Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 55L backpack (older version)

HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR SOUTHWEST 3400 55L

HMG designed the 3400 Southwest for remote, multi-sport trips to inhospitable regions, where resupplies are infrequent. Made from 100% waterproof Dyneema® Composite Fabrics (formerly Cuben Fiber) and with additional elastic frame sheet support for extra load carrying capacity, this ultralight backpack is highly durable. Further weatherproof your kit by using our Stuff Sacks.

Weight

2.02 lbs | 32.4 oz | 918g (White)
2.10 lbs | 33.6 oz | 953g (Black)

Important to always use a pack liner in your backpack - can still get wet during downpours

FEATURES

• Made in Maine
• Three external, solid Hardline with Dyneema^® pockets
• Removable, contoured aluminum stays 
• Hardline with Dyneema^® shoulder straps with 3/8” closed cell foam and spacer mesh
• 1/4” foam back panel pad
• Compression System
• Roll-Top closure system with side compression straps for vertical compression
• Side compression straps for horizontal compression
• Top Y-strap compression -- Designed to secure gear
• Hardline with Dyneema^® hip belt with 1/8” closed cell rigid foam, 1/4” closed cell foam and spacer mesh
• Hardline with Dyneema^® zippered pockets on hip belt with #5 YKK zipper
• Adjustable sternum strap with self-tensioning elastic
• Ice Axe loop
• Hydro port and internal mesh hydro sleeve
• Four exterior triglide buckles for optional pack accessory straps
• Proprietary seam sealing on all side seams and behind all sewn-on pack features

Size guide 

Our view

On my trip through Sarek it rained constantly for about 2 days as well as waist high wading daily – I don’t use rain covers or anything like that so I have to trust my backpack that it will do it’s just in keeping things dry. I pack everything in watertight stuff sacks, I prefer the Pack pods from HMG and the Stuff sack pillow, and I use a giant trash bag as a pack liner on the inside to keep as much water as possible out. I find this combination of watertight-ish backpack with only one entry point (the roll top), a giant trash bag liner, and everything packed in watertight stuff sacks, keeps everything perfectly dry no matter the rain or wading, and this proved the case even in Sarek on the wettest of terrain, my gear was kept perfectly dry. The HMG Windrider, HMG Southwest and HMG Porter packs are exactly the same backpacks with only the pockets on the outside being different.

I also find that for my longer trips the HMG windrider holds up without any problems, at most I have had around 17 kilos in my pack and while the pack can certainly handle the weight, my body can’t. The backpack itself is rated at around 27 kilos - I would say 20 kilos is enough.

Some people have reservations about mesh pockets on the outside of a pack – they can “tip the balance”, they can easily tear in forestry and so on. Personally I don’t really have this problem. The mesh pockets I use mainly for my tenkara fishing rod, a water bottle and trash. Balance is not an issue. As far as the mesh pockets tearing, this as it were, has not shown itself to be an issue either, and I have certainly trounced through a lot of unkept forestry. The Southwest has cleaner pockets as they are fully enclosed instead of the open mesh pockets found on the Windrider. This might be a better choice for those worried about the mesh getting snagged in trees and so on. 

Conclusion:

There are a lot of backpacks on the market - But there is a reason the Hyperlite mountain gear packs have grown in notoriety: There are no backpacks anywhere near the quality or robustness of the HMG backpacks. If you need one backpack for most everything, you can’t go wrong with a Hyperlite mountain gear Southwest, or any of the HMG Backpacks.

Plus:

• 55 Liter pack
• Simple, effective design.
• Lightweight
• Great carrying capabilities
• 95% watertight
• Robust, durable fabric and mesh
• Compressible - From 55 liters to 35 liters
• Removable stays
• Excellent construction and quality
• No zippers or do-dads. Just what is needed
• Small, Medium, Large and Tall. That’s what you get to choose from. Perfect. I hate too many choices as I’m always afraid of getting it wrong.

Minus:

• Hydration pocket not easily removed – razor blade needed
• Ventilation for some can limited creating a sweaty back

Review written by Kenneth Shaw