WELCOME TO UNPAVED HAVEN

A Comprehensive Review and Buying Guide for Outdoor Enthusiasts, Weekend Warriors, and Adventurers of all levels!

TLDR: the Porter 3400 is a durable and functional backpack that is perfect for folks looking for reliability, adjustable fit, and ample storage options. At its price point, this is an investment piece that you could take with you across all your outdoor activities.

What the Internet says about this pack

Materials and Construction:
The Porter 3400 is made with high-quality materials that make it both lightweight and durable. The pack is made with a Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) combined with a Polyester Face Fabric, which makes it tear, abrasion, and water resistant.

Fit and Comfort:
The Porter 3400 can be adjusted to best fit your body. The pack’s padded shoulder straps, adjustable hip belt, supportive suspension system, and back panel provide added comfort and support. The pack also features adjustable load lifters, which help to distribute weight evenly and reduce fatigue.

Features:
The customizable and modular nature of the Porter 3400 allows you to mix and match accessories to make it the most useful for your activity and increase carrying capacity as needed. These add-ons include a camera case, fanny pack, external water bottle holder, shoulder pocket, and mesh pocket. The daisy chains, attachment points, and gear loops allow you to add and remove gear as needed. The roll-top closure allows you to adjust the pack’s volume according to needs.

Design and Aesthetics:
The Porter 3400 is minimalist in design and comes in two colours – white for the most lightweight version, and black for a slightly heavier and more durable version.

Why might someone like this pack?

If you’re someone with a smaller or longer than average torso, these packs are great options. I have a small torso (~15″) and have had a difficult time finding backpacks that fit. Size Small fits me great.

I would say the incredible versatility makes this pack appealing. I’ve taken my Porter 3400 out ski touring near Elizabeth Parker Hut, on international flights, for city travel and multi-day trekking in the Dolomites.

The accessories have also proven helpful. I use the Porter stuff pocket for snacks, to carry clothing that needs air drying, and for anything I need quick access to.

The Shoulder Pocket was much more useful than I originally thought. I had thought the attachment was flimsy. However, once there are objects in the pocket, it stayed in place. The mesh part was perfect for carrying trip mascot and coins. The zippered compartment was great for carrying my phone (kept it dry) and even fit my passport.

One of the simple features I love is the Y strap at the top, which provides enough support to hold a map that needs to be accessible.

Why might someone be hesitant about this pack?

Seems fragile: When people touch my backpack, (people always ask if they can touch my bag), the first question they ask is about durability. It feels so light, how could it be durable? The technology behind the fabric has made this to be a reliable pack for many outdoor adventurers. There are newer fabrics out there that ultralight backpackers also recommend, so before making the decision, definitely do your research.

If you’re worried, the black version is made from the more durable DCH150 fabric. The white version is made of a combination of DCH50 for the main body and DCH150 for the bottom. For a size Medium Porter Backpack, here are the weights from the Hyperlight Mountain Equipment site:

White: 2.1 lbs | 33.0 oz | 936 g
Black: 2.2 lbs | 35.8 oz | 1015 g

Looks odd: Not everyone is a fan of the aesthetic of the pack – some people like the look of traditional backpacking packs, so this bag may not be for them.

It’s pricey: The backpack sticker price is quite high for a backpack for the recreational outdoorsperson like me. However, because it is so versatile, I see it as investing in 1 backpack with multiple uses.

How might this pack wear out over time?

The white backpack I have is no longer pure white and I’ve used a repair dyneema patch once to fix a hole. I like the look of a backpack that looks like it’s been around the block, but that’s not for everyone. This may impact your colour decision with this and other packs from Hyperlite Mountain Gear.

How might this pack perform with other activities?

The great thing about this backpack is that it is versatile and can be used across activities – multi-day treks, day hikes, ski tours, city/plane travel.

How might someone extend the life of this pack?