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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs ULA Equipment ULTRA Node 20L

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

ULA Equipment ULTRA Node 20L is the lighter option — 269 g lighter than the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack (32% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack ULA Equipment ULTRA Node 20L
Weight 841 g · 0.841 kg · 1.85 lb 572 g · 0.572 kg · 1.26 lb
Brand Hyperlite Mountain Gear ULA Equipment
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.

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ULA Equipment ULTRA Node 20L
572 g

Compact 20L daypack with ULTRA 400X fabric (20% lighter than standard 400D), roll-top closure, and padded laptop compartment. Made in the USA with lifetime warr...

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs ULA Equipment ULTRA Node 20L: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the ULA Equipment ULTRA Node 20L wins — at 572 g it is 269 g (32%) lighter than the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack (841 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.

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