– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 4400 Porter Pack – First Look Review

by Jonathan Cooper December 1, 2016
written by Jonathan Cooper December 1, 2016
Left, 4400 Porter Pack rolled down

Left, Hyperlite 4400 Porter pack rolled down and compressed with minimal gear inside. Note the “y-strap” function for compression the roll-top. This adjusts for when the pack is fully loaded. Right, when the time comes to load it up, the Porter has a large expansion collar.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear packs have been coming on strong in the last few years. Mountain Guide and WildSnow guest blogger, Beau Fredlund has had one for 5 years and posted his views here.

I wanted to get a taste of the hype and see how these packs shape up next to other simple one-compartment packs I’ve used for ski touring and mountaineering.

Simplicity. That’s the name of the game here. When you get a 70L pack in the mail, and you pick it up and it feels too light to be true, it’s cause for further investigation.

I have been a fan of simplified rucksack style packs for a while, having used a CiloGear 60L Worksack for almost 6 years. The simple design lends itself to being lightweight, and to options for creativity in terms of user modifications (obviously with the potential risk of compromising waterproofness or strength). The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter Pack is a beautiful rucksack, no doubt about it. At first glance, a number of features stand out, and a few have me curious how it will perform in the mountains.

Left, no frills interior, just one zippered pocket

Left, no frills interior, just one zippered pocket and a lot of space for stuff. Right, simple hook and loop closure on the roll-top.

Side view of 3 compression straps, reinforced side with ski strap modification. You can also see the hip belt modification. These look like they will be good features for both day ski tours and longer expeditions.

Side view of 3 compression straps, reinforced side with ski strap modification. You can also see the hip belt modification. These look like they will be good features for both day ski tours and longer expeditions.

First off, the versatility of the Porter Pack is appealing. On a recent ski mountaineering trip to the Monarch Icefield we opted to do the unassisted option, which led us to carrying in 15 days of food and gear in one load. This necessitated a pack that could expand to fit everything, while also being able to compress down to carry a day trip’s worth of gear from camp. At first look, the HMG 4400 Porter looks to be a good contender for this style of trip. Similarly, a hut trip where you want to make one big hoof into your temporary backcountry home, while also being able to day ski or splitboard with a lightweight kit can be a difficult balance to strike. The single compartment top load style packs are ideal for these situations.

So far the HMG 4400 Porter pack stacks up in the following ways:

Pros:

  • Simple design – helps trim down options to the necessities
  • Lightweight – 70L pack comes in at under 2 ½ pounds empty!
  • Durable and waterproof fabric – 150D Dyneema®/poly hybrid material for the main pack body; woven Dyneema® fabric reinforcement on the sides and bottom for added abrasion resistance
  • Comfortable hip belt and shoulder straps
  • Added modifications of hip belt pockets – big enough for skin track snacks
  • Ski carry modification (even for a splitboard) with reinforced side panels and fixed straps
  • Reinforced bottom panel
  • Roll-top feature for compact use when carrying a smaller load
  • 3 side compression straps when it’s fully loaded
  • Cons:

  • Lack of obvious ice-axe carrying option on the Porter Packs
  • Tall collar without compression straps require careful packing if filling to capacity.
  • The 4400 Porter is the largest capacity rucksack that Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes. They also sell a similar pack called the IcePack 4400, which is more or less the same bag with an added crampon and ice axe carry feature on the front. In my opinion the 4400 Porter should include a simple ice axe carry option but admittedly it’s easy enough to rig something up (like a snowboard carry) on the daisy chain features on the front of the Porter Pack.

    I am looking forward to putting the 4400 Porter Pack to the test throughout this winter and spring.

    Note: The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 4400 Porter reviewed above was customized with Hyperlite’s Ski Modification package. The Ski Mod adds the reinforced fully-woven Dyneema® side panels, bottom, and ski holsters. Allow three weeks for delivery and additional charge of $100. Full retail price for the 4400 Porter with Ski Mod is $465.

    Now until January 2017, all packs on HMG’s website are discounted 15%.

    5 comments
    0
    FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
    previous post
    Ski Touring News — Snow Immersion and New Computers
    next post
    10 Commandments “Stone Tablets” of Avalanche Safety – Bruce Tremper

    5 comments

    AJ December 1, 2016 - 10:05 am

    It looks like a ski friendly evolution of the Golite Gust with more creature comforts. Every time I pick up my empty Gust it makes me smile. Lack of mass and lots of adventures under the (hip)belt.

    Rod Georgiu December 1, 2016 - 10:45 am

    Any kind of suspension?

    Leroy McGee December 1, 2016 - 12:05 pm

    As AJ notes, all of these packs are evolutions of the original GoLite Breeze, which was a design created by Ray Jardine in the late 80s early 90s (Ray Jardine who also designed the Friend cams back in the day). I’ve had an original Breeze for almost 20 years now, and thousands of miles of trail and skintrack, and it’s still my primary pack for 90% of my outdoor pursuits and it has yet to require a single repair job. I imagine these Hyperlite bags hold up just as well or better…can’t wait to try one out.

    Eli December 1, 2016 - 2:24 pm

    I have a much small BCA pack with hook and loop closure on the rolltop and wouldn’t choose it on another pack. I’m sure it’s lighter than drybag-style with side release buckle closure, but it’s makes hauling stuff out of the bag when wearing a base layer/fleece a real pain. A single hook and loop strap to secure the roll would be light but less likely to destroy one’s expensive merino base layers.

    Duncan December 2, 2016 - 12:52 am

    See Aarn Packs for light comfortable and balanced.

    Comments are closed.

    Recent Comments

    • RCL1 on Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame
    • IdahoDawg on Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame
    • Al on Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame
    • Kam on Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame
    • Lance on The Ski Trab Deep Look: Ski Trab Magico.2 Skis, Titan Vario.2 Binding, and Branded Mohair Skins

    Gear Reviews

    • BCA’s FLOAT E2 25: The Alpride E2 Side of the Equation

      April 29, 2022
    • BCA’s FLOAT E2 25: The Pack Side of the Equation

      April 27, 2022
    • ATK Kuluar 12 LT: A First Look

      April 22, 2022

    Trip Reports

    • Techniques and considerations for ski mountaineering on glaciers

      February 16, 2022
    • Making the Most out of the Alaska Range

      February 14, 2022
    • Emergency Layers for Backcountry Travel

      February 7, 2022

    Totally Deep Podcast

    • Totally Deep Podcast 99: Big Geography with Roman Dial and Alex Lee

      April 20, 2022
    • TOTALLY DEEP PODCAST 98: Live at the EMGT with Cam Smith

      April 12, 2022
    • TOTALLY DEEP PODCAST 97: Talk of Gear for Next Year

      March 23, 2022

    Tips & Tricks

    • Fueling For Ski Touring

      May 3, 2022
    • The “New Math” for Sheltering from the Storm

      May 2, 2022
    • A Simple Ski Crampon Mod

      April 21, 2022

    Ski Touring Stories

    • Backscratchers in My Brain

      April 6, 2022
    • Blessing of the Freeheelers & Bon Voyage Grand Traversers

      April 2, 2022
    • Mentorship On My Mind

      March 31, 2022

    Newsletter Sign-Up

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • About Lou Dawson
    • Authors Page
    • About
    • Contact
    • Copyright & Legal
    • Website Security

    @2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


    Back To Top

    Read alsox

    Ascent Plates: A First Look into...

    March 29, 2022

    Rocky Talkie Radios Pass the Test

    March 21, 2022

    Time to meet the parents with...

    March 17, 2022