Best Compression Sack for Backpacking and Hiking

If you want the best protection for your pricey kit and need to keep bulk to an absolute minimum, then the S2S Ultra-Sil Compression is a shoo-in.

This bag is made with tough, waterproof Cordura nylon fabric. Up top, there’s a roll-top closure that makes it completely waterproof and it also has straps and a lid that help to reduce its contents to around a third of their volume. The seams are also double-stitched and taped to reduce the risk of leaks at stress points.

The unique selling point of this bag is its air-permeable base, a game-changing feature that expels air without sacrificing its waterproofing capacity. This both aids with compressibility and also helps to stave off mold and mildew.

While not as tough, waterproof, compressible, or lightweight as the top performers on our list, the REI Lightweight Sack is a great option for unfussy campers looking for a good bang for their buck.

This sack is made with tough ripstop nylon and has a DWR finish. While not waterproof, this water-repellent finish will fend off any light moisture that makes it through the fabric of your backpack. Three webbing straps provide decent compression, though won’t pack your gear as small as competitors like the S2S Ultra-Sil Compression.

In a nutshell, this offering from ALPS Mountaineering does just about everything top-end sacks do, just at a far friendlier price.

It’s made with durable rip-stop nylon and has reinforced stress points to ensure longevity. Despite its burliness, it weighs just 2.9 ounces in the 20L model and 3.5 ounces in the 30L model.

While not waterproof, the fabric is water-repellent, and if you plan on venturing into wetter climes you can simply line it with a trash bag to save yourself a handful of $ on a pricier alternative.

A few cool features score this sack further brownie points, most notably the grab handle at the bottom, the D-rings that allow you to lash or clip it to the outside of your pack, and the small stash pocket in the base.

If you’re anything like the author of this post, and organization isn’t your forte, these super convenient packing pods could be a game-changer.

Each pack contains three pods, measuring 7L, 2L, and ½ liter. The largest pod is just large enough for a small, two-season sleeping bag and the smaller pods are ideal for extra clothing, toiletries, or a first aid kit. While none of the pods compress, they’re worth a place on our list for their ability to help you organize your gear.

Each pod is made with Sil/PU Coated 40D Nylon Ripstop and has taped seams for added water resistance. While not fully waterproof, they’ll keep your gear dry unless exposed to full submersion. These pods also weigh significantly less than standard stuff sacks, so are a great way to reduce weight on a backpacking trip.

Zpacks ultralight backpacking compression sacks have long been considered the gold standard in featherweight packing solutions by ounce counters across the country. The Big Stuff Sack offers a prime example of why this is the case.

This sack weighs a piddly 0.35 ounces, making it the lightest option on our list by a longshot. Despite this, its Dyneema Composite Fabric construction makes it highly durable and waterproof, and its 10.7-liter capacity provides enough space for a two- or three-season down sleeping bag.

The only real downside is that there are no straps to speak of, just a drawstring closure, so you won’t be able to condense your gear nearly as well as with models like the S2S Ultra-Sil Compression or Outdoor Research Ultralight.

If waterproofing is more of a priority than packability, the Earth Pak Dry Bag is well worth considering.

This bag is made with extra-durable, 500D PVC and has a water-tight roll-top closure, so is a great option if your adventures tend to take you to particularly wet locations.

The 20L version of the pack has a handy shoulder strap for transportation, and the 30L model has a duo of backpack straps. These features make the Earth Pak the heaviest option on our list, and the stiffer fabric makes it one of the least compressible, but if you are particularly worried about keeping your gear dry, this lack of portability may be a price worth paying.

If you have money to burn and are happy to splurge on a sack that oozes quality from every stitch and seam, the OR Ultralight is well worth a place on your shortlist.

Like the S2S Ultra-Sil Compression Sack, this one has an air-permeable/waterproof panel that works in the same way as a waterproof-breathable rain jacket, allowing air to escape from inside while keeping water out. This makes it easier to compress and helps to prevent dampness and/or the build-up of mold or mildew.

The OR Ultralight is also fully waterproof thanks to its tough, hydroseal-coated nylon construction and taped seams. While a little on the heavy side, its use of both a roll-top closure and lidded compression straps means it condenses its contents better than most competitors of its size (10L).

If you’re looking for a set of low-cost stuff sacks to organize your gear, you really can’t go wrong with the OP All-Purpose Dry Sacks.

This pack gives you not one but three sacks in different sizes – 2L, 4L, and 8L. The largest of these is big enough for a lightweight summer sleeping bag and the smaller sacks are ideal for anything from first aid kits, toiletries, or snacks to puffer jackets.

Despite their bargain-basement price, these sacks are very well-made. They are polyurethane-coated with watertight, double-stitched, tape-sealed seams for waterproofing and have a burly closure that can deal with regular rough treatment.

This sack is available in multiple colors and sizes, and scores top marks in every metric except for compressibility.

Unlike the winner of our review, the S2S Ultra-Sil Compression Sack, this one doesn’t have any straps to compress your load. Nevertheless, we’ve included it to provide an alternative for folks happy to sacrifice compressibility for affordability.

The Drysack roll-top stuff sack is made with PU-coated, siliconized 30-denier Cordura nylon, which makes it tough and fully waterproof. Available in a wide range of sizes and multiple colors, they’re ideal if you want multiple bags to help keep things inside your backpack not only dry but well organized too.