We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products Activity + Adventure Camping + Hiking The 7 Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2024 From weekend trips to long-distance treks, these backpacking backpacks have you covered. By Kevin Brouillard Kevin Brouillard Kevin Brouillard is a contributing writer at Travel + Leisure, specializing in outdoor gear and apparel. He has over five years of experience writing travel and lifestyle content for digital publications, including TripSavvy, Oyster.com, Jetsetter, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on April 17, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Tips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / Brian Kopinski I’ve been backpacking in various capacities for over a decade from off-the-grid wilderness treks to hostel hopping around Europe. Whether you’re planning to head out for a day trip, an overnight hike, or extended excursion, choosing the right backpacking backpack is essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Backpacking backpacks come in a range of designs, from ultralight models for speedy, minimalist hikers to more burly packs suited for lugging heavier loads (or even checking if you're flying). Besides holding all your equipment, gear, and provisions, a quality pack should be comfortable to carry and fit your frame. When choosing the best backpacking pack for my trips, I consider performance, durability, value, and versatility for different durations and weather conditions. If you’re gearing up for your first backpacking trip or looking to level up with a new pack, check out my favorite options below. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Osprey Kestrel 58 Pack at Amazon $237 Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack at Gossamergear.com Jump to Review Best for Beginners: REI Co-op Trailmade 60 Pack at REI $125 Jump to Review Best Organization: Deuter Aircontact Core 65+10L Backpack at Amazon $250 Jump to Review Best Ventilation: Gregory Katmai 55 Pack at Amazon $290 Jump to Review Best for Heavier Loads: Osprey Aether 55 Pack at Amazon $300 Jump to Review Most Comfortable: REI Co-op Flash Air 50 Pack at REI $299 Jump to Review Best Overall Osprey Kestrel 58 Pack PHOTO: REI $237 at Amazon $240 at REI $240 at Backcountry Why We Love It It’s a versatile, full-featured pack made with durable materials that will last for years to come. What to Consider This is quite a large and hefty pack that may be too heavy for lighter trips. For an all-around performer that’s suitable for weekend and long-distance trips in varied climates, the Osprey Kestrel 58 is my top pick along with the women’s specific version: the Osprey Kyte 58L Pack. Osprey backpacks are well-known for their top-notch performance and lasting durability. My first Osprey Kestrel is over a decade old and accompanied me up all 12,244 feet of Indonesia's Mount Rinjani and to every corner of Cambodia during my two-year Peace Corps service. The current model incorporates a revamped back panel: the AirScape system. It offers adjustable torso lengths and breathability while delivering close contact and excellent weight distribution on the lower back. The Kestrel’s use of 420-denier nylon in the pack body provides exceptional durability against wear and tear, even compared to other Osprey packs. I love that it’s equipped with a detachable rain cover, and how easy the cover is to pull over even fully loaded packs. There’s plenty of options for storage and organization, too. It has five external pockets, trekking pole holders, and daisy chains for adding more gear. I’m a big fan of packs with multiple access points, and the Kestrel offers easy entry from the top and front. To expand my storage options, I typically make use of the sleeping bag straps to hold dirty clothes on longer trips. The Details: 420-denier nylon and 500-denier high-tenacity nylon | 4.7-4.9 pounds | Size S/M and L/XL | 58 liters | Waterproof Best Lightweight Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack PHOTO: Gossamer Gear View on Gossamergear.com Why We Love It This ultralight pack offers a frame that moves with your gait and a choice of hip belt design for a tailored fit. What to Consider It’s water-resistant, not waterproof. When every ounce counts, the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is an excellent choice for lightening your load on the trail. With a 60-liter capacity, it delivers an impressive weight to storage ratio of roughly 0.54 ounces per liter. The main compartment is spacious, and there are seven exterior pockets for stashing water bottles and trail essentials. The pack is made with robic nylon, which helps save on weight, but doesn’t offer much for waterproofing. However, this can be resolved by adding Gossamer’s waterproof pack liner. I love that the modular design allows the Gossamer to be configured for optimal weight and fit preferences (for example, the choice of a straight or curved hip belt). The Mariposa’s hip belt, back padding, and aluminum frame can be removed to make the pack even lighter, though this sacrifices comfort and ability to carry the pack fully loaded. There are also load lifters that work with the frame to relieve pressure on the shoulders, if desired. The Details: Recycled nylon | 2.1 pounds | Size S-L | 60 liters Best for Beginners REI Co-op Trailmade 60 Pack PHOTO: REI Co-op $125 at REI Why We Love It It’s a highly adjustable pack with comfortable padding and intuitive organization that new and experienced hikers will appreciate. What to Consider The weight is middle of the road for a backpack this size. The REI Co-op Trailmade 60 Pack is a user-friendly introduction to backpacking. Dialing in the right fit is essential when backpacking, and REI’s adjustable design makes this a seamless process. REI’s Trailmade collection is focused on more inclusive sizing options and affordability for new hikers and backpackers as well. To that end, the Trailmade 60 Pack is designed with an adjustable back length and a range of hip belt sizes. Both the men’s and women’s packs can fit waists and hips between 32 and 58 inches and the torso length is easily tweaked with a Velcro strap. I appreciate that adjustment directions (and packing tips) are printed on the underside of the top lid for even easier set up. The top-loading compartment is easy to use, and the option to configure a separate compartment for a sleeping bag (or dirty clothes) comes in handy on multi-day trips. I’m also a big fan of how accessible the water bottle holders are while wearing the pack. The Details: Recycled nylon | 3.2-3.7 pounds | 60 liters The Most Comfortable Hiking Boots of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Organization Deuter Aircontact Core 65+10L Backpack PHOTO: Backcountry $250 at Amazon $250 at REI $250 at Backcountry Why We Love It It has multiple access points and numerous exterior and interior pockets. What to Consider It only comes in one size. Having quick and easy access to essential gear saves time and hassle on the trail; not to mention, it makes setting up camp after an arduous day that much easier. The Deuter Aircontact Core Pack 65 + 10 gives backpackers a wealth of storage and functionality (do note that the women’s version of the Aircontact Core is designed as a 60 + 10 backpack). I love that gear can be packed and accessed from the top, front, and bottom of the bag. There’s a total of six exterior pockets, including zippered hip belt pockets, mesh side pockets, front stash pocket, and a zippered top pocket. The pack also features an interior pocket for valuables, trekking pole holders, and hydration system compatibility. While 65 liters of capacity is sufficient for many treks, I appreciate the ease of expanding the collar on the main compartment for an additional 10 liters of storage if needed. Though it only comes in one size, the VariSlide system allows for easy and exact adjustments to your back length for a secure fit. The hip belts and shoulder straps are supportive and adjustable, too, to ensure the pack stays in place The Details: 235-denier polyamide and 500-denier textured polyamide | 4.9 pounds | One size | Up to 75 liters Best Ventilation Gregory Katmai 55 Pack PHOTO: REI $290 at Amazon $217 at REI View on Ems.com Why We Love It The pack offers excellent air flow and ventilation for staying comfortable on the trail. What to Consider The sturdy frame and full set of features add some weight compared to ultralight models. It’s easy to work up a sweat while backpacking — the Gregory Katmai 55 Pack offers top-notch breathability and ventilation when things heat up. The pack is equipped with Gregory’s FreeFloat 360 suspension system — a highly ventilated back panel that conforms to the shape of the lower back while allowing optimal air flow between you and the pack. I appreciate that the ventilated back panel is also treated with Polygiene Stays Fresh Technology to diminish odor-causing bacteria. I also love that the pack offers inclusive sizing. The S/M fits waists/hips from 25 to 48 inches and torso lengths from 15 to 19 inches, while the M/L goes up to 53 inches for the waist/hips and 22 inches for torso length. The Katmai is a men’s specific pack, but the Gregory Kalmia 50 Pack is a similar model specifically designed for women. The Details: 210-denier nylon and 420-denier nylon | 4.6 pounds | Size S/M and M/L | 55 liters | Water-repellent Best for Heavier Loads Osprey Aether 55 Pack PHOTO: REI $300 $272 at Amazon $300 at REI View on Osprey.com Why We Love It The customizable fit and suspension system aid in hauling considerably more gear than models of comparable weight and capacity. What to Consider It’s on the heavier side if you don’t intend to make use of its hauling capabilities. Whether planning for a longer trek or carrying gear for others, having the option to haul more can be a major plus. The Osprey Aether 55 Pack (or Osprey Ariel 55 Pack for women) boasts an impressive load range of up to 60 pounds (when fully expanded). To handle heftier loads comfortably, the pack employs a close-to-body carry design. This is accomplished with Osprey’s AirScape injection-molded back panel that fits snug to the body, plus adjustable hip belt and torso length and shoulder straps that can be fine-tuned on the trail as needed. As an avid hiker, I appreciate that much of the weight sits on the hip belt and lumbar area to avoid strain in the shoulders. Multiple access points and numerous loops and pockets make it easy to keep things organized while piling on lots of gear and provisions as well. When fully loaded, the twin compression straps come in handy for balancing weight and keeping gear in place. The Details: 420HD nylon pack cloth and 210-denier nylon Diamond | 5 pounds | Size S/M, L/XL | 55 liters The 9 Best Emergency Radios of 2024 Most Comfortable REI Co-op Flash Air 50 Pack PHOTO: REI $299 at REI Why We Love It It’s ultra lightweight and adjustable so you can get a tailor-made fit. What to Consider The thin materials may not be as durable as other options. For a lightweight backpack that doesn’t offload the pack weight onto your shoulders, we love the Flash Air 50 Pack for both men and women. The pack weighs less than two pounds, making this a great option for thru-hikers, weekend adventurers, and overnight travelers alike. While this pack is quite minimalistic with few pockets, it does have external pouches large enough to hold your water bottle and other essentials. We love the light nylon fabric, but it is a bit thin and could snag if caught on branches. We also recommend investing in a raincover if you’re heading off on a longer adventure. But overall, the hip belt and ventilated back panel make this pack an overall comfortable option regardless of your hiking destination and style. The Details: Ripstop nylon | 1.88 pounds for medium | Size S-L | 50 liters for medium Tips for Buying a Backpacking Backpack Be sure to find a proper fit Features aside, the best backpack is one that fits you well. Your torso length — a measurement that’s likely not top of mind — is a key determining factor in finding a proper fitting backpack. Thankfully, torso lengths are listed with any reputable backpacking backpack. Your torso length is the distance from where your shoulders and neck meet (the C7 vertebra to get technical) to the point of the lower back that’s aligned with your hip bones. The fit along the hips and waist is also critical and, thankfully, easier to measure. Simply wrap a tape measure just above where you’d wear a belt to get your hip measurements. While at-home measurements can give a rough idea to narrow your search, trying on a pack is critical before embarking on a trek. Check that the hip belt sits on top of the hips, as this is where most of the pack weight should rest. Shoulder straps should be snug but only carrying a modest amount of weight. If a pack is sitting on the hips correctly and not touching the shoulders, shorten the torso length or change pack size. Note that many packs offer some level of adjustability for torso length and hip belts. Extra features like load lifters and sternum straps can enhance the fit but be cautious about over-tightening these to avoid transferring too much weight onto the upper body. Consider overall weight The trip duration, weather conditions, and necessary gear will have some bearing on how much you need to pack, but a general rule of thumb is that a backpacking backpack should not exceed 20 percent of your weight when fully packed. To strategize your packing, start with the actual weight of the backpack plus truly essential equipment. Carefully planning out how much water, snacks, and food you should bring is best to avoid unnecessary weight. Typically, food amounts to 1.5-2.5 pounds per day per person, and this weight lessens as the trip goes on. It can take some trial and error to figure out what gear and equipment is essential for your backpacking style and preferences. After each trip, consider which items you used frequently versus sparingly or not at all to fine-tune your backpacking packing list. Save yourself some nighttime frustration and pick up a decent camping lantern now. Think about breathability A breathable and well-ventilated backpack is important for comfort and reducing sweat on the trail. If your backpacking trip has limited or no access to potable water (such as deserts and arid environments), cutting down on perspiration can make a big difference. Assess the ventilation in the back panel of any backpack when comparing options. Frequently Asked Questions What is a good size hiking pack? A good size for a hiking pack depends on your needs, but 10-30 liters is fairly standard for day trip packs. For a weekend backpacking trip or thru-hike, consider leveling up to 30-50 liters. What is the standard backpacking frame type? Most backpacking backpacks use an internal frame system. An external frame may come in handy if carrying larger gear that can’t fit within the backpack, while frameless models are popular with ultralight backpackers carrying only the essentials. How do you pack a backpacking backpack? Pack denser and heavier items toward the bottom and middle of the backpack for optimal weight distribution with smaller and lighter items on top. Anything you’ll want quick access to on the trail can go in exterior pockets or the top of the backpack. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Kevin Brouillard specializes in outdoor gear and apparel. His work has also been published in TripSavvy, Jetsetter, and Oyster, and he served in the Peace Corps in Cambodia for two years. Kevin used his backpacking and camping experience to curate this list of the best backpacking backpacks. The Best Backpacking Tents for Every Budget and Adventure, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. Edited by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Taylor Fox is the Commerce Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over nine years. learn more