Pack Stats:
Sizes: Small (15”-17”), Medium (17”-19”), Large (19”-21”), and Tall (21”+)
Weight: 34.2oz
Volume: 40L + 15L Brain
Load Capacity: Up to 50lbs
The Prism pack is my go-to pack for all my ice and alpine adventures. With a 40L capacity (not including the brain), I have no problems fitting everything I need in this pack, whether it’s for a day at the crag or an alpine adventure. I’ve been using this pack for the last 3 seasons and have put it through the ringer on multi-day ski traverses, chimney climbing, and as my daily-driver ice climbing pack . While the bag isn’t nearly as white as it once was, it has held up remarkably well.
Chasing lesser-traveled ice high up in Hyalite Canyon. This bag excels at all levels, from a day of cragging to climbing bigger, more remote objectives.
Favorite Features
My favorite features of this pack are the dedicated crampon pouch, ice tool attachments, the removable brain, and the side straps. For those who don’t know what a “brain” is, it’s the extra pouch that fits over the top of the bag’s main compartment. I chose the Prism over Hyperlite’s other ice-specific packs due to the brain and crampon pouch, finding that the ease of access to both of these has been extremely useful for me in organizing my bag how I like. Separating my crampons from the rest of my gear is important to me so I don’t tear my stowed-away layers, or get the inside of my bag snowy and wet. The side straps achieve two things at once: they can compress the pack to feel smaller than a traditional 40L bag, and they can also carry skis in an A-frame configuration or both skis on one side. The Prism’s Dyneema construction means that sharp ski edges and ice picks won’t tear up its fabric. Dyneema is known for being highly durable and extremely lightweight, two features that this pack excels at.
Drawbacks
The interior of this pack doesn’t have any other pouches (such as dedicated avalanche gear storage) and as a result forces you to be thoughtful in the way you pack it before your trip. Some find this to be a drawback of the Hyperlite packs, but like with any new piece of gear, it takes some time to dial it in to your liking. Over time I’ve found myself to only buy top-loading packs in this style as I’ve developed a system that works for me—learning to pack items that likely won’t see the light of day near the bottom, while packing items that frequently see use, such as gloves, water, and an extra waterproof layer, near the top. This pack doesn’t support carrying skis diagonally, so skiers who prefer this way of carrying should look elsewhere.
The biggest drawback to this pack in my opinion is the price, coming in at $425 retail, it is easily the most expensive widely-available pack on the market. The high price is driven by the expensive cost of materials with the pack being made of Dyneema fabric. With that being said, you get what you pay for in terms of durability, and this pack is still chugging along 3 years later.
Overall Verdict
Overall, if you are looking for a pack to last you many seasons of abuse, I can’t recommend the Prism pack enough. It’s an all-around great mountaineering bag, whether you’re climbing, skiing, or doing a bit of both! This bag would be right at home hauling gear around Hyalite Canyon for a day of cragging, while also having the capacity to support multi-day alpine climbing trips and ski traverses.
This pack worked great for a multi-day ski traverse through the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Keep your sharps safe with the Prism’s dedicated crampon pouch and ice tool holder
Photo Credits: Nick Sramek