Your backpack is going to be one of the few of pieces of gear that can make or break your hike. Like a pair of bad hiking shoes your backpack can quickly turn a hike into an uncomfortable trip. Considering you’ll be wearing it for hours at a time you’ll want a comfortable and durable backpack.
What’s The Best Hiking Backpack?
1. Gregory Mountain Products Baltoro Men’s Hiking Backpack
Notable Features:
- Heavy Duty 75L Internal Frame Backpack
- Removable Raincover With Dedicated Pocket
- Vented Back Panel With Lifespan Foam
- Adjustable Lumbar Support
If you’re planning a long hike you should spend a little extra on this Gregory Baltoro Backpack. The Baltoro backpack is specifically designed to automatically adapt to your body and terrain. Making this oversized pack feel deceptively light compared to the competition. Thoughtful feature placement and built in organization makes this pack excellent for long hikes.
2. TETON Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack
Notable Features:
- Quick Trip and Beginner Pack
- Multiple Compartments For Strategic Packing
- Lifetime Warranty
- Multi Position Torso Adjustments For Added Comfort
Teton Sports Scout 3400 Internal frame backpack is perfect for beginners just getting into the sport. This lightweight pack is perfect for quick trips and medium intensity hikes. With lots of storage compartments and a comfortable fit you can’t go wrong with this affordable backpack. Designed for added comfort with fully adjustable torso length shoulder straps and sturdy mesh lumbar support.
3. ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag
Notable Features:
- Nylon Ripstop Fabric
- Holster and Rifle Attachment
- Hydration Pocket
- Hunting Meat Loader
The ALPS Outdoorz commander was designed with hunters in mind. Made of a durable Nylon ripstop fabric this pack will give you long lasting use in the harshest environments. With a ton of easy to access organization pockets and a quick access rifle and pistol pocket you can keep your essentials close. This pack will do double duty as a hunting pack with the detachable bag. Use the frame to easily haul out game with the secure lashing system.
4. Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack
Notable Features:
- Designed For Quick All Day and Overnight Hikes
- Perfect Fit Suspension System
- Top Loading Zippered Side Pockets
- 50L Storage Capacity
The Kelty Redwing 50L Backpack is a tried and true hiking backpack. It’s the perfect pack for short overnight hikes featuring a lightweight frame with a lot of storage potential. This pack is hydration compatible and offers enough room to carry gear on any short overnight trip. The perfect fit suspension system supplies you with a customized fit without the hassle of complicated straps. With three simple steps your Redwing 50 Backpack will fit perfectly.
5. High Sierra Long Trail 90 Internal Frame Pack
Notable Features:
- Oversized 90L Storage Capacity
- Single Adjustable Contoured Aluminum Frame Bar
- Airflow Channel To Keep Your Back Cool
- Internal Hydration Reservoir and Multiple Convenient Compartments
The High Sierra Long Trail 90 is one of the largest hiking backpacks on the market. This oversized 90L pack should hold everything you need on extended trips into the country. High Sierra’s Backpack is the perfect extended trip size offering a ton of room without much extra weight. For long trips you can’t go wrong with the High Sierra Long Trail 90 Backpack.
6. Kelty Red Cloud 110 Backpack
Notable Features:
- Massive 110L Storage Compartment
- Perfect Fit Suspension System
- Top Loading Design
- Hydration Compatible
If you can’t fit everything you need into the Kelty Redcloud 110 backpack you must be doing something wrong. This is the perfect pack for extended trips into unforgiving wilderness. Featuring a top load design and loads of easy access pockets. Kelty’s perfect fit suspension system will reduce the perceived weight of an overstuffed backpack. When you can’t leave anything at home buy the Kelty Redcloud 110 Hiking backpack.
7. Mountaintop 80L Internal Frame Hiking Backpack
Notable Features:
- Affordable Large Capacity Backpack
- Hydration System Compatible
- Sturdy Nylon Construction
- Built in Rain Cover
Mountaintop’s 80L Internal frame backpack is big enough to carry everything you need on long hikes. With a ton of easy to organize pockets and 8 compression straps you can carry a ton of gear. For an affordable pack it’s actually extremely easy to adjust giving you a comfortable fit.
8. AmazonBasics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack
Notable Features:
- Extremly Affordable Hiking Pack
- 55L, 65L, and 75L Options Available
- Water Repellent Coating
Amazon really did a lot of things right when they commissioned the production of these backpacks. Through their sheer market power Amazon was able to make an excellent pack at an affordable price. Made of a Durable water repellent fabric and offering a built in waterproof cover this pack is ready for the elements. With easy to adjust foam straps you’ll have a comfortable fit in no time. For the money it’s hard to beat this Amazon Basics Hiking Backpack.
9. ALPS Mountaineering Wasatch Internal Frame Pack
Notable Features:
- 65L Pack Made for Long Trips
- Top Loading Design
- Easy Access From Each Side
If you’re looking for a feature rich yet budget friendly pack look no farther than the ALPS Mountaineering Wasatch Pack. It’s the perfect multipurpose pack for quick weekend treks and long multiday hikes. Designed to fit most body types the adjustable suspension system will create a precise and comfortable fit. The top loading design is easy to access with multiple entry points and comes with attachments for lots of external gear.
10. Kelty Coyote 65 Backpack
Notable Features:
- 65L Storage Capacity
- Adjustable For Women’s Body Contours
- Top Lid Converts To Sling Pack
- PackFit Suspension System
Kelty’s Coyote 65 fully featured load hauler is the perfect mid capacity pack for short to medium length hikes. Offering one of the most versatile adjustment systems on the market. With its one size fits all suspension system almost anybody can find a comfortable fit. This is one of the few packs that were specifically designed to contour to women’s bodies. The redesigned storage system makes it easy to organize all your gear making packing a breeze.
Choosing a Backpack For Hiking
With all of the different options on the market it can get pretty difficult to choose a great hiking backpack. Your best choice will mostly come down to what you need it to do. You’ll have to find the correct balance of capacity that will appropriately fit your body type. Most people will find that their choice comes down to Trip Length, Torso Length, and Body Type.
Trip Length
When looking for a hiking pack you need to know what type of trip you’re trying to pack for. The longer you plan on spending on the trail the bigger the pack you are going to need. Once you get into the larger packs you’ll notice diminishing returns as you get more and more capacity. You have to remember that you can only carry so much gear and after a certain point you’ll start to get miserable. As a general rule of thumb single hikers can get through a weekend trip with a 55L pack, extended trip with a 65L pack and week plus trip with a 75+L pack. Multiple hikers can get buy with smaller packs on long trips if they consolidate gear.
Torso Length
You’ll need to find a pack that will correctly accommodate your Torso Length. To measure your torso length start at the base of your neck and measure to your hip bone. Measure along the entire length of your back to get a general measurement. Buying an improperly fitted pack will throw off your center of gravity and severely reduce your comfort. If you are between 5’4 and 6’2 you’ll most likely be fine purchasing any average sized pack. Torso Length only really affects the short and extremely tall.
Body Type
If you are a woman or plan on hiking with children you should look into buying a pack specifically designed for your needs. Packs designed for woman give a little extra adjustments to accommodate a woman’s body proportions. You’ll be able to get around a lot of the issues women have with packs rubbing and chaffing. Youth hiking backpack are designed to be a little bit lighter lowering the center of gravity on the pack.
So What’s The Best Hiking Backpack For The Money?
For long trips you can’t go wrong with the Gregory Mountain Baltoro 75L pack. With the Gregory pack you’ll have enough room to carry everything you need on a long hike. For shorter hikes and weekend trips consider the TETON Scout 3400 Backpack. It’s one of the most popular packs on the market and offers enough room for an extended weekend hiking trip.