Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pod Review

waterproof?

I have never used one but in a recent article by Ryan Jordan he says he uses this

Osprey Straightjacket Compression Sack
I’ve had a 20-liter Osprey Straightjacket Compression Sack  in my kit for more than five years, and it goes with me on almost every backcountry trip. Unlike a traditional compression sack, which compresses gear from the ends of the sack, creating a short cylinder, the Straightjacket compresses the sack in the transverse direction, which makes it thinner without affecting its length. That way it fills out the bottom of my pack nicely without having to pack gear around the ends of it. In my typically 3-season kit, the Straightjacket houses a 20-degree down sleeping bag, an inflatable insulated sleeping pad, pillow, down jacket, extra socks, and long underwear – my entire camp bedroom in one spot.

Like Andrew, I’ve used and loved HMG Pods for a few years. Other features I really like:

– Large flap opening. I can put a pod down, open the top, and most items are easy to see, remove, and replace. Big improvement over traditional tubular stuff sacks.

– Space for labeling. Since these pods are a uniform gray, I can forget what’s in which. A marker plus tape (sometimes I change my mind) works well, or even a Brother labeler. Much better than recalling while hungry, cold, and tired, that food is in red, and clothes in blue. Or was that last trip?

– Water-resistant zippers. Truly waterproof zippers are pretty stiff, and don’t stay waterproof that long around sand and grit.

Also like Andrew, reluctant to push the zippers with expandable contents like sleeping bags and puffies. Two solutions I’ve used:

– Get a bigger pod. If a puffy pushes some, I don’t worry, other gear squishes it down.

– Use turkey roasting bags. One nylofume-like bag holds my sleeping bag, camp socks, and deflated pillow, safe enough from moisture, and fills the bottom of the pack. Sleeping gear is first-in, last-out for my packing system, so stuff on top compresses good enough.

The SMD Packing Pods might be a good choice if you use a pack liner. Much cheaper, multiple colors, almost pack-shaped. I use them for fair weather day hikes.

I have a couple of Mountain Laurel Designs packing cubes, but they don’t open like a flap and aren’t pack shaped.

— Rex

I too have been using the Pod system for several years and I do use the large one for my insulating gear. I have several different seasonal sleeping systems and have had no difficulty tucking, squeezing or stuffing my compressables into the pod. My gear gets pretty rugged use in backcountry Search and Rescue. The pods have brought all of the previously mentioned benefits of organization and moisture resistance as well as making rapid packing and unpacking of gear much easier and less likely to result in something getting lost in the shuffle. I’ve never had a pod failure or mishap.

Yup, been using the Large pod for my down sleeping bag since around 2018. I’ve noticed over time some vertical expansion caused on the zipper when packed. More teeth showing, not by much. Figured it was a general wear and tear issue on the water resistant zipper liner. Was never aware that HMG doesn’t recommend. The only downfall I’ve found is that the zipper will occasionally want to snag into the bag material. Have to carefully slide open with finger guiding behind the pulley. Will still use it for my down gear and other items though, they’re just that handy

Can’t read the review but timely discussion as I’m looking at purchasing some pods and switching my organization system around. The HMG pods are quite pretty.

…but what gives with a single $60 pod? Bloody heck, tax and shipping would put them at nearly $70 each! It strikes me as more than a tad outrageous for a stuffsack with a zipper. Beyond the cost, however, I’m just not sure the logic fits my system. I primarily use a Southwest 3400 with a trash compactor bag as a liner. It’s never failed me in heavy rain. I don’t trust a backpack alone for waterproofing and I don’t think I would trust a pod, even in DCF with waterproof zipper. So my pods are still going into a liner…which makes a single $60 DCF pod look awfully redundant and expensive. Tell me what I’m missing here, as I’d like to purchase some pods…but leaning hard towards SMD right now.

Can I trust that down goods will stay dry in a downpour if packed in a Southwest 3400 with an HMG pod alone?

Or is owning a set equivalent to being a man that appreciates the finer things, HMG stuffsacks spread all over camp as I drink single malt from my $150 Snowpeak Ti flask and reassure myself I have done very well in life? I suppose there is a place for this too ; )

While perhaps not as good of a fit as HMG pods, a less expensive option to consider would be the Ikea Rensare line for $5 for 3 pods. I have used them a bit and I am happy with them.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/rensare-clothes-bag-set-of-3-check-pattern-gray-black-10461208/

Hopefully you won’t be disappointed. I don’t have much use on it yet, but it seems built well enough and works well enough in my opinion. Let us know if you opinion differs :)

I have the three bag kit. The larger bag is 1.28 oz (36 g), the white and small is 0.83 oz (24 g), and the grey and small is 0.79 oz (22 g). Not sure how accurate my scale is, but most products seem to match or be close enough to manufacturer’s specs.

I saw the separate one, but for the price difference I have found plenty of use also out of the small ones… Of course, if you know that smaller size won’t work for you, then no point in getting the three pack…

UltraLiteSacks has a DCF compression bag that works great for compressing a sleeping bag and/or clothing.