5400 Porter

This is my first Hyperlite pack and I'm sold. I've used many other multi-day packs from Deuter, Gregory, REI, Mystery Ranch, among others. I loved the simplicity, weight, and hip belt design of this pack. My gripe was that the weatherproof fabric really only was "nearly waterproof" the first few days of use. So, more trash bags next time! Otherwise, grade A pack.

Plug for some packs with a torso length smaller than 15". I'm a 14", and like many other products in this industry, will just live with the "it fits pretty good" approach.

I recently used my Porter 5400 for the first time, on a combination backpacking/packrafting trip for 16 days. I had a pretty heavy load (no idea; didn't weigh it beforehand); we had a re-supply along the way. The waistbelt immediately cut into my hipbone and within a couple days, even after placing socks on my hips between my skin and pants, my hips were swollen and sore from the waistbelt. I'm pretty disappointed and wondering how I can beef up the padding in some way. It was a lot of money to pay for a product that doesn't work for me.

Love the pack, but it doesn't seem to be designed to live up to it's name. Porters are strong. This pack isn't. 85L and it's meant to carry additional gear on the outside, and it's rated for 60 pounds. I'm not sure who has multiple days/weeks of food, clothes, and technical mountaineering gear that's under 60 pounds. You can easily load it with 70 to 80+ pounds if you want to go splitboard mountaineering in Alaksa. It should be designed as such. The shoulder and gear carry straps could use beefier stitching pattern. I think most people are going to use this pack for longer duration trips. Weight lifters on the shoulder straps would be worth the minimal weight penalty. I also wish the side straps were a bit longer. Highly recommend the optional outside pocket for quick access to avy gear/jackets. I also got the shoulder pocket and love it for snacks and phone. It is a great pack for shorter, lighter trips but doesn't seem tough enough for the adventures it was seemingly designed for. The additional carry straps work well, but would be better if they were burlier and maybe had an option to be rubber coated to resist ski/snowboard edges.

"Porter" implies a big, empty sack that can store things well over your head. The 5400 is just that. For a Scout event, I carried 50 pounds about a mile. No problem with seams or straining. The straps weren't an issue. I attached a Hyperlite carabiner to each of the four loops to improve versatility (it will hold clothing clips, for instance). If you fill beyond 9 inches or so from the top, you won't be fully successful using the roll top and Y-strap.

Because there is only one pocket, I would recommend color-coded, stuff- and dry sacks for everything. Reaching into a bag that's 4 feet deep is not fun; you pretty much have to pour the contents out if what you're searching for is not on the top.

My load: 2 tents (3 lbs, 5 lbs), REI camping chair (12 lbs), three 20° sleeping bags (4 lbs each), 3 sleeping pads (6 lbs total), 1 sleeping pillow, 1 bag liner, 6L of clothes in dry sack ( 11 lbs total).

That perfectly fit into the 5400 Porter with the camping chair sticking out a foot. I'm 5'8" and ordered a medium which fit perfectly. The balance is excellent. The only disadvantage compared to an exterior frame is the amount of space in the back, so you get a little sweaty. Do not wear with cotton. Use a merino wool or synthetic top.

The Dyneema fabric is completely waterproof under normal conditions.

In AK some of the approaches to good skiing base camps are 15-30 miles and to have a 3lb 85 liter bag to carry camp in is awesome. On these trips every lb counts so the lighter the better. It has plenty of room for camp gear and ski gear. The weather proofness of the bag keeps your mind at ease if it starts snowing or raining. I highly recommend this bag for long trips in any conditions.