When women go to buy hiking gear they’re often greeted by a display filled with backpacks designed specifically for men. While some gear has so many adjustments women can find a comfortable fit most gear’s just not made to accommodate a woman’s frame. When you’re carrying 30+ pounds on your back you want it to correctly balance with your body style. Women’s hiking backpacks contour to the different curves found on the female figure. With a woman’s backpack you’ll be able to harness the strength found in your bodies core.
By Far the best women’s hiking backpack for most people is going to be the Kelty Women’s Redwing 40 Backpack. It’s the perfect size for most 1 or 2 day backpacking trips. If you’re going on a extended trip you might want to bump up to the Kelty 60L or 80L pack.
What’s The Best Women’s Hiking Backpack?
1. Kelty Women’s Redwing 40 Backpack
Notable Features:
- 40L Hiking Day Pack
- Suspension System Designed for Women
- Padded and Ventilated Back Panel
Kelty’s Women’s Redwing 40 backpack is the perfect backpack for quick getaways. From the woods to the air the Redwing backpack is the perfect size for hiking and traveling. The built in suspension system was designed to center the packs weight to the average women’s frame. With completely padded back and ventilated airflow this pack will stay comfortable during a long hike. The top loading design and convenient stash pockets allow you to pack more gear than you would ever expect. For a long hike or weekend trip you can’t beat the Kelty Redwing 40 backpack.
2. High Sierra Women’s Summit 40 Internal Frame Pack
Notable Features:
- Affordable 40L Women’s Internal Frame Pack
- Adjustable Single Contoured Aluminum Frame Bar
- Molded Foam Back Panel With Airlflow Channels
The High Sierra Women’s Summit 40 internal frame pack is another great women’s hiking pack designed for short weekend trips. High Sierra designed this feature-rich pack to be versatile enough to take on any short adventure. With high levels of durability and a built in rain cover, this pack is sure to protect all of your hiking gear. Designed specifically for the needs of female hikers the affordable High Sierra pack should be at the top of your shopping list.
3. Kelty Women’s Coyote 60 Backpack
Notable Features:
- Premium 60L Extended Trip Backpack
- Designed Specifically For Women
- Available in 60L and 70L
Kelty’s Coyote 60 backpack is a mid to long range pack designed specifically for woman. With a backstrap and hip belt designed to shift the packs center to suit the average woman. The heavy duty design allows you to carry up to 60 lbs of gear spread evenly across your back. Kelty’s Coyote 60 is perfect for your next long trip into the wilderness.
4. Mountaintop 40 Liter Hiking Backpack
Notable Features:
- 40L Weekend Pack
- Waterproof compartment to store electronics
- No Specific Bladder Space
For short day and weekend hikes the Mountaintop 40 L backpack is a perfect fit. With a waterproof compartment for electronics and waterproof rain cover the Mountaintop pack is sure to keep your gear dry. It features fully adjustable straps that work well with any body type.
5. CamelBak Women’s Daystar 16 Crux Reservoir Hydration Pack
Notable Features:
- Insulated Reservoir For Camelbak Hydration Pack
- Large Cargo Compartment For Snacks and Layers
- Multiple Lash points For additional gear
If you’re planning a short day hike and don’t need all that extra gear you can never go wrong with a camelbak pack. Camelbak’s women’s daystar pack was designed for long walks through the woods where you shouldn’t need all the extra camping gear. You can even throw in a lightweight camping hammock for an ultralight weekend retreat.
6. Rupumpack Insulated Hydration Backpack with 2.5 Liter Water Bladder
Notable Features:
- Affordably priced Lightweight Hydration Backpack
- Keeps Liquid Cool for 4 Hours
- Oversized compartment for additional gear
You can save a little money on a camelbak by purchasing the Rupumpack Insulated Hydration Backpack. It will keep your water cool for up to 4 hours for all day adventures into the wilderness. Whether you’re hiking, running or cycling the Rupumpack will stay comfortable all day long.
7. Kelty Women’s Red Cloud 80 Backpack
Notable Features:
- Oversized 80L Hiking Backpack
- Designed Specifically For Women
- Perfect Fit Suspension System
You can’t go wrong purchasing a Kelty Backpack. Designed specifically for woman the redcloud 80 has enough room for any long distance hike. Kelty’s Patented Perfect fit suspension system provides customized comfort without any of the hassle. For long hikes into the wilderness you need to get a Kelty pack.
8. WASING 55L Internal Frame Backpack
Notable Features:
- Affordably Priced 55L Weekend Pack
- Water Resistant Rip Stop Polyester
- Adjustable aluminum frame bar
Unless you’re inherently wealthy it doesn’t make sense for beginners to buy the absolute best pack on the market. Luckily Wasing’s 55L pack has most of the features found in expensive packs at an affordable price. With a ventilated design and additional padding the Wasing pack will keep you comfortable on multi day trips.
9. AmazonBasics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack
Notable Features:
- Affordably Priced Pack With Loads of Features
- Available in 55L,65L, and 75L
- Waterproff Cover and Water Repellent coating
The AmazonBasics pack was designed to meet the needs of the mass consumer. Made of a durable polyester this heavy duty pack has everything most woman need out of a hiking backpack. While it wasn’t designed specifically for woman the adjustable straps will give almost any woman a comfortable fit.
How To Choose The Best Women’s Hiking Backpack?
What’s The Difference Between Men and Women’s Hiking Backpacks?
It’s no secret that men and women are shaped differently so why are most backpacks designed for both genders. Manufacturers argue that with adjustable straps backpacks can be customized for everyone. While this is somewhat true most hiking backpacks are designed specifically for men in their 30’s.(Women get shafted again) Unless you’re close to 6ft tall the packs center of gravity will be about 6″ to high for the average woman. All of the weight in the pack will be shifted up into your chest instead of spread evenly across your body. After a long day out in the woods you’ll start to experience lower back pain. This doesn’t mean that no woman will find a men’s pack comfortable. In fact a lot of women swear by men’s hiking packs. With additional capacity and it might be the only affordable option for long multiday hikes.
While there are a lot of minor differences between gender specific packs a lot of it is just marketing. Throw a little color in and raise the price 20 Bucks. Don’t get me wrong many companies have been doing loads of research to show how men and women carry weight differently. These studies have lead to some positive changes in the overall fit and balance of packs. So what are the major differences in women’s hiking backpacks.
Major Differences in Women’s Hiking Packs
- Women’s packs have a shorter torso range to accommodate height differences in the genders. This is the biggest problem woman have with the traditional mens pack. You won’t have that massive pack sticking two feet over your head.
- Women’s Shoulder straps are generally narrower and shorter which reduces chafing over a long hike.
- Women’s packs tend to have smaller carrying capacities. With a shorter torso length the maximum pack size will naturally be reduced. Whether you need the additional carrying capacity men’s packs give you is a matter of debate. You’re going to be hard pressed to find a women’s pack over 80L.
- Hip belts are shorter and canted differently to accommodate the difference in a women’s gait.
- Of course women’s packs are always a lot prettier.
Well I’m all for a prettier pack you might need a little more carrying capacity on multi day hikes. For extended hikes you might prefer a men’s small pack which doesn’t skimp on load-bearing components.