Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Review
Keep frequently accessed gear on-hand with this highly water-resistant Dyneema waist pack
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa (shop now) is an ultralight fanny pack designed to make essential gear quickly accessible on the trail without having to take your pack off. It makes a great catch-all for the day’s trail food, maps, sunscreen, lip balm, iPhone anything else that you want to quickly grab while walking.
Hyperlight Mountain Gear says the Versa Fanny Pack is for “Outdoor athletes who want a durable, weatherproof, flexible accessory pack for hiking, backpacking, packrafting, fishing, biking, trail running, travel, or errands around town.” But in this review, we evaluated it primarily for hiking and backpacking.
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Compare this to more options in our guide to the best fanny pack for hiking.
Tested On the Trail
We tested the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa out on a Section Hike on the Appalachian Trail through Shenandoah National Park. We found it useful for holding a full DSLR 4K Video setup, and equally useful for holding all our valuables, electronics, camera, phone and charging gear in one place. That way when we went into a store to resupply we could easily bring everything of value with us, since the stores required we leave our packs outside.
We also like the Versa’s organization. For such a small pack there are a large number of smaller pockets to organize things like cell phones, wallets and keys. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack has a large weatherproof main pocket divide into two parts by a mesh divider. It has a key clip. There is a separate waterproof zippered front pocket. And our favorite is the large padded rear pocket that is perfect for fast access to your phone.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack goes along for our Section Hike of the Appalachian Trail through Shenandoah National Park. Here we are super excited to get a big dinner at Big Meadows Lodge after a 20 mile day.
PRODUCT SPECS
- Price: $79
- Weight: 0.18 lbs | 2.91 oz | 83g (without waist strap)
0.18 lbs | 2.91 oz | 83g (without waist strap) - Dimensions: 2.25” (H) x 6” (W) x 9” (L) | 5.7cm” (H) x 15.24cm (W) x 23cm (L)
- Volume: 137.3 cu. in. | 2.25 liters
Materials
- Body: DCH50 (Black) – 3.5 oz/yd2 Dyneema® Composite Fabric Hybrid
- Back Panel: Spacer Mesh
- Internal Divider: Mesh
- Waist Strap: 1” Webbing (adjustable up to 52″ circumference)
- Zipper: YKK #3
While only 4 ounces, tough and nearly weatherproof, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack holds a surprising amount. It can easily hold 3 cans of beer, and iPhone Xs Max, wallet, keys and still have room to spare.
What Can you Carry in the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack?
While only 4 ounces, tough and nearly waterproof, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack holds a surprising amount. For backpackers and hikers here are a few possible uses:
Hiking
- For minimalist, ultralight hikers in addition to your clothing pockets the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack may be all you need for a long hike in warmer weather.
Backpacking
- Use it to hold all your valuables, electronics, camera, phone, USB battery and charging gear in one place. That way if you have to leave your pack somewhere, or if you need to go into a store to resupply or eat you can easily bring everything with you. This year we saw a lot of AT thru hikers doing this, since almost every store and restaurant requires that you leave your backpack outside. And of course then you have all your electronics with you to hopefully recharge while you shop or eat.
- Use Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack as a “feed bag.” It fits over 2 pounds of food, or more than a days worth. Not only will it make eating on the move a breeze. But it can also move a significant amount of weight forward on your body improving weight balance.
- Store all your photography or video gear in the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack. This gives you almost instant access to it. But also protects it from dust and rain. And if you decide to venture out for a side shot you can easily leave your pack behind and move quickly with just your camera gear in the fanny pack. This is likely or favorite use.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack fits over 2 pounds of energy bars. If used as a “feed bag” it can not only make eating on the move a breeze. But it can also move a significant amount of weight forward on your body improving weight balance.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack can fit a compact, mirrorless DSLR Video rig, including a external shotgun microphone, and a full set of ND filters. With it you can shoot pro-quality 4K video. And there’s still room for your iphone in the rear pocket.
Chest or Belt Carry?
For backpackers, there are two options to carry the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack.
- Use the waist belt and carry it on the font of your waist just under your pack hip belt buckle. This is our favorite option.
- Carry the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack on your sternum strap. This chest mount is a super position for ease of access but has a few caveats which we describe below.
Our favorite way to use the HMG Versa Fanny Pack was around the waist just below the hipbelt. We saw many Appalachian Trail Hikers use small fanny packs this way to store valuables, electronics, camera, phone and charging gear etc. And fanny packs were even more prevalent with ultralight thru hikers using small hip-belt-less packs (no hip belt pockets), where it added valuable on-the-move gear access and extra storage volume.
Another option is to mount it on the sternum strap of your pack. While this is doable, there are a few things you should know. First you should use at least one small carabiner to anchor it to a shoulder strap to keep it from sliding off when you undo your sternum strap (mine is hidden between the water bottle and fanny pack). Second, in this position it’s best not to weigh down the fanny pack too much — three cans of beer is a but much! That being said this is a great way to access lighter gear.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Review Verdict
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack is a great option to make key gear quickly accessible on the trail without having to take your pack off or fumble in awkward pack side-pockets. We found it especially useful for storing all our photography and video gear. Giving us nearly instantaneous access while providing rain and dust protection. It was equally useful to it to hold all our valuables, wallet, electronics, camera, phone, USB battery and charging gear in one place. And of course it makes a great catch-all for the day’s trail food, maps, guide book, sunscreen, lip balm, iphone anything else that you want to quickly grab while walking. Finally, it makes an excellent small fanny pack for minimal day hikes. We recommend the HMG Versa very highly!
PRODUCT SPECS
Weight: 0.18 lbs | 2.91 oz | 83g (without waist strap)
0.18 lbs | 2.91 oz | 83g (without waist strap)
Dimensions: 2.25” (H) x 6” (W) x 9” (L) | 5.7cm” (H) x 15.24cm (W) x 23cm (L)
Volume: 137.3 cu. in. | 2.25 liters
Materials
Body: DCH50 (Black) – 3.5 oz/yd2 Dyneema® Composite Fabric Hybrid
Back Panel: Spacer Mesh
Internal Divider: Mesh
Waist Strap: 1” Webbing (adjustable up to 52″ circumference)
Zipper: YKK #3
SHIP DATE: November 15, 2019
MSRP: $70
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