Just snagged a Junction for $50 off through HMG direct. Final piece to a more intentional, lighter, minimal backpacking kit. Thanks Ryan for all of your informative, detailed videos and posts...I’ve learned so much. Most informative page on the subject on KZfaq.

Essentially one of the very best pack reviews I've ever watched all the way through. Thank you for this.

3 years has gone by, I watched 20+ reviews, this one is the best, well done.

This was the ideal configuration I wanted when I bought my Southwest. Good to see it's available now. Thanks for the in-depth overview!

Thank you for the effort you put into creating this detailed review from Germany.

Outstanding review! ...and also really benefited with the primer on how you pack your backpack.

I listen to a lot of gear list videos while I work, and this is by far the highest quality one I could listen to over and over. On the same level as skurkas Google talk. Good luck in future endevours

This was an outstanding thorough review. I have this pack and have hiked 500 miles in the desert and mountains. Your video helped me dial it in more efficiently. I did have pain in my shoulders when I had a 4-5 litter water carry. Liked the idea of the 3 litter in the back. I had my 3 litter tied on top and smart water bottles in the pockets. I think by tightening the pack up more efficiently and rethinking how I pack I may be able to relieve some shoulder pain. I had also thought perhaps I could of gotten a M instead of the S. I am small but liked your idea of sizing up. I may also customize and add load lifters any tie them into the stays.

You are quickly become my go to research spot for all things backpacking and outdoors! But bro...no camp chair? I sit my Helinox and watch your vids😂

awesome review. very detailed and you actually show how you pack everything in. A+

I'm adopting your system for my earthquake bag. My needs are a bit different, as I'm in a whelchair, but I bought a fishermans vest for small items and a led baseball cap for my headlight.

This is the exact pack that I upgraded to , as I said to others on the trail I'm Hyperlight Montain Gear for life, for all the reasons mentioned in this video I have the pods and other pieces of gear. Planning to do several thru hikes in the near future,

I'm a bit surprised at the water carry on the outside. I've got the Souhtwest 3400 and the 4400 and mostly like it except for the load capacity, which is as you said about 30-35 pounds for me - for both of these packs. The Southwest 4400 is rated for 60 pounds, which is a large marketing stretch imho. I don't care for the mesh rear as I hang my wet gear on the available aftermarket compression straps. My last gripe is that there seems to be no way to attach my foam pad to the bottom, as I like to do with my other packs. But it's a great design over all, and it's nice to be able to gripe about such trivial things as we live in a time of unparalleled choices. We sure are spoiled. :)

I wish they'd make the Northrim in *BLACK* and/or offer *BLACK* shoulder straps and pockets. I can't stand the white diamond weaves in the hardline locations.

My measurement is a touch over 18”, based on your review that I just read I am thinking the Large Pack.

Great review thanks......!!! I have the southwest 2400 and with other packs I have never found any benefit of mesh for drying anything but I have found it lets everything in it get soaked without a cover. A wet tent stuffed in there comes out a wet tent every time.....??

Great review. Are you a member of that golf course? I mean, it looks like one.

One thing you did not mention about the NorthRim: The pack body is DCH150 (like the rand of the other packs) instead of DCH50. Additionally, the bottom/rand of the NorthRim is DCHW (fully woven dyneema) like the pockets. Somehow it's still only 2.19lbs.

There is an article on sectionhiker from a few years ago featuring a tour of this company’s factory in Maine, where the owner talks about how other cottage gear makers send their manufacturing to Mexico and how that results in the inevitable loss of quality in the product. Well, Hyperlite now manufactures in Mexico.

Great video!! I have this same pack and I'm slowly gearing up for a CT through hike in July 2021. My question is why not carry the water bladder (which is very cool) on the inside closer to your center... Ill take all the gear tips I can get!! good luck, and thanks

Hey Ryan. Awesome review. Quick question - in your experience can you count on your osprey straight jacket compression sack being water resistant enough to not use additional water protection (pack-liner, etc). Thanks again!

Surprised where you're carrying your 3L of water. That's about as far away from your center of gravity as you can get, and goes against everything I ever learned about distributing pack weight effectively.

Fantastic review - probably the best review I have seen

I always love and appreciate these reviews! Thanks for all the good work!

As always, a clear and intelligent review. Not sure if I missed it, but what is your carry weight for that trip (not base weight)?

Excellent review! Thank you, Ryan for the comparison and reasons given for the features and types of backpacks.

What a great video. Loved the hybrid external pockets approach I think that's the way to go. I'll keep an eye on future long term reviews for the pack looks great. Cheers

I might have missed something. You put your 3 liter water pouch in the stretch pocket. What kind is that btw? How do you hydrate while your hiking?

Great walk through, very helpful thanks for this.

Great review, and super helpful packing tips.

Outstanding information and clarity of presentation.

Did you say this was the 3400? And waht kind of weather monitoring thing?

Thank you for a very nice review! Very informative!

Thank you for a very good detailed review. Take care bud..

Very professional and detailed review.

Best gear reviews around. Well done Ryan. What kind of water bladder is that? Btw broke down and got a chair. Lol

Good review. I like seeing the packing. Too often 'features' are part of the advertising and selling but have no real use on the trail, or they're a constant hindrance, like the 'brain' of my Osprey - unless it's zipped you can 100 percent count on it dumping the contents on the ground. Did they simply not make a mock up before they started manufacturing these? (But I have been using it for 15 years... still I'd prefer the Hyperlite) When you cinched down the left side 8:40 I had the idea that the receiver buckle (lower piece) should have a piece of webbing coming off it it 90 degrees. This could better 'contain' the tent poles (you probably don't need it here, but can you see the idea? Might be good for something else. It would have to attach to the buckle which could be moved up and down because both the top and the bottom would be adjustable (not sure if the bottom is here). ) Another idea is a loop around the tent poles that the side strap passes through...but some means of fixing it's height along the poles. Again maybe not needed here, but for a similar purpose. Personally I think there are still so many possibilities still undiscovered, uninvented. I do like the mesh at the back, airing (and sunning) things out is an important function while hiking. And it just seems so obvious to me that a pack should not be constrained to a specific limit. I hike with a synthetic sleeping bag, it's just easier to let it puff out. In most situations it doesn't make any difference if the pack is a foot higher full of fluff. It's curious how long it took to get around to the state of the art backpacks having rolltops.

hey man, big fan for over a decade. I pack mine very similarely to you except I put my water bladder at the top inside the main bag. Do you not find an extra 3kg of water at the back pf the bags makes you lean forwards a lot more?

Planning a through hike of the 100 some-odd miles of the Uinta Highline Trail this summer/fall. (before rain and snow) I'm looking at this backpack for both a review on my youtube channel, and to plan for a through hike of the PCT or CDT in a few years. I'd rather avoid unforeseen issues with my pack. How long should this pack last? I've heard that this fabric doesnt last very long. I'd rather carry an extra pound or two of a nylon fiber pack than use one that falls apart.

How’s the back ventilation? Any issues with hot spots?

are you familiar how this 4400 deals with loads 30+. it says it is able to do 60 lbs, but would love to see your analysis on that like you did this one.

Why put the water furthest away from your center of gravity? Wouldn't the side pockets be a better place?

how about ur camera and lens? how would you pack em ?

Curious, why you don’t use HMG CF packing pod system? I use both Sm and Lg in my SW 4400. Cheers.

what shoes are you wearing? brand and model please

Do yiu have an opinion on the Atom pack Mo? I just bought one...its still in production...i was torn between this one and the Atom. We pack with the kids and carry all their food and some of their gear. A 5 day trip with food for 4 can put me at 40 lbs on day 1.

Best Review! Thank you.

Does is there also some system for hiking holes? Thanks 😊

What made you pick the Junction over the southwest?

Isn t it anoying that the white color turn fast into dirty color? What can we do against it? It is misfortunately the only deal breaker at the moment

What a material?

I have the wind rider 3400 I think it might be lighter? What’s the difference between these packs?

Where do you carry your water that’s accessible while you’re hiking. Do you not use a trowel.

What your food back? Did u like the pack and what your think how works?

Hi odd question here. How are you attaching your garmin inreach mini to the shoulder strap? I’ve been trying to find a good solution without getting the big clip setup that garmin sells.

Do the frame stays help any or is this pack basically frameless? I have only used internal frame packs and I typically cant get away from heavy loads.

It would be great if you can display it at maximum

Thanks for the great video. But I have one question. Suppose I hike in extremely heavy rain. How can the rain run off the outer pockets?

Ryan, these come in Black(slightly heavier DCF) or White. Do you find any advantage over going with the Black as apposed to the White?

Great gear review.

What exactly is the sleeping pad inflation bag? Never seen/heard of those

What does he use to strap his inreach mini?

How much it cost? With all included 😳

since the color is white, what do u do to keep that clean ? is there any special treatment or trick to wash ? thanks

Hi Ryan... great review. THx a lot. Can you post a list of all the items you did put in your bag (e.g. what type of tent)?

Excellent review. I saw this at Trail Days and just toured the production facility in Maine. I left there with the Junction 3400 and some pods for storage. I look forward to some overnights soon and an AT thru hike in 2020...

What’s the difference between Hardline and Dyneema Gridstop?

Why not use the ice axe loop?

Hi Ryan, great vid. Solid side pockets look bombproof but will make finding misplaced sweets hard :) I have the windrider and enjoy using it apart from the extra sweaty back. Out of curiosity what do you have in your enviro monitoring kit @ 4:39? I used to have an acurite thermometer but it didn't last long.

it looks like you’re reviewing brand new unused gear on a golf course??

Excellent review. Thanks for sharing.

Is the Junction more waterproof than the Windrider or Southwest?

P.s. what prevents your ice axe from poking a hole in side pockets?

Liked and subbed. 👌🏼

Hey where did you get that hat?

All bags should be this light. Why should we have to pay through the nose for what should be industry standard?

Does this pack come in a smaller fitting for women?

You need to wax your hip-belt pockets zippers. They sounded as if they never had wax applied.

Great video - I have the Zpacks Arc Haul - do you think that the Junction is better 😊

Wow! Lots of stuff sacks.

What is a WAG bag?

Watching what order you pack things in your backpack was the most interest part. Personally couldn’t listen to the crinkle of dcf, not worth the weight savings. 🤠🏕

love the vid

I would not put the 3liters of water in the outer pack compartment. Too far from your body

its overpriced for a bag though

if the seams lasted forever it would be more exciting, but instead it just collects water as it gets older.

2 lb? That's two heavy.

2lbs....quite a weight...

Looks worn out like about to rip

Didnt knew epstein was into hiking