Now you're in my world. I've been an advocate of HPG since I stumbled upon them back in 2013. I've owned multiple versions of their smaller packs (Tarahumara and Connor) and I have the exact same pack you reviewed. It can't be understated that HPG's yoke is the most comfortable load bearing harness available. Yes, better than Mystery Ranch''s Futura, which is the gold standard for many. This year I added a Recon Belt to mine. Like you, I've never been a hip belt guy but I really wish I had done this sooner. Adding that belt to the Umlindi take what's little weight isn't distributed by the yoke and transfers it to the hips. I've never encountered a more comfortable setup. The belt also locks the Umlindi in place to the point that the pack almost becomes part of you. Hard to describe. The Recon also allows for the addition of bottle holsters, which is ideal as its nearly impossible to reach the Umlindi's bottle pockets without taking the pack off. The other HPG product I'd encourage you to try is a Kit Bag. It's a chest pack that's extremely popular with Hotshot and SAR teams. I started carrying one this winter and having direct access to essentials on the move without taking a pack on and off is really addictive.
I probably bought this because of you! I like those ideas. I need to try the hip belt and kit bag for sure. Looks like I’ll be doing a second video on this! 👊🏻
@@JBOutside1 Haha, appreciate that. I think I got quite a few people into HPG gear over the years between writing reviews on my blog and posting in the various bag groups. One other thing. I also picked up a gently used Hill People Gear Butt Pack. It can be added to the Umlindi as a top pocket to add some additional volume for quick grab items. The nice thing is you can also remove it, mate it with the Recon belt and bottle holster setup, and now you have a lite summer day hike rig. Lego'ing their stuff together is half the damn fun. 😁
@@blaineballard9073 Yup. I second all this. I have the umlindi, tarahumara, butt pack, kit bag, and multiple different pockets that attach to the umlindi and I'm definitely addicted to the quality and comfort of these products.
I really wanted an Umlindi since I heard about it last year as a Carryology winner. I thought it would force me to hike. Overkill for my urban treks and, bummer, too long. I liked that it had a stay in it for support, which the Junction lacked but would be enough for my needs and fit my torso. I found the harness system intriguing. The straps are slightly wide for my female, narrow frame. I'm sure if they had fitted me, they would have made all right. I ended up with a butt pack, with some attachments, which is perfect for my short treks, very supportive in lumbar, and keeps weight off my soon-to-be-replaced shoulder...awesome customer support. Gotta give credit to people who say, "It's not right for you," and prevented me from overbuying. I love strong opinions from people who know their products well. Great video but that's a given!
Great video, thank you for sharing. I am a fan of the Umlindi. Still putting through paces, but is most excellent in craftsmanship and materials. Keep on keepin on
Awesome review. HPG has a bunch of pack pockets and accessories that make their bags your own. Its like Lego for adults. Excellent quality they are manufactured in the USA by FirstSpear. Under the top lid I use a HPG toolroll that attaches to the velcro loop. I have a tarahumara with a line pocket. And a decker with an admin pocket. Love the setup. It carries like clothing. When i went to winter camp at -16F used a 70L seaLline folded bag on the decker and no issues with water on the hike. Love the way those bags harnesses work. It contours very well and floats on the shoulders. What I like about the decker is that when i travel, I use the decker pocket and remove the stays of the bag. It is my go to bag system when travelling for hikes or business.
@@JBOutside1 Had you looked at the Tom Bihn (Cache) sleeve as a tech sleeve for this bag. I currently use it on one of my TAD FP EDC bags for tech storage. It attaches to the inner upper tabs. It may work on this bag horizontally. What is cool about it is that you can attach the straps it comes with and it serve as connected rails that will allow you to remove and place back the sleeve on the same location.
Please do a compare review between hpg junction and Tara ! Thank you sir! It will be so cool to compare thewpse two famous small hiking backpack. Thank you sir
Hey, thanks for the review and your opinion. 😊 How do you use bags like these for rucking? Do you use soft weight (like sand) I‘m worried that the plates will damage the fabric when placed in the main compartment. Have a nice day. ✌️
I don’t think I’d say that. But if you want all day comfort even at heavier loads than this is it. It’s a little more bulky though for a situation where you’re off and on a lot (which is where Evergoods is better)
Wouldn't a clamshell opening do the exact opposite of what you said? Surely with a top-loading bag, you're forced to take stuff out and put it on the dirty ground in order to access the stuff below it, while a clamshell lets you avoid that
Tbh, carryology is more fashion, trendy, oriented. Making a pack without a hipbelt an award winning outdoor pack, it is already a bit ridiculous imo. While the real outdoor packs tend to focus and become more minimal and more lightweight, this looks like the complete opposite.
Hip belt is available for this one and would be a good thing for heavy carry on this. This one is more durable compared to the lightweight versions for sure and good for a variety of uses
I've owned top end ultra light packs from ULA and HMG. The Umlindi, while heavier, is much more comfortable under load. The harness is that good. And, as others mentioned, there are two optional belts offered by HPG that are compatible with the Umlindi.
Now you're in my world. I've been an advocate of HPG since I stumbled upon them back in 2013. I've owned multiple versions of their smaller packs (Tarahumara and Connor) and I have the exact same pack you reviewed. It can't be understated that HPG's yoke is the most comfortable load bearing harness available. Yes, better than Mystery Ranch''s Futura, which is the gold standard for many. This year I added a Recon Belt to mine. Like you, I've never been a hip belt guy but I really wish I had done this sooner. Adding that belt to the Umlindi take what's little weight isn't distributed by the yoke and transfers it to the hips. I've never encountered a more comfortable setup. The belt also locks the Umlindi in place to the point that the pack almost becomes part of you. Hard to describe. The Recon also allows for the addition of bottle holsters, which is ideal as its nearly impossible to reach the Umlindi's bottle pockets without taking the pack off. The other HPG product I'd encourage you to try is a Kit Bag. It's a chest pack that's extremely popular with Hotshot and SAR teams. I started carrying one this winter and having direct access to essentials on the move without taking a pack on and off is really addictive.
I probably bought this because of you! I like those ideas. I need to try the hip belt and kit bag for sure. Looks like I’ll be doing a second video on this! 👊🏻
@@JBOutside1 Haha, appreciate that. I think I got quite a few people into HPG gear over the years between writing reviews on my blog and posting in the various bag groups. One other thing. I also picked up a gently used Hill People Gear Butt Pack. It can be added to the Umlindi as a top pocket to add some additional volume for quick grab items. The nice thing is you can also remove it, mate it with the Recon belt and bottle holster setup, and now you have a lite summer day hike rig. Lego'ing their stuff together is half the damn fun. 😁
@@blaineballard9073
Yup. I second all this. I have the umlindi, tarahumara, butt pack, kit bag, and multiple different pockets that attach to the umlindi and I'm definitely addicted to the quality and comfort of these products.
I really wanted an Umlindi since I heard about it last year as a Carryology winner. I thought it would force me to hike. Overkill for my urban treks and, bummer, too long. I liked that it had a stay in it for support, which the Junction lacked but would be enough for my needs and fit my torso. I found the harness system intriguing. The straps are slightly wide for my female, narrow frame. I'm sure if they had fitted me, they would have made all right. I ended up with a butt pack, with some attachments, which is perfect for my short treks, very supportive in lumbar, and keeps weight off my soon-to-be-replaced shoulder...awesome customer support. Gotta give credit to people who say, "It's not right for you," and prevented me from overbuying. I love strong opinions from people who know their products well. Great video but that's a given!
Glad to hear you had a great experience with the company...I wish they were all that great!
Love HPG harnesses. Their packs are just so functional.
Totally 👍🏻
Great video, thank you for sharing. I am a fan of the Umlindi. Still putting through paces, but is most excellent in craftsmanship and materials. Keep on keepin on
It’s a great one!
Awesome review. HPG has a bunch of pack pockets and accessories that make their bags your own. Its like Lego for adults. Excellent quality they are manufactured in the USA by FirstSpear. Under the top lid I use a HPG toolroll that attaches to the velcro loop. I have a tarahumara with a line pocket. And a decker with an admin pocket. Love the setup. It carries like clothing. When i went to winter camp at -16F used a 70L seaLline folded bag on the decker and no issues with water on the hike. Love the way those bags harnesses work. It contours very well and floats on the shoulders. What I like about the decker is that when i travel, I use the decker pocket and remove the stays of the bag. It is my go to bag system when travelling for hikes or business.
Nice! Yeah I can see getting another HPG in the future...
@@JBOutside1 Had you looked at the Tom Bihn (Cache) sleeve as a tech sleeve for this bag. I currently use it on one of my TAD FP EDC bags for tech storage. It attaches to the inner upper tabs. It may work on this bag horizontally. What is cool about it is that you can attach the straps it comes with and it serve as connected rails that will allow you to remove and place back the sleeve on the same location.
I'll have to check that out
This pack is way overbuilt for what I need, but it is truly awesome. Had one for a while, good memories.
Good to hear!
Glad i have one for a while! nice review again! ;-)
Cool, thanks!
I’d reconsider how to carry that ice axe. You fall backwards and that sharp end could go through your head!
Good tip. Demo purposes only 😜
Please do a compare review between hpg junction and Tara ! Thank you sir! It will be so cool to compare thewpse two famous small hiking backpack. Thank you sir
I’ll add that to the list, thanks!
Junction small Tara smaller
Hey, thanks for the review and your opinion. 😊 How do you use bags like these for rucking? Do you use soft weight (like sand) I‘m worried that the plates will damage the fabric when placed in the main compartment. Have a nice day. ✌️
Depends. On this one, with no dedicated place for a plate, I use sandbags.
do you like this harness system over mystery ranches harness system?
I don’t think I’d say that. But if you want all day comfort even at heavier loads than this is it. It’s a little more bulky though for a situation where you’re off and on a lot (which is where Evergoods is better)
I get it is outdoor focused, but I'd really prefer to have a way to get to the bottom without fully unpacking the bag :D
Fair enough but that would provide a water intrusion point.
HPG makes a couple of panel loading designs - the Connor and the Aston 3
Wouldn't a clamshell opening do the exact opposite of what you said? Surely with a top-loading bag, you're forced to take stuff out and put it on the dirty ground in order to access the stuff below it, while a clamshell lets you avoid that
I can see your point but not what I was trying to convey. Most of my outdoor packs are predominantly intended to be top loading on the go
Can you say addicted?
Yup
Tbh, carryology is more fashion, trendy, oriented. Making a pack without a hipbelt an award winning outdoor pack, it is already a bit ridiculous imo. While the real outdoor packs tend to focus and become more minimal and more lightweight, this looks like the complete opposite.
Hip belt is available for this one and would be a good thing for heavy carry on this. This one is more durable compared to the lightweight versions for sure and good for a variety of uses
They make a light version if this pack. Ripstop material instead of 500d.
I've owned top end ultra light packs from ULA and HMG. The Umlindi, while heavier, is much more comfortable under load. The harness is that good. And, as others mentioned, there are two optional belts offered by HPG that are compatible with the Umlindi.