A close look at two backpacks buyers cross-shop. The Arc Haul Ultra 50 takes a modest overall edge, led by low weight, but the Southwest 55 has its own case.
| Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50 | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 73✓ | 68 |
| Capacity | 50 L | 55 L |
| Weight | 1 lb 6 oz✓ | 1 lb 15 oz |
| Rated load | 40 lb | 40 lb |
| Fabric denier | 100 D | n/s |
| Price | $399✓ | $420 |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Arc Haul Ultra 50 in blue, Southwest 55 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Capacity is shown for context and is not scored, since more volume is a sizing choice rather than better. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full backpack comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50 next to the Hyperlite Southwest 55 and the trade-offs are clear. The Arc Haul Ultra 50 wins on low weight and price, and the Southwest 55 pushes back on value.
The Arc Haul Ultra 50 is 9 oz lighter and $21 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Arc Haul Ultra 50 leads 73 to 68.
Pick the Arc Haul Ultra 50 if you care most about low weight and price, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Southwest 55 if you would rather save the difference.
The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50. It is 9 oz lighter than the Southwest 55.
The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50. It is $21 cheaper than the Southwest 55.
The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50, 73 to 68 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Arc Haul Ultra 50 for low weight, or the Southwest 55 for the price. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.