Hyperlite Mountain Gear NorthRim 55 Backpack Review
Updated:
Jan 20, 2025The NorthRim ($480) is Hyperlite’s burliest backpack, which is saying something for a company known for making long-lasting gear. This pack is primed for hikers who do a lot of off-trail travel through challenging terrain and want to keep their base weight down. The NorthRim’s price might be an understandable barrier for many would-be buyers—it’s the most expensive pack we’ve tested thus far—but it’ll last you many years.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Weight
2 lb. 1.4 oz.
Stated Load Limit
40 lb.
Fabric(s)
150D Dyneema
Adjustable Torso
No
# of Pockets
5
Access
Top
Capacities
55L (70L)
Included rain cover
No
Pros
Cons
Hyperlite Mountain Gear NorthRim 55
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks.
The padding on the NorthRim is basically the same as the other Hyperlite packs, which is to say it’s more functional than plush. Minimal cushioning on the shoulder straps and hipbelt had me wishing for a backpacking pack with a softer build, especially when I took the NorthRim close to its stated 40-pound carrying capacity. I also wish Hyperlite would add load lifters to this pack to help with carrying adjustments. It’s sometimes said that if your pack fits properly, you shouldn’t need load lifters, but I’m not sure that’s true if you’re carrying large amounts of food and gear or are on a multisport adventure such as a packrafting trip—just the type of missions the NorthRim is built for.
Support-wise, the Hyperlite NorthRim 55 more or less matches up with other Hyperlite packs (such as the popular Southwest) in terms of its weight-to-capacity ratio. Its suspension consists of two removable aluminum stays, which rest behind a .25-inch-thick foam backpanel. I carried the NorthRim on a four-day adventure through the southern canyons of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, and my first-day load of 30 pounds—four and a half days of food, gear, and three liters of water—felt like the maximum amount of weight the pack could comfortably carry. (Hyperlite’s rating of 40 pounds is probably feasible, but it might make you sore.) With that amount on my back, though, I had no issues as I climbed and boulder-hopped down into Slickhorn Canyon. The pack felt good, and I didn’t experience any pain or tugging from the shoulder straps or hipbelt. Over the next few days, we continued to trudge through sand, boulder our way through obstacles, and climb up canyon walls to view ancient ruins; the NorthRim kept pace every step of the way, proving that it’s plenty supportive for distance-minded hikers who’ve dialed in their kit to 30 pounds or less.
The NorthRim 55’s pocket layout follows the now-standard design for Hyperlite backpacking packs, which aligns with the larger ultralight pack paradigm. It has one sizable back shove-it pocket, two generous side pockets, and zippered hipbelt pockets. The main compartment entry is via a buckle-secured roll-top. Where the NorthRim sets itself apart is the construction of its pockets: The back and side compartments are made from woven Dyneema, which gives the backpacking pack an enormous boost in durability. Other Hyperlite models, such as the Junction and the Southwest, have the same pocket configuration, but they’re made from mesh and/or a material Hyperlite dubs “Hardline with Dyneema.” One downside to this design, and the tradeoff for its durability increase, is that wet items, such as a tent or rain gear, will dry more slowly than if the pockets were mesh.
I keep my toiletry kit, lunch, and maps in the big back pocket. The elastic on the two side pockets feels tighter than the elastic on the Junction, which I’ve also used; I’m assuming this is to secure water bottles when bushwacking and scrambling. The downside is that the water is harder to reach—I usually have to take the pack off to grab one. Each pocket can easily carry one to three 1-liter bottles, which is plenty for long water carries in the desert. The hipbelt pockets are the same size as the Junction’s, and I love using them to stash snacks I can eat on the go.
One complaint I do have is that I wish the Hyperlite NorthRim 55 had an inside mesh pocket that rests against your back. This pocket could hold a water reservoir, but I also like to keep my extra maps in there for easy access. With the NorthRim, I have to unload my whole pack to access them.
At just over 2 pounds for a size medium, I can safely categorize the NorthRim as an ultralight pack. It’s not the lightest in the category—models such as the REI Co-op Flash Air 50 (1 lb. 14 oz.) and the Zpacks Arc Haul UltraEPX 60 (1 lb. 7 oz.) weigh less—but the NorthRim has a higher carrying capacity than both of those models. Plus, thanks to its all-Dyneema construction, it’s more durable. (Having said that, it’s definitely worth noting that the Flash Air and the Arc Haul both have more padding and might be better choices for hikers who want an increase in comfort.)
Choosing a pack heavier than the NorthRim, such as the ultralight-adjacent Osprey Exos 58, comes with its own set of tradeoffs. The Exos is generally more comfortable due to its trampoline-style backpanel and superior padding, offers more storage options, and can comfortably tote about 5 pounds more. But it’s almost a pound heavier, which can quickly feel burdensome if you’re using it for the high-mileage trips the NorthRim is designed for, and its materials, while heavier, are less durable than Dyneema. The NorthRim won’t weigh you down and is great for carrying dialed ultralight(ish) loads, but if you don’t mind the extra weight, you can level up in comfort with bulkier packs (check out our backpacking pack guide for options).
This category is where the Hyperlite NorthRim 55 excels. The main compartment is made of 150-denier Dyneema, one of the hardiest materials in the ultralight world. The pockets, which can be a weak point on less burly backpacking packs, are constructed from woven Dyneema, as is the pack bottom. I especially liked that the big front pocket wasn’t made out of mesh, which was a complaint I had with the Junction; its dorsal compartment took a beating from being lowered and pulled up over sandstone, an issue that I didn’t have to worry about with the NorthRim.
All the NorthRim’s buckles and zippers seem to be of good quality. I’ve put about 150 miles on this pack on trips in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and the Utah desert, and besides being stained with silt and sand—which just gives it character—it’s holding up strong. I’ll need to use it plenty more to see if the NorthRim’s hardo reputation is deserved, but it seems designed for the task.
Like all of Hyperlite’s Dyneema packs, the NorthRim is waterproof. I have not worn the pack in pouring rain yet, but I did take it on a wet backpacking trip in the San Juans. The rain never got too heavy, but everything in my pack stayed dry. For comparison, I have used my Hyperlite Junction—which also has a Dyneema main compartment—for years and have never had any issues with the waterproofing. I've worn it in heavy rains on the Colorado Trail and swam with it in many slot canyons. When swimming, the bag does take on a little water through the drain holes at the bottom, but as long as your things are secured in a pack liner or drysack, everything will stay dry.
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Longevity
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PFAS-Free DWR
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Recycled Materials
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Resale and/or Recycling Services
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Carbon Footprint Tracking
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Annual Impact Report
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Hyperlite sells the NorthRim 55 in four torso sizes: small, medium, large, and tall. I have a torso length of around 16 inches, so I went with the size small. The hipbelt and shoulder straps were easily adjusted to fit, but the sternum strap was too big even when cinched down, which was an annoyance on the trail. (Thankfully, Hyperlite sent me a smaller one when I asked, a testament to their thoughtful customer service.) With its non-adjustable torso size and no hipbelt sizing options, the Hyperlite NorthRim 55 is less customizable than models from other ultralight pack companies. As I mentioned earlier, having load lifters would go a long way toward fine-tuning the carry to your liking.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 ($420): Slightly Less Durable Sibling
Our testers have used the Southwest for years and remain big fans. It shares the same overall design as the NorthRim but swaps in a thinner materials package. While the NorthRim uses 150D Dyneema in the body and 400D Dyneema in high-wear zones, the Southwest relies on Dyneema Woven Composite 3.9—roughly equivalent to a 50-denier Dyneema. It’s a meaningful difference, but the Southwest is still impressively durable for most users. Unless you regularly thrash your gear or want a pack built to last a lifetime, the more affordable Southwest is likely the better value—and you can put the savings toward a well-earned post-hike meal. For more, read our Southwest 40 review.
ULA Equipment Circuit ($300): Higher Load Capacity for (Much) Less Money
The Circuit (2 lb. 6.5 oz.) costs $150 less than the NorthRim, but the big drop in cost doesn’t equal a big drop in performance. Its suspension, made up of a foam framesheet, carbon fiber and hard plastic hoop, and an aluminum stay, is more robust. It allowed us to shoulder 35 pounds, which bests the NorthRim’s 30-pound comfort level. The pocket layout is mostly the same (the Circuit adds a dorsal shock-cord attachment), but they’re mesh, not woven Dyneema. The Circuit is less durable than the NorthRim overall, but we found that its 400-denier Robic nylon is sufficiently strong for most trips (and brings its price down to a much more digestible level). This pack offers a better value, more capacity, and many more size options, and might be our favorite all-around ultralight pack. But if you frequently scrape through sandstone slots, the NorthRim is the superior choice. For more, read our review of the ULA Circuit.
Burly and built for deep backcountry exploration, the NorthRim is an expensive and niche pack. But if your priority list includes a minimal weight, simple layout, and tough shell, this pack should be on your shortlist.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Load capacity, durability, and waterproofing make the Southwest a thru-hiker favorite. Drawbacks include a lack of adjustability and below-average padding, but in most other aspects, this is a top-tier ultralight backpack.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
The Circuit is one of the best ultralight and thru-hiking packs, period. It's available in a wide range of sizes and offers impressive load carrying for its weight. While it lacks the Dyneema construction found in many other ultralight packs, the Robic nylon is impressively hardwearing.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Is the NorthRim 55 for You?
The Hyperlite NorthRim 55 is a highly specialized backpack, even for the ultralight ecosystem. While its weight-to-capacity stats are very good, and it’s not that different from other Hyperlite models that we like, its uber-durable construction (and resultant price) means that we recommend it only for hikers who frequently traverse terrain that would shred lesser backpacking packs. If that sounds like your type of trip, congratulations on finding the perfect pack for intense backcountry missions. But if you prefer trails that are even slightly more mellow (in this case, that would still make them pretty involved), we suggest you save a bit of cash.
hit the trail
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