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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L vs Vaude Asymmetric 42+8

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

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L is the lighter option — 844 g lighter than the Vaude Asymmetric 42+8 (51% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L Vaude Asymmetric 42+8
Weight 796 g · 0.796 kg · 1.75 lb 1,640 g · 1.640 kg · 3.62 lb
Brand Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vaude
Category Backpack Backpack
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L
796 g

Ultralight 40L pack in Dyneema Composite Fabric with roll-top closure, hip belt pockets, and a structured back panel for comfort on demanding trails.

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Vaude Asymmetric 42+8
1,640 g

42-liter trekking backpack with 8L expandable capacity. Asymmetric design balances load distribution with maximum comfort for multi-day expeditions.

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L vs Vaude Asymmetric 42+8: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 40L wins — at 796 g it is 844 g (51%) lighter than the Vaude Asymmetric 42+8 (1,640 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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