Best 10 Backpacking Backpacks Of 2024

A great backpacking backpack will be very different from a traditional school backpack or even a day pack. A backpack for backpacking will have more capacity, addons or additional straps for attachments, place to put trekking poles and so on. The price of very good packs are often very expensive. The material, the design, and other features of the backpack justify the price most of the time. I have listed a few amazing backpacks for the outdoors. I highly recommend that you check them out before getting any item.

Best Backpacking Backpacks – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Backpacking Backpack

Types Of Outdoor Backpacks

Here are some common outdoor backpacks that people use for hiking and backpacking.

Packable Daypacks

Packable days packs are lightweight backpacks that can be folded into a pocket sized item. These backpacks are great for travel and day hikes. They are great for people who do not want to carry a lot of items and gear. The backpack will usually have one main compartment and one outer compartment.

Hiking Daypacks

Hiking daypacks are backpacks meant for hiking a trail for one day. These backpacks will often have features like hydration bladder compartments and straps for hiking sticks. Some will have a lot of pockets and some will have only a few. It is up to you to decide the design and brand that you would like.

Camping And Backpacking

If you are planning on spending the night in the wilderness for 1 or more days, then you will need a camping or backpacking bag. These backpacks are very big and have a lot of capacity. They are meant to store tents, sleeping bags, blankets, mattress pads, hammocks and so on. These are often very durable and very bulky.

Tactical Backpacks

Tactical backpacks are very durable and rugged looking. They can be used for the outdoors as a lot of hunters often use them. Tactical backpacks often have Molle Webbings where you can attach additional pockets and pouches to the backpack.

Outdoor Photography Backpacks

These backpacks are meant for photography but they are also meant to be used outdoors. They will have straps for tripods, and zippers for quickly getting the camera out of the backpack. The main compartment of these backpacks are often organized into square portions to fit lenses, cameras, batteries and other gadgets for photography.

Travel Backpacks

Travel backpacks are often used for travel and to visit other places around the world. Some are very durable and can be used for backpacking as well. These backpacks often have multiple pockets and look like a standard book bag for school.

Features To Think About When It Comes To Backpacking Backpacks

Capacity

The capacity of the backpack matters because you are going to put items inside it. Different backpacks have different capacities. A decent capacity for a hiking backpack would be around 20-30 liters. Backpacking backpacks would be 50 liters or more since people will put 2+ days’ worth of gear inside it.

Material

There are different kinds of material like leather, polyester, nylon, and so on. This is really a matter of preference. If you like a backpack, you most likely will not have a choice on the material. Leather looks good but it is heavy. Polyester is nice since most backpacks made out of polyester are somewhat water repellent.

Torso Size

Women and men are built differently. Women have a smaller torso size than men. Some men will also have a smaller torso size. You have to figure out which backpack is good for your torso size. The more the backpack hugs your body, the better it is.

Hip Belt

Hib belt is a great invention in that it allows the user to put most of the weight of the backpack on the hip. If you are looking for a hiking or backpacking backpack, make sure that it has a hip belt so that the backpack is easier to carry.

Frame Type

There are 3 different frame types to choose from.

Internal Frame Type – Internal frame type backpacks have frames on the inside. The frames keep the backpack standing up or the frame keeps the backpack in a particular shape. The frames are at the back of the backpack and often have padding.

External Frame Type – External frame types have frames on the outside. This is no longer popular. Some backpacks have metallic rods sticking outside. These are the frames. They keep the backpack in shape and hold it together.

No Frame Type – No frame type backpacks are very popular with minimalist backpackers. Since frames and padding add more weight, no frame backpacks no longer have the weight of those items. Think of a duffle bag and you are carrying that on your back.

Number Of Compartments

You should also think about the number of compartments that the backpack has. Compartments add more fabric to the backpack which makes the backpack heavier. So the more pockets the backpack has, the heavier it will be.

Attachment Points

You may want to think about attachment points or straps that come with the backpack. You will want straps for your crampons, hiking sticks and so on.

Hydration Bladder Compartment

If you want to be able to carry a hydration bladder, then you have to check whether the bag has a compartment for it. Hydration bladders need to be hanged and they need a hole for the hose to passed through. If the backpack does not have a hydration compartment, you may not be able to carry a hydration bladder.

Sleeping Bag Compartment

Backpacking and camping backpacks often have a sleeping bag compartment at the bottom. You can easily take out the sleeping bag because there will be a zipper for this compartment. It makes packing up and unpacking a lot easier.

Padded Shoulder Straps

If you are carrying a heavy backpack, you may want shoulder straps. Shoulder straps will help alleviate friction and help people carry the backpack. A backpack with padded shoulder straps are often a lot easier to carry than backpacks without one.

Padded Back

A padded back will give more comfort as the padded back will feel better on the spine and back of the body. A padded back will often have ventilation as well so that sweat from the back will evaporate.

Backpack Accessories To Consider

Molle Attachments

Tactical backpacks have Molle attachments where you can add more pouches or take out pouches. This is great in case you want to lighten up your backpack or add more pockets for more storage space.

Rain Cover

A rain cover is very important since you do not know when the weather will turn for the worst in some mountains. There are mountains that have a different weather than the area near them. Having a rain cover can protect your valuables and gadgets from getting wet.

Straps

There are a lot of straps that can be added to a backpack and they are sold on the Internet. If you want more straps to attach certain things, you may want to get additional straps online. However, you may have to learn to sew to add them to the backpack.

Too Long Didn’t Read

Basic Things To Consider

If you don’t want to read all of my pointers, here are a few things to consider.

Weight

The weight must be considered. Not a lot of people know this but a lot of backpacks can weigh 4 to 8 pounds. This is a lot of weight. There are backpacks that are around 1 pound but I don’t like them at all. I just don’t like the material. It seems flimsy and will break easily. If you are going to get a backpack, you must consider the weight or at least check it out.

Capacity

Not all backpacks have the same capacity. I guess a lot of people know this. But some manufacturers included the pockets and attachable compartments as the overall capacity. So this is something you need to consider also. You may think that you are getting a 50-liter capacity main compartment bag but you didn’t know that the manufacturer included the pockets also.

Attachments And Add-ons

Most backpacking bags have a way to attach the hiking poles to the bag. But maybe you want to attach your sleeping bag also at the bottom. Maybe you have a climbing pick axe you like to carry, or maybe you want to have your mess kit or foods on the outside or maybe you like tactical backpacks with attachable webbings or extra pockets. So no matter what your preferences are, you need to check out what kind of attachments and addons can be placed on your backpack. It may help you a lot when packing up your items.

Hydration Bladder

Not all backpacks have a hydration bladder compartment. I don’t like hydration bladder or reservoir though. I carry a set of water bottles and water filters for my hydration needs but a lot of people do like their hydration bladders. So this is something you should think about also. Hydration bladders are very efficient at delivering water while hiking and they are less messy also.

Water Resistant Or Cover

One of the things you need to think about is water resistant. The backpacks will most likely not be waterproof. The waterproof backpacks are called dry bags and they are mostly used for kayaking and other water sports. For backpacking, a rain cover for the backpack often works well. This is something to think about also. Some bags are not water resistant at all and they soak up a lot of water. This makes the backpack a lot heavier and will give require more energy to carry.

Best Backpacking Backpacks

Here are some amazing backpacks for backpacking. These backpacks are very good and very durable with a lot of features and capabilities. All product links are affiliate links.

1. Osprey Rook 65 Men’s Backpacking Backpack

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.52 lbs
Capacity: 30-40 lbs
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes
Feature Summary: Highly ventilated and comfortable airspeed backpanel with adjustable shoulder harness to fit a wide range of torso lengths, zippered bottom sleeping bag compartment with floating divider, internal hydration reservoir sleeve accommodates up to a 3l reservoir

Short Review: You will unquestionably like and use this outdoor backpack. There are a good amount of resilient items that I will recommend such this one. This stuff is great!  You can use this for hiking and you can use this for backpacking. It is pretty good and comfortable to carry. It is very similar to Osprey. My back likes this item. I use it all the time and I am happy with it each time. This bag is designed to carry lots of stuff and look stylish at the same time. A very useful item for the outdoors which is why I highly recommend this. I love this bag and I know you will also considering that this is pretty durable and this is well made. This is a lot better than I predicted. Pretty good bag.

2. TETON Sports Explorer Backpack

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.9 lbs
Capacity: 45L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes

Short Review: I have been testing numerous backpacking backpacks, and this is impressive. This is a great introductory backpack for beginner backpackers. It is not too bulky and it is not too heavy. The price is pretty affordable too. This is available in lots of colors and there are lots of pockets which makes organizing our stuff easier. This incredible item is one of the very best things that I found on the Internet. This has an extremely good design which is the reason a great deal of people really like it. This spacious interior is designed to carry lots of things all the time. This is great for the outdoors and performs very well. I absolutely really like this item and I cannot stop recommending this to others.

3. Kelty Coyote 60-105 Liter Backpack

Technical Specs
Weight: 4.35 lbs
Capacity: 60-105L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes

Short Review: This is an extraordinary hiking backpack that you will find online. This is a very good backpack. It has a more traditional design. This comes with wing pockets, two front zippered pockets, and large J-zip top loading access as well as daisy chains, water bottle pockets, and sleeping bag compartment keep everything tidy on the trail. This features Amp Flow ventilated back panel that will keep you cool and dry. Kelty has been one of the best when it comes to outdoor gear. They always create high quality items. This has lots of positive customer reviews and we should always look at what other men and women are saying about a item before purchasing it. This is incredibly durable and it has plenty of extraordinary features.

4. High Sierra Appalachian 75 Backpacking Pack

Technical Specs
Weight: 5.8 lbs
Capacity: 75L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes
Feature Summary: Ergo-fit shoulder harness, with adjustable load-lifters, feature hex-vent mesh and high-density foam padding, dual, contoured aluminum frame bars can be adjusted to fit the shape of your back, waist belt, with hex-vent mesh and high-density foam padding, wicks moisture

Short Review: There are a good deal of things that I like regarding this outdoor backpack. This has a good amount of positive customer feedback. I have a couple of bags from high sierra. They are a pretty good company that makes backpacks. This is very affordable and the capacity is pretty big. This features top load main compartment with gusseted drawstring closure and adjustable top lid. This also comes with molded foam back panel with Airflow channels to keep your back cool and dry. This is one of the finest that I have ever tried. I love that this is very roomy which is why I recommend this a lot. Items like this one make the outdoors a lot more fun and a lot easier.

5. Mountaintop 70L+10L Internal Frame Backpack with Rain Cover

Technical Specs
Weight: 4.2 lbs
Capacity: 70L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes
Feature Summary: Hydration compartment, separate bladder sleeve in the main compartment, hip-belt adjustable length, for multiple-day camping trips, you’ll want the largest packs, those that allow a capacity of 50 or more liters

Short Review: There are several backpacking backpacks that I like however this is one of my favorites. This features multi-position torso adjustment fits wide range of body sizes. Also comes with waterproof rain cover at the bottom. This is definitely worth obtaining as this can carry and store important items for the outdoors. The big capacity is one of the best features of this item. It is very affordable also. This high quality item has always been one of my personal favorites. I love that this has a huge capacity, it makes packing a lot easier. This has a great deal of positive customer reviews that you have to check them out to obtain additional info.

6. Amazon Basics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack with Rainfly

Technical Specs
Weight: 5.1 lbs
Capacity: 65L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes
Feature Summary: Really great backpack. Looks a lot like Teton though and has similar features. Rain fly included. Large capacity also.

7. Loowoko Hiking Backpack 50L Travel Camping Backpack

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Capacity: 50 L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes
Feature Summary: For tying up your day back pack or hanging sleeping bags, mat, hammock, tripod, and other accessories gears, comfortable hiking daypack, breathable mesh shoulder straps with plentiful sponge padding help relieve the stress from your shoulder

Short Review: One of the best things that you can acquire is this hiking backpack. This is constructed out of high-abrasion fabric makes it easy for you to pack up to 50 pounds of stuff without worrying about jam-packing your backpack to the brim and ruining it. This comes with breathable mesh shoulder straps with plentiful sponge padding and 50-liters capacity which is ideal for long backpacking trips. It has the necessary features like hip belt, pockets, attachments outside the bag, and so on. Great item with lots of pockets and very stylish too. A high quality item that will absolutely become one of your favorites. This is very durable and very affordable.

8. TETON Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack

Technical Specs
Weight: 4.5 lbs
Capacity: 55L
Hiking Pole Attachments: Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes

Short Review: One of the greatest things I have ever tried is this backpacking backpack. This is a great backpack from Teton. If you need a lot of space and capacity then this is a good backpack to try. The price is not that high and the durability is awesome. I like that this is really durable due to the fact there are a great deal of items in this category that are very fragile. I know them very well but you do not. I appreciate that this item is really sturdy and simple to clean. This has multiple pockets. Having a great item like this is great for hiking. The positive consumer feedback of this item are correct because this has a lot of amazing capabilities. One of the greatest that I have tried and I know you will not be let down simply because this is really good.

9. 60L Waterproof Lightweight Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.1 lbs
Capacity: 60L
Hiking Pole Attachments : Yes
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes

Short Review: You must check out this hiking backpack because it could possibly be the item that you are shopping for. This features breathable mesh shoulder straps with plentiful sponge padding help relieve the stress from your shoulder. This features a spacious main compartment and numerous pouches with large capacity. This is constructed from high quality rip-stop polyester material, water resistant, tear resistant and includes a rain cover. This is a superb bargain. Perfect size and well made for the price. The roomy and spacious interior allows this item to be able to carry lots of stuff. Amazing item for hiking and this works well too. This has been a fantastic experience and I am satisfied using this all the time. I have nothing negative to say about this item. This is pretty amazing.

10. HOMIEE 50L Hiking Backpack

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.8 pounds
Capacity: 50L
Hiking Pole Attachments: No
Hydration Bladder Compartment: Yes

Short Review: There are a great deal of consumers that love this backpacking backpack. This is constructed out of 420D waterproof nylon fabric can prevent tearing and abrasion caused by prolonged use. Comes with mesh back padding design consists of two large pads positioned on both sides of the spine and Widened and thickened S-shaped shoulder straps and highly elastic breathable back support. This item is pretty light for a 50 litre capacity backpack. This item works exceptionally well and one of the best that is available right now. I love that the capacity of this bag is huge, that it is easy to put huge amounts of stuff inside it. Items like this one make hiking a lot more fun and provide lots of usefulness. This item is great. This came faster than expected and the material feels very durable.