Is this pack waterproof or just water-resistant?

The Dyneema Composite Fabric is fully waterproof, and the roll-top closure seals out rain and splashes from river crossings. It's not a dry bag with welded seams, but it will keep contents dry in typical backcountry weather and wet environments.

How do I know which torso size to choose?

Measure from the C7 vertebra at the base of your neck to the top of your hip bones. Small fits torsos roughly 15-17 inches, Medium 17-19 inches, Large 19-21 inches, and Tall 21-23 inches. Proper torso fit ensures the hip belt sits on your hips and the shoulder straps align correctly.

What volume should I choose for a week-long trip?

A week in the backcountry typically needs 55L to 70L, depending on season and whether you're carrying bulky gear like a sleeping bag and pad. The 40L works for ultralight weekend trips, while the 85L suits expeditions or winter trips with larger gear.

Can I use this for air travel as a carry-on?

The 40L may fit carry-on size limits when not fully packed, but the larger volumes exceed typical airline dimensions. The pack compresses well when empty, though, making it easy to check or stow once you reach your destination.

Does the pack come with a hydration sleeve or pockets?

No, it's a minimal shell with daisy chains and compression straps. Hyperlite Mountain Gear offers separate accessories to add pockets, bottle holders, and other features, so you configure it for your specific needs.

How much weight can this pack carry comfortably?

The frame and hip belt are designed to transfer heavy loads efficiently, but comfort depends on your torso fit and how you distribute weight. Many users carry 30 to 40 pounds comfortably in the larger volumes, though the minimal padding means heavier loads feel less cushioned than traditional expedition packs.

Porter

The 3-second version

Dyneema Composite Fabric is waterproof and weighs a fraction of traditional nylon
External daisy chains let you lash packrafts, bikes, or oversized gear outside
Roll-top closure keeps contents dry through rain and river crossings
Minimal padding on straps and hip belt
Requires separate accessories for full functionality
Torso sizing needed for proper fit

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Modular Ultralight Backpack for Multi-Activity Trips

Most multi-day packs force you to carry features designed for one specific activity—pockets and panels and straps you'll use once or ignore completely. This one flips that: a structural shell with attachment points everywhere, so you build the pack around the trip instead of bending your trip around the pack's limitations.

The difference matters when your season includes both alpine approaches and packrafting shuttles, or when you're flying to a remote region and need one bag to handle hiking, biking, and paddling legs. Dyneema keeps the empty pack light enough that adding your own pouches and straps still comes in under what a fully featured nylon pack weighs on its own.

Good gift when

People who shift between backcountry skiing, paddling, and bikepacking
Ultralight backpackers who want to strip every unnecessary ounce
Adventure travelers heading to remote areas with varied terrain
Athletes who prefer configuring gear themselves over preset features

Skip it if You want a pack that arrives fully configured with pockets, hydration sleeves, and padding already in place—this one makes you decide what to add and where to put it.

Specs

Material: Dyneema Composite Fabric
Closure: Roll-top
Volume Options: 40L, 55L, 70L, 85L
Torso Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Tall
Colors: White, Black
Waterproof: Yes
External Attachment: Daisy chains, compression straps

What's included

Backpack with roll-top closure
Shoulder straps and hip belt
External daisy chains
Side and over-the-top compression straps

If you're giving it

You'll need their size

Requires torso length measurement for proper fit; arrives in product packaging.

The maker

Hyperlite Mountain Gear built its reputation on Dyneema Composite Fabric—formerly known as Cuben Fiber—a material originally developed for yacht racing sails. The brand brought that same weight-obsessed, durability-focused approach to backpacking gear, starting with ultralight shelters and expanding into packs for people who count grams but refuse to sacrifice toughness.

The Porter emerged from requests by guides and athletes who needed one pack to handle disparate activities: a ski traverse one month, a packrafting trip the next, then a bikepacking route after that. Instead of designing separate packs for each discipline, Hyperlite created a platform that accepts modular attachments, letting the user decide what matters for each outing. It's the same philosophy that drives their entire lineup—strip away everything that isn't essential, then let the person carrying it add back only what the terrain demands.

The details

This backpack starts intentionally minimal—a stripped-down frame and shell designed to be configured around the trip you're actually taking. Made from Hyperlite Mountain Gear's signature Dyneema Composite Fabric, it weighs far less than traditional packs at the same volume, yet remains waterproof and durable enough for rough terrain. External daisy chains wrap the body to give you lash points for packrafts, fly rods, bike frames, or whatever bulky kit your trip demands. Side and top compression straps cinch everything down tight to keep loads stable when you're moving fast.

The real advantage shows up when your plans change. Instead of carrying features you'll never use—or wishing you had attachment points you don't—you add only what the route requires. Shoulder straps and hip belt are load-bearing but otherwise unpadded, keeping weight minimal while still transferring heavy loads efficiently. The roll-top closure keeps rain and river crossings from soaking your gear, and the simple tube construction means fewer seams to fail.

Available in four volumes from forty to eighty-five liters, each sized to match different trip lengths and load requirements. Torso sizing ensures the frame sits correctly on your back, which matters more as pack weight climbs. Two colorways—white and black—keep the aesthetic clean. This pack works for someone who moves between backcountry skiing, bikepacking, and paddling trips, or for anyone tired of compromising with a pack designed for just one activity.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Porter

Bare-bones platform pack with daisy chains and compression straps, ready for you to configure

$380at hyperlitemountaingear.com

Choose an option

Quantity

Buy from Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Ships and sold by Hyperlite Mountain Gear. About this merchant

The 3-second version

Dyneema Composite Fabric is waterproof and weighs a fraction of traditional nylon
External daisy chains let you lash packrafts, bikes, or oversized gear outside
Roll-top closure keeps contents dry through rain and river crossings
Minimal padding on straps and hip belt
Requires separate accessories for full functionality
Torso sizing needed for proper fit

Questions

Is this pack waterproof or just water-resistant?: The Dyneema Composite Fabric is fully waterproof, and the roll-top closure seals out rain and splashes from river crossings. It's not a dry bag with welded seams, but it will keep contents dry in typical backcountry weather and wet environments.
How do I know which torso size to choose?: Measure from the C7 vertebra at the base of your neck to the top of your hip bones. Small fits torsos roughly 15-17 inches, Medium 17-19 inches, Large 19-21 inches, and Tall 21-23 inches. Proper torso fit ensures the hip belt sits on your hips and the shoulder straps align correctly.
What volume should I choose for a week-long trip?: A week in the backcountry typically needs 55L to 70L, depending on season and whether you're carrying bulky gear like a sleeping bag and pad. The 40L works for ultralight weekend trips, while the 85L suits expeditions or winter trips with larger gear.
Can I use this for air travel as a carry-on?: The 40L may fit carry-on size limits when not fully packed, but the larger volumes exceed typical airline dimensions. The pack compresses well when empty, though, making it easy to check or stow once you reach your destination.
Does the pack come with a hydration sleeve or pockets?: No, it's a minimal shell with daisy chains and compression straps. Hyperlite Mountain Gear offers separate accessories to add pockets, bottle holders, and other features, so you configure it for your specific needs.
How much weight can this pack carry comfortably?: The frame and hip belt are designed to transfer heavy loads efficiently, but comfort depends on your torso fit and how you distribute weight. Many users carry 30 to 40 pounds comfortably in the larger volumes, though the minimal padding means heavier loads feel less cushioned than traditional expedition packs.