Hyperlite Mountain Gear Launches ‘Unbound’ Bundle: A Complete Thru-Hiker’s Kit
Hyperlite designed its new 40L pack, 20-degree quilt, and two-person shelter to work in conjunction on long thru-hikes.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear just dropped new products in each of the “big three” backpacking gear categories. The Unbound 40 pack, Unbound 2P shelter, and 20-Degree Quilt each utilize Hyperlite’s signature clean style and top-shelf material choice.
The resulting Unbound bundle is sure to be attractive to prospective thru-hikers looking for synthesis in their major gear purchases (if not a budget-friendly gear layout photo).
Here’s a quick rundown of everything included in the kit.
Hyperlite Unbound 40 Pack
The Unbound 40 is a greatest-hits collection of well-loved thru-hiking pack features.
A 40L volume is an increasingly popular choice on long trails as kits get smaller, and roll-top closures and over-the-top y-straps are nothing new. Likewise, the material choices (DCH50 for the pack body and DCH150 for the bottom panel) are long-standing Hyperlite go-to’s.
The only reason the material choice is a (slight) surprise is that pack makers are increasingly gravitating toward Challenge Sailcloth’s Ultra family of fabrics.
But it’s no shock that Hyperlite, a brand that made its name with Dyneema Composite Fabric, would stick with a time-tested material.
Another minor feature is the updated, customizable, and removable hip belt. The sternum strap has likewise received an overhaul. A stretch bottom pocket is rare in packs from huge brands, but pretty common in cottage packs.
Hyperlite straddles those two worlds, and so the inclusion of a bottom pocket in the Unbound 40 is interesting, if not unexpected.
So, what makes the Unbound 40 stand out? The roll-top clips close on the sides as opposed to over the top, a little detail that makes for a cleaner pack silhouette, and one I wish more pack-makers would utilize.
And in a nod to modularity and the strap-hacking tendencies of ultralight backpackers, the side compression cords are removable.
But what really caught my eye was the oversized side pockets, unique in Hyperlite’s pack lineup. I also took note of the dual-entry front pocket, which should, in theory, remove some of the rummaging backpackers have to do in overstuffed front pockets.
In short, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, a brand known for no-frills, minimally featured packs, now has a pack with some frills. A size medium weighs 30 ounces and costs $369 MSRP.
Unbound 2P Shelter: Classic Design With a Twist
Hyperlite Mountain Gear is all-in on single-pole, pyramid-style shelters. That is, until now.
The Unbound 2P is a double-pole, double-vestibule, single-wall shelter with mesh interior side panels. The tried-and-true design is reminiscent of the Zpacks Duplex and Gossamer Gear The Two, among others.
One major design difference between those shelters and the Unbound is that the Unbound 2P’s side walls utilize three panels that meet at the central guy-out point. Theoretically, this should shed wind a little better than a flat panel.
The Unbound 2P weighs 24 ounces, has 28.1 square feet of interior space, and runs $669.
The 20-Degree Quilt: 1,000 Fill-Power Goodness
If you want high warmth-for-weight and high compressibility in your sleep system, you want high fill-power down. And 1,000 fill power is about as high as it gets, which is how Hyperlite has managed to make a 20-degree quilt that weighs 20 ounces in size regular.
The 7d face fabric and a blend of vertical and horizontal baffles (1.5 inches of loft) are also nice touches. The lack of a draft collar will be a deal breaker for some, particularly as this quilt will cost you $599. Throw in one of Hyperlite’s clever side-entry pods, and you are looking at $649.
You can browse the entire Unbound collection at Hyperlite’s website.
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