Over the past few seasons “ultralight” has become one of the hottest new concepts in backpacking. Carrying less weight means you go further faster with less stress on your body and the environment. Hyperlite Mountain Gear is a company dedicated to the ultralight hiking style, and to help convert me they sent out the Windrider Ultralight Pack for testing. Lightweight, minimalist, and a little strange looking could all be used to describe the Windrider. You can also add rugged, capable and surprising to that list of attributes. I took the sack to Escalante, Utah for some backpacking and day hiking to see if I would be the next hiker to board the ultralight bandwagon.
When I pulled the Windrider out of the box it got some pretty strange looks. I passed it around a group of friends (some backpackers, some not so much) and everyone came up with the same basic conclusion: this pack was going to rip me up. All of my packing buddies (myself included) use standard backpacks: larger volume bags that have plenty of padding on the hip and shoulder straps. We were all a bit dubious about the lightweight build of the Windrider. Could a 25.5 ounce pack with shoulder straps that looked like my old bookbag’s really carry what I needed for the backcountry? I was about to find out.
The Windrider is a no frills pack. One main compartment allows a hiker 2,400 cubic inches of space to work with. The bag takes form with help of removable aluminum stays. A hydration pocket also helps create a backsheet when a bladder is inserted. The Windrider closes up similar to a dry sack; the roll top seals with velcro and a couple of snaps. In true ultralight fashion the only zippers are located on the roomy hip belt pockets. There are three mesh pockets on the outside of the bag to allow room for extra items, and there is also an ice axe loop and daisy chain attachments. No need to bring a rain cover as the pack’s rip-stop Cuben fiber material is fully waterproof. Though it is smaller than what I am used to I was confident I could get everything I needed into the Windrider.
I tried my best to adopt an ultralight state of mind. I carefully examined everything that would be stuffed into the Windrider to decide if I truly needed it in the wild. I managed to cut out a few pounds of extra weight by leaving out some clothing and food items. One item that I will not go backpacking without is my tent. Let’s be fair here: true ultralight hikers don’t use a tent. A tarp, hammock, or some other lightweight structure is often the choice, but it was a sacrifice I wasn’t willing to make (I’m not in love with the idea of waking up next to a sleepy rattler, thank you very much). The tent went into the bag with the rest of my essentials; I had packed the Windrider to its limit.
I shouldered the bag at the trailhead and we made our way down the rock shelves towards the Escalante River. The hike was short, just under 4 miles, but the land was harsh: a mix of slickrock and sand trails ensured the Windrider got a true test. The pack carried very well, no load shift or hot spots on my back. I was very impressed by the hip belt. Despite carrying a 25 pound load over some tough terra my shoulders never hurt. The belt isn’t heavy on padding, but Hyperlite did their homework and added just enough extra cushion where it is needed. I felt just as comfortable carrying the Windrider as I do with my usual backpack.
My biggest rave about the Windrider is versatility. After we set camp it was time for some day hiking. My buddies pulled out their small daypacks that had been taking up space in their overnight bags. I didn’t need to worry about bringing one- the Windrider is so light and compressible that it transitions seamlessly from overnight to day pack. As we traveled through water and up canyons I hardly noticed I was wearing it. I wasn’t the only one who liked this aspect; one of my hiking companions commented that he might have to look into this whole ultralight craze.
Hikers constantly change their backpacking setup, tweaking both gear and packing styles to get that perfect fit. I only had a few days to work with the Windrider and I’m sure I could have made some changes that would have increased its performance even more. Despite this fact I can honestly give it a thumbs up. If a pack can impress with comfort and versatility on the first trip then it stands to reason it will only improve with time. If you’re thinking about going ultralight you will need a bag that makes the grade, and the Windrider is definitely worth considering.
You can purchase the Windrider Ultralight Pack at the Hyperlite Mountain Gear website.
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