[Not for a self-paying review] Hyperlite Mountain Gear UNBOUND 40 A top runner with ultra-lightweight, high-durability backpack with significantly improved storage and customizability.
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
If I'm an omnivorous hiker who relaxes in the mountains' outdoors where you can easily enjoy the busiest mountain ranges, from hiking to fast packing to climbing streams, and if I had "just one backpack," then the first thing that comes to mind Hyperlite Mountain Gear (hereafter referred to as HMG), a super lightweight outdoor brand from North America.
Although there are many backpack brands I love, the simple, ultra-lightweight body that removes the waste they make, yet sturdy and extremely stable is unique. It fits just right into any of the rough and diverse Japanese mountain plays, from light mountain hiking to shower limes at waterfalls to bushes on steep slopes, and is also attractive because it has a simple and sophisticated design and is widely accessible to the itchy areas.
HMG has finally released a new hiking backpack this season. Apparently, they have adopted the latest trending features of UL hiking, and have undergone a groundbreaking evolution that will allow you to reach beyond the itchy parts...! You'll have no choice but to carry something like this on your back.
So I tried walking with HMG's new UNBOUND 40 backpack for about two months, so I'll start a review.
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Main Features of Hyperlite Mountain Gear UNBOUND 40
A backpack for hiking made of DCH (Dyneema Composite Hybrid) material that is lightweight, highly durable and waterproof. The back has a single vertical aluminum stay and foam pads built into it, making it a lightweight structure that is also excellent in load-bearing performance. It features excellent external storage, including large side pockets, stretch mesh pockets on the front and bottom, and daisy chains scattered at key points, and can be used for a wide range of purposes, from FKT-style through hiking where you can walk long distances without a break, to fast packing, regular hiking, and off-trail activities such as stream climbing.
Favorite points
- Dynee Male Stretch Mesh Front and Bottom Pockets
- Large side and hip pockets
- A rich, highly customizable daisy chain
- Lightweight, highly durable, waterproof, and made from Dyneema material.
- High-fitting rear panel and double strap reverse pull hip belt
Interesting points
- The more the removable hip belt becomes, the more likely it will shake and lack stability.
- The back is not very breathable
- There are no storage items (such as hydration sleeves) inside the main storage
Main Specifications and ratings
| Item name | Hyperlite Mountain Gear UNBOUND 40 |
|---|---|
| capacity | 40 liters + 9 liters of external storage (including 55 + 9 liter models) |
| weight | Actual measurement: Approx. 870g (L size) |
| material |
|
| Models for women | none |
| Size/Length of the back |
|
| Rear panel | Vertical aluminum stays + back pads |
| Maximum recommended load capacity | Approximately 18 kg |
| Hydration sleeve | × |
| Main Access | Roll top |
| Rain cover | × |
| Pocket attachment |
|
| evaluation | |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storageability | ★★★★☆ |
| Functionality (ease of use) | ★★★★☆ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Extensibility (customization) | ★★★★★ |
Detailed review
Appearance and usability: Revised sewing design greatly improves storage and usability
Previously, HMG backpacks had a strong image of sewing with a slightly kamaboko-like "cylindrical structure" that was made up of as little sewing as possible, and consisted of a single piece of fabric all the way to the back, but with the new unbound, this has been completely changed. Overall, four pieces of fabric are sewn together, front and back, and back, giving it a more square-like form, giving it a sharper and more sophisticated look.
Furthermore, if you look closely, the main body seams are facing outwards, which is a big difference from the company's previous model, with the structure being attached to the daisy chain along the seams.
I'm not the only one who thought this change in design was "good" at first sight, but of course it wasn't just because of the new design.
The advantages of the cylindrical shape are that it has little seams and fabric, ensuring lightness and durability. However, on the other hand, HMG backpacks (although there are some variations nowadays) tend to have minimal external pockets and attachments for a long time, and the mesh texture and loose gusset parts are simple and simple to put into words, and to put it bluntly, it could be said to be rough (the photo below shows the WINDRIDER 2400 I've been carrying in the past).
I came there and this time I unbounded . The stitching is done by sticking four pieces of fabric together, front, back, left, and right, and then the seams that would normally be woven inside are deliberately turned backwards (outside). By sewing storage parts such as pockets and daisy chains along the seams, we have succeeded in increasing the number of external storage, which was previously low (photo below).
On the other hand, the inside of the pack has flat seams, making it easy to apply waterproof seam tape. As a result, the water resistance is also ensured, just like the traditional cylindrical design (photo below).
Even if we increase the amount of fabric and seams, we will not see much weight increase (compared to the Windrider 2400 Although there are some slight wear and slight weight reductions in the less noticeable parts, such as the smaller buckle, it is safe to assume that there is little negative impact on the weight compared to the increased convenience of storage and other factors.
Dynee masque stretch mesh exterior pocket for durability and elasticity
The newly designed external storage system has expanded dramatically, and it is undoubtedly resolved the complaints that traditional lightweight backpacks had, such as "there are little detailed storage and difficult to use" and "the hassle of having to open and close the main storage every time you put the contents in and take them out." In that sense, new storage items (including parts that have been improved in the past) are basically things that I would like to welcome with my hands raised.
My favorite is the front and bottom pockets made of Dynee masque stretch mesh. This is really well done.
First of all, the Dyneema stretch mesh is a cutting-edge fabric made from strong nylon and polyurethane woven fabric, reinforced with Dyneema fibers in a grid shape, achieving extremely high wear and tear resistance and four-way stretch. It's just strong and stretchy. The kickback is strong and it sticks to the pack perfectly when you don't have anything in it, but the fabric stretches firmly when you put in and take items in and out.
The unbounded version has three pockets made of this latest stretch material, two pockets on the front and one on the bottom.
The two front entrances are connected at the bottom, and the top pocket is deep and has a large capacity (photo below). The upper pocket is often filled with rain gear, jackets, and other footprints (ground sheets), which are often stored in packing, and the lower pocket is often packed with food and gel.
The remaining one is attached to an unfamiliar position on the bottom of the pack.
The entrance is on the right side, and there are no zippers or other openings. At first glance, it may seem uncertain whether it can be used, but when you actually use it, although it has a unique personality, this pocket has the potential to be able to use it in a variety of ways, taking advantage of the advantage of being able to access it immediately by reaching over your hands while walking.
First of all, the basic usage that is expected is to include behavioral diet (photo below). The small details are very stylish, with a small entrance (left corner) where you can hold a bag after eating inside.
Of course, I think that sacoches have been used as a substitute in the past, but when you act quickly, it's best to avoid wandering around your body as much as possible, so this is certainly an advantage.
If you use a typical fabric that is the same thickness, it will wear out and tear in no time. The key point is that this new fabric combines durability and high kickback making it possible. However, personally I would like to have a Velcro fastener at the entrance to prevent the contents from falling.
In addition to food, it seems that it can be used in a variety of ways, such as jackets, rain gear, rugs, and dirt, depending on your ideas in the future. By the way, in my case, it would be best to store a "help rope" that is about 10 to 20m, which is often used when climbing streams.
Large capacity and easy access side hip belt pockets
The pockets placed on the sides are so large that they can accommodate more than two bottles. You can reach behind you to take it out while carrying it on your back, and the drawcord-enhanced entrance prevents hanging inside.
When paired with the standard side compression straps, you can not only attach to the bottle, but also a tripod, trekking pole, and even a closed cell mat (adjusted length).
By the way, it is efficient to use a Y-shaped compression strap on the top to secure the mattress. In its home country, it is intended to be able to secure bare containers and other items here, so it is a very long strap. It can also secure long ropes to ensure climbing.
The hip belt pockets are large enough to fit a large 6.7-inch smartphone, and are one on each side (photo below). It will grow bigger every year to accommodate the size of smartphones. It is also waterproof, so you can rest assured even with electronic devices.
Excellent expandability! Daisy chains scattered everywhere
The new design allows for the installation of a wide variety of daisy chains that are unusable. You can customize the storage to your liking by attaching external attachments such as carabiners and drawcords here.
You can use it as a pole attachment by attaching your own cord lock on the side (top left of the bottom photo), attaching a smartphone pouch or bottle holder to the shoulder strap (top right of the bottom photo), attaching a carabiner to the bottom (bottom left of the bottom photo), or attaching an original camera pouch to the hip belt (bottom right of the bottom photo), and you need to add or devise your own parts, but depending on your ideas, the usability can be endless.
Incidentally, the daisy chain on the side is not just a loop, but also functions as compression due to the drawcord that comes standard, so when you have little luggage, you can thin your backpack to prevent blurring, which is very convenient (photo below).
Materials and Durability: Ultra-lightweight, highly durable Dyneema fabric with a unique blend that can only be achieved by this brand
When everyone hears the word HMG, there is no doubt that the Dyneema material that has been consistently adopted since its founding. The Dyneema material, the source of this philosophy, is of course still alive and well in this backpack.
The Dyneema fabric "DCH (Dyneema Composite Hybrid)" used in all HMG backpacks is a fabric that has been greatly reinforced in durability by further laminated with lightweight polyester fabric to the Dyneema composite fabric (DCF), a common Dyneema composite fabric (DCF), which is used in tents and other items. It is said that it can achieve the same tensile strength as 500 denier Cordura nylon at half that weight. This lightweight, highly durable, unique blend of Dyneema fabric is available only to HMG, which has built a long-standing partnership with DSM, the world's largest supplier.
Regardless of the poop, if you lift this model, put your luggage in and take it outside, you will see the lightness and strength of a paper bag that won't tear no matter how much you drag it around.
*Reference: SectionHiker.com
Carrying comfort ① (comfort): Lighter weight, but more comfortable
unbound rear system is intended to be lighter than a typical mountain climbing backpack, so the back frame is not the type that covers the entire back, but rather has a single removable aluminum stay that can be attached and attached to the part that hits the spine.
Since these vertical aluminum stays are fewer than two, from the conventional HMG backpacks to one, it may seem like a negative feeling to carry, but strangely, it doesn't feel like that much of a negative thing. The exquisite curves along the spine and the reinforced foam pads on the back make it comfortable to carry.
However, one thing to note is that you still can't expect much when it comes to breathability on the back. The back is in close contact with the pads, and although the fabric itself dries slightly quickly, the sweat tends to remain sticky and remains intact, making it difficult to say that it is very comfortable.
Comfort to carry on the back ② (stability): The more burden it becomes, the more uncertain the stability remains
It's comfortable to carry with you, up to a weight of just over 5kg. However, when I packed my bags in a lot, things changed a little.
As a prerequisite, the Unbound 40 is designed with the focus on high-speed through-hiking more than ever before, so the hip belt is also removable (photo above). This means that if you lighten your luggage to the extreme, even your hip belt will get in the way and can be omitted. That in itself is certainly understandable.
However, it is also true that this has led to fewer (weaker) connections between the hip belt and the pack. That is clearly negative for load stability.
In fact, compared to the previous model, where hip belts were sewn to the waist (at least, the WINDRIDER I carried on my back), I feel like I'm starting to feel more shaking while walking around when I carry a heavy load of about 10kg (photo below).
Of course, it won't be that serious unless you carry the weight that bothers you. However, the way I use it is assumed is quite a burden, so I would like to do something if possible.
The simplest solution is to sew it in, but after doing some tricks, I found a way to get rid of the shaking with two straps. This is a method of using a daisy chain that is spread over the pack. Since both the main body and the hip belt come with daisy chains, there's no reason not to use them.
Thin it through any suitable length strap, no matter what, through the daisy chain on the bottom of the backpack and the hip belt. This way, even with heavy burdens, my body and backpack were able to be firmly attached (photo below). If you're interested, you should give it a try.
Summary: With stable, lightweight and robustness and outstanding storage, it becomes even more fun to use backpacks
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 's new hiking backpack, the Unbound 40 , is no exaggeration to say that it has one of the best answers for hikers who want to go lighter, faster and farther. For those who already know the benefits of HMGs, you will be able to experience a clear upgrade, with the appeal of significant storage and expandability being taken into consideration, while still maintaining the appeal of lightness and durability that is satisfying. Also, for those who are trying out HMG backpacks for the first time, they will be able to re-recognize the brand's original appeal, thanks to the many comfort and sophisticated features.
However, I think you can use the service without feeling very dissatisfied, but as mentioned in the review, you need to be careful when packing your luggage to the limit. If we can respond appropriately to these, we have almost no noticeable complaints about this pack at the moment, and depending on customization, it has the potential to become an invincible backpack that can handle any mountain activity at the top level (except for serious trail runs), and expectations are still rising.
