Quick Summary
Samuel Naney has watched trail running drift from its minimalist roots into an overwhelming glut of gear options and holds up Hyperlite Mountain Gear's Pemi 15 running pack as the antidote: a single, versatile pack spacious enough for long alpine days yet light and low-profile enough not to bounce or flop when running. He tests it on a technical North Cascades outing mixing trail running, scree, snow, and scrambling, finding that its fit and cinch-down design adapt smoothly across terrain and even compress down like a vest as supplies are used up. If you’re a frustrated runner fed up with gear overload, simplify your life with the Pemi 15!
Words and Photos by Samuel Naney @samuel_naney
There used to be a time when trail running was the ultimate minimalist sport; naught but a pair of shoes, an old cotton event tee, a Nature Valley granola bar, and maybe a water bottle would be enough to get you through innumerable miles of backcountry terrain. Runners looked upon cyclists and other sportspeople with sympathy at the gear-heavy encumbrance they suffered while pursuing their goals; “Are you ready YET??” they would ask while their non-runner friends cruxed out deciding which lycra shorts and sock combo to wear on their guest appearance for a 30min recovery jog.
But then the sports marketing world caught up with running, and everything changed. No longer did runners have to choose between only three models of shoe; sakes alive, there were multitudes! High cushion, minimalist, motion control, super shoes, ridiculous toe shoes, running sandals; ye cats, the options abounded. And then there were hydration systems: belts, vests, handhelds, FANNY PACKS, big bottles, small bottles, bottles to carry in your shorts, integrated-bladder sports bras. Total chaos!
It’s time for a revolution. A return to fundamentals, to be exact - an opportunity to require few options to get the job done as a trail runner in the mountains. And with a flash of lightning and an arena-shaking power chord, the new Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pemi 15 running pack emerges. The perfect tool: lightweight enough to take on an afternoon jaunt in the woods and sufficiently spacious to curate all your technical tool needs for a long day (or two) in the high alpine splendor.
I’m a big fan of the one-bag wonder; my enthusiasm for lots of running packs gets pretty short-lived when I have to keep remembering which bottles fit in which pack, where I can stash my food, and if/how I can secure poles, piolet, and crampons as well. The Pemi 15 does all that with ease, and like other HMG packs, if I’m not using the full volume, it doesn’t flop around like a frustrated carp on my back.
Recently I took the Pemi 15 out for an alpine jaunt with a friend into some glaciated terrain in the North Cascades. Requiring a blend of trail running, steep scree, snow, and 3rd- and 4th-class scrambling, I wanted to see how the pack’s fit, in particular, would handle the array of movements and flexibility required for the adventure. With little surprise, I was psyched with how the Pemi pack still allowed me to do all those different things without excess bouncing or catching on terrain features. As my supplies moved from the pack to my belly, I easily cinched down the pack’s compartments and pockets to eliminate flapping, reducing its footprint on my back and making it feel more and more like a much lower-volume vest in the process.
If you’re tired of the endless parade of packs and gear choices in the trailrunning sphere, save yourself the headaches and save your gear closet its space and get ahold of the HMG Pemi 15, and go adventure.
Samuel Naney has over two decades of experience as both a high-level competitive athlete and as a coach. He is the co-owner of Cascade Endurance in Mazama, WA, and while he's fast, a sweet heavy metal riff will likely stop him in his tracks.
