These days, I am an avid multisport adventurer and a full-time backpacking guide, spending 200 nights/year outside. But, like many, I started backpacking at lesser quantities. Back then, I used packs from traditional pack makers like Osprey, Gregory, and Deuter. Actually, I had 1 pack from each of these brands, having the Osprey Atmos AG 50 for the longest at 4 years. In fall of 2019, I began going on more ambitious backpacking trips and multisport adventures, and therefore appreciating the value of lighter gear. In 2020 I made the leap and purchased a number of kit upgrades, among them a Hyperlite Mountain Gear backpack.  Due to the popularity of Hyperlite, this seems to be a common trajectory.

I'll move on to the Big Wild shortly, but this review would not be complete without a few more words about Hyperlite. As you are likely aware, Hyperlite has a a massive user base not just in thru-hiking but also in the multisport/off-trail adventure crowd. It is my belief that they have bought their way into this market via sponsored athletes and marketing prowess. Now, I am very grateful to Hyperlite for changing the game here, in two ways. 1) convincing us of the advantages of lightweight, simple gear using cutting-edge materials, and 2) convincing  us that packs don't have to be heavy to haul heavy loads and therefore be multisport-friendly.

I'll first review what a backpack needs to do to be truly comfortable at heavy loads. This is an important step: it helps cut through marketing hype surrounding extraneous features with names including "air" and "gravity".

1. Have a torso length that's truly long enough, and load lifter straps attached to the top of a frame that extends above one's shoulders, ideally to around the bottom of the ears.

2. Have an adeqautely stiff frame and hipbelt to preserve that torso length at heavy loads, i.e. resist collapse

3. Have adequate padding on the shoulder straps and hipbelt

4. Not have any "weird stuff" - things that poke, rub, cut off circulation, or cause any any unnecessary discomfort. This is the only point where different packs might produce varying comfort for different users, because we all have different bodies. Examples include: frame members poking your butt, shoulder straps being too close together, a hipbelt that doesn't cinch tight enough (please never tolerate a pack with this!)

I will note, here, that Hyperlite fails miserably (due to lack of effort) at steps 1 & 3. That is their downfall, their packs are competitive in ever way except comfort.

First, the main packbag. It's big, and it's lacking anything at all inside, until you put your gear in there. As it should be. Internal division/pockets are unnecessary, and only impede gear accessibility once you establish a packing strategy. The bag has a well-executed roll-top closure. This is good because it resists weather and is light but versatile. The most interesting thing about this part of the design is that it's tapered; wider at the top than the bottom in both dimensions. This is different from the Hyperlite "tube" design, and I don't have strong feelings about it. It can be easier to pack, but it can be harder too. It's just something to get used to. What I do want to say is that this design is preferable for load hauling; contrary to what you might assume, it's anatomically better to have more weight in a backpack near the shoulder blades. Higher weight can make the bag "top-heavy", but that's not actually a problem while hiking. Heavy items too low in the pack can cause lower back pain. The packbag is also rounded on the bottom, which I like. With effort, the pack can still stand up if placed against a small rock, but the shape prevents it from taking as much abuse when downclimbing. The pack also comes in a  95L version. I can't speak to this directly. For packrafting, I'd definitely prefer it, but for standard backapcking it would be slightly annoying. If I was going to have 2 packs, I would get the 95L as my "big one" and something like a Movement to complement it.

I have the old "rugged" Big Wild, meaning it's made mostly of Challenge Ultra 400 with 800 on the bottom. The alternative, "standard" Big Wild, is made with Ecopack. The downsides of the rugged version can be counted on 1 finger: color choices. That's right, the "rugged" version is also lighter! I was in disbelief when I discovered this. Ultra fabric is awesome. It has a laminated waterproof membrane. This, for me, means I don't need to use a pack cover. I keep my important things inside a rolltop DCF packliner, but I pile food and other less sensitive items on top, and they stay mostly dry thanks to the waterproof fabric. I will note that I attempted to seal all my seams with Seam Grip, but for some reason this hasn't helped much. Unlike my Hyperlite pack which was nearly airtight due to the taped DCH fabric, my sealed Big WIld is far from a drybag. The good news is, this doesn't really matter. Insulation needs to be kept in a pack liner regardless of what pack you use. For packrafting, the pack and everything else go inside the TiZip.

The last consideration, quite purposefully, is weight. A maker of a load hauling pack should first make sure that they are meeting comfort and durability goals. If this is done in the most minimal way possible, the end result is a light pack. My Big Wild weighs 41oz.

This weight competes excellently with any other pack in the same class. It's the same as a Hyperlite Porter of the same volume, which is sort of unbelievable to me considering the massive difference in comfort (and pockets!). It's almost as if... generous foam and a couple extra inches of frame don't weigh much! Imagine that.

The pack is slightly lighter than the REI Flash 55, but rather than having pointless features is larger and dramatically more durable. It's the same weight as the Hanchor Marl, but larger and more comfortable. It's lighter than the ULA Epic because it's dramatically simpler, although not as waterproof (also way more comfortable).

The biggest competitor to this pack's comfort is Seek Outside, the longstanding favorite of backcountry hunters and some packrafters. The Big Wild achieves the same (if not better) comfort at loads of 60lbs or less. It does this while weighing a full pound less.

If you are going to be carrying loads of 40lbs max, but usually less, the Big Wild may not be the pack for you. Especially if you have a shorter torso than I do. SWD's Long Haul (left) is a great option for people like this and comes with a nice weight savings. This may even apply to many packrafters. My partner is a 5'8" woman and loves her Long Haul, she has tried the old Durston 40 and ULA Circuit but found them uncomfortable for the curvature of her back - another example of "weird stuff".

Because I am at the top end of the torso size, I have been interested in trying to prevent collapse as much as possible. I bought some tubular aluminum stays made from Dan Ransom, which are both lighter and stiffer. They are the black stays pictured on the left, the silver are stock. I am unbothered by the less dramatic bends and do find them to resist collapse a bit better. I have had an issue with them spinning inside the sleeves, irreversible without removing and reinstalling them. This is infrequent, but Dan has suggested he make a 3d printed endcap that is flat on the bottom to prevent spinning. Pretty cool, hopefully he can do it.

I also have discovered that the stock hipbelt on my Big Wild has become increasingly prone to collapse. After about 30 days of carrying above 40lbs, and 30 days of carrying less, it has developed a permanent crease that allows it to deform in the same way that all hipbelts deform, but more easily. This is demonstrated below in two pictures. I have seem it happen with every lightweight pack I have used, and the Big Wild is the most resistant.