Front view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with Dyneema® Stretch Mesh UL front pocket
Skiier Cody Townsend ascends a steep slope wearing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Side view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with 4 side compression straps
Side view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with 4 side compression straps
Rear view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with Hardline with Dyneema® shoulder straps
Close up rear view of the Hyperlite Mountain gear Crux 40 with #8 YKK zippered back panel entry for quick access on steep slopes
Inside view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 showing the internal sleeve with one main and two side avalanche tool pockets
Front view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with Double drawstring closure to add an additional 15L of storage
Top close up view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 in White
View showing the #8 YKK zipper avalanche pocket half unzipped for easy access to gear on the slopes, on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Front view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with Dual Ice Axe Pick Pockets with 3/4" buckles
Angled front view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 in White showing the Dyneema® Stretch Mesh UL front pocket
Close up view of the dual Ice Axe Pick Pockets with 3/4" buckles and reflective bungees on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Close up view of the reflective bungees holding an Ice Axe tool on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Front view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with gear stashed in the Dyneema® Stretch Mesh UL front pocket
Close up view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 showing the Dyneema® Stretch Mesh UL front pocket and Dual Ice Axe Pick Pockets
View of the Removable hip belt with a gear loop and ice clipper slot on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Close up side view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 showing the low profile side sleeve pockets
View of the zippered removable top lid on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Close up of the zippered pocket on the removable lid on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with skis attached using the A-Frame carry method
Overhead view of an empty Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with all the necessary gear for a trip laid out around it
Skiier wearing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with skis attached using the a-frame carry
Skis attached to the Hyperlite Mountain Gear using the diagonal carry method
Front view of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 with the diagonal carry kit attached, sold seperately
Skiier kicks up snow behind them as they ski down a snowy slope wearing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Skiier Cody Townsend descends a steep couloir wearing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Using ice tools, two skiiers ascend a snowy slope in preparation to ski a nice line wearing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40
Skiier wearing a headlamp at night in the snowy terrain with the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40

Crux 40

Rated 4.5 out of 5
Based on 19 reviews

Designed with ski legend Cody Townsend, this 40L pack is meant to meet the demands of climbing, skiing, and the safe transition between the two in steep, technical terrain.

Torso Length
Weight: 42.2 oz
Availability: In stock, ready to ship
$499.00

How to Choose a Pack Size

Your torso length, not your height, determines your pack size. We recommend the following to determine yours:

  1. Tilt your head slightly forward to locate the bony bump at the base of your neck. (This is your 7th cervical (or C7) vertebra).
  2. Using a flexible tape measure, have someone measure starting at that spot and running down along the curve of your spine.
  3. Place your hands on your hips so you can feel your iliac crest, which serves as the “shelf” of your pelvic girdle. (It’s the first hard thing you feel when you run your fingers down from the sides of your ribcage.) Position your hands so your thumbs are reaching behind you.
  4. Have your friend finish measuring at the point where the tape crosses an imaginary line drawn between your thumbs. This distance is your torso length.
    • Small (15.0” - 17.0” torso)
    • Medium (17.0” - 19.0” torso)
    • Large (19.0” - 21.0” torso)
    • Tall (21.0”+ torso)
  5. If your measurement falls right in between sizes (for example, if you have a 17.0” torso, so you are right on the line between a Small and a Medium), we suggest you choose the larger torso size.

WATCH THE VIDEO

How to Choose a Pack Size

How to Choose a Pack Size

Your torso length, not your height, determines your pack size. We recommend the following to determine yours:

  1. Tilt your head slightly forward to locate the bony bump at the base of your neck. (This is your 7th cervical (or C7) vertebra).
  2. Using a flexible tape measure, have someone measure starting at that spot and running down along the curve of your spine.
  3. Place your hands on your hips so you can feel your iliac crest, which serves as the “shelf” of your pelvic girdle. (It’s the first hard thing you feel when you run your fingers down from the sides of your ribcage.) Position your hands so your thumbs are reaching behind you.
  4. Have your friend finish measuring at the point where the tape crosses an imaginary line drawn between your thumbs. This distance is your torso length.
    • Small (15.0” - 17.0” torso)
    • Medium (17.0” - 19.0” torso)
    • Large (19.0” - 21.0” torso)
    • Tall (21.0”+ torso)
  5. If your measurement falls right in between sizes (for example, if you have a 17.0” torso, so you are right on the line between a Small and a Medium), we suggest you choose the larger torso size.

WATCH THE VIDEO

How to Choose a Pack Size

With a clever, zippered back panel entry to reduce the risk of lost gear on challenging pitches, this ski mountaineering pack prioritizes access to technical tools in high-exposure environments. Primary features include:

  • Internal avalanche tool pockets for optimal security
  • Front and rear haul loops/anchor points
  • Removable hip belt w/ right gear loop and left zippered pocket
  • Drawstring extension collar with removable lid
  • Low profile side pockets for pickets and wands
  • Front stretch mesh pocket for quick storage
  • Accommodates A-frame and diagonal ski carry

Product Walkthrough | Crux 40

WHY CHOOSE THE CRUX 40?

A white triangle logo on a black background.

THINK BIG, PLAY IT SAFE

Innovative storage designs accommodate a variety of whatever ice tools and avalanche safety equipment you need for the routes you want to tackle

A white triangle logo on a black background.

RIGHT BACKATCHA

The smart back panel opening lets you set down your pack and easily reach water or gear you need without having to dig around for it on steep, sketchy inclines

A white triangle logo on a black background.

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

It's what you signed up for. With the unparalleled durability of fully woven Dyneema®, the Crux 40 is ready to deal
average rating 4.5 out of 5
Based on 19 reviews
  • 5 Stars
    14 Reviews
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    1 Review
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    1 Review
89% of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend
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Review posted
Reviewed by Hugh G.
Verified Buyer
Rated 5 out of 5

Backcountry Ski Patroller Approved

I was skeptical and then pleasantly surprised.

The pack carries my patrol packing list with room to spare for contingencies. The shape of the pack keeps the weight tucked in close to my back which translates to a better (and safer) skiing experience and the suspension handles the load really well. I really appreciate the ice clipper loop on the right side of the hip belt. I like to keep a small carabiner near the back of my hip belt to clip a hat and and other items during short transitions and this little loop is a welcome feature. The mesh pocket fits my sit pad and skins. A standard Osprey helmet holder clips to the 4 plastic rings on the corners of the mesh pocket. Capacity (Size L) is a generous 40L. The critical back panel access feature isn't finicky.

The only negatives from my perspective are the cost, lack of a small internal detail pocket which is a nice to have and the internal avy gear pocket which can be mitigated by running probe/shovel deployment drills .

No regrets. This is a great pack and is exactly what I was looking for in a patrol/volcano pack.

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Reviewed by Yohei
Rated 5 out of 5

5 Stars

I use it for climbing snowy mountains, and it's very easy to carry, and the back opens wide, so it's easy to take out your belongings. It's a sturdy backpack that won't break even with rough handling. If the capacity of the lid was a little larger, I'd have no complaints.

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Review posted
Reviewed by Andrew
Verified Buyer
Rated 1 out of 5

A Disappointing Investment - Not Built for Serious Skiers

To be honest, I tend to buy a new ski bag every year. This one caught my eye because it seemed to check all the boxes, but man, was I wrong.

A bit of background: I’ve used this bag for one season, and it’s been through some serious terrain—from ice climbing in New Hampshire to skiing volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest... its been all over. My average day on skis usually involves 8,000 feet of vertical, breaking trail, and deep wilderness lines in Montana. The design of this bag is completely flawed for anyone who actually skis with purpose.

Stretch Mesh

Let’s start with the stretch mesh. For one, the placement is all wrong—especially for diagonal ski carry. The mesh is so close to my bindings that they end up ripping holes in it every time I use it. The situation gets worse with the shovel blade behind it, which caused my binding to puncture the Dyneema fabric of the main bag. This is a dealbreaker.

Top Closure

The top closure is ridiculously loose. Sure, it’s great for stuffing in a mid-layer or shell, but if you're skiing powder, you’ll be digging snow out of it every time you access the bag. After one season, I’m seriously considering cutting it off entirely.

Cross Carry

Next up, the cross carry system. The skis sit way too low on this bag, making it virtually impossible to carry unless you're on a steep, deep snow slope. On ridge lines or when scrambling on rocks, the skis constantly hit obstacles and get in the way. The A-frame carry is the only decent option here,…

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Thank you for sharing these observations, Andrew. Your pack looks like something we could repair, so please feel free to submit a ticket on our website -- our Customer Support Team will be happy to work with you!

Review posted
Reviewed by Sam
Verified Buyer
Rated 5 out of 5

So close to the perfect bag…

I’ve owned a Porter and Prism pack so I already knew I loved Hyperlite stuff. As a self proclaimed backpack nerd this is the closest thing to the perfect bag I have ever found. It has every feature that I would ever want. Plus even one I didn’t think that I wanted, but now can’t live without. The stretchy back pouch is the most useful thing ever. Great for skins, jackets, or just about anything you can think of that you want get rid of the way quickly.

But… There is one annoying issue. The back panel entrance (which was the thing I was most excited for) extends out when you put stuff instead. It makes for a much more thinner/ rounded contact with your back than their other bags. It also makes the zippers a little difficult to operate because they don’t lay flat. I was bummed because the other Hyperlite bags I’ve had are the best fitting and most comfortable bags I have ever worn.

Besides that it’s perfect.

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Reviewed by Rachid S.
Verified Buyer
Rated 5 out of 5

Best Pack on the PLANET

This is actually my second Crux 40 backpack, only because some not so nice people stole all of my gear in Argentina a few days before a ski expedition to Antarctica. Soon after the robbery, I called up Hyperlite and they were able to overnight a new bag to a person I've never met before they went to the airport in Vermont to meet me on the other side of the world. The customer service team rushed to action to help save my expedition and I cannot express more gratitude to the Hyperlite team.

Now for the pack... This thing SLAPS! As a skier with a photography addiction, I often travel with a lot of camera gear. This pack allows me to carry everything I could possibly need in the backcountry, plus all my cameras and lenses. The pack has dedicated storage for avy tools and you can even room to put your ice axe and helmet inside the pack so you don't accidentally stab someone or pop a zodiac as you cruise through the ice in the Antarctic waters. The mesh pouch on the back is perfect to throw your skins in if you're doing hot laps and are too lazy to access the inside of your pack or to stash an extra layer for when you overdress on the skin track. The hip pocket has plenty of room for your snacks and sun screen while you're working hard on that sweet goggle tan. The removable brain is great too! For large days, I keep it on and stuff it full of my headlamp, extra batteries, ski straps, and backcountry repair kit. On short days where the inside of my back is pretty empty, I'll…

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