I usually discover myself in want of a framed backpack. Whereas I really like my frameless baggage, many of the thru-hikes I pursue contain at the very least a couple of lengthy water carries, heavy snow gear, or six-day meals hauls. Preserving my pack weight within the magic sub-20-pound vary necessitated by frameless designs isn’t at all times possible. Nonetheless, I don’t love including an additional pound of body to my base weight.
Enter the Superior Wilderness Designs SL40: a framed, ultralight pack that may carry heavy hundreds with out blowing up your base weight.
Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely At a Look:
MSRP: $349 (some choices add value)
Typical weight: 19.9 oz (pack + body with no Y strap, again pad, or bungees*)
- Principal Physique: 17.85 oz in Giant torso, Small hip belt
- 2x Tubular Aluminum Body Stays: 2.0 oz in dimension Giant
- Foam Again Pad: 0.75 oz
- Bungee for Foam Again Pad: 0.25 oz
- 2x Aspect compression Bungee: 0.4 oz
- Detachable Y Strap: 1.15 oz**
- Sternum Strap: 0.6 oz**
*Maxing out these elective add-ons would improve pack weight by 3.15 oz
**SWD delivers packs with extraordinarily lengthy webbing all through for optimum physique compatibility. I trimmed them to suit my wants, eradicating 0.25 oz from the hip belt and 0.2 oz from the load lifters and sternum strap. I didn’t trim the Y strap, however that is attainable as properly. Your mileage might range relying by yourself physique and desires.
Cruising the Haute Route Pyrenees, in ultralight model
Supplies:
- Principal Pack Physique: Extremely 200X again and backside panel, Extremely 100X entrance and rolltop***
- Shoulder Straps and Aspect Bottle Pockets: Ultragrid in blackout and avocado, respectively***
- Mesh Pocket: Venom UL stretch mesh***
- Padding: 1/2-inch closed cell foam and 1/8-inch 3D spacer mesh
*All the pack will be manufactured from black Extremely 200X for a modest weight penalty. Different colours of ultragrid can be found for the bottle pockets, and the surface pocket will be optioned with ultragrid as a substitute of stretch mesh as properly.
Dimensions:
- Quantity: 40L inside, ~10L exterior
- Aspect Bottle Pocket Dimension: Suits 2x 1L Smartwater bottles every
- Shoulder Strap Width: 2.5”
Meant Use
The SL40 is a perfect pack for long-distance hikers with low-volume kits however who sometimes want the additional assist of a sturdy body. Lengthy meals carries, winter gear, and bear cans will simply be accommodated, regardless of the light-weight design.
Circumstance of Assessment
This pack noticed over 800 miles of motion previous to overview, together with the Haute Route Pyrenees (HRP), Tour Du Mont Blanc (TMB), and Walker’s Haute Route (WHR). It additionally noticed some onerous miles in America’s deserts and snowy early-season backpacking within the Colorado Rockies.
Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely Options
Tubular Aluminum Body
The SL40 is a framed backpack with twin 7075 aluminum tubular stays. These beefy body items are exceptionally sturdy and stiff for his or her weight and can haul about something you possibly can match into the pack. A pair of tubular stays weighs simply two ounces, in comparison with the 4+ ounces of a comparable bar inventory body.
Actual Load Lifters
Load lifters are a chunk of webbing and an adjustable ladder lock that join the highest of a pack’s body to the shoulder straps. When the body extends as much as or above your shoulder top (as is the case with the SL40) adjusting the load lifters will shift the burden of the pack, in addition to assist scale back the quantity of weight transferred to your shoulders.
Having fun with the view within the Pyrenees mountains. You’ll be able to see the load lifters angled up from the shoulder strap, connecting to the body. The body extends about 5″ previous the place the shoulder strap is stitched.
Ultralight Design Philosophy
At first look, the SL40 might appear as if a reasonably primary pack. There aren’t any hipbelt or shoulder strap pockets, no zippered compartments, and no roll-top compression straps out of the field. The core ultralight design philosophy is extra in regards to the simplicity and absence of substances, somewhat than getting lighter variations of sophisticated merchandise. All these options add weight, and leaving them behind creates an unbelievable sub 20oz (1.25 lbs) framed pack that may haul absolutely anything.
Modular Accent System
Regardless of the dearth of comfort options out of the field, SWD does depart a sequence of webbing and rope tabs across the pack to assist their giant ecosystem of modular equipment.
The highest of the pack options three pairs of webbing loops supposed to be used with a prime strap or Y strap. This is a crucial function for transporting bear cans, pack rafts, or different cumbersome gear externally.
The shoulder straps have the usual daisy chain of webbing for including on pockets, cellphone holders, or water bottle sleeves.
The hipbelt webbing is extra minimal, sized completely for SWD’s hip belt pockets however not a lot else.
There’s one final secret webbing loop, contained in the water bottle pockets. This tab is for the detachable roll-top vertical compression (RTVC) straps. By default, the roll prime of the pack clips to itself in a donut, somewhat than stretching down. If this doesn’t fit your model, they supply this simple choice to revert again to a extra acquainted closure system.
New of their ecosystem with the SL40 is a sequence of wire and bungee-based equipment. Down the perimeters of the pack and throughout the underside are a sequence of brief wire loops. In some ways, they perform just like common webbing loops for compression straps or holstering gear to the surface (reminiscent of foam sleeping pads or skis). The pack ships with one pair of compression bungees, however you possibly can simply make your personal lashing with shock wire or static paracord.
Tubular vs. Bar Body Form
This pack makes use of a tubular (hole circle) aluminum body, versus the bar (rectangular) body that almost all packs within the sub-two-pound class have. Customers of many conventional packs from manufacturers like Osprey and Gregory will probably be used to seeing tubular aluminum, however it’s surprisingly absent from the cottage and ultralight pack trade.
Why has SWD made the leap to a tube body? Deep, hole cross-section shapes are extra structurally environment friendly than the skinny and flat bars usually utilized in packs. This implies a stiffer, lighter body that can extra successfully switch weight to the hipbelt.
On the similar time, the hole form does introduce a possible new failure mode: native deformation, aka “denting.” Think about what occurs while you whack that cardboard tube a bit too onerous towards your sibling or a countertop. The vanguard folds over into the hole space and stays that manner.
Theoretically, a tubular aluminum body might expertise this if it was hit or dropped too aggressively. In actuality, this nearly by no means occurs. I felt the body has a sufficiently thick sidewall to stop this below any regular or peripheral use case. Dan Durston has additionally mentioned this failure mode has by no means been reported in his Kakwa packs, backing up that that is an unlikely occasion.
The pack physique with one compression bungee. Within the center is the black, tubular 7075 aluminum keep for the SL40. On backside is a silver 7075 Bar inventory body for a SWD Lengthy Haul 50. Regardless of the tubular body weighing half as a lot because the bar body, I can barely flex the tubular whereas the bar strikes with ease.
7075 vs 6061 Aluminum Body Materials
The body stays on the SL40 use a premium 7075 aluminum mix, produced by Easton. You is perhaps acquainted with Easton because the maker of all kinds of aluminum merchandise, together with tent poles for a lot of main manufacturers and my favourite stake, the Easton Nano.
Whereas the common backpacker will not be acquainted with aluminum chemistries, this can be a significant improve. The usual 6061 aluminum utilized in many bar frames (such because the HMG Southwest and Windrider sequence) is much less stiff, heavier, and sometimes deforms below heavy hundreds. This usually means these packs get much less snug and carry in a different way as they’re loaded up, resulting in again ache and rubbing.
Utilizing a premium 7075 body means constant, high-level efficiency.
Ought to a pack body finish on the shoulder strap, or above?
On a framed pack, there’s a big rift between packs that finish on the shoulder strap and those who rise above by a couple of inches. An prolonged body permits the pack to successfully use load lifters for a greater, extra adjustable match and fewer pressure on the shoulders. Ending on the shoulders makes the body much less efficient, and makes load lifters ineffective. The taller the body extends up, the extra weight it could shift off your shoulders. In case you are between sizes, I’d suggest going for the taller dimension.
Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely Professionals
Tremendous Gentle Framed Pack
The load of this pack is its show-stopping function at simply 19.9 oz (1.25 kilos) for the principle physique and body. Getting a two-piece body pack below 28 oz is difficult sufficient by itself, and to do it with snug straps and a stretchy pocket is sort of unparalleled.
Most hikers are going to need to add a couple of extra comfort and luxury options, reminiscent of a prime strap and a few compression bungees for stashing poles. Even so, a median configuration of twenty-two to 24 oz beats the competitors by a good margin. I cherished having the additional load-carrying capability of the body with out having to compromise on my pack weight. It got here in useful many instances on unexpectedly lengthy water and meals carries.
Simply Accessible Bottle Pockets
The aspect bottle pocket is commonly a love-hate relationship on packs. When the highest edge is excessive and reduce straight throughout, they keep in place properly however turn out to be onerous to get out and in of with out taking off a shoulder strap. When they’re reduce low and angled down in direction of the entrance, they are often accessed with ease but in addition are inclined to eject themselves when bending over.
On the SL40, I lastly have bottle pockets that I can simply use, with out the unintended drops. Over 800+ miles of use, I solely as soon as dropped a bottle out of the bag. On this case, it was whereas bending over and solely having a single bottle on a aspect.
I feel the reduce top and angle is the proper in-between, offered you utilize their most well-liked bottle configuration of two 1L sSmartwater or Lifewater bottles on either side. Extra on the disadvantage right here beneath.
The Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely hipbelt (above) vs the SWD Lengthy Haul 50 Hipbelt (beneath). The SL40 is extra tapered and is sewn on to the pack physique, whereas the Lengthy Haul 50 stays extensive till the top, and contains a “floating” design.
Comfy Shoulder and Hip Belt
Regardless of the low general pack weight, there is no such thing as a compromise within the cushioning on the shoulder and hip belts. In truth, whereas most corporations are utilizing 0.375 inches of froth, SWD is utilizing a full 0.5 inches of premium Evazote foam. Evazote is taken into account the best-in-class performer for light-weight padding as a result of it rebounds higher and longer from compression.
One thing in regards to the spacing, padding, and form of the shoulder straps additionally makes the sternum strap pointless for me. This clearly gained’t work out for everybody, however to me it signifies a excessive stage of refinement lacking in lots of packs.
One other small element is that SWD makes use of the ending ⅛-inch layer of spacer mesh “improper aspect out,” that means that the half you contact and really feel is a clean black material as a substitute of a sequence of pea-sized holes that simply snag pine needles and grime. I want this layering over the choice “proper aspect out” that often collects little rocks and needles over the course of a visit.
Mesh Pocket Swallows Gear
The SL40 has an possibility for an Ultragrid or Venom Mesh outdoors/again pocket. I made a decision to make use of Venom Mesh hoping its stretch would assist preserve issues in place, whether or not it’s stuffed up or hardly used.
I used to be a bit involved when unboxing that the mesh was too tight, with no pleats on the backside and solely a bit spare material on the prime. My issues shortly light as I began to load it up with all my “outdoors” gear. I used to be sometimes capable of match a water filter, 2L empty bladder, rain jacket/pants/gloves, sunscreen, spare snacks, and even sometimes an Alpha Direct fleece earlier than I felt it was actually maxed out.
The Venom Mesh pocket punching above its weight class. Sure, that could be a bag of chips protruding of the highest.
Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely Cons
Low on Comfort Options
As talked about above, this pack is slimmed all the way down to solely the necessities. Comfort options, reminiscent of hip belt pockets and complex compression methods, are overlooked in favor of simplicity and lightness.
Whereas their ecosystem of detachable equipment could make up many of the distinction, having them fully detachable means there may be further overhead in supplies and {hardware}. If there’s a function you at all times use and may’t dwell with out, reminiscent of shoulder strap bottle sleeves, they will weigh extra and performance only a bit worse than having them inbuilt from the beginning.
Some choices will be inbuilt through an a la carte “customized” order web page or negotiated by electronic mail, however these will make the pack un-returnable in case of mis-sizing or different points.
Equipment Are a Bit Sophisticated
The present iteration of the SWD Y-strap is a bit higher than the final, with the pack attachment factors utilizing a captive clip for the ladder locks somewhat than a big “G-hook.” Even nonetheless, having all three pack attachment factors and one of many side-release buckle items adjustable makes it a bit annoying to handle and leaves a number of unfastened ends that may flap within the wind. I’d personally want they take this down to simply two (one for the V a part of the strap, one for the straight half) and depart the remaining as low profile, mounted bartacks.
Equally, the aspect compression shock cords are simple sufficient to function, however transferring them requires a bit extra work and a knot (girth hitch) to connect to the wire loops. I really want this technique, however transferring them to totally different positions after cinching was a little bit of a ache.
Minimal Hipbelt
The sewn-in hipbelt on this pack is pretty snug however just isn’t fairly nearly as good at transferring heavy hundreds because the bigger, “full wrap” hipbelt discovered on SWD’s different framed pack. The “Wing” design used right here is more likely to carry out worse for individuals with giant waists as properly, because the padded part is not going to wrap very far in direction of the entrance.
On a late-season desert journey, I ended up carrying 14L of water right into a canyon to arrange a basecamp. The pack held as much as my 38-pound complete pack weight fantastic, however I simply couldn’t fairly get snug with the hipbelt after the primary few miles. This eased off considerably as soon as the entire weight was extra within the low 30s, and after a couple of extra weeks of climbing the place my physique was higher adjusted to sporting a pack all day.
These constantly carrying mid-30s hundreds might need to look to packs with a extra full hipbelt design.
Low Quantity Troublesome to Handle on Thrus
At present, the SL design is simply accessible in a 40L inside quantity design. That is manageable for many ultralight backpackers, however in follow I discovered it a bit tight for lengthy meals carries. With a cumbersome two-person DCF tent hogging my inside quantity, I usually needed to strap my meals bag to the highest utilizing the Y strap when carrying greater than 4 days. Maybe if I used a extra compact silpoly tent or didn’t love potato chips a lot, I might get to 5 days internally.
The scuttlebutt on-line is that an SL50 (50-liter inside quantity) will probably be launched ultimately, however I haven’t seen any dedication to that on their web site thus far.
A 4++ day meals bag strapped to the highest because it didn’t match inside my bag.
Bottle Pockets are Tremendous Particularly Optimized
I ended up actually liking the bottle pockets on this pack however realized shortly they had been optimized just for Smartwater bottles. I discover Smartwater bottles comically tall and sometimes go for Essentia’s related, however shorter and fatter, one-liter bottles as a substitute. The slight distinction between the 2 shapes was sufficient that becoming two Essentias on either side was a decent squeeze. I couldn’t entry them whereas strolling, whereas Smartwater-shaped bottles had been a breeze.
Equally, 1.5L Essentia bottles might work by themselves however had been awkwardly tight in a single course whereas wobbling a bit within the different. I ended up simply having to decide to the tallest, skinniest 1L bottles I might discover to make it work with ease.
No Taped Seams by Default
Problem Outside, the producer of the Extremely materials used on this pack, recommends taping seams for stability and energy. This has the additional advantage of creating the pack extremely waterproof because the material itself is waterproof as properly. Lacking this a part of the development isn’t the top of the world, however it does imply you’re lacking out on a pleasant layer of additional safety and stability.
If you would like your pack taped, it’s a hefty $75 customized cost from SWD and can add about two ounces to the entire weight. You can too purchase a full roll of tape from Ripstop by the Roll for about $40 and do it your self, with the additional advantage of maintaining the leftover yardage for repairs of all of your laminate merchandise (reminiscent of EPLX and DCF). Notice that if you happen to tape your self, you’ll need to let the tape’s glue remedy for about 24 hours earlier than use for full adhesion and energy.
Worth
The Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely is an extremely mild pack that may additionally haul heavy hundreds when known as to obligation. In some ways, it makes an ideal bag for mountain west thru-hiking (such because the PCT or CDT), the place usually situations make a low base weight simple to realize, however you may must pack on the burden for these few lengthy water carries, six-day resupplies, or stints of snow climbing with an ice axe and bear can.
At $350, this pack falls in keeping with trade pricing on framed ultralight baggage. I feel it’s an nice worth for a novel product, and I belief it to final many extra miles of long-distance climbing. Given the excessive customary these packs are made to and their small-shop home manufacturing, the value is greater than affordable.
Store the Sierra Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely
A Few Comparability Gadgets
Pilgrim Ultralight Gear Highline 40
- MSRP: $330 (base worth)
- Weight: 20 oz (depending on customizations)
Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 50L
- MSRP: $400
- Weight: 20.4 oz
LiteAF 40L Curve Full Suspension
- MSRP: $345 (base worth earlier than customizations)
- Weight: 25/34 oz (depending on sizing)
The Superior Wilderness Designs SL40 Extremely was donated for function of overview
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