for this very reason, it forms to my hips much better and is more comfortable, but not everyone is the same when it comes to what works for them. I think it is worth it for the very minimal extra ounce .Superior Wilderness Designs says: Adds about 1oz to overall pack weight.

• I see that I responded to this back in February.  Regarding the 4 pull hip belt all I can say is that it’s the greatest thing since DCF.
• I spent the entire summer using my SWD 35L and not once did I eat my hip bones raw.  For decades, my hips would be red after a long hike.  A single clip doesn’t allow the hip belt to ride properly on my hip bones . After a 100 miler my fearless hips get eaten raw.
• The 4 pull hip belt from SWD allows me to adjust the hip belt padding to roll over and on top of my hip bone…along with the standard side pressure.
• I’ll never go back to a single belt buckle.

It appears that the SWD 4 pull belt doesn’t allow for separately adjusting the tension on the top/bottom of the hipbelt since the webbing is free to equalize at the buckle, so the top and bottom tension will even out.

Thus, it seems like they could save a bunch of weight by skipping one of the ladderlocs and associated surplus webbing. Instead of the current design, they could bartack the webbing to the hipbelt wing where the bottom ladderloc is, then run it through the buckle, and then have only the top ladderloc to adjust the tension. The top and bottom ladderloc’s seem redundant since they will self equalize. With that said, perhaps the merit of the current design is that there is too much friction at the buckle for this equalization to reliably happen, or takes too long to even out.

@jpapini- Is that a typo, or are they making a bag larger than 50 now?

“…perhaps the merit of the current design is …”

spreading the force across more of the hip belt …

^ That should happen with either option I describe.

That is odd that the straps aren’t fixed at the center buckle. Looks like it could be easily remedied by the user, though, by wrapping the strap that goes to the upper buckle around the front of the center buckle, through the heart-shaped slot, then to the upper buckle from behind.

ULA’s dual pull hipbelts are the same way as SMD’s. ZPacks puts a line of stitching outside the buckle to prevent the top and bottom tension from equalizing.

I personally don’t find any benefit to a dual pull hipbelt. I’ve tried them, and at first they feel nice, but I just end up fiddling with them throughout the day. My preference is for one big center buckle.

On the plus side, if you don’t like this ladder lock system it looks like it would be trivial to hook up a dual buckle system

“With that said, perhaps the merit of the current design is that there is too much friction at the buckle for this equalization to reliably happen, or takes too long to even out.”

This has been my experience with the same set up on the Elemental Horizons Kalais

One question for those who have used the SWD 50. In looking at the side compression it seems a little lacking. Is that a correct observation? Obviously photos only tell half the story.

“This has been my experience with the same set up on the Elemental Horizons Kalais”
Good to know. I wonder if using poly webbing instead of nylon would lower the friction and thus enable some weight saving. Poly webbing is a lot slipperier than nylon.