Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs ULA Catalyst

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack is the lighter option — 9 g lighter than the ULA Catalyst (1% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.

Spec	Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack	ULA Catalyst
Weight	841 g · 0.841 kg · 1.85 lb	850 g · 0.850 kg · 1.87 lb
Brand	Hyperlite Mountain Gear	ULA
Category	Backpack	Backpack

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack

841 g

Fully waterproof Dyneema Composite Hybrid pack with aluminum stays and foam back panel. Built for off-trail use in harsh conditions. 29.7 oz.

Check price Full details →

ULA Catalyst

850 g

Versatile 68L semi-frameless pack for loaded trips.

Full details →

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs ULA Catalyst: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack wins — at 841 g it is 9 g (1%) lighter than the ULA Catalyst (850 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest backpack page, or browse the full gear weight database.

More backpack comparisons

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Salomon ADV Skin 12 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic Ultra Backpack Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic 50L Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic Backpack Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic 40L Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic 30L