Unbound 40 or Windrider? I’m Taking One on the Colorado Trail

For my upcoming Colorado Trail thru-hike, I had to make one of the most important gear decisions: which backpack I’m trusting for 500 miles. I tested the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 and the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 40 side by side—and what I expected to be an easy choice turned into something very different. In this video, I break down why I chose the Unbound 40, where the Windrider still shines, and the specific features that actually mattered on trail. If you’re deciding between these two ultralight backpacks—or planning your own thru-hike—this should help. ---------------------------------------------------------- P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. It helps support the channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! ---------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Support the Channel: Venmo: @colbyonthetrail ---------------------------------------------------------- Discount Codes: Tell Your Trail 12% off: ColbyontheTrail12 https://tellyourtrail.com/?ref=ColbyontheTrail12 Hilltop Packs 10% off: COLBYONTHETRAIL https://hilltoppacks.com/colbyonthetrail Backcountry Foodie 20% off: COLBYONTHETRAIL https://backcountryfoodie.com/aff/73/ ---------------------------------------------------------- My Favorite Gear: Sleeping Pad: https://amzn.to/4kLxv71 Titanium 750ml Pot: https://amzn.to/4kWEk5t Ultralight Stove: https://amzn.to/4kUKbbr Water Filter: https://amzn.to/4o45itc Ultralight Trowel: https://amzn.to/4iaU7Mr Summit Suds Powdered Soap: https://amzn.to/3FyXOgx Unpaste Toothpaste Tablets: https://amzn.to/3DUGIJh Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoodie: https://amzn.to/4iay6gG Nike Men's Challenger Dri-fit 5" Lined Running Shorts: https://amzn.to/4kq1S2B Garmin inReach Mini 2: https://amzn.to/4kAYVML inCharge XL 6-in-1 Multi Charging Cable: https://amzn.to/41QdkMh Camera Gear: Camera Gear: DJI Pocket Osmo 3: https://amzn.to/3QVjNRi DJI Osmo Action 6 : https://amzn.to/4axDqtE Insta360 X5: https://amzn.to/4qm7qOw Sony A6700: https://amzn.to/4qkKwa5 Sony G Master 15mm f1.4 Lens: https://amzn.to/4b7pyX9 ---------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - I Thought This Would Be Easy… 0:58 - Why I Didn’t Choose the Windrider 40 5:39 - Why I Keep Coming Back to the Unbound 40 12:28 - Is This My New Favorite Backpack? 13:21 - The Final Decision ---------------------------------------------------------- #hiking #thruhiking #backpacking