10 Greatest Backpacking Backpacks of 2023

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 and 55 have been purpose-built for hikers overlaying lengthy distances and people wanting to maintain their pack weight as little as attainable with out sacrificing comfort. With its plethora of helpful pockets, good stability of weight/sturdiness, and virtually waterproof design, the Unbound has rapidly grow to be one in every of our all-time favourite backpacks.

In case you’ve by no means used a backpack with a backside pocket earlier than, you’re in for a deal with. This stretchy mesh pocket on the underside of the pack retains incessantly wanted gadgets – like snacks, chapstick, and sunscreen – accessible with out the necessity to cease and take your pack off. The Unbound additionally has an revolutionary entrance mesh pocket, which could be accessed from the highest or via a flap on the underside. This makes it a lot simpler to retailer your tent stakes or toilet bag in a spot the place they’re simple to rapidly discover.

The body – minimal as it could be – is extremely efficient at transferring weight to the hips. However on the identical time it helps encourage us to maintain our pack weight low because it’s not as comfortable when you exceed about 35 lbs. Carrying a lighter load has a ton of advantages, however merely said – we discover light-weight backpacking to be far much less exhausting and way more pleasurable.

The Unbound is on the costly facet for light-weight packs, however we expect it’s priced pretty for its high quality and sturdiness. The DCH cloth and taped seams are an enormous a part of what makes the Unbound so costly, however they’re additionally the rationale this pack is so sturdy and about as near waterproof as you may get.

For years the HMG Southwest 2400 held the highest spot on our Greatest Backpacking Backpacks checklist and we nonetheless love that pack. We view the Unbound as a really related backpack with a number of notable upgrades. Try our full evaluate of the Unbound 40 to study extra.

The REI Flash 55 Males’s / Ladies’s is ridiculously reasonably priced for a way gentle, versatile, and cozy it’s. It’s considerably cheaper than comparable backpacking packs, however it doesn’t skimp on high quality or options.

The Flash 55 has a very distinctive component referred to as “Packmod.” This modular system permits you to rapidly and simply take away the straps/pockets and reconfigure them into a number of mixtures, or you may depart them at dwelling to save lots of weight. So the Flash simply transitions from a light-weight weekend backpacking pack to a trusty winter snowshoeing pack.

We additionally completely love the Flash 55’s forward-facing water bottle pockets. This may occasionally seem to be a small element, however when you’ve ever been sweating as you almost dislocate your shoulder to succeed in an upright bottle, you’ll know precisely how large that is. Apart from being probably the most reasonably priced backpacking pack on this checklist, the Flash 55 has an entire lot of particulars to like.

Try our full evaluate of the Flash 55 right here.

You’ve seen us say again and again that we desire to hike gentle, however there’s no flawed solution to get on the market and journey! The Osprey Atmos AG 65 (males’s) and Aura AG 65 (ladies’s) packs maintain 35-50 kilos way more comfortably than any light-weight backpack, and so they’re nonetheless lighter than many comparable conventional packs.

Hikers who’re simply beginning out or preferring to hold a number of additional luxuries will discover that the Atmos and Aura have a beneficiant quantity of padding and loads of pockets to arrange your gear. The within of those backpacks could be accessed from the facet, the underside, or the highest lid, so requirements are at all times shut at hand.

These backpacking packs are additionally outfitted with Osprey’s signature AntiGravity suspension system, which transfers weight to your hips extremely properly and takes the pressure off your shoulders and again. In case you desire to prioritize consolation over saving weight, the Atmos and Aura are robust to beat.

The Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 is among the most padded ultralight backpacks in the marketplace, so it’s good for light-weight backpackers who prioritize consolation. There are lighter packs on the market, however we haven’t come throughout one which compares to the cushiness of the Gorilla.

The Gorilla has an reasonably priced value level, a superbly sized capability, and an adaptable design, so we expect many forms of backpackers will take pleasure in this pack. From these simply beginning out on their light-weight journey to seasoned ultralighters in search of a bump in consolation from extra minimal packs, the Gorilla is a well-rounded pack with all of the options you want and none that you simply don’t. Certainly one of our favourite particulars of the Gorilla is its detachable SitLight pad, which acts as again padding when you hike and a comfortable seat round camp.

We discover that the 50L capability is the candy spot for a wide selection of journeys. It’s sufficiently big that we are able to pack alongside some extras like a backpacking chair or a hammock on warm-weather journeys, however not so large that we battle to fill it. And with a wide selection of helpful pockets to arrange all of it in – a big stretchy outer mesh pocket, roomy hipbelt pockets, two enormous facet pockets, and a small stash pocket on the lid – you may hold your entire requirements inside attain. However when you want a bit more room, we additionally love the Mariposa 60 which is just about the identical because the Gorilla with barely totally different facet pockets.

Try our full evaluate of the Gorilla right here.

The Focal 48 (males’s) and Aspect 45 (ladies’s) are Gregory’s response to the rising demand for light-weight backpacking gear. These packs sit solidly in the midst of the light-weight backpack class, however they’re a lower above relating to affordability, help, and comfort.

Gregory has been making some large strikes with their backpack designs, and we now have to say we’re loving the consolation of their fashionable frames. The Focal and Aspect even have a very stable array of pockets – our favourite, after all, are the forward-facing water bottle pockets. The highest lid is detachable, the hip belt pockets are massive, and the suspension system is supportive and well-ventilated – these are the primary issues we wish to see in an excellent backpacking backpack.

General, the Gregory Focal 48 is a stable light-weight pack with nice options and a really reasonably priced price ticket. Hikers who’ve their gear dialed in to round 30 lbs. can’t go flawed with these backpacking backpacks.

The Osprey Exos 48 (males’s) and Eja 48 (ladies’s) are long-time favorites of light-weight backpackers due to their consolation, well-ventilated again panel, and approachable value.

The tensioned-mesh body of the Exos and Eja is sturdier than most light-weight pack frames and might carry heavier hundreds extra comfortably. The most recent iteration of the Exos/Eja introduced again hip belt pockets – a sorely missed element of the earlier iteration – however we discover them to be a bit smaller than we desire. Nonetheless, they’re sufficient for storing small, generally used gadgets, like chapstick, a lighter, and a snack.

In case you’re in search of the very best stability of consolation, weight, and capability you’ve discovered it with the Exos and Eja. For hikers who want more room, the bigger Exos 58 / Eja 58 have 10L extra capability, however are in any other case the identical packs.

Check out our full evaluate of the Exos/Eja right here.

After thru-hiking for hundreds of miles with the ULA Circuit we are able to confidently say it’s an exceptionally sturdy backpack for lengthy distance mountaineering. In case you have your gear pretty dialed in – sub 30 lbs. – the Circuit’s body will carry your load very comfortably.

It’s all of the little issues on the Circuit that make it actually shine on path – massive, handy pockets; gentle, sturdy cloth; and a minimal, but extremely efficient suspension system. This backpack has an distinctive stability of weight, consolation, and sturdiness, so it’s no surprise the ULA Circuit is constantly referred to as out as a favourite by thru-hikers.

The Deuter Aircontact Extremely 50 (males’s) and 45 (ladies’s) have a big fit-range on the torso and ample adjustment factors, so it’s simple to dial within the good match. Mix that with a superbly contoured body, comfortable lumbar pad, and hip-hugging belt that strikes along with your physique, and also you’ve acquired an extremely snug backpack that transfers weight to the hips higher than most in its weight class.

The detachable lid converts right into a daypack and is ideal for exploring facet trails with no need to take your total pack alongside. And when you’re questioning in regards to the + within the 50/45+5, the primary compartment expands to permit for an additional 5 liters of capability if wanted.

The Aircontact is a flexible pack that may simply adapt to your particular person match and performance wants. In case you want extra capability, these packs additionally are available in a bigger and extra feature-rich males’s 65+10 mannequin and girls’s 60+10 mannequin.

The Gregory Paragon 58 (males’s) and Maven 55 (ladies’s) are a number of the comfiest midweight packs we’ve used, and so they carry weight like a dream. These packs have some fairly distinctive options, just like the zippered facet entry pocket and the size-adjustable hip belt, that make them work very well for various physique shapes and mountaineering types.

The Paragon and Maven are additionally fairly gentle and really well-priced for the specs. Most packs that may comfortably haul 50 lbs. weigh a pound or so extra and value fairly a bit extra too. For many who like having the choice to hold somewhat additional gear and an entire bunch of pockets to arrange all of it in, the Paragon and Maven are a number of the greatest backpacking packs obtainable.

The Zpacks Arc Haul Extremely 60 is a featherweight pack that’s nice for thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers carrying base weights round 15 kilos or much less.

This pack’s distinctive arching body creates a taut mesh again panel that gives glorious air flow when not packed too full. The Arc Haul additionally has torso adjustment straps that can assist you dial within the good match. Zpacks lists the Arc Haul’s max carry weight at 40 kilos, however we really feel its max weight is nearer to 30 kilos for a snug hike.

Whereas we actually just like the Arc Haul, we want it was somewhat bit extra reasonably priced. That stated, if having absolutely the lightest gear attainable is a high precedence for you, the Arc Haul is value each penny for the consolation, weight, and weather-resistance.

Typically you want lots of capability for giant journeys in distant areas or winter excursions with cumbersome gear. The Osprey Aether Plus 70 (males’s) and Ariel Plus 70 (ladies’s) are snug large-capacity backpacks that carry heavy hundreds with ease and considerably scale back the burden in your physique.

The highest lid detaches and converts right into a 16L daypack, so you may depart your full pack behind when you bag a summit or discover a facet path. So whereas the Aether and Ariel are fairly spendy, it makes it extra value the price when you think about the truth that you’re getting a bomb-proof backpacking backpack plus a handy daypack.

At over 5 kilos, the Aether and Ariel are fairly heavy, however there’s no more sensible choice for hikers needing a dependable hauler for heavy hundreds. In case you’re within the greater help stage of those packs, however need a barely smaller capability – try the favored Aether 65 and Ariel 65.

The reasonably priced Granite Gear Crown3 Males’s / Ladies’s has been a well-liked funds possibility for years as a consequence of its stability of low weight and enormous capability. The Crown3 has a novel, fully-adjustable hip belt for dialing within the good match, and the highest lid is detachable when you’re wanting to avoid wasting weight.

Its easy, but snug body consists of a molded foam pad and a detachable plastic sheet. We don’t discover this design to be fairly as comfortable or breathable as lots of the others on our checklist. However consolation is subjective, and plenty of hikers discover the Crown3 to be loads snug for lengthy days on the path. If 60L is just too massive for you, it additionally compresses properly when not absolutely loaded. We advocate this pack for many who are new to light-weight backpacking and may have somewhat more room than most ultralight packs supply.