Hiking is a great activity that not only offers fun but ensures get a very good workout. Hiking to different locations with friends is a great way to have good time during a trip. When you go hiking, you need the right accessories, especially the backpack.
Hiking takes you to remote locations where you will not get anything. You need to carry all that you need with you. The best option for this is a hiking backpack. Depending on your needs, you can get a backpack that offers space or is lightweight or can carry extra weight.
We have shortlisted the below best hiking backpacks for you. Go through the features given and choose the best among them for your hiking trip.
- Osprey Atmos AG 65
- Gregory Baltoro 75
- Deuter Aircontact Lite 50 + 10
- Granite Gear Blaze 60
- Gregory Mountain Product Men’s Optic 48
- Osprey Aether 65
- Gregory Maven 55
- Osprey Exos 58
- Mystery Ranch Glacier
- Kelty Coyote 85
- Venture Pal lightweight
- Neekfox packable lightweight backpack
- What to consider when buying a backpack?
Osprey Atmos AG 65
The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is one of the best hiking backpacks in the market. It is the perfect bag when you want to carry more than 35 pounds of luggage with you. In fact, its maximum weight is 50 pounds.
If you want to hike light, then this is not the bag for you. But if you are doing serious hiking and needs lot of stuff with you, then this is the best bag. It is spacious and you can store all that you need. At the same time, it is lightweight and convenient to use. It offers the best ventilation and fits perfectly on your back.
Gregory Baltoro 75
The Gregory Baltoro 75 is known for its heavy haul feature combined with great comfort. The mesh back panel of the bag offers great ventilation. It has a U-shaped opening that allows you direct access to the main compartment.
The hip belt and shoulder straps are additional useful features of this bag. It is a slightly weighty bag that is ideal when you want to carry heavy loads. It has a Sidekick daypack that is convenient to use for short trips. There are hipbelt pockets in the backpack that make it convenient to store your mobile phone.
Deuter Aircontact Lite 50 + 10
This is a large backpack suitable for long hiking expeditions or even a overnight trip. It is large and spacious allowing you to store all that you need. At the same time, it is lightweight and comfortable to carry. The top lid of the backpack also serves as a removable daypack.
You can increase the space of the main compartment by 10 liters to store more. It has a well-padded frame that is well-ventilated allowing maximum comfort. The only issue is with the access to the water bottles in this bag, which is a bit tough. The adjustment straps help you to transfer weight from the shoulders to the hips seamlessly.
Granite Gear Blaze 60
This is yet another one of the best hiking backpacks with a heavy hauling ability. Made from Robic nylon, the backpack is sturdy. It had padding on the hip belt that offers best comfort. You can use this backpack to carry up to 50 pounds of weight comfortably.
There are front and side pockets that are spacious allowing you to store many things. Ventilation is adequate. Adjusting the shoulder straps and the hip belt needs a bit of practice. It is a well-organized backpack that makes it convenient to use on long expeditions. Another handy feature is access to the internal pack from outside.
Gregory Mountain Product Men’s Optic 48
This ultralight backpack is affordable and also can be used to store sufficient luggage. It has a maximum weight capacity of 40 pounds, which is good enough for a 2 pounds backpack. It is a sleekly built bag that is sufficiently ventilated and is comfortable.
The weight is seamlessly transferred to the hips by the suspension ensuring complete comfort. Carrying a heavy load using this bag is quite easy, It has a custom rain cover that is a handy feature to use when it is raining. You can easily access the two water bottle compartments in this bag.
Osprey Aether 65
The Osprey Aether 65 is a very good bag whether your need is light mountaineering or carrying a heavy load. It has an AirScape backpanel that has a breathable mesh and foam for better comfort. It incorporates a J-shaped zip at the front allowing you easy access to the main compartment.
There are seven extra pockets, with two of them meant for water bottles. It is 5 pounds in weight and can carry up to 60 pounds making it suitable for carrying heavy weighted luggage. It even has a zippered sleeping bag compartment, which is a value-added feature.
Gregory Maven 55
This is a women’s backpack that is convenient to use thanks to its lightweight design. It offers body hugging comfort and has been built specifically for women. It has a breathable back panel that allows you to easily adjust the torso length.
The side zipper in the bag is full-length ensuring you can organize your hiking gear easily. The shoulder harness has space to keep sunglasses and you can ensure scratch-free access. A rain cover is provided in a zip pocket and is very handy during inclement weather. The bag has a maximum capacity of 40 pounds and weighs just 3.3 pounds.
Osprey Exos 58
The Exos 58 is a lightweight backpack made of nylon. It has a women’s version also with the same features. Weight just a little over 2 pounds, the bag has a maximum load capacity of 40 pounds. It has AirSpeed suspension that ensures ventilation and comfort while carrying any kind of load.
There are no hip belt pockets in the bag but the mesh pockets are handy. The mesh pockets can be used to store water bottles. The floating lid at the top can be removed. The mesh pocket at the front can be used to store a rain cover if you wish.
Mystery Ranch Glacier
This backpack is ideal for use when you are hiking back country. It has a 70-liter capacity for storage that is quite sufficient to store all your belongings. You can detach the lid and use it as a daypack for short trips.
It is comfortable designed with easy access to side pockets. The waist belt ensures proper distribution of weight. It also has a sleeping bag compartment. The top loading design of the backpack allows you to pack and unpack stuff easily. This unisex backpack is suitable for both men and women, and is available in different sizes.
Kelty Coyote 85
If you are looking for a family-friendly and affordable backpack, you will find this product very useful. It is an entry level backpack that offers bags from 65 to 100 liters capacity. The 85-liter backpack is perfect for family trips.
The bag is well-designed allowing you to organize your belongings well. There are sufficient side pockets making it a good bag. However, it is more suited for small family trips and not for a long hiking trip.
Venture Pal lightweight
This 40-liter backpack is lightweight and has a very compact design. Its list of features include a waterproof wet pocket where you can store wet clothes separately. Made from quality nylon, it is a sturdy backpack that has a storage capacity of 40 liters.
The backpack has a multi-compartment design with different compartments of different sizes. This makes it easy for you to organize your things. Sponge padding and breathable shoulder straps ensure best comfort. It is available in a kaleidoscope of colors to suit your style needs.
Neekfox packable lightweight backpack
This product is an ultra-lightweight backpack, which is essentially a daypack. If you are looking for a low-budget backpack for small trips, then this one of the best hiking backpacks option to consider. It is not suitable for long hiking trips but is best suited for overnight trips.
Made from nylon, it is sturdy in build. The storage capacity is 30 liters and the backpack weighs under a pound, making it a very lightweight option. The backpack is meant for both men and women. The shoulder straps and lightly padded, which ensures comfort while wearing.
What to consider when buying a backpack?
To ensure you select your best hiking backpacks, below are the important considerations to keep in mind before shopping.
- First decide how long your hiking trip would be. You can buy the backpack based on this consideration. If it’s just a day’s hike, a backpack of up to 25 liters is sufficient. A longer trip would call for a backpack of higher capacity.
- Check if the material is durable and also importantly check the fit of the bag on your back. Never buy a backpack without testing out the straps and how well it fits.
- When buying online ensure you can return or exchange if it doesn’t fit you well. Test the backpack on receipt and if you are not satisfied send it back for a replacement.
- Look for a spacious main compartment. You don’t add additional compartments, except small pouches for water bottles and mobile phones.
- The hip belt is important since it transfers weight, so look for a solid hip belt.
- Ensure the shoulder belt is padded so it is comfortable.
- Ensure it is well-ventilated so it is comfortable and doesn’t make you sweat at the back.
Hope you find this buying guide for the best hiking backpacks useful!
