A GOOD HIKING backpack is just as important—if not more so—as a good pair of hiking boots, hiking shoes, or any other hiking gear. Whether you're venturing deep into the backcountry or exploring a local trail, your pack will be strapped to your back for an extended period of time. It needs to be reliable, comfortable, durable, and offer the right storage and organization options to suit your style of hiking.
Oh, and affordability is a nice-to-have, too. Finding the right backpack for you can be like shopping for the perfect mattress. Backpack technology isn't what it used to be when your grandpappy was hitting the trail.
It's far better but also a lot more complicated. You'll need to understand frame types and nylon fabric densities and hydration system compatibilities and—well, you get the picture. It's all just a little more confusing than it needs to be.
That's why our expert team put together this guide to the best hiking backpacks to help you find the perfect pack without breaking your back and the bank in the process. As an outdoors writer, I spend countless weeks outside each year. During that time, I've put the most popular and well-reviewed hiking backpacks to the test to determine the best of the best.
Over the last 12 months, I've tested dozens of packs from Mystery Ranch, Gossamer Gear, Gregory, Osprey, and more throughout the U.S., in Utah's national parks, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the vast deserts of Big Bend National Park, and beyond. I also consulted with Senior Gear and Reviews Editor Ryan Brower on top options, research, and some of his own personal testing. While testing hiking backpacks, I've been sure to take thorough notes on comfort, ease of packing, weight, durability, how well (or not) the weight is spread throughout, and how much gear can fit in them.
So, whether you're looking for a featherweight daypack for afternoon peak-bagging or a full-fledged expedition pack for tackling the wilds of Patagonia, we've got you covered with the 10 best hiking backpacks for any trail. Winner of this year’s “Best New All-Purpose Backpack” in the latest Men’s Health Outdoor Awards, the Kestrel LT 45 is the bag to buy if you only want to buy one. It’s Osprey’s reimagining of the classic rucksack design.
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