The Best Deals on Camping, Backpacking and Outdoor Gear [May 2025]
We’re all in on ultralight backpacking here at Terradrift. In fact, it’s the only way we trek into the backcountry at this point (check out these articles about our sub-10lb couple’s base weight and what UL gadgets we do and don’t love). But until recently, we had yet to test a pack from one of the biggest names in ultralight backpacking: Hyperlite Mountain Gear. So we got our hands on one of Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s top tier packs and took it into the wild to see how it functioned (and if we’d carry it again). Here’s our full Hyperlite Unbound 55 Review.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55L Review: A Pack For Occasionally Heavy Loads
Weight: 30.2 oz / 856 g
Price: $399
First things first: This is a multi-day backpacking pack designed for thru-hikers and backpackers who want a lightweight pack but that can also go the distance with slightly heavier loads. Also available in 40L, the Hyperlite Unbound 55 is sleek, it’s pretty, it’s super durable, and it has just about all the features you could ever want in a pack. Including a frame. Yup, it’s a Hyperlite backpack with a frame. So you can carry more but feel it less. Here are the features on this well-designed bag:
Features
- 55L + 9L external pocket storage
- Removable hip belt
- Non-removable/adjustable shoulder straps
- Large side pockets
- A single removable stay acts as a frame
- Load capacity up to 40 lbs
- Dyneema DCH50 material is partially bio-based
- Roll-top closure system with removable side pulldown straps for vertical compression
- Bottom pocket for easy access to snacks or a rain jacket
- Bungees on sides for securing tall gear in side pockets
- Large dual-entry (top and bottom) front pocket provides extra storage
- Oversized side pockets
- Adjustable sternum strap
- Waterproof fabric and taped seams
- Daisy chains on sides and bottom of pack
- Accessory attachment points
- Available in 4 sizes (small, medium, large, tall)
- Additional hip belts available in several sizes
- Accessory attachment points
Hyperlite Unbound 55 Review
But while features are all well and good to highlight, it’s how they perform in the wild that truly matters. So we took the pack out on a multi-day backcountry adventure to see how the pack fared, what we thought of things like fit and function, and so much more.
Size
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound is a spacious pack. In fact, it’s almost larger than we need for most trips since we are always packing ultralight gear. That said, a slightly larger pack can be a blessing in the name of versatility: it means you can compress it in the summer when your load is lighter but pack it full in winter or shoulder seasons when warmer, bulkier, heavier gear is often required.
The main compartment is 55L, plus there’s an extra 9 in external pockets. There’s a large, durable stretchy pocket on the front, but also on the bottom. The latter is a great place to stash a spare layer, beanie or, thanks to a tiny opening in the corner, snack wrappers, which you don’t have to worry about flying out of a water bottle pocket when you stop to hydrate (but more on pockets below).
The pack itself comes in four sizes: small, medium, large and tall. That’s instead of the pack having adjustable or removable shoulder straps. The hip belt is removable and can be swapped out for one other size (L), but the straps can’t. That said, rarely do you get a sized pack that ALSO has adjustable straps, so we’re not complying too much.
Fit + Comfort
As for fit and comfort on the trail, the whole back panel was more breathable than many other ultralight packs we’ve tested thanks to a single curved frame stay that kept the back panel off our spines, a welcome feature during testing in warm spring temps in Utah. You can remove the stay if you want to trim a few ounces (and if you’re carrying a lighter load), but we found the breathability it offered–and the fact that it kept our backs from sweating profusely–was worth the weight.
Straps aren’t interchangeable (as mentioned) and there are no load lifters–though that’s pretty common for ultralight packs. Maybe more importantly, they’re not removable so you can’t swap they out for other sizes or shapes and no option exists for women’s specific straps. That said, Alisha, a smaller-chested female, still found them tolerably comfortable. Straps are flexible, pretty gentle on bare skin, and padded, but not overly so. They’re minimalist, but without sacrificing comfort. I did find them on the short and narrow side, but that could be because I tested the small size of the pack and am technically right on the line between small and medium. Even so, the length and width didn’t create any issues, though short backpackers with larger bodies may experience some fit issues.
Same goes for the hip belt. It’s not overly padded, and while it didn’t offer quite the same freedom of motion, it comfortably and effectively helped transfer some weight off our shoulders. But the padded portion also didn’t extend very far forward, so anyone larger than average for their height (or even on the line) will likely want to upgrade to a larger belt.
Functionality + Pockets
But how functional is the Unbound backpack? Pretty dang, actually. Water bottle pockets are big and easily accessible (they hold a large Nalgene or two Smart Water bottles), there are bungees on the sides to help secure tall items like tent poles, umbrellas or tripods, and you can buckle the roll-top via (removable) webbing on the sides and/or an over-the-top Y-strap. We appreciate that versatility depending on how full we’ve packed the bag. Especially since the Y-strap is adjustable from the single strap side and the dual strap side, which allows for more adjustability when you need to lash gear to the top of the bag (or not).
The stretchy pocket on the front of the pack has a dual feature we found helpful: a second, smaller pocket overlaps the bottom the larger pocket. This offers two separate spaces to store things or you can reach into the smaller one and under the open bottom of the larger one to find smaller items than may have sunk to the bottom.
The shoulder straps don’t have pockets as-is, but you can add on accessories if you like. The hip belt does have a pocket on each side, but they are located quite far back on the hips, so average to larger hikers may find them difficult to access easily.
Durability + Waterproofing
How waterproof are Hyperlite backpacks? Pretty dang. But if you’re expecting lots of rain, the brand still recommends a pack liner or waterproof stuff sacks, just in case. Dyneema is waterproof on its own plus the bag seams are taped for extra protection. The material is super strong, too. Meaning we’d have no qualms about dragging it through brambles or scraping it over rocks or catching it on tree branches because it’s going to stand up to lots of abuse. Even the stretchy pockets seem burly.
How It’s Sustainable
Hyperlite Mountain Gear packs all come with a one year warranty, but the main sustainability selling point is that they’re ultra durable, meaning they’ll last for many seasons to come and not end up in a landfill any time soon. Hyperlite also has a repair shop to help keep good gear in play longer. Bonus: they’re made in North America (Mexico).
Pros + Cons
Need a quick breakdown? Here it is.
Pros
- Extra large water bottle pockets
- Ultra durable
- Simple single stay provides frame stability and ability to carry heavier loads
- More breathable than some other options
- Soft, flexible straps
- Removable hip belt
- Tons of daisy chain attachment points
- Waterproof
- Available in four sizes, including tall
Cons
- Only available in one color
- No women-specific straps available
- No compression straps; just bungees
- Hip pockets very far back
- Heavier than some ultralight backpacks
- No built-in lash straps on the bottom
- Expensive
Bottom Line: Hyperlite Unbound 55 Review
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55 Backpack is a solid piece of kit for big adventures, from weekend backpacking trips to deep backcountry adventures to thru-hikes of any length. While it’s not the lightest ultralight pack on the market, it’s designed to carry slightly heavier loads when you need it to, so is also a great first or transition pack for those who are ultralight curious but maybe not ready to fully commit to a full UL setup.
It’s comfortable, but on the downside, if you’re looking specifically for a Hyperlite backpack for women, well, that doesn’t exist. But if strap design matters less to you than construction, materials and functionality, then the Unbound 55 is a solid choice. If you’d like to see a comparison of the Hyperlite backpack vs a Zpacks backpack, check out this video. Or read our Zpacks Nero review.
Or check out some of our other favorite ultralight backpacks. Then go farther faster with lighter gear and wander on.
