Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 vs Hyperlite Southwest 55: Specs
How we did this: we compared what Gossamer Gear and Hyperlite Mountain Gear publish on their own product pages, checked on 29 Sep 2026: weight, volume, load rating, frame, fabric and price. We have not field-tested these packs.
The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 and the Hyperlite Southwest 55 weigh about the same per liter, 0.56 to 0.57 oz. They spend it differently. The Mariposa puts 24 L into seven outside pockets and costs $315. The Southwest puts 55 L into a waterproof Dyneema body, carries up to 40 lb and costs $420.
Mariposa 60 vs Southwest 55: the verdict up front
Choose the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 for pockets and price: 24 L of exterior storage, a pivoting hipbelt, $315. Choose the Hyperlite Southwest 55 for a lighter pack that carries more: 30.8 oz, rated to 40 lb, in waterproof Dyneema, for $105 more.
| Spec | Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 | Hyperlite Southwest 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 34.2 oz (968 g), size M with M straight belt | 30.8 oz (874 g), size M, white |
| Main body | 36 L | 55 L pack volume |
| Exterior pockets | 24 L in 7 pockets | 13.4 L external volume |
| Weight per liter | 0.57 oz (of 60 L) | 0.56 oz (of 55 L) |
| Load rating | 35 lb max, 30 lb for comfort | Up to 40 lb |
| Frame | PVT aluminum closed-shape frame, pivoting hipbelt | Two removable contoured aluminum stays |
| Fabric | Recycled Robic nylon | Dyneema Woven Composite 3.9 |
| Price | $315 | $420 |
Sources: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 page; Hyperlite Southwest page. Weight per liter is our calculation from the makers’ figures.
Where the liters go
Both makers list pocket volume separately, which makes this comparison unusually clean. The Mariposa’s 60 L is 36 L of main body and 24 L across seven exterior pockets. Hyperlite lists the Southwest 55 as 55 L of pack volume plus 13.4 L external. So the Southwest has about 19 L more inside and the Mariposa about 10.6 L more outside. Hikers who live out of side and front pockets get more of that on the Mariposa; hikers who pack a bear canister or a bulky quilt inside get more room in the Southwest.
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
- $105 cheaper
- 24 L in 7 exterior pockets
- Pivoting hipbelt, removable Sitlight pad
- 3.4 oz heavier
- Comfort rating 30 lb
- 36 L main body; bulk goes in pockets
Gossamer Gear lists a medium Mariposa 60 at 34.2 oz (968 g) with its standard M straight belt: 18.5 oz of pack body, a 4.3 oz frame, a 2.3 oz Sitlight pad and a 9.0 oz belt. (Its 34.2 oz headline figure is a small with the S/M curved belt.) Its PVT system pairs an aluminum closed-shape frame with a pivoting hipbelt, and the maker rates it to 35 lb maximum, 30 lb for comfort.
Check price →Hyperlite Southwest 55
- 3.4 oz lighter
- Rated to 40 lb, the highest here
- Waterproof Dyneema fabric, taped side seams
- $420, the most expensive
- 13.4 L external, about half the Mariposa’s
- No pivoting hipbelt
Hyperlite lists the Southwest 55 at 30.8 oz for a medium in white (30.9 oz in black), rated up to 40 lb. It is now built from Dyneema Woven Composite 3.9, which Hyperlite says
“combines the light weight of Dyneema® Composite Hybrid 3.8 with durability and abrasion resistance that surpasses even the heavier Dyneema® Composite Hybrid 5.9.”
Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Southwest page
Two removable, contoured aluminum stays carry the load, and seam tape runs along the vertical side seams. It comes in five torso sizes, Extra Small to Tall, for $420.
Check price →Which should you buy?
- Lightest: Hyperlite Southwest 55, 30.8 oz.
- Heaviest loads: Southwest 55, rated to 40 lb.
- Most pocket storage: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, 24 L outside.
- Lowest price: Mariposa 60, $315.
FAQ
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 or Hyperlite Southwest 55: which is lighter?
Which carries more weight?
Which has more pocket space?
Is the Hyperlite Southwest waterproof?
How much do they cost?
The bottom line
Per liter the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 and the Hyperlite Southwest 55 weigh about the same. The Southwest is 3.4 oz lighter, rated 5 lb higher and waterproof, for $105 more; the Mariposa gives you more than twice the pocket space.
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