Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2023

Your backpack may be the most important piece of gear you’ll ever buy for a backpacking trip.

Not only is this piece of kit going to be slung over your back for multiple hours each day, but it’s also tasked with ensuring the rest of your kit survives the trip in good nick.

It is, in a few words, a biggie…!

While this knowledge puts a little more pressure on you when making a purchase, we prefer to see it as an opportunity to save yourself a multitude of pains, hassles, and annoyances suffered and endured by hikers who aren’t so careful at the point of purchase.

To ensure you make the right choice for your backpacking trips, we’re here to help. In this post, we’ll introduce you to a selection of the top backpacks on the market today.

We’ll also provide all the info you need to understand what goes into the making of a good backpacking pack and give you further tips on sizing and fitting.

Whether you’re taking on the John Muir Trail or heading on a weekend camping trip with the family, our list of our favorite backpacks for backpacking has something for you!

Top Choices by Category

Budget: Gregory Optic 48/Octal 45, Osprey Rook 65, and R.E.I. Flash 55
Lightest: HMG 2400 Southwest and Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50 
Most comfortable: Osprey Atmos AG 65/Aura AG 65, Osprey Aether AG 70/Ariel AG 65, and Gregory Baltoro 65/Deva 60

The 9 Best Backpacking Backpacks Reviewed

How to Choose a Great Backpack for Backpacking

Choosing a gear-hauling system for multi-day backpacking trips is a little trickier and more involved than choosing other outdoor gear. To help you out, we’ve included a detailed, BS-free guide on the most important things to consider when buying:

Recommended Capacity

To determine the capacity of backpack you need, it’s a good idea to first consider the following:

• The length of your trip (in days)
• The kind of gear you’ll be carrying
• What season you’ll be traveling in 

Here are our recommended backpack capacities based on the length of trip:

Length of Trip	Pack Volume (Liters)
Single Day/Overnight (1-2 nights)	20 – 30
Weekend (2-3 nights)	30 – 50
Multi-day (2-5 nights)	45 – 55
Extended (5+ nights)	55+

There are, however, a few variables to take into account. Because winter gear is typically bulkier than the warm-weather kind, it’s a good idea to choose a pack that’s roughly 10-15% bigger for cold-weather excursions. 

If you’re traveling with kids or carrying kit for fishing, slacklining, or gear-intensive activities like climbing or mountaineering, then it’s wise to choose a pack at the upper end of the ranges listed above. This also applies if you’re the type of camper who likes to carry a few luxury items as opposed to a bare-bones minimalist. 

If you’re unsure, there’s one easy way that will help you gauge the capacity you require. 

First up, grab all the gear you’ll need for your trip and lay it out on the floor. Next, throw all of the gear into a 40, 50, or 60-liter trash bag, duffel, or old backpack, and use this to measure what size pack you’ll need.

If in doubt, we recommend opting for a model with a slightly higher capacity than you think you’ll need – the weight penalty will be negligible and you can always cinch down the compression straps to consolidate your load if the pack’s not full. 

Suspension System and Comfort

A backpack’s “suspension system” consists of all the parts that connect the pack to your body and support the load – the shoulder straps, load lifter straps, hipbelt, sternum strap, and back panel. Below, we’ve added a short overview of the desirable qualities to look for in each of these features. 

Shoulder Straps

Although a pack’s weight should be distributed so that only 20% rests on the shoulders, 20% of 15, 25, or 50 pounds can become mightily uncomfortable if the shoulder straps on your pack don’t have sufficient padding.

To save yourself from sore shoulders, we recommend choosing a backpacking pack with thick foam padding and wider straps that distribute the weight more evenly across the breadth of the shoulder instead of digging into your skin.

Hip Belt

On a well-fitted backpack, around 80% of the weight of the pack will be supported by your waist. For this reason, an adjustable and padded hip belt is hugely important.

Generally speaking, wider hip belts are more comfortable than narrower ones, which can cause chafing or cheese-wire your midriff when carrying heavy loads. Because the hips tend to be sweaty, hip belts with mesh panels that increase airflow are a better bet if you plan on doing most of your hiking in warmer temps.

Load-Lifter Straps

Load-lifter straps are found at the top of the shoulder straps and are there to prevent the top of the pack from pulling away from your body. When adjusted correctly they should form a 45° angle between your shoulder straps and the pack, which should help keep the pack snug against your upper back. 

Because this feature is so fundamental to load distribution, we wouldn’t recommend buying any backpacking pack that doesn’t have ‘em (something that’s more common in hiking backpacks with large enough capacities to serve as a weekend backpack).

Back Panel

This should use contoured foam padding or a mesh suspension panel to provide comfort and necessary airflow. Ultralight backpacks like the HMG Southwest, however, often do away with back panel padding in order to save on weight. This naturally results in a significant drop in comfort and also means you have to pack carefully to avoid hard gear items from poking into your back.

It’s worth bearing in mind that no matter how plush the padding on the back panel, straps, or hipbelt, no pack is going to be a comfortable carry if the fit isn’t right. For this reason, choosing a pack with an adjustable harness/suspension is the way to go.

Pack Weight and Load Range

In all but a few cases, there is a direct correspondence between the weight of the backpack and the weight of the load it can carry. To give you a ballpark idea of the load weight that different weights of pack can usually carry, take a look at the following: 

• 2-3 lb. pack weight = 15-30 pounds of gear
• 3-5 lb. pack weight = 30-50 pounds of gear
• 5+ lb. pack weight = 40-70 pounds of gear

While a lighter pack equals a lighter overall load, it’s worth bearing in mind that lighter packs often scrimp on some of the desirable features found on heavier models. Ultralight packs, for example, often have much less padding in the back panel and shoulder straps, and/or forego convenient features like pockets, compartments, or wide, comfortable hipbelts.

Backpack Organizational Features

Internal and external organization features can vary significantly from pack to pack. Below, we’ve added a list of features and what they’re good for: 

Front Access

Most backpacks’ central compartments are accessed via a large top opening that is sealed and secured with a drawstring and buckle-down lid. Other packs, however, also have a front or side zipper, which lets you access gear in the main compartment of the pack body more easily and without having to empty out all the contents.

Extendable Top Lids

A few packs (the Osprey Atmos, Osprey Aether, REI Flash, and Deuter Aircontact Lite) use an extendable lid that allows you to increase storage by cramming in gear at the top of the pack. 

Hip Belt Pockets

These non-standard features are useful for storing your phone, camera, and other small items you want to keep accessible.

Gear Loops

Useful for attaching ice axes or trekking poles.

Shoulder Strap Pockets

Ideal for storing sunglasses or a GPS device.

Front Mesh Pocket

Aka “kangaroo pockets,” these provide plenty of room for bulkier items like sandals or gas canisters and are also handy for drying out wet gear.

Compartments for Sleeping Bags

These let you keep sleeping equipment separate from your other gear and also provide easier access to kit at the bottom of the pack. 

Compression Straps

These help to reduce bulk and stabilize your load for enhanced weight distribution and comfort. The straps can also be used to attach longer items like tent poles or camping chairs to the pack’s exterior.

Water Bottle Pocket

Most packs have these pockets but the design of some is better than others – the most convenient are slanted forward for easy, on-the-go access.

Ventilation

A well-ventilated backpack is one that permits ample airflow around the back panel and the waist, thus preventing you from becoming soaked in sweat when in warmer conditions or hiking hard. 

As a general rule, ultralight packs offer the least ventilation of the bunch. This is because they typically do away with plush foam padding on the back panel in an effort to keep weight to a minimum, as with the HMG 2400 Southwest and, to a lesser extent, the Gossamer Gear Gorilla. 

More substantial packs usually use one of two systems to encourage airflow: 

• A molded foam back panel with air channels that help air circulate around your back (Deuter Aircontact Lite, REI Co-Op Flash) 
• Offset, suspended mesh panels that create a gap between the pack and your back (Osprey Atmos/Aura, Osprey Aether/Ariel, Gregory Optic, Gregory Baltoro, Osprey Rook).

In our experience, suspended mesh is usually the best option if you tend to run hot or you’re hiking in summer because it creates a more sizable channel for fresh air to circulate and for your sweat to escape. 

Water Protection

When it comes to water protection, you have three options. One, buy a pack with a DWR-treated exterior that provides moderate water resistance. Two, choose a pack that’s made with waterproof materials for more robust protection. Three, do things the old-fashioned way and carry a waterproof raincover (in many cases, this will be included with the pack). 

In our review, the only waterproof pack is the HMG 2400 Southwest, which has a main compartment made with 100% waterproof Dyneema Composite Fabric.

Packs that come with an integrated raincover are the Osprey Aether/Ariel, Gregory Baltoro, Osprey Rook, and Gregory Optic. The REI Flash 55 uses a seam-sealed water-resistant lining in the lid and the Osprey Atmos and Aether have both a hydrophobic coating and an Integrated FlapJacket that protects the pack’s contents from precipitation.

Adjustability and Torso Fit

An ill-fitting backpack is sure to become an instrument of torture just a short way down the trail. Mainly because an imperfect fit will result in too much of the load being carried on your shoulders as opposed to your hips. 

As mentioned above, the proper fit will ensure that the load is distributed in an 80/20 ratio, with the majority of your load squarely on your hips and lower body, only 20% on the front of your shoulders, and no weight on the top of your shoulders. 

This ratio means the bulk of the pack’s weight will rest on the stronger lower body rather than the weaker muscles of the torso and shoulders. 

To get the right fit, measure the length of your back from the C7 vertebrae at the base of your neck to the center point of your spine between the tops of your hip bones. This spot is called the iliac crest, and it is where you should be carrying most of your pack’s weight. Compare this measurement to the measurements listed with any potential purchase.

Whichever pack you ultimately choose, it’s unlikely that the fit will be just right, even if the pack is sold in 2 or 3 different sizes. For this reason, it’s a good idea to choose a pack with an adjustable torso length so you can customize the fit to your specific body shape. 

In our review, the following packs have adjustable torso lengths: Osprey Atmos/Aura, Gregory Baltoro, Deuter Aircontact Lite, Osprey Rook, and Osprey Aether/Ariel.

Other Pack Features

• Hydration Compatibility – Many backpacking packs have an internal sleeve for storing a water bladder and a port for the drinking hose – handy if you like to hydrate on the go.
• Removable Top Lid – Some packs have top lids that can be detached and used as a day pack. This is useful if you’re base camping and want to take on a few side hikes without having to empty (and then lug) your main pack.
• Integrated Rain Cover – Most packs use densely knitted fabrics that will block out light rain showers, but an integrated rainfly will cover the entire pack and protect your backpacking gear if things take a turn for the torrential. 

A Word on Ultralight Backpacks

In recent years, ultralight backpacks have taken the market by storm. These packs are designed for long-term backcountry travel – they weigh next to nothing and most are made with either Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) or Robic nylon, both of which are far tougher and more water-resistant than the standard nylon or polyester used on other packs. 

The trade-off for all of the above is that UL packs are usually less comfortable and lack some of the convenience-enhancing features, such as interior compartments and exterior pockets, found on regular packs. 

So, is an ultralight backpack for you? This depends on the type of backpacking you plan on doing along with your personal preference. If comfort and organization are high on your list of priorities, then a weightier pack is probably the way to go. For long thru-hikes where every ounce has to earn its keep, an ultralight backpack is well worth considering. 

Best Backpacking Bags: The Verdict

Out of all the backpacking backpacks we reviewed, the Osprey Atmos 65/Aura 65 was our runaway winner. Despite its heavier weight compared to most other packs on our list, it stands out due to its super comfortable suspension system, oodles of organizational pockets, and dialed-in fit.

If you are more of an ultralight backpacker or thru-hiker then we recommend either the super light HMG 2400 Southwest or Gossamer Gear Gorilla 50, both will substantially lighten your load. And if you need something on the more affordable end of the spectrum we love the value for money of the Gregory Optic 48/Octal 45, Osprey Rook 65, and R.E.I. Flash 55.

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