Thread: Southern Lite Packs - Review

Over the years like many I've had different packs from my first being an old Fairydown Phoenix which served me well before I migrated to a Macpac Torre which has a single main compartment and that pack did some miles and trips before the harness broke and I upgraded to a Tatonka which I thought was amazing as the harness was awesome.

The down side to the Tatonka is the weight of the pack which is considerably noticeable when you use it as a day bag on those long trips in so then I got ride of the Tatonka and upgraded to an Osprey Aether which was a huge step up for both comfort and lightness for a pack.

Like many on here I've often contemplated on a dyneema pack eyeing up Hyperlite packs namely the 4400 Southwest but the problem is unless you know someone here in NZ that has one to either look at or try, your left with the only option of buying one in from the states.

Enter "Southern Lite Packs" where I first came across them in one of the recent NZ Hunter magazines where their name was mentioned and I thought finally there's someone here in NZ who makes lightweight packs.

The small company is run by Luke operating out of his home in Glenorghy so on one weekend I was over that way and swung past to meet Luke and talk about a pack, he was great to deal with, invited us in for a coffee and we were there for an hour easy where I had already settled in on a particular design and material as he uses something a bit stronger than what Hyperlite use which is a next generation of dyneema being far more stronger.

The design I wanted was the same as a Southwest 4400 but with Luke's expertise and knowledge a few extras got put in on the pack, ice axe holder, some extra straps coupled with his harness system which is a step up from the Hyperlites for which Luke measured me I then ordered my pack as news of his business was spreading fast and as he works by himself there's starting to be a waiting list but I wasn't in any hurry.

The pack arrived just before New Years Eve and I've only just got back from two nights away, everything I wanted to take fitted into the pack and when lifting the pack and walking off down the track I was stoked at how well the pack fit and how light everything felt thinking I wished I'd done this years ago. Certainly no creaking in the harness as you walk along and the material doesn't make the half the noise to what I thought it might.

The pack is 60 ltrs, weighs in at 825 grams







On the trip we shot a yearling hind and while not a full sized red it was me who had to carry out the meat and the pack carried handled it well so I know the pack can handle some weight.

PROS - The good thing about this pack is it's far cheaper than buying a Hyperlite, made here in NZ , made to your design, harness is made to fit.

CONS - I wish I bought something like this a long time ago... now for a lightweight tent!