Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound (40L) White / Small
Born from and for the most transformative journeys, the Unbound 40 is built to go above and beyond the rigors of thru hiking. There is simply no better way to measure the effectiveness of a pack design than to send it out on thru hikes. Over the course of 2,000+ miles and an average of five to six months, day in, day out, loaded and unloaded, jostled and dragged, and exposed to the elements, one of these long walks is going to tell you the truth. Every carefully considered feature fought for its right to remain, leaving only the essentials required for an efficient, comfortable, adaptable, and dependable travel companion. Thru hiking is hard enough. Let the Unbound 40 carry some of the weight.
Born from and for the most transformative journeys, the Unbound 40 is built to go above and beyond the rigors of thru hiking. There is simply no better way to measure the effectiveness of a pack design than to send it out on thru hikes. Over the course of 2,000+ miles and an average of five to six months, day in, day out, loaded and unloaded, jostled and dragged, and exposed to the elements, one of these long walks is going to tell you the truth. Every carefully considered feature fought for its right to remain, leaving only the essentials required for an efficient, comfortable, adaptable, and dependable travel companion. Thru hiking is hard enough. Let the Unbound 40 carry some of the weight.
Born from and for the most transformative journeys, the Unbound 40 is built to go above and beyond the rigors of thru hiking. There is simply no better way to measure the effectiveness of a pack design than to send it out on thru hikes. Over the course of 2,000+ miles and an average of five to six months, day in, day out, loaded and unloaded, jostled and dragged, and exposed to the elements, one of these long walks is going to tell you the truth. Every carefully considered feature fought for its right to remain, leaving only the essentials required for an efficient, comfortable, adaptable, and dependable travel companion. Thru hiking is hard enough. Let the Unbound 40 carry some of the weight.
Born from and for the most transformative journeys, the Unbound 40 is built to go above and beyond the rigors of thru hiking. There is simply no better way to measure the effectiveness of a pack design than to send it out on thru hikes. Over the course of 2,000+ miles and an average of five to six months, day in, day out, loaded and unloaded, jostled and dragged, and exposed to the elements, one of these long walks is going to tell you the truth. Every carefully considered feature fought for its right to remain, leaving only the essentials required for an efficient, comfortable, adaptable, and dependable travel companion. Thru hiking is hard enough. Let the Unbound 40 carry some of the weight.
in 4 offers
The lowest price for Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound (40L) White / Small right now is $522.00 at 馨營戶外用品 Ultra Hing Outdoor, compared across 4 retailers.
The all-time low was $487.00 on 17 Mar 2026 — today's price is 7% above the lowest ever. That's a little above the best price we've seen.
Prices last updated 13 May 2026.
Last updated at 13/05/2026 00:47:27
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L 40L Backpack HMG backpack White / Small 15"-17"
Delivery $61.64
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Ultralight Backpack White / S
Free delivery
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound (40L) White / Small
Free delivery between 14–27 May
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Ultralight Backpack White / S
Free delivery between 18–21 May
originally posted on hyperlitemountaingear.com
Bottom line, I like the Unbound 40 in terms of wearability, comfort, and overall useful features. I like the external seams which makes for a clean, smooth interior. The front external dyneem stretch mesh pocket is great, as are the ample side pockets. I am 5'8" with jelly rolls weighing around 190 lbs but I have a large 22"-23" torso, so I orderd the Tall with Large hip belt The empty pack sits as if it is too large, but once weighed down it sits perfectly for my torso length. The hip belt is comfortable. So, why only 3 star rating.For the first week, every time I wore the packet I just found nits to dislike. My initial impressions were negative, at least quality control wise, since my pack was missing one side bungee, one side pocket bungee wasn't routed through ... MoreBottom line, I like the Unbound 40 in terms of wearability, comfort, and overall useful features. I like the external seams which makes for a clean, smooth interior. The front external dyneem stretch mesh pocket is great, as are the ample side pockets. I am 5'8" with jelly rolls weighing around 190 lbs but I have a large 22"-23" torso, so I orderd the Tall with Large hip belt The empty pack sits as if it is too large, but once weighed down it sits perfectly for my torso length. The hip belt is comfortable. So, why only 3 star rating.For the first week, every time I wore the packet I just found nits to dislike. My initial impressions were negative, at least quality control wise, since my pack was missing one side bungee, one side pocket bungee wasn't routed through the cord lock, and the cord lock pull tab ends seem to constantly pop undone for no reason. For its part, HMG did reimburse shipping and evidently the missing side bungee is in the mail. The hip belt buckle male end is flimsy, so I replaced the buckle with a beefier one, at least as beefy as it can be to fit 1" webbing. The hip belt pockets are not one hand operation friendly since there is no structure to the pockets. I find I need two hands to close that last bit or at times to unzip. The roll top side compression straps double back but the ends are not folded over and sewn like all the other straps. So, I found the straps tended to slip through even though double backed through the buckle and fell off the pack. I thought I had found an extra strap on the ground until I noticed the side roll top compression strap was missing. I ended up folding over the end and sewing it down to mirror all the other straps. This has prevented any slip throughs, although I probably voided the warranty by sewing something that HMG should have done by design to begin with.The vertical compression strap for the Y-strap is anchored inside the exterior front pocket, which I find annoying and gets in the way when using the exterior front pocket, expecially when the strap is unbuckled and falls inside the pocket. HMG does anchor other packs above the pocket, which is what they should have done with the Unbound 40. The smaller front exterior pocket is oddly shaped, so you lose capacity since one side is 3cm shorter than the other. It is just odd and makes for a shallower, less useful pocket than necessary. As far as I can tell, there is no actual purpose or use to having one side 3cm shorter. The bottom access to the main front exterior pocket is still possible without the angle of the smaller pocket. It's also really annoying for insane people like me who need symmetry in life.The HMG logo patch on the shoulder strap is sewn over the daisy chain loop I need to position the sternum strap correctly, so I had to cut that off and probably voiding the warranty in the process of being able to access the daisy chain loop. I also feel the shoulder straps are also spaced a bit too narrow since I have broad shoulders. I feel the straps lay too close to my neck.The bottom exterior pocket is another mystery to me. It does not extend all the way across the bottom. I get that having one end closed and one end open is useful for some things, but not if you want to stuff something longer than the width. The intent is to be a stuff pocket, but HMG adds a small opening on the other end marketing it as a place you could also stuff trash on the go. However, it facilitates leaving traces behind, since if there isn't anything stuffed blocking the wide, loose open end, then your trash will fall out. If you do stuff say a jacket in there and use the smaller opening to stuff trash, you will invariably pull trash out along with your jacket, or the trash will just fall out of the wide open end.Another mystery is the side seam daisy chains that are mismatched in length. The back one extends higher than the front one, but the front one extends lower than the back one. It would have been useful to have both extend the same length up so you could route bungee/compression higher to hold ends of longer items better. There is no daisy chain webbing on the outside (front) of the side seam, so you have to use the same daisy chain loops as the side routed bungee if you want to add something like an ice axe/pole bungee tie down. I sewed a two loop daisy chain webbing to the exterior front seam so I could attach ice axe/pole bungee tie, and added loops to the existing horizontal daisy chain webbing on the bottom front. This avoids having to waste side pocket space and entangling side bungee cords. So, I probably voided the warranty again.I think the poor quality control, the sum of all the tweaks I had to make, and odd design choices warrant my average 3 star out of 5 star rating review of the Unbound 40.
originally posted on hyperlitemountaingear.com
As a long time owner of the HMG SW backpack I’m very fond of it after using it on my PCT Thru and many other thousands of miles. Despite my fondness I've been looking for some solutions.The extra large water bottle pockets is one of those solutions. The Unbound 40 allows me to carry a 1.5 L and a 1 L bottle in each pocket. Thus allowing me to carry 5 liters.Previously I would have to strapped a 2 liter CNOC bag to the top of the SW backpack. Weight up this high is awkward.The stretchy bottom pocket is another one of those solutions allowing me to carry the day’s food and avoiding opening my bag.Finally HMG solved the biggest headache of the SW which was the back mesh pocket. The stretchy material on the Unbound 40’s back pocket is a dream. Easy to stuff grab ... MoreAs a long time owner of the HMG SW backpack I’m very fond of it after using it on my PCT Thru and many other thousands of miles. Despite my fondness I've been looking for some solutions.The extra large water bottle pockets is one of those solutions. The Unbound 40 allows me to carry a 1.5 L and a 1 L bottle in each pocket. Thus allowing me to carry 5 liters.Previously I would have to strapped a 2 liter CNOC bag to the top of the SW backpack. Weight up this high is awkward.The stretchy bottom pocket is another one of those solutions allowing me to carry the day’s food and avoiding opening my bag.Finally HMG solved the biggest headache of the SW which was the back mesh pocket. The stretchy material on the Unbound 40’s back pocket is a dream. Easy to stuff grab and use the stored contents.The mini pocket is great for misc items such as tent stakes, wind jacket or other small items.The hips pockets are small in size compared to other packs but as a long time Fanny pack user I just carry my medial/hygiene in one hip pocket and my electronics charging cables/outlet block in the other.The new buckle design is great but unfortunately it leaves a long leash of fabric dangling if you are a thin hiker.The shoulder pocket from my SW works great on this backpack.A couple of things I wish the pack had:1. Ice axe loop off centered.2. A loop higher above the mesh back pocket and below the mesh for strapping a foam sleeping pad vertically.3. A little more padding in the hips.All in all super stoked to get this pack on the CDT in April.
originally posted on hyperlitemountaingear.com
I have done about 200 miles with the Unbound 40 and am super impressed. The side pouches can fit so much gear, water, or snacks and the shock cord is genius. The only issue I have had is the stitching that holds the shock cord does not handle a ton of gear so I would recommend reinforcing the stitching on the side pockets! Besides that this pack has had no issues with snow, water, and has been scraped up in lots of bush whacking without issue. The mesh has no rips and avoids snags really well. While hiking part of the JMT, I actually found I could fit a BV500 in the mesh pocket which I tried for a few days (not my favorite but it was super convenient to access food). The bottom mesh pouch it great for trash or snacks and with all the mesh, even after overloading it ... MoreI have done about 200 miles with the Unbound 40 and am super impressed. The side pouches can fit so much gear, water, or snacks and the shock cord is genius. The only issue I have had is the stitching that holds the shock cord does not handle a ton of gear so I would recommend reinforcing the stitching on the side pockets! Besides that this pack has had no issues with snow, water, and has been scraped up in lots of bush whacking without issue. The mesh has no rips and avoids snags really well. While hiking part of the JMT, I actually found I could fit a BV500 in the mesh pocket which I tried for a few days (not my favorite but it was super convenient to access food). The bottom mesh pouch it great for trash or snacks and with all the mesh, even after overloading it and stretching it out, it has kept its form and does not sag. The daisy chains are nice to attach gear wherever you like and the hip belt is actually really comfortable when used correctly. I would definitely suggest this pack for three season hiking if you are trying to stay light on gear and want a pack that rewards that hiking method.
| INTERNAL VOLUME | 40L |
| EXTERNAL VOLUME | 9L |
| LOAD CAPACITY | Up to 40 lbs |
| TOP CIRCUMFERENCE | 35.0" | 88.9cm |
| MADE IN | Mexico |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L 40L Backpack HMG backpack White / Small 15"-17"
Delivery $61.64
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Ultralight Backpack White / S
Free delivery
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound (40L) White / Small
Free delivery between 14–27 May
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L Ultralight Backpack White / S
Free delivery between 18–21 May
Bottom line, I like the Unbound 40 in terms of wearability, comfort, and overall useful features. I like the external seams which makes for a clean, smooth interior. The front external dyneem stretch mesh pocket is great, as are the ample side pockets. I am 5'8" with jelly rolls weighing around 190 lbs but I have a large 22"-23" torso, so I orderd the Tall with Large hip belt The empty pack sits as if it is too large, but once weighed down it sits perfectly for my torso length. The hip belt is comfortable. So, why only 3 star rating.For the first week, every time I wore the packet I just found nits to dislike. My initial impressions were negative, at least quality control wise, since my pack was missing one side bungee, one side pocket bungee wasn't routed through ... MoreBottom line, I like the Unbound 40 in terms of wearability, comfort, and overall useful features. I like the external seams which makes for a clean, smooth interior. The front external dyneem stretch mesh pocket is great, as are the ample side pockets. I am 5'8" with jelly rolls weighing around 190 lbs but I have a large 22"-23" torso, so I orderd the Tall with Large hip belt The empty pack sits as if it is too large, but once weighed down it sits perfectly for my torso length. The hip belt is comfortable. So, why only 3 star rating.For the first week, every time I wore the packet I just found nits to dislike. My initial impressions were negative, at least quality control wise, since my pack was missing one side bungee, one side pocket bungee wasn't routed through the cord lock, and the cord lock pull tab ends seem to constantly pop undone for no reason. For its part, HMG did reimburse shipping and evidently the missing side bungee is in the mail. The hip belt buckle male end is flimsy, so I replaced the buckle with a beefier one, at least as beefy as it can be to fit 1" webbing. The hip belt pockets are not one hand operation friendly since there is no structure to the pockets. I find I need two hands to close that last bit or at times to unzip. The roll top side compression straps double back but the ends are not folded over and sewn like all the other straps. So, I found the straps tended to slip through even though double backed through the buckle and fell off the pack. I thought I had found an extra strap on the ground until I noticed the side roll top compression strap was missing. I ended up folding over the end and sewing it down to mirror all the other straps. This has prevented any slip throughs, although I probably voided the warranty by sewing something that HMG should have done by design to begin with.The vertical compression strap for the Y-strap is anchored inside the exterior front pocket, which I find annoying and gets in the way when using the exterior front pocket, expecially when the strap is unbuckled and falls inside the pocket. HMG does anchor other packs above the pocket, which is what they should have done with the Unbound 40. The smaller front exterior pocket is oddly shaped, so you lose capacity since one side is 3cm shorter than the other. It is just odd and makes for a shallower, less useful pocket than necessary. As far as I can tell, there is no actual purpose or use to having one side 3cm shorter. The bottom access to the main front exterior pocket is still possible without the angle of the smaller pocket. It's also really annoying for insane people like me who need symmetry in life.The HMG logo patch on the shoulder strap is sewn over the daisy chain loop I need to position the sternum strap correctly, so I had to cut that off and probably voiding the warranty in the process of being able to access the daisy chain loop. I also feel the shoulder straps are also spaced a bit too narrow since I have broad shoulders. I feel the straps lay too close to my neck.The bottom exterior pocket is another mystery to me. It does not extend all the way across the bottom. I get that having one end closed and one end open is useful for some things, but not if you want to stuff something longer than the width. The intent is to be a stuff pocket, but HMG adds a small opening on the other end marketing it as a place you could also stuff trash on the go. However, it facilitates leaving traces behind, since if there isn't anything stuffed blocking the wide, loose open end, then your trash will fall out. If you do stuff say a jacket in there and use the smaller opening to stuff trash, you will invariably pull trash out along with your jacket, or the trash will just fall out of the wide open end.Another mystery is the side seam daisy chains that are mismatched in length. The back one extends higher than the front one, but the front one extends lower than the back one. It would have been useful to have both extend the same length up so you could route bungee/compression higher to hold ends of longer items better. There is no daisy chain webbing on the outside (front) of the side seam, so you have to use the same daisy chain loops as the side routed bungee if you want to add something like an ice axe/pole bungee tie down. I sewed a two loop daisy chain webbing to the exterior front seam so I could attach ice axe/pole bungee tie, and added loops to the existing horizontal daisy chain webbing on the bottom front. This avoids having to waste side pocket space and entangling side bungee cords. So, I probably voided the warranty again.I think the poor quality control, the sum of all the tweaks I had to make, and odd design choices warrant my average 3 star out of 5 star rating review of the Unbound 40.
As a long time owner of the HMG SW backpack I’m very fond of it after using it on my PCT Thru and many other thousands of miles. Despite my fondness I've been looking for some solutions.The extra large water bottle pockets is one of those solutions. The Unbound 40 allows me to carry a 1.5 L and a 1 L bottle in each pocket. Thus allowing me to carry 5 liters.Previously I would have to strapped a 2 liter CNOC bag to the top of the SW backpack. Weight up this high is awkward.The stretchy bottom pocket is another one of those solutions allowing me to carry the day’s food and avoiding opening my bag.Finally HMG solved the biggest headache of the SW which was the back mesh pocket. The stretchy material on the Unbound 40’s back pocket is a dream. Easy to stuff grab ... MoreAs a long time owner of the HMG SW backpack I’m very fond of it after using it on my PCT Thru and many other thousands of miles. Despite my fondness I've been looking for some solutions.The extra large water bottle pockets is one of those solutions. The Unbound 40 allows me to carry a 1.5 L and a 1 L bottle in each pocket. Thus allowing me to carry 5 liters.Previously I would have to strapped a 2 liter CNOC bag to the top of the SW backpack. Weight up this high is awkward.The stretchy bottom pocket is another one of those solutions allowing me to carry the day’s food and avoiding opening my bag.Finally HMG solved the biggest headache of the SW which was the back mesh pocket. The stretchy material on the Unbound 40’s back pocket is a dream. Easy to stuff grab and use the stored contents.The mini pocket is great for misc items such as tent stakes, wind jacket or other small items.The hips pockets are small in size compared to other packs but as a long time Fanny pack user I just carry my medial/hygiene in one hip pocket and my electronics charging cables/outlet block in the other.The new buckle design is great but unfortunately it leaves a long leash of fabric dangling if you are a thin hiker.The shoulder pocket from my SW works great on this backpack.A couple of things I wish the pack had:1. Ice axe loop off centered.2. A loop higher above the mesh back pocket and below the mesh for strapping a foam sleeping pad vertically.3. A little more padding in the hips.All in all super stoked to get this pack on the CDT in April.
I have done about 200 miles with the Unbound 40 and am super impressed. The side pouches can fit so much gear, water, or snacks and the shock cord is genius. The only issue I have had is the stitching that holds the shock cord does not handle a ton of gear so I would recommend reinforcing the stitching on the side pockets! Besides that this pack has had no issues with snow, water, and has been scraped up in lots of bush whacking without issue. The mesh has no rips and avoids snags really well. While hiking part of the JMT, I actually found I could fit a BV500 in the mesh pocket which I tried for a few days (not my favorite but it was super convenient to access food). The bottom mesh pouch it great for trash or snacks and with all the mesh, even after overloading it ... MoreI have done about 200 miles with the Unbound 40 and am super impressed. The side pouches can fit so much gear, water, or snacks and the shock cord is genius. The only issue I have had is the stitching that holds the shock cord does not handle a ton of gear so I would recommend reinforcing the stitching on the side pockets! Besides that this pack has had no issues with snow, water, and has been scraped up in lots of bush whacking without issue. The mesh has no rips and avoids snags really well. While hiking part of the JMT, I actually found I could fit a BV500 in the mesh pocket which I tried for a few days (not my favorite but it was super convenient to access food). The bottom mesh pouch it great for trash or snacks and with all the mesh, even after overloading it and stretching it out, it has kept its form and does not sag. The daisy chains are nice to attach gear wherever you like and the hip belt is actually really comfortable when used correctly. I would definitely suggest this pack for three season hiking if you are trying to stay light on gear and want a pack that rewards that hiking method.
I really wanted to LOVE this bag, but unfortunately I don't (I do like it tho). First, I'll start with the cons:1. The quality is not where I'd hope for a $370 bag, particularly in the orange webbing. On my first overnight trip with this bag, the orange webbing on the hip belt broke halfway thru headed to my first camp. I think it has to do with the silkiness of the material, just seems like it wants to fray apart, fixing that particular spot wasn't possible because the orange webbing completely unraveled. This orange webbing is all up and down the front of the bag so that has me a little bummed.... the black material, which seems a little grippier, seems fine? HMG should just rethink this orange stuff.2. The front pockets: I really really thought I was going to ... MoreI really wanted to LOVE this bag, but unfortunately I don't (I do like it tho). First, I'll start with the cons:1. The quality is not where I'd hope for a $370 bag, particularly in the orange webbing. On my first overnight trip with this bag, the orange webbing on the hip belt broke halfway thru headed to my first camp. I think it has to do with the silkiness of the material, just seems like it wants to fray apart, fixing that particular spot wasn't possible because the orange webbing completely unraveled. This orange webbing is all up and down the front of the bag so that has me a little bummed.... the black material, which seems a little grippier, seems fine? HMG should just rethink this orange stuff.2. The front pockets: I really really thought I was going to love the elastic panel pocket, it's actually one of the reasons I wanted this bag. And for like... some portion I suppose I do: I really like the shorter portion on the bottom of the front since it is fantastic for shoving small items like energy bars, chapstick, etc. in, and I really like the stuff pocket for trash on the bottom. However, the larger front pocket has done nothing but annoy me. The pocket works great if your bag is full, then you can pretty easily shove a jacket or sandals or whatever in there, but the second you open the bag up to take ANYTHING out, the elastic wants to suck everything in. It's also not much better if you're using this as a little daypack either because if there's not much in the body, the elastic panel doesn't keep much in. Overall, after using this a number of times, I think I'd be happier with the solid front body pocket of the Southwest, but maybe with the elastic cording like they've put on the sides to cinch it in and maybe keep the bottom elastic 2 pockets?3. Not bladder compatible: I've used this as a daypack on a couple trips too so I'm not carrying multiple packs and for a daypack it would just be super cool to have a hydration tube port. I was totally fine with the pockets for bottles in a backpacking situation, however, since you really need all of that space for your gear. I just think the hydration port/hook inside would be more versatile.Then I have my pros:1. The Y Strap: the y-strap over the top is great. It's got tons of slack/play in adjustment, so you can use it for loads of stuff (sleeping pad, jackets, etc.). I think it's a better option than the single strap offered on the other bags. The drawcords: the pockets and the side of the bag have elastic drawcords that come in suuuuper handy. I mostly utilize the drawcords on the pockets themselves which I really love because you can keep small stuff from falling out of the pockets. When I use this as a daypack, I usually have my phone and small stuff in one side pocket, so I cinch it down tight. As a backpacking one, I usually tuck a number of small items around one of my bottles and cinch it down around that. Those little drawcords are honestly such a great add.2. The hipbelt pockets: These are honestly soooo perfect for stuffing energy gels/electrolyte packets/snacks in. You can actually fit A LOT in each one. They are, unfortunately, a tad too short for my phone (which to be fair is a samsung ultra so its just big and rectangular).3. The seams: okay so this probably sounds like an odd thing to like, but I actually very much like how on the Unbound they've flipped the seams out and taped them on the outside to have more of a boxy shape. I found this worked really well for arranging my gear.4. Size: Lastly, I really like the size of this. I find this is PERFECT for a long/weekend trip, but I can honestly fit enough in there for a week if I don't go overboard. I'm 5'6" and I found this to honestly be the perfect size for me. I have larger bags and I felt like I was always packing to suit the volume of those larger bags and taking more than I need, where I feel like this size forces me reassess everything I'm taking. Even then, fully packed to the gills, I can fit my sleeping bag, a 2P tent, sleeping pad, a change of clothes, cook system, toilet kit, battery bank, and too much food (in a bear bag, have not tried with the tub/vault style) without too much hassle. Honestly, I could also probably refine my kit a little, but I fully can do a week plus out of this thing.As I said, I overall like this bag, I'm not over the moon about it. I think I'd be enthusiastic to see like a fusion of the Unbound and the Southwest in some sorta way? (UnboundWest Frankenstein??)
I saw Nahamsha (YouTuber) had this pack for her current AT Thru hike, and was very excited about the design (front pockets especially), size (liters), and the 40lb max carrying capacity of the bag. I've tried the other classic HMG thru hiking packs but couldn't make them comfortable for (me) the base weight and packing style I had at the time. Now that I'm more streamlined and have made my base weight lighter, I figured it'd be worth trying it out. Naturally I had to order it (in black), and I did everything I could to make myself not want this pack. I loaded it with all my thru hiking gear (from my AT thru hike 2022 attempt) and then added food and also kettlebells. I got the pack weight up to 42 lbs and then spent 2 hours walking around the local college campus ... MoreI saw Nahamsha (YouTuber) had this pack for her current AT Thru hike, and was very excited about the design (front pockets especially), size (liters), and the 40lb max carrying capacity of the bag. I've tried the other classic HMG thru hiking packs but couldn't make them comfortable for (me) the base weight and packing style I had at the time. Now that I'm more streamlined and have made my base weight lighter, I figured it'd be worth trying it out. Naturally I had to order it (in black), and I did everything I could to make myself not want this pack. I loaded it with all my thru hiking gear (from my AT thru hike 2022 attempt) and then added food and also kettlebells. I got the pack weight up to 42 lbs and then spent 2 hours walking around the local college campus (whole campus is on a hill, not super steep though) up and down hills and stadium stairs. I couldn't make this bag uncomfortable, and I even did it across 2 weeks to make sure. I'm so unbelievably excited to take this pack out on my next adventure, and would absolutely recommend.Stats for those curious: early 30s, female, 5'4", small sized pack, tested multiple times over 2 weeks, with different scenarios: only base weight 12-14lbs, full pack weight 26-30lbs, max pack weight 42lbs (dramatized for long water carries). The pack I attempted a thru hike of the AT with, and compared my comfort of the Unbound 40 to was the ULA Catalyst
Long time hiker and "force marcher", which is military for "hiking". With the exception of the pack I had in the military, I've always used frame packs with lots of padding and support structure and been fearful of the ultralight packs because they might be as uncomfortable as my frameless military pack. Since my wife and I decided to hike the AT next year and I started looking at weights, I took a chance after a lot of research and review and ordered this pack. The site showed 1 to 2 weeks lead time. Well, it shipped two days later which made my day!! I received the pack a couple days later, unboxed and inspected it. It's built very well and sturdy. Not a stitch out of place. Packed it with 15lbs and took off on a shake down. The pack actually fits me better than ... MoreLong time hiker and "force marcher", which is military for "hiking". With the exception of the pack I had in the military, I've always used frame packs with lots of padding and support structure and been fearful of the ultralight packs because they might be as uncomfortable as my frameless military pack. Since my wife and I decided to hike the AT next year and I started looking at weights, I took a chance after a lot of research and review and ordered this pack. The site showed 1 to 2 weeks lead time. Well, it shipped two days later which made my day!! I received the pack a couple days later, unboxed and inspected it. It's built very well and sturdy. Not a stitch out of place. Packed it with 15lbs and took off on a shake down. The pack actually fits me better than the pack I already had. After a bit of adjusting, I got it settled and was surprised at how well it fit and felt. No rubs, raw spots, soreness or issues. Since then, I've put about 40 miles on it with ~20lbs in it and it's still out performing my framed pack. No issues so far. Haven't been rained on so don't know about weather resistance yet, but can update later once I know. To sum up, this has so far been a very good purchase as it actually fits better than my framed pack, performs as well or better and weighs 3 pounds less. I'm very happy with this so far!!
This bag couldn’t be anymore perfect. The thought that went into this bag is what makes me happiest. This bag is truly made for backpackers, and thru hikers. I like the small pocket at the bottom of the bag. You can easily put your trash in this bag while hiking, or I like to put my tent stakes and shovel in here as well. The hip belt is removable as well as the chest strap depending how you like to wear your bag. I personally took the chest strap off and attached my Hyperlite Camera pod instead. I also removed the hip belt and replaced it with my Hyperlite Versa fanny pack. The back mesh in my opinion is an upgrade from the previous Junction and Windrider bags because it’s more durable and the functionality is more ideal. I can fit all my gear I need in the Unbound ... MoreThis bag couldn’t be anymore perfect. The thought that went into this bag is what makes me happiest. This bag is truly made for backpackers, and thru hikers. I like the small pocket at the bottom of the bag. You can easily put your trash in this bag while hiking, or I like to put my tent stakes and shovel in here as well. The hip belt is removable as well as the chest strap depending how you like to wear your bag. I personally took the chest strap off and attached my Hyperlite Camera pod instead. I also removed the hip belt and replaced it with my Hyperlite Versa fanny pack. The back mesh in my opinion is an upgrade from the previous Junction and Windrider bags because it’s more durable and the functionality is more ideal. I can fit all my gear I need in the Unbound 40. I plan on using it for the CT - Colorado Trail. I highly recommend this bag for your next backpacking trip or thru hiking trip.
I only use extreme UL backpacks that I carry only on my shoulders when the load is less than 5kg.In the first place, if I need to carry luggage that weighs more than 15 kg, I use a traditional type backpack that can firmly support the waist load.Even so, when I carry around 10kg of luggage, I want to reduce the weight as much as possible, so I use a UL backpack, which weighs less than 1kg and has a built-in frame that can support the waist load. Therefore, I am currently using WINDRIDER2400.I recently purchased the UNBOUND55, which has a slightly larger capacity to carry bulky items. I was a little worried because it only has one built-in aluminum frame to save weight, but when I tried it with over 10 kg of luggage in it, I found that my shoulders hurt even if ... MoreI only use extreme UL backpacks that I carry only on my shoulders when the load is less than 5kg.In the first place, if I need to carry luggage that weighs more than 15 kg, I use a traditional type backpack that can firmly support the waist load.Even so, when I carry around 10kg of luggage, I want to reduce the weight as much as possible, so I use a UL backpack, which weighs less than 1kg and has a built-in frame that can support the waist load. Therefore, I am currently using WINDRIDER2400.I recently purchased the UNBOUND55, which has a slightly larger capacity to carry bulky items. I was a little worried because it only has one built-in aluminum frame to save weight, but when I tried it with over 10 kg of luggage in it, I found that my shoulders hurt even if I carried it all day. I was able to confirm that I could carry it without any problems.Naturally, I took the frame out and adjusted it to fit my back, bending it to fit snugly, just as many traditional backpacks do in the past.I use size M, but the middle value of the back length of the pack is the size of your own back length, so when you place the hipbelt along the hipbone, the height of the shoulder belt and the shoulder are the same. They are almost the same, so when you tighten the shoulder strap, the back of UNBOUND55 can be carried tightly from the shoulder to the waist without any gaps.It has the functions of a standard UL backpack, so I have high hopes that it will be useful in the future.
I bought this pack because I liked the versatility. The option to go frameless without a hip belt, but still go framed for the Sierras seems like a win. Straight out of the box the craftsmenship was ok. I could tell there are discrepancy in the sewing never the less I decided to keep it. They are handmade so is what it is. The hipbelt straps were so long past my knees even. I'm 5’ 10” 32” waist 155lbs I have a size M. I decided to cut 6in off and have them professionally sewn same with the sternum strap. I've never seen a pack with such long straps. The first outting was the Trans Catalina Trail then 100 miles on the PCT.. The pack weighed in at 21Lbs fully loaded nothing crazy. First 2 hours the buckle on my sternum strap broke. I noticed the plastic was very very ... MoreI bought this pack because I liked the versatility. The option to go frameless without a hip belt, but still go framed for the Sierras seems like a win. Straight out of the box the craftsmenship was ok. I could tell there are discrepancy in the sewing never the less I decided to keep it. They are handmade so is what it is. The hipbelt straps were so long past my knees even. I'm 5’ 10” 32” waist 155lbs I have a size M. I decided to cut 6in off and have them professionally sewn same with the sternum strap. I've never seen a pack with such long straps. The first outting was the Trans Catalina Trail then 100 miles on the PCT.. The pack weighed in at 21Lbs fully loaded nothing crazy. First 2 hours the buckle on my sternum strap broke. I noticed the plastic was very very thin after and not surprised this happened. I have now replaced with a ULA sternum strap. It's has some elastic at one end which gives a little play and offers more comfort. The water bottle pockets are perfect super easy to reach and the sinch is excellent. The back pocket has just the right amount of stretch and space to fit whatever you need. It also has an extra little pocket at the bottom which comes in handy. The bottom pocket is a great addition as most modern packs are headed in this direction. The hip belt was comfortable enough and the side pockets fit my phone/ snacks no problem. The zipper was easy to use as well. My biggest and only con for the pack is the shoulder straps. They hurt. They are thin and uncomfortable. Even with a frameless pack 22lbs doesn't bother my shoulders. For some reason these really hurt my collar bones and my traps were noticeably soar. I spent 2 days constantly trying different fits, but nothing seemed to help. I kept trying my friends Lite AF packs and it was a like clouds on my shoulders. The HMG was the complete opposite. It's not like I had all the weight on my shoulders maybe 20% max, the hip belt was doing its job. Either the shoulder straps aren't for me or they could add some padding. Either way I was contemplating my purchase. Over all the pack has all the features and versatility one would look for, it's almost perfect.
Bottom line, I like the Unbound 40 in terms of wearability, comfort, and overall useful features. I like the external seams which makes for a clean, smooth interior. The front external dyneem stretch mesh pocket is great, as are the ample side pockets. I am 5'8" with jelly rolls weighing around 190 lbs but I have a large 22"-23" torso, so I orderd the Tall with Large hip belt The empty pack sits as if it is too large, but once weighed down it sits perfectly for my torso length. The hip belt is comfortable. So, why only 3 star rating.For the first week, every time I wore the packet I just found nits to dislike. My initial impressions were negative, at least quality control wise, since my pack was missing one side bungee, one side pocket bungee wasn't routed through ... MoreBottom line, I like the Unbound 40 in terms of wearability, comfort, and overall useful features. I like the external seams which makes for a clean, smooth interior. The front external dyneem stretch mesh pocket is great, as are the ample side pockets. I am 5'8" with jelly rolls weighing around 190 lbs but I have a large 22"-23" torso, so I orderd the Tall with Large hip belt The empty pack sits as if it is too large, but once weighed down it sits perfectly for my torso length. The hip belt is comfortable. So, why only 3 star rating.For the first week, every time I wore the packet I just found nits to dislike. My initial impressions were negative, at least quality control wise, since my pack was missing one side bungee, one side pocket bungee wasn't routed through the cord lock, and the cord lock pull tab ends seem to constantly pop undone for no reason. For its part, HMG did reimburse shipping and evidently the missing side bungee is in the mail. The hip belt buckle male end is flimsy, so I replaced the buckle with a beefier one, at least as beefy as it can be to fit 1" webbing. The hip belt pockets are not one hand operation friendly since there is no structure to the pockets. I find I need two hands to close that last bit or at times to unzip. The roll top side compression straps double back but the ends are not folded over and sewn like all the other straps. So, I found the straps tended to slip through even though double backed through the buckle and fell off the pack. I thought I had found an extra strap on the ground until I noticed the side roll top compression strap was missing. I ended up folding over the end and sewing it down to mirror all the other straps. This has prevented any slip throughs, although I probably voided the warranty by sewing something that HMG should have done by design to begin with.The vertical compression strap for the Y-strap is anchored inside the exterior front pocket, which I find annoying and gets in the way when using the exterior front pocket, expecially when the strap is unbuckled and falls inside the pocket. HMG does anchor other packs above the pocket, which is what they should have done with the Unbound 40. The smaller front exterior pocket is oddly shaped, so you lose capacity since one side is 3cm shorter than the other. It is just odd and makes for a shallower, less useful pocket than necessary. As far as I can tell, there is no actual purpose or use to having one side 3cm shorter. The bottom access to the main front exterior pocket is still possible without the angle of the smaller pocket. It's also really annoying for insane people like me who need symmetry in life.The HMG logo patch on the shoulder strap is sewn over the daisy chain loop I need to position the sternum strap correctly, so I had to cut that off and probably voiding the warranty in the process of being able to access the daisy chain loop. I also feel the shoulder straps are also spaced a bit too narrow since I have broad shoulders. I feel the straps lay too close to my neck.The bottom exterior pocket is another mystery to me. It does not extend all the way across the bottom. I get that having one end closed and one end open is useful for some things, but not if you want to stuff something longer than the width. The intent is to be a stuff pocket, but HMG adds a small opening on the other end marketing it as a place you could also stuff trash on the go. However, it facilitates leaving traces behind, since if there isn't anything stuffed blocking the wide, loose open end, then your trash will fall out. If you do stuff say a jacket in there and use the smaller opening to stuff trash, you will invariably pull trash out along with your jacket, or the trash will just fall out of the wide open end.Another mystery is the side seam daisy chains that are mismatched in length. The back one extends higher than the front one, but the front one extends lower than the back one. It would have been useful to have both extend the same length up so you could route bungee/compression higher to hold ends of longer items better. There is no daisy chain webbing on the outside (front) of the side seam, so you have to use the same daisy chain loops as the side routed bungee if you want to add something like an ice axe/pole bungee tie down. I sewed a two loop daisy chain webbing to the exterior front seam so I could attach ice axe/pole bungee tie, and added loops to the existing horizontal daisy chain webbing on the bottom front. This avoids having to waste side pocket space and entangling side bungee cords. So, I probably voided the warranty again.I think the poor quality control, the sum of all the tweaks I had to make, and odd design choices warrant my average 3 star out of 5 star rating review of the Unbound 40.
| INTERNAL VOLUME | 40L |
| EXTERNAL VOLUME | 9L |
| LOAD CAPACITY | Up to 40 lbs |
| TOP CIRCUMFERENCE | 35.0" | 88.9cm |
| MADE IN | Mexico |
