Hyperlight Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Review

Dyneema has gained immense popularity in the realm of ultralight gear and for good reason. This material boasts an incredible strength-to-weight ratio, excellent moisture resistance, and an astonishingly light composition. Hyperlite Mountain Gear, based in Maine, stands at the forefront of harnessing the potential of Dyneema. Intrigued by their 2400 Southwest model—an impressive 40-liter pack designed for challenging terrains—we eagerly embarked on testing. While we anticipated the pack’s featherlight weight and exceptional durability, we were pleasantly surprised by its outstanding comfort and functionality. In the following article, we delve into our experiences with the Southwest pack. 

Weight

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest backpack stands out for its impressive weight of just 1 pound and 14 ounces, and there are a couple of notable reasons for this. Firstly, this places the 40-liter pack in a select group of sub-2-pound backpacking designs, making it highly competitive. To put it into perspective, other ultralight packs with similar or smaller capacities, such as the Granite Gear Crown2 38 (2 pounds and 1.6 ounces) and Osprey Eja 38 (2 pounds and 6.2 ounces), fall slightly heavier. Secondly, what makes the Southwest even more remarkable is the minimal compromises it makes to maintain such a low weight. Even when loaded with gear for a multi-day trip, the pack excelled in keeping everything organized and provided noticeable comfort on my back. Like most ultralight packs, though, the HMG 2400 Southwest truly shines with lower base weights.

This combination of low weight and durability in the Southwest backpack can be attributed to Dyneema, formerly called Cuben Fiber. Dyneema is renowned for its outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, placing it among the strongest materials in the world. While the Southwest maintains its minimalist design and features, as we will discuss further in the “Organization” section below, the strategic use of Dyneema and Dyneema Composite Fabrics throughout the pack, including the main body, hip belt, shoulder straps, and external pockets, significantly reduces its weight compared to packs of similar capacity. As I embarked on multiple long and demanding hikes, I truly appreciated the sleek construction of the Southwest. It’s no surprise that Hyperlite’s packs have gained a devoted following among thru-hikers.

Comfort

From the moment I put on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest backpack, I was impressed by its comfortable design and fit. Having moved over from a larger, 65-liter Osprey pack I appreciated how much tighter and closer to my back the pack rested.

While weight and interior space are undoubtedly crucial factors when considering backpacks, comfort always takes precedence. Initially, I had concerns about the pack’s lightweight and pliable materials, but those worries vanished as soon as I loaded my gear inside and slung the pack over my shoulders. The inclusion of a ¼-inch foam back panel pad provided a pleasantly cushioned layer that prevented discomfort from the contents of the pack pressing against my back. Additionally, the removable aluminum stays effectively distributed the weight and though it saves 4.4  ounces to remove them,  I opt to keep them in on most trips. I like to remove them on quick overnight trips where my total pack weight is lower due to less weight in consumables.

Despite its minimalist design, the Southwest backpack surprises with a reasonably padded and snug hip belt. Even on long days spent hiking with up to 35 pounds of weight (the pack’s maximum capacity is 40 pounds), I have not experienced any discomfort or hotspots. It took me about 3 trips to break in the initially stiff shoulder straps, but they have become comfortable and adequately cushioned, despite initially causing some discomfort on my shoulders. It’s worth noting these initial trips were also multi-day trips where my total pack weight was pushing 30 pounds.

On the other hand, the sternum strap is tough to get in a comfortable position. I generally have such a low pack weight I often opt to just not use the sternum strap (subtle flex, I know. However, a common modification is to cut the HMG logo from the right side of the pack and this allows you to lower the sternum strap to an optimal position. But, as ultralight enthusiasts you’re all probably no stranger to taking razor blades and scissors to your expensive gear in the pursuit of weight savings and comfort.

Organization

The design of the Southwest pack is undoubtedly minimalistic, featuring a single main compartment and three external pockets for organization, in addition to two hip belt pockets. Much like Hyperlite’s 2400 Windrider, the body of the Southwest is essentially a tube that is sealed using a roll-top system, with a Velcro closure at the top and buckles on the sides. While the main compartment does include a sleeve for a hydration bladder, it lacks additional pockets and storage options. Personally, I would have appreciated if Hyperlite had included an internal zippered pocket for keeping small personal items, I am always worried I will lose my keys or wallet on trips though it hasn’t happened yet.

The exterior of the Southwest pack is equipped with three generously-sized stuff pockets, providing an additional 7.3 liters of storage capacity. I found these pockets to be particularly useful for storing extra layers, food, water, or damp items that I preferred to keep separate from the rest of my gear. 

Unlike the mesh material used in the outer storage of the Windrider pack, the Southwest’s pockets are constructed with Dyneema-based Hardline for enhanced durability. While this offers increased strength, it is worth noting that items stored in these pockets may not dry as efficiently or rapidly as they would in mesh compartments. However, to address this concern, Hyperlite has included a drainage hole at the bottom of all three pockets, allowing water to escape if needed.

The hip belt pockets do what they should and I have no qualms with them. They are the perfect size to keep my phone, chapstick, sunscreen, Clif bars, and other small goodies within easy reach.

Build Quality

Despite its lightweight focus and minimalist construction, the Southwest pack has demonstrated exceptional durability throughout extensive testing. I opted for the black variant that used 150d material for $20 more (The white version used a 50-denier )and it has proven resilient against impacts, drops, and dragging, remaining virtually indestructible (both models have a 150D fabric base). Notably, there have been no issues with the seams—they have held up flawlessly without any signs of fraying, and the seam seal has not peeled or worn off. However, it is important to acknowledge that despite Dyneema’s strength, the spaces between woven fibers are susceptible to punctures. If you go with the white version, keep in mind that 50-denier fabric falls on the thinner side of backpack fabrics, it is advisable to provide diligent care for this pack over time, especially compared to sturdier models.

Something worth noting is the white version provides ample light to search around in your pack. This is something I wasn’t aware of at the time of purchase. The white material is thinner and allows light to shine through and reflect the light on the inside while the black version is thicker and can be harder to dig through, even during the day.

Something that I think a lot of people overlook is the fact that Dyneema is waterproof. I generally pack a lot of expensive camera gear with me and knowing that it’s protected from the elements is a huge peace of mind for me. I’ve hiked through rain and even (though not advisable) crossed chest-deep water and just floated the bag across with me and my pack contents remained dry.

Fit

The hyperlight mountain gear 2400 Southwest comes in 4 sizes. They have the standard small, medium, large, and tall offerings. I was in between a medium and large and went with the large to accommodate my larger shoulders and chest. After some breaking-in, the pack has become my favorite and my go-to bag for the past 5 years.

The Good

• This is one of the lightest 40-liter packs on the market 
• It does not sacrifice comfort for the weight savings
• Having a completely waterproof main compartment is a huge plus
• It is surprisingly durable by any standard, ultralight or otherwise

The Bad

• At $350 it’s expensive for a pack this size

• There is no backmesh panel 
• Lack of internal pockets