By Michael Lanza
Backpacks come in many sizes and designs for a reason: so do backpackers. Some of us need a pack for moderate loads, some for heavy loads, and others, increasingly, for lightweight or ultralight backpacking. Some prefer a minimalist pack, others a range of features and access. Everyone wants the best possible fit and comfort, and almost everyone has a budget. But no matter which type of backpacker you are, this review covers the best packs in each of those categories.
Each of my picks for the 10 best backpacking packs stands out for different reasons. I also point out two excellent packs for kids and small adults (at the bottom of the Gregory Paragon/Maven review). My judgments draw from many thousands of miles and more than three decades of backpacking and a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog. Few reviewers have lugged as many packs around the backcountry as me.
I’m confident at least one of these packs will be perfect for you—plus you’ll find the best prices for them through the affiliate links to online retailers below. Purchasing gear through my affiliate links supports my work on this blog. Thanks for doing that.
I’ve listed the pack reviews below in order by weight because that’s the metric that most defines and influences a pack’s design and functionality. The ratings admittedly tend to favor more-featured packs, which are heavier, and that may not meet your needs; use the ratings as a comparison with packs of similar weight. The pack you ultimately choose may depend partly on weight, but also on design and on your budget. Each pack review in this article links to that pack’s complete review at The Big Outside.
Not sure what type of pack you need? Start with my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack.” See also my picks for “The Best Ultralight Backpacks.”
The comparison chart below offers a quick look at stats and features that distinguish these packs from one another.
If you have a question for me or a comment on this review, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.
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The 10 Best Backpacking Packs
Backpack | Score (1-5) | Price | Volume | Weight | Features | Sizes | Carries Up To... |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider | 4.3 | $379 | 55L/3,400 c.i. | 1 lb. 15 oz./ 878g | Waterproof, very durable, 5 pockets | 4 unisex | 30-35 lbs./ 13.6-15.9kg |
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL | 4 | $250 | 55L/3,356 c.i. 50L/3,051 c.i. | 2 lbs. 15 oz./ 1.33kg | 6 pockets, ventilated suspension, removable lid, gear loops | 2 unisex, adjustable | 35 lbs./ 15.9kg |
Osprey Exos 58, Eja 58 | 4.2 | $260 | 58L/3,539 c.i. | 2 lbs. 14 oz./ 1.3kg | 6 pockets, poles attachment, ventilated suspension, removable lid | 2 men's and women's, adjustable | 35 lbs./ 15.9kg |
The North Face Banchee 50 | 4.3 | $230 | 50L/3,051 c.i. | 3 lbs. 1 oz./ 1.39kg | On-the-fly torso adjustment, self-equalizing load lifters, 8 pockets | 2 men's and women's, adjustable | 40 lbs./ 18.1kg |
Granite Gear Perimeter 50 | 4.3 | $250 | 50L/3,050 c.i. | 3 lbs. 3 oz./ 1.45kg | Unique adjustable harness, removable lid, 8 pockets | 2 unisex and women's, adjustable | 40 lbs./ 18.1kg |
Granite Gear Blaze 60 | 4.7 | $300 | 60L/3,660 c.i. | 3 lbs. 4 oz./ 1.47kg | Versatile load capacity, 6 pockets, adjustable torso length and hipbelt, zipper accessing main compartment | 3 unisex and 2 women's, adjustable | 45+ lbs./ 20.4kg |
Gregory Paragon 58 and Maven 55 | 4.2 | $260 | 58L/3,539 c.i. | 3 lbs. 8 oz./ 1.59kg | 6 pockets, poles attachment, ventilated suspension, removable lid, rain cover included | 2 men's and women's | 35-40 lbs./ 15.9kg-18.1kg |
Mystery Ranch Coulee 50 | 4.6 | $249 | 50L/2,930 c.i. | 3 lbs. 12 oz./ 1.7kg | Unique three-zipper access, 8 pockets, highly durable | 4 men's and women's, adjustable | 35-40 lbs./ 15.9kg-18.1kg |
Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65 | 4.8 | $340 | 65L/3,967 c.i. | 4 lbs. 11 oz./ 2.13kg | Unique harness, 9 pockets, poles attachment, durable | 3 men's and women's, adjustable | 45-50 lbs./ 20.4kg-22.7kg |
Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 | 4.8 | $330 | 65L/3,966 c.i. | 4 lbs. 14 oz./ 2.21kg | Dynamic shoulder straps and hipbelt, ventilated back, zipper accessing main compartment, 9 pockets, highly durable | 3 men's and women's, adjustable | 50 lbs./ 22.7kg |
Tough, Waterproof Ultralight
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider
$399, 1 lb. 15 oz./879g
backcountry.com
When the 3400 Windrider was delivered to my house, the box looked much too small to contain a backpack. Like the best sub-three-pound, ultralight packs, the 3400 Windrider handles 30 to 35 pounds well, but weighs anywhere from a half-pound to nearly a pound less than those competitors. It has the capacity for going several days between resupplies. Its tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics is fully waterproof. The fixed suspension comes in four sizes—more than offered by most high-end pack makers—and the simple harness system works.
Three big, external mesh pockets add nearly 10 liters of capacity, and the roomy, zippered hipbelt pockets offer convenience. A top-loader with a roll-top closure, the 3400 Windrider is noticeably bereft of features found on many other packs. But its minimalist design, durability, capacity, comfort, and low weight will appeal to many backpackers who prefer hiking over simply hauling.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest ($379, 55L/3,400 c.i., 2 lbs., four sizes) is virtually identical to the 3400 Windrider except that it replaces the durable, tearproof mesh used in the external pockets with a more durable, Dyneema Hardline fabric—same as used in the zippered hipbelt pockets on both packs.
Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider backpack at backcountry.com or hyperlitemountaingear.com or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest backpack at backcountry.com or hyperlitemountaingear.com.
Want an ultralight pack with more total capacity than the 3400 Windrider and seven external pockets, that weighs and costs less? See my review of the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60.
Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
or other parks using my expert e-books.
Ultralight With Extras
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL
$250, 2 lbs. 15 oz./1.33kg (for the Ultra 50+5)
rei.com
Among similar, mid-size, ultralight backpacking packs, Deuter’s updated-for-2024 Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and 45+5 SL distinguish themselves for their adjustable, comfortable fit and smart design details that make a difference in your experience carrying them. I found the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 comfortable with up to about 35 pounds inside on hikes of three days on southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons loop and six days on the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route—and I severely overloaded it on the first day of my Grand Canyon trip without it leaving me feeling destroyed, which says something.
Credit for their comfort and stability going up and down very steep, loose trails on both trips goes to a spring steel wire frame that balances slight flex with structural support, plus hipbelt fins and shoulder straps that rotate to absorb your body’s movement, steadying the pack while hiking. Spacer mesh in the back panel, lumbar pad, shoulder straps, and hipbelt deliver nice ventilation and cushioning. This top-loader fit my gear, food, and often extra water for six days in its spacious main compartment, augmented by six external pockets including a large stretch-mesh front pocket as well as side and hipbelt pockets. Light but reasonably tough, 175-denier polyamide fabric makes them as durable as many backpacking packs in this weight class.
Read my complete review of the 2024 Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 and Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 backpack at rei.com, or a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL backpack at rei.com, or any model in the Aircontact Ultra series at rei.com or backcountry.com, including some of last year’s models at sale prices while stock lasts.
See my review of another outstanding pack with the same price, weight, and basic design, though differences, the Gregory men’s Focal 58 and women’s Facet 55.
Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”
Ultralight Classic
Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58
$260, 2 lbs. 14 oz./1.3kg
Exos 58: backcountry.com
Eja 58: backcountry.com
On a nine-day, nearly 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, I found the updated-for-2022 Exos 58 keeps what has made it a classic since 2008 while getting even better. Now with improved comfort, thanks to an adjustable suspension with a four-inch fit range, and made with 100 percent recycled materials, the Exos and Eja come in two torso sizes and three capacity sizes. As before, the LightWire perimeter frame carries 30 to 35 pounds comfortably, while the perforated-foam hipbelt and shoulder straps distribute that weight nicely. And the trampoline-style back panel provides great ventilation across your back.
Made a bit more durable through little design improvements, the redesigned Exos 58 and Eja 58 have the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking. At under three pounds, they have smart features like a removable, floating lid with two pockets, spacious pockets on the front, sides, and hipbelt, Z-style side compression, and a handy trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap. The Exos and Eja also come in 48-liter ($240) and 38-liter ($220) versions.
Read my complete review of the Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any men’s Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com, or any women’s Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com.
Be comfortable on your hikes. See “The Best Rain Jackets For Hiking and Backpacking.”
‘Almost Ultralight’ Standout
The North Face Banchee 50
$230, 3 lbs. 1 oz./1.4kg
moosejaw.com
TNF’s Banchee 50 falls squarely into a category I’m calling “almost ultralight:” barely over an unofficial ceiling weight of three pounds for ultralight packs, but more tricked-out than ultralight competitors, and with a greater weight-bearing and volume capacity than many—as I discovered on a five-day backpacking trip in Yellowstone’s Bechler Canyon area. Plus, TNF’s unique new Dyno Lite suspension allows for on-the-fly torso adjustment and one-hand dialing in of the self-equalizing load lifters.
A top-loader, it excels for organization, with nine pockets from the hipbelt to two capacious, zippered front pockets. With its modest weight, abundant features, and good compression, the Banchee 50 may be the only pack you need for outings ranging from weekends to wilderness treks up to about five days (with lightweight, compact gear), as long as you don’t routinely load more than about 40 pounds inside.
Read my complete review of The North Face Banchee 50.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s or women’s The North Face Banchee 50 or Banchee 65 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.
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Uniquely Adjustable Fit
Granite Gear Perimeter 50
$250, 3 lbs. 3 oz./1.4kg
backcountry.com
When I loaded the Perimeter 50 with about 12 pounds of water on the first day of a 45-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite—bumping the pack’s weight over the 40 pounds that Granite Gear rates it to handle—I was pleasantly surprised at its comfort. That seems like a bonus for a backpack with a customizable fit and high functionality that carries a modest weight and price.
Granite Gear’s Perimeter series packs feature adjustability for both torso length and shoulder width, easily accomplished by resetting the position of a clip behind each shoulder strap. A spring steel rod lends the pack an ergonomic shape plus rigidity along the vertical axis and some horizontal flex, while a PE board cone disperses weight. A top-loader, it has eight external pockets, including a removable, floating lid pocket and a bottom zippered flap that can also carry a sleeping pad, and tough, Robic high-tenacity nylon fabric.
Read my complete review of the Granite Gear Perimeter 50.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a unisex or women’s Perimeter 50 at backcountry.com or a unisex or women’s Perimeter 35 at backcountry.com.
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Most Versatile
Granite Gear Blaze 60
$300, 3 lbs. 4 oz./1.5kg
backcountry.com
How many pounds can a lightweight backpack carry comfortably? At just a half-pound heavier than some ultralight packs, the Blaze 60 hauled 40 pounds comfortably on a rugged, six-day, 74-mile backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon, and up to 35 pounds on a four-day, more than 40-mile backpacking trip that crossed four passes near and over 11,000 feet in the Wind River Range.
The Air Current framesheet flexes slightly, allowing the pack to move with your torso, especially in steep or difficult terrain. The ventilated back panel fits closely but has channels for air circulation and the Re-Fit hipbelt felt great even on long, arduous days. It has the capacity and support for long trips and the compression and low weight for short trips, plus super access with a wide top-loading mouth, a zipper into the main compartment, and six external pockets. It comes in three unisex and two women’s sizes, all adjustable, and the fabric is bombproof. The Blaze 60 ranks among the top all-purpose backpacks.
Read my complete review of the Granite Gear Blaze 60.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com, or a women’s-specific Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com, or the short version of the Blaze 60 at moosejaw.com.
Hike all of “The 10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest.”
All-Around Good Value
Gregory Paragon 58 and Maven 55
$260, 3 lbs. 8 oz./1.6kg
backcountry.com
Two very different backpacking trips of 77 miles in five days (averaging over 15 miles and 8,000 vertical feet per day) on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier and a more leisurely, four-day, 36-mile family hike on the Ruby Crest Trail convinced me that, for many backpackers, Gregory’s well-featured men’s Paragon 58 and women’s Maven 55 might offer everything they want in a pack for every kind of trip they take—at a good price.
Updated in 2020, they have support for carrying around 35 pounds comfortably, thanks to an alloy perimeter frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and Gregory’s FreeFloat Suspension System. Adjustable for torso and hipbelt length in two sizes, both packs have breathable mesh and foam throughout the harness and a trampoline-style back panel that allows air flow over your back and hips. They sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like shoulder-strap attachments for trekking poles and sunglasses.
Read my complete review of the Gregory Paragon 58 and Maven 55.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Paragon 68, 58, or 48, at backcountry.com, or a women’s Maven 65, 55, or 45 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.
Need a pack for a kid or small adult? See my reviews of the Gregory Wander 70 and the Osprey Ace 38, 50, and 75.
Score a popular permit using my “10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit.”
Excellent Fit, Features, and Durability
Mystery Ranch Coulee 50
$249, 3 lbs. 12 oz./1.7kg
moosejaw.com
The race to lighter backpacks often results in compromises in access, durability, and comfort. Carrying this pack backpacking a section of the Arizona Trail along the Gila River and in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon in the first week of April and on the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park and the Nigel, Cataract, and Cline Passes Route in the White Goat Wilderness in the Canadian Rockies in early August, the Coulee 50 displayed exceptional comfort and a smart design that makes every interaction with it easier—beginning with its supportive frame and well-padded harness, which can handle 35 pounds or more, and five inches of adjustability in the four men’s and women’s sizes.
The three-zipper access completely opens up the main compartment from the top and front, allowing quick access and efficient packing. The eight external pockets exceed many midsize and large packs. Made with 100 percent recycled, 210-denier nylon Robic and a double-layer bottom, the Coulee packs are built to handle hard use. While definitely not among the lightest in its class, the Coulee 50 delivers uncompromised comfort and a unique design that puts convenience first—a pretty fair tradeoff for basically another pound.
Read my complete review of the Mystery Ranch Coulee 50.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Mystery Ranch Coulee 50 backpack at moosejaw.com or mysteryranch.com, or a women’s Mystery Ranch Coulee 50 backpack at mysteryranch.com, or any other Coulee model at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.
Get the right tent for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
and my “5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent.”
Ultimate Comfort
Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65
$340, 4 lbs. 11 oz./2.1kg
Atmos AG 65: ospreypacks.com
Aura AG 65: ospreypacks.com
These packs feel very different, in a good way, the first time you put one on, and that positive first impression bore out as I carried the Atmos AG 65 on a five-day hike in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, when I was often carrying 8.5 to 14.5 pounds (four to seven liters) of water; on a four-day family hike (bearing some of my family’s gear and food weight) on the Rockwall Trail in Canada’s Kootenay National Park; and on two treks in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park as well as other backpacking trips. The Anti-Gravity suspension feels more like putting on a jacket than a backpack. Consisting of a panel of lightweight, tensioned mesh extending from the top of the back panel to the hipbelt, it fully wraps around your back and hips while delivering ample air movement.
Adjustable for fit, including the hipbelt, they carry 45 to 50 pounds with supreme comfort and come loaded with features like nine pockets, a convenient trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap, and an integrated cover panel to replace the removable lid. Weighing well under five pounds, they’re a great choice for backpackers who usually carry moderate to heavy loads.
Read my complete review of the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy any model of the men’s Osprey Atmos AG at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com, or any model of the women’s Aura AG at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com.
Get the right daypack for your hikes. See my review of “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks.”
Big-Load Hauler
Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60
$330, 4 lbs. 14 oz./2.2kg
Baltoro 65: backcountry.com
Deva 60: backcountry.com
For carrying loads of 50 pounds or more, I want a pack that’s supportive, comfortable, and tricked out. In every respect, the men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva packs have long filled the big-pack role extremely well, and trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and on the Teton Crest Trail demonstrated that the latest versions of these two packs are only better.
The Baltoro’s and Deva’s FreeFloat suspension system, updated in 2022, has 3D mesh and a foam-free design that improves air flow across your back; more adjustability in the torso length (in three sizes for men and women), shoulder harnesses, and hipbelt (and the latter two pivot independently, enhancing comfort); enlarged hipbelt pockets; an attachment for a bear spray holster; and a lighter carbon footprint with 31 percent less plastic. And the high-strength aluminum perimeter frame delivers serious support.
Features include a U-shaped zipper that opens up the entire main compartment; nine very functional external pockets; widely adjustable compression straps that cross over the pack bag; and attachments for sunglasses, trekking poles, and ice axes.
Read my complete review of the Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a Gregory Baltoro 65 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com; a Gregory Deva 60 at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com; or larger versions of the Baltoro at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com or the Deva at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.
See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” “Video: How to Load a Backpack,” all of my reviews of backpacks at The Big Outside.
And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year, and avoid leaving anything important behind by using “An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist.”
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”
NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.
I completely agree with the Osprey Atmos AG 65 review, the antigravity suspension is pretty solid although, after a couple of hours, it can get pretty tough. Overall, though, it’s a great backpack to get you through the mountain. I appreciate the review.
Thanks, Edgar, glad you like that pack.
Hey Michael thanks for your brilliant comparisons and reviews on backpacks. Among these which one will be suitable for girls as I want some lightweight and withstand able backpacks?
Thanks, Julie. I don’t know if you mean young girls or teenage girls, but if you want a pack for young girls, see my links (below the Osprey Exos and Eja review, above) to my reviews of the Gregory Wander 70 (which also fits many smaller women well) and the Osprey Ace packs. For bigger girls/teenagers who are approaching or at the size of an adult, nine of the pack models reviewed here come in women’s sizes or women’s-specific models.
So depending on the build of the girl, almost any of those could fit best; it’s difficult for me to make that judgment without knowing a person’s torso length and other measurements. I think women’s-specific models generally are preferable for any teenage girl or woman who finds she doesn’t easily fit into standard sizes.
I would also take into consideration whether the girl is likely to grow more, and perhaps buy a pack that can accommodate her as she gets bigger.
I hope that’s helpful. Thanks for the good question.
Hi Michael- really great article and I especially appreciate the decision matrix and testing trip reports!
What’s your take on large pockets at the bottom to store heavier items- like bear cans?
I’ve been backpacking for a couple decades at this point and I used to appreciate the storage spot at the base of an external frame pack to strap on a heavy bear can where it’s comfortable for a lower center of mass. These days I’ll just pack the can first to the bottom of my top-loader and hope I grabbed everything for the day. Sometimes those sleeping bag bottom pockets worked well for this- but seems like those have been phased out.
Thanks!
Ps- wasn’t thunder springs amazing? One of my favorite parts of the canyon.
Hi Joel,
Thanks for the compliment and the good question. Bear canisters are definitely tough to fit conveniently in packs. Only fairly large backpacks (60 liters or larger) are wide enough to lay a canister in horizontally, which I think is the best way to fit a canister inside a pack. Mid-size (under 60 liters) aren’t wide enough to do that, meaning you have to stand it up and cram stuff in the tight spaces around it. That works, but it’s not an easy fit.
By the way, for a day on the trail, I do carry food I intend to eat during the day elsewhere in my pack and stuff my canister only with food I don’t need until dinnertime or later, and fill in any unfilled space in the canister with cooking gear or clothing I won’t need during the day. That way I don’t have to dig out and open that canister every time I want food, especially if it’s lying flat. If the canister is standing up in my pack, it’s easier to access anything inside it.
Your point about external-frame packs having the convenience of storing a large, heavy item like a full canister at the bottom is true, but was also more unique to the design and carry of external-frame packs. You could stand upright with them and have the center of balance of a pack lower. With internal-frame packs, the recommendation is to pack the weight more in the middle of the pack, and the middle of your spine, for better carrying comfort. So, no, I don’t place a canister in the bottom of a pack. That’s where you want to place your sleeping bag, perhaps tent rainfly, air mat, and other fairly light, bulky stuff you don’t need on the trail. Which is why I’ve long found a zipper accessing the bottom of a pack to be largely superfluous weight. Arguably, in bad weather, you could grab a rainfly and tent more quickly, but you can also pack those in external stuff pockets or the top of your pack if you know it’s going to be raining when you pitch it.
And yes, the Thunder Springs on the Grand Canyon’s Thunder River-Deer Creek loop is amazing, as are the waterfalls on Deer Creek. Super trip.
Hope that helps. Get in touch anytime and thanks for reading.
I am just starting to get into backpacking and am looking for a pack that can function in a variety of trips, from a weekend to 5 days. I have been looking at your blog and reading your pack reviews but am not sure 100% the things I should be looking for in a pack. A few of the packs that I was looking at were the North Face Banshee 50, the Granite Gear Blaze 60, or the Osprey Atmos AG 65. Would just like to hear you opinion on what would be the best investment. Thank You!
Hi Colin, thanks for that question. You have focused on the three packs I would describe as the best all-around models for someone who’s new to backpacking or simply wants one pack that can handle just about any trip and amount of weight you might carry. They’re all midweights, supportive enough to carry substantial weight and light enough to not be overkill for a weekend trip.
As I suggest in my “Top 5 Tips for Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” choosing a pack comes down to some personal preferences on design and questions like how much weight you expect to put in the pack, so without knowing those details about you, I’ll just try to help you make a choice. If you’re routinely going to carry well over 40-45 pounds, I’d say go with the Osprey Atmos AG 65. If it’s going to be more like around 35-40 pounds, but occasionally a bit more, I’d choose the Granite Gear Blaze 60. And if it’s regularly under 40 pounds and a reasonable volume, The North Face Banchee 50 is a great pack, and $40 cheaper than the others—but don’t overlook the fact that it has less volume. (There is a larger model, The North Face Banchee 65.)
You will also find many stories at my blog with tips on backpacking, plus many gear reviews, as you’ve already discovered.
Good luck and get in touch anytime.
Hello Michael thank you for the great reviews.
Which one of the sub 3lb bags would you say carries heavy loads better? Would you please list?
Hi Carlo, I know you’d probably prefer a simple answer, but I think the truth is that, with these models, weight-carrying capacity and comfort are a little different, and comfort will likely be dictated by the one that fits you best.
If they all fit you equally well—which isn’t likely, but speaking hypothetically—the pack capable of carrying the most weight may be the Flex Capacitor. The Optic and Exos are fairly similar, and the significantly lighter HMG pack will carry as well as those two—assuming it fits you, and it comes in four sizes, so it should fit. (Interestingly, a good friend and regular backpacking partner of mine had an Exos for years, and didn’t like that the new version lacks hipbelt pockets, so at my recommendation he got the Optic and loves it.)
By the way, the Banchee probably beats them all for weight-carrying capacity, and it’s just 3 lbs. 1 oz. And the Blaze is just a few ounces heavier and more tricked out, super comfortable, and has the best weight-carrying capacity of every pack I’ve mentioned.
I think you should contemplate whether you’re going to regularly push the weight capacity of these packs or remain within their range, and after that, choose the design you prefer. I think backpackers who aren’t going to keep their pack weight light can be disappointed with an ultralight pack when they’re overloading it.
Hope that’s helpful.
I have a REI flashpack 65 can you comment on this bag?
Hi Jeff, thanks for that question. Since REI no longer carries the Flash 65 backpack, you must have an older model. I used and liked the previous version of the Flash 45, too, which is very similar to the pack you have if you have the same generation of that pack series. The latest Flash packs have some improvements, most notably REI’s UpLift compression system, mentioned in my review above. Click on the link to the complete review (linked in the above story) for more details on the new model. If you’re considering a new pack and liked the previous Flash, you may like the new one even more.
For someone that is beginning to the transition into lighter gear but wants a pack for weeklong trips, would you suggest the Altra or Atmos? From this I can’t quite tell which you think is more comfortable.
Hey Aaron, good question. When you say “lighter gear,” your pack choice will depend on what you really mean by that in terms of total weight. You could have a total pack weight of 25 pounds (or less), including food and water for a weeklong trip; certainly under 30 pounds isn’t hard to achieve. The Arc’teryx Altra is no longer available, but the Osprey Atmos AG is very comfortable with 45+ pounds, and that’s what it’s made for. If your regularly carrying that much weight, I would try it and other big packs in this review on loaded with some weight and see which feels better on you, and also consider which feature set you prefer.
When choosing a pack, I always tell people to find a few options that look good and try them on. See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack.”
Which of these packs would fit as a carry on?
Hi Joey, I’ve used the REI Flash 45 as a carry-on. The smaller versions of the Gregory Optic and Octal and the Osprey Exos and Eja would probably work, as well as the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor.
Where are the lightweight packs made by smaller companies? I would not buy any of these packs. They are all overpriced and weigh too much. Hyperlight Mountain Gear, Gossamer Gear, Mountain Laurel Designs, ZPacks and ULA are making the best backpacks. My big HMG pack can handle the weight that these packs do, and weighs less and feels better.
Hi Brad, those are good brands, I’ve used packs made by some of them and may test and review a pack from at least one of these companies in the future. Then I’ll judge whether it deserves to be on this list, which covers the best packs for backpacking that I’ve used so far. I’ve tested and reviewed dozens of backpacks over the past two decades, and I’ve liked some ultralight packs; but they may not be as ideal for many users as they are for you, based on my personal experience and the clear demands of consumers.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the article. I recently purchased an AARN pack and found it excellent, was wondering where your thoughts lay with this brand of backpack,
Many thanks
Hi Joe, I’ve seen AARN packs but haven’t had the opportunity to try one out yet. So while I can’t really comment on that brand specifically, I did, for many years, use sizable front packs for carrying camera equipment, which is a setup similar to the way AARN packs distribute weight front and back. I eventually decided that I don’t like having a fairly large pack on my chest, because it’s hot and obstructs my view of where I’m walking. By the way, I now carry my camera equipment and small incidentals (like a map and snacks) in a Ribz Front Pack, which is much less obtrusive: https://thebigoutside.com/gear-review-update-ribz-front-pack/
I like Ospery Aether, Xenith packs they just Carrie much better than the packs you have on your list I have been to EMS stores and REI and many of the packs that you list have a lot of returns but Aether and Xenith packs are the ones they push and I must say I tried the packs you talked about but after days hiking with them I always go back to the Ospery Aether ,Xenith these packs just feel so much better on my back they make the weight disappear and after days of hiking that is the key to enjoying backpacking .
Hi Garry, I’ve used both the Aether and Xenith (and reviewed the Xenith here: https://thebigoutside.com/gear-review-osprey-xenith-88xena-85-backpacks/). Yup, they’re very good. The Xenith is obviously built for heavy loads, and there’s no reason to carry a pack that heavy for lighter loads. I think Osprey has improved on its harness technology with the AG harness in the Atmos and Aura packs, which can handle pretty substantial loads. The other packs reviewed here have a variety of strengths and are designed for different loads and styles.
Re Rod’s comment on AARN Packs – another New Zealand success story.
Nice packs but AARN packs are the bes