Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest Backpack Review

JUMP TO: SPECS / PROS & CONS / WHERE WE TESTED / HOW IT PERFORMED / FEATURES / ACCESSORIES / SUMMARY

Author: Steve Edgerton

The 3400 Southwest from Hyperlite Mountain Gear is a rugged, ultralight, 55 L backpack with a minimalist design. Weighing under 2 lbs and built to withstand rocky, wet, and wooded trails, it is built for long thru hikes and technical routes.

Made from 100% Dyneema fabric and limiting features to the essentials, the pack manages to reconcile an ultralight design with near indestructability. But that achievement is reflected in the price tag.

Is the 3400 Southwest worth its relatively high price point? I took it along on one of Canada’s most unforgiving trails to find out.

QUICK SPECS

WEIGHT: 1.98 lbs / 0.9 kg (white) or 2.18 lbs / 0.99 kg (black)

INTERNAL VOLUME: 55 L

EXTERNAL VOLUME: 9.8 L

MATERIAL: Dyneema

LOAD CAPACITY: Up to 40 lbs / 18 kg

PROS

• Lightweight: 60+ L of volume at less than 2 lbs

• Extremely durable and water resistant

• Minimal design is surprisingly comfortable

CONS

• Expensive, even for ultralight packs

• Lack of internal zipper pocket for safely storing essentials

• Poor ventilation along back

WHERE WE TESTED

Starting with short overnight trips in the Canadian Rockies, this pack’s true test was a six day trip on the rugged West Coast Trail in the summer of 2022. It faced muddy, overgrown trails, beach boulder hopping, and lots of rain.

HOW IT PERFORMED

FIT & COMFORT: Given the low-profile shoulder straps and minimal frame, the backpack proved surprisingly comfortable. I had few issues over six full days of hiking, even with a starting weight of 30+ lbs. It does a respectable job at distributing weight between shoulders and hips. The only real downside was its poor ventilation. The minimally padded back panel and Dyneema fabric made for an uncomfortable amount of back sweat, even on cool days.

Adjustments are limited to the shoulder straps, hip belt, and sternum strap. This is a good thing if you get the right sized bag. Cutting out excessive straps, load lifters, Velcro, and padding sheds weight and makes for a lighter, easy-to-use pack. Just be sure to take extra time for accurate torso measurements or find somewhere to try it out in person. It is a unisex design, so the right size for you may be different than expected. I (5’11, 160 lbs, male) tested the large and it was an ideal fit.

EASE OF ACCESS / EASE OF USE: What you see is what you get with the 3400, and for the most part, I loved that. Minimal zippers, pockets, and features means there is little to fuss over. The hip belt pockets are big enough to hold any on-the-move essentials.

Unfortunately, the water bottle pockets are not particularly accessible. I had to take off the pack or rely on my partner whenever I needed a drink. But the pack is hydration bladder compatible for those who prefer to avoid this.

DURABILITY: This is where the 3400 Southwest really shines. It is a beast. The West Coast Trail is unforgiving: this pack was scraped by branches and boulders, showered by thunderstorms, and even had its base submerged during a high ford. It proved to be remarkably waterproof and ready for the abuse of a technical trail.

Hyperlite advertises the pack as ideal for “heavily wooded trails in the roughest, toughest climates.” I would whole-heartedly agree. In terms of weight to durability, this is as good as it gets.

VERSATILITY: The roll top does provide for a versatile bag. You can easily load it full of supplies and food for a two-week unsupported trip. It can also be compressed down to not feel like overkill on a casual weekend adventure. This versatility plus its durability makes the 3400 Southwest a solid “single-quiver” backpack, great for big thru hikes, weeklong trips, and one-night getaways.

NOTABLE FEATURES

VOLUME: The 3400 Southwest is marketed as a 55 L pack, and you get that from the interior pocket alone. The external pockets add another 10 L. With its minimal design and large compartments, this pack has more functional space than 70+ L backpacks I have previously owned. You can really load It up.

MATERIAL: The simple, utilitarian look of the pack is thanks to the Dyneema fabric it is manufactured from. Dyneema is waterproof, practically indestructible, lightweight, and, of course, expensive. The 3400’s impressive durability and high price point can both be mostly attributed to its materials.

HIP BELT: The two zippered hip belt pockets are generously sized, offering easy access to all your on-the-move essentials. They comfortably fit a smartphone, Garmin InReach, map, and many snacks.

OUTER POCKET: The outer stretch pocket is divided into three compartments. The two on the side can fit a large Nalgene each, with plenty of room to spare. The larger compartment is great for storing raingear and any other essentials you expect to need throughout the day.

INTERIOR: The cavernous primary compartment, accessed through a roll top, has a 55 L capacity, but it feels even bigger. You could probably fit yourself in there with a little motivation. Overall, I like the single internal pocket design, but it demands some thoughtful organization. The roll top is effective, but a bit tedious. The interior works best for storing the gear you will only need to access at the end of the day.

FRAME: The frame consists of two vertical support bars behind the hydration bladder pocket. They are removable if you want to cut some weight. But for loads greater than 20-25 lbs, they are essential to maintain the fit and relative comfort of the pack.

STRAPS: There is an adjustable Y compression strap that goes over the pack’s roll top. It can be used to secure gear to the outside of the pack for added storage capacity. There are two side straps for horizontal compression. An adjustable sternum strap helps to distribute weight across the chest and features a built-in emergency whistle.

HYDRATION: The pack features a mesh pocket for a hydration bladder, with a small opening above the frame for a hose. The two side pockets can both easily fit a 1.5 L water bottle.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

The 3400 Southwest significantly limits features in the name of weight. If you’re like me, though, you may want to consider adding a few extra ounces to keep things efficient, organized, and extra dry. Some accessories worth considering include:

CAMERA POD: It may be ultralight sacrilege, but I often bring a proper DSLR camera on my backpacking trips. This pack on its own is not particularly well-suited for the photography enthusiast, but the Hyperlite Camera Pod addresses that by keeping camera gear both secure and accessible.

STUFF SACKS: Hyperlite’s DCF Stuff Sacks add an additional layer of waterproofing while keeping your pack organized. They range from 0.3 L to 13 L in volume and 0.14 oz to 0.85 oz in weight, good for everything from first aid kits to sleeping bags.

SUMMARY

I was impressed with the HMG 3400 Southwest. It offers high volume, a durable design, and excellent water resistance, all while being ultralight and relatively comfortable. It is an excellent option for thru hikers and for trips in rugged terrain with variable weather conditions. Its shortfalls—no secure internal pockets, minimal padding, poor ventilation—feel inconsequential compared to what it gets right.

It is more expensive than other comparable packs on the market, but if your goal is to go ultralight without sacrificing durability, the 3400 Southwest is an investment worth making.

DISCLOSURE

Hyperlite Mountain Gear provided me with a free sample for this review, but the views expressed here are all my own. The review might also contain affiliate links, which help us keep churning out more content!

MORE INFORMATION

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Or check out our entire Gear Reviews Page, our Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.

Happy hiking and take care out there in the wild!