Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic 40L
Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.
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 →Frameless ultralight pack in 30L or 40L, built from Dyneema CF fabric. One of the lightest load-carrying packs available for thru-hiking.
Check price Full details →Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Backpack vs Zpacks Nero Classic 40L: which should you buy?
If saving weight is your priority, the Zpacks Nero Classic 40L wins — at 289 g it is 552 g (66%) 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.