How to Choose Your Hiking Backpack in 6 Points
Outdoor Activities | March 21, 2024
SAIL
June 19, 2024
We are all familiar with the discomfort caused by straps digging into our shoulders or waist, or the mess that comes with a disorganized bag without pockets or dividers. This has happened to many of us, and none of us want to go through such an unpleasant experience again! For your next outing on your favourite hiking path, whether you’re headed for the wilderness or the mountains, choose a backpack that suits your needs and make your hike as comfortable as it can be!
In this article, you will learn everything there is to know about the most popular hiking backpacks on the market, as well as the brands that design these staple hiking accessories. We’ll also throw in a few tips on choosing the right backpack for your needs.
In this article, you will learn everything there is to know about the most popular hiking backpacks on the market, as well as the brands that design these staple hiking accessories. We’ll also throw in a few tips on choosing the right backpack for your needs.
IN THIS ARTICLE, YOU WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST HIKING BACKPACKS OF 2024:
Osprey’s humble beginnings are inspiring. The brand, which specializes exclusively in backpacks and travel bags, was founded by an ambitious 16-year-old young man who sewed his first backpack by hand. Today, the company’s products are well known within the outdoor industry and can be spotted everywhere, from the top of Everest to the heart of the Amazonian rainforest. Their range is quite comprehensive, but there is a nifty packfinder widget on their site to help you choose the right one for your needs.
Both the 24 L and 34 L versions of the Tempest hiking backpack feature a wide opening at the top and are extremely breathable, thanks to the AirScape® back panel. The bag is made with high-tenacity recycled nylon with a PFC-free durable water repellent coating approved by bluesign®, a sustainability certification organization.
A hydration reservoir sleeve, hip belt pockets, a large stretch mesh front panel pocket and ice axes and trekking pole attachments allow you to take everything you need with you. The Osprey Tempest bags weigh 885 g or 1.14 kg, depending on the model, and can carry between 5 kg and 8 kg (24 L model), or between 7 kg and 11 kg (34 L model).
The 20 L model comes in grey, black or purple and is perfect for short hikes, while the Tempest 40 L is great for multi-day hikes.
The 24 L, 26 L or 33 L Talon hiking backpack is also made using bluesign®-approved nylon, and is very light. Its flexible belt, breathable AirScape® back panel, and harness pulling the lumbar into the body make the backpack ideal for any type of sporting activity, not just hiking. Keep your freedom of movement and remain comfortable thanks to the adjustable harness system. The bag’s weight varies between 0.95 kg (2.09 lb.) and 1.21 kg (2.67 lb.) depending on the model.
You can also opt for either the day hiking bag or the expedition backpack version of the Osprey Talon.
The Stratos is available as a 34 L daypack, a 36 L, a 44 L expedition bag, and a slimmed down 24 L model designed for shorter hikes. It is built according to the same sustainability standards as its counterpart: 100% recycled materials, PFC/PFAS-free Durable Water Repellent and bluesign® approved materials. Osprey’s bags are optimized for easy access and better gear organization, so you don’t have to spend ages rummaging through your bag each time you need add on a layer. The same AirSpeed® suspension system is used with the Stratos, which makes for a light and ventilated carry. An overall durable, versatile bag that’s cleverly designed.
Looking for a hiking backpack? You’ll undoubtedly come across Deuter’s products. The German outdoor brand is one of the oldest around and a leading manufacturer of backpacks, sleeping bags and bags. Its products have been perfected over the last 110+ years, which allowed the brand to develop a system which allows for great ventilation without creating too much of a gap between the pack and its wearer. The result? A range of well-balanced, well-ventilated bags that sit comfortably on your shoulders, no matter how long you’re hiking for.
Your hike is sure to be comfortable thanks to the adjustable features of the Futura 32 L or Futura Pro 34 L backpacks. The back length adapts to your body thanks to the VariFlex system, the adjustable straps, the ActiveFit movable shoulder harness, and the ergonomic hip fins.
The separate lower compartment makes it easy to store your hiking equipment, and the rain cover keeps your clothes dry. The total weight of the Futura bags varies between 1.44 kg (3.17 lb.) and 1.56 kg (3.44 lb.). Deuter also offers a 24 L, a 26 L and a 45 + 10 L model.
American company Gregory has been manufacturing light and durable backpacks for nearly 50 years. Its team’s mission is to create well-designed, reliable products, and they seem to have achieved their goal with the Miko. Their hiking bags are known globally as some of the most comfortable around, if not slightly limited in terms of features and gadgets. Head to their website for heaps of tips and tricks on pack fit and sizing.
Available as a smaller 15 L or 20 L daybag, and as a 25 L or 30 L model for longer hikes, the Miko hiking backpack features a spacious interior and plenty of outside pockets. Its dynamic BioSync hip belt and shoulder harness are designed to move with your body for ultimate comfort. The bag’s airy back panel is also padded with aerodynamic grooves, which ensure minimal contact with your body as you walk and keeps you as cool as a cucumber throughout your hike.
The Gregory Zulu 30’s steel spring frame with cross-stay works for any type of outing, in any season. All black and with a minimalist design, it lets your back breathe and is notoriously durable thanks to its high-tenacity nylon design. Side compression straps give you access to the lateral pockets, and a safety whistle is integrated into the strap. It features a rain
cover and weighs 1.24 kg (2.73 lb.).
The compact Gregory Jade 28 hiking bag is the perfect solution for your outdoors adventures. The CrossFlo suspension system is designed to wick away moisture and keep you comfortable in any weather, with a practical integrated rain cover and a pocket for your sunglasses on the shoulder harness. It weighs 1.22 kg (2.69 lb.).
SAIL was founded in Beloeil in the 1970s and aims to make the outdoors accessible to all. As such, it provides a range of gear at an affordable price. Its products are well-designed, no-frills items which make adventures more accessible. You’ll find two light hiking bags on offer, both day packs just big enough to carry a few essentials and some extra layers.
Ultralight (130 g), the 10 L Escape backpack is available in burgundy, gray or black. The bags’ back and padded shoulder straps turn any hike into a pleasant one, whatever it weighs. Be ready for any eventuality with the 100% waterproof fabric, useful both in the summer and in the winter.
European brand Vaude manufactures some of the most sustainable and durable hiking bags on the market and attaches a great deal of importance to the social impact of its 100% climate-neutral products. Vaude was one of the first to design an entire product collection that was bluesign® certified, and its range includes hiking, trekking, travel and touring backpacks.
The 30 L Brenta bag has a well-ventilated back designed for sports enthusiasts. Its adjustable torso length and ErgoShape straps work with your body to allow you to move freely. Several pockets, many compression straps and an opening for a hydration system make it an impressively functional bag with a great capacity and a low weight of 1.15 kg (2.54 lb.). A 36 + 6 L model is also available.
The Tacora was designed specifically for women and is offered as a 22 L or 26+3 L model. Why +3 L? It features a conveniently expandable section for those longer expeditions when more gear is needed. This particular hiking bag is known for its organizational talent: it is built with many practical compartments, including a map pocket, an insert for electronics and a removable valuable pouch.
Born in the UK in the 1980, RAB specializes in outdoor clothing, but its range also includes sleeping bags, shelters and hiking bags. This brand is just as focused on sustainability as its counterparts and provides repair and maintenance tips on its website to ensure the durability of its products. Head there to find out more about making your gear last longer.
The AEO range is more than comprehensive. It features daypacks, lightweight backpacks, and even a hydro belt pack, all with various capacities. Its 35 L expedition model comes with all the bells and whistles you need for an overnight hike: easy access external compartments, rain cover, adjustable fit and a top loader main entry. Its back system flexes as you move for a comfortable fit all day long
Mammut is first and foremost a mountaineering brand and offers hiking, climbing, and trail running gear for adventurers of all levels. Its mountain expertise is globally recognized, and its mission is to help everyone surpass their own limits. As such, it creates high-quality performance gear for all seasons, including hiking bags for both men and women.
There is nothing the Lithium hiking bag can’t handle. Both the 40 L and 50 L models are geared towards the more challenging of adventures and optimized as such. Made from water-repellent materials, the pack can be adapted to suit the wearer’s needs and body. The rain cover is also optional, and the bottom compartment can be removed. What about those tricky pieces of equipment? There are special attachments for trekking poles and an ice pick, and the compression straps can be used to carry additional gear. Compatible with hydration systems, there is nothing the lithium can’t adapt to.
@sailpleinairoutdoorsThis trend but with the best hiking backpacks of 2024 No emergencies with these backpacks, that’s for sure!♬ original sound – allen
Now that you know all the best hiking backpacks available in stores or online, you are probably wondering which model would suit you best. Here are the main points to consider when making this crucial decision for your next outdoor outings.