Beginner-Friendly, Thru-Hiker Approved
As someone who’s spent thousands of miles with my home on my back, I can tell you: gear matters. A lot. My very first major piece of backpacking gear, bought as a wide-eyed newbie, was my Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50L ultralight backpack. While I’ve used different packs for my other thru-hikes since, this one holds a special place as the one that carried me through my first thru-hike. It’s widely known that the Big 4 (pack, shelter, sleeping bag/quilt & sleeping pad) are the backbone of any serious backpacking kit. I have to say, for a beginner trying to navigate the endless gear choices, I think I made a pretty solid decision with this one.
Right from the start, I was committed to supporting cottage companies – those smaller, often hiker-run businesses that pour their passion into creating innovative, high-quality gear. But with barely a month to plan my hike, finding an in-stock cottage company pack without a significant lead time was incredibly challenging if not impossible. I somehow seriously lucked out, stumbling upon an unused Superior Wilderness Designs pack for sale on Reddit UL gear trade. While it was truly tragic for the seller who had to cancel their thru-hike, it was a massive stroke of luck for me, especially given my limited time to prepare for the trail. (You can read about my decision to hike the PCT and why I had barely a month to plan here)
My SWD pack truly became an extension of me during my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. Choosing a pack for a 2,650-mile journey is a monumental decision, and I had two very specific requirements: it absolutely had to fit my bear canister internally – a personal preference over strapping it outside – and be made of waterproof materials. I only wanted one pack for my entire hike – no swapping out, no fuss. While 50L might have been slightly larger than I needed, that extra space was invaluable when packing in my bear can through the Sierra Nevada. Its no-nonsense roll-top design also meant it could be rolled down to roughly a 35L capacity for those sections where I was able to pack lighter.
Unbeatable Comfort and Durability
When you’re carrying your home on your back for months, comfort is paramount. The SWD Long Haul truly excels here. Its suspension system, even for an ultralight pack, manages weight distribution remarkably well. My shoulders and hips stayed comfortable day after day, even on those demanding high-mileage pushes; any discomfort I felt was due to the mileage itself, not the pack.
Beyond comfort, its durability is outstanding. This pack endured the brutal heat and dust of the desert, the abrasive granite of the Sierra, and the rainstorms of Washington. Though the white X-Pac material turned trail-worn brown, it emerged with no significant wear, no broken buckles, and no compromised seams. It’s built tough and simply performs without fail.
My First Gear Choice, Proving Its Worth on the Trail
Choosing the SWD Long Haul 50L as my very first piece of major backpacking gear was an excellent decision. It proved itself to be a supremely comfortable, durable, and reliable partner throughout my entire PCT thru-hike. If you’re looking for a pack that can handle big miles while supporting a dedicated cottage company, the SWD Long Haul is definitely one to consider.
It’s also worth noting that SWD now has a full lineup of different packs for every type of hiker and offers a wide range of materials. Mine was made from X-Pac, which I believe has now been replaced with ECOPAK in many of their current models.
You can check out the SWD Long Haul for yourself here: SWD Long Haul Ultralight Backpack
Dash & Dirt 