Best Hiking Backpacks of 2019: Our Top 13 For Every Budget

The best hiking backpacks that we’ve found. Here’s what you to look for whether you’re planning a multi-day trek or heading out for a day hike.

We’ll introduce you to our favourite backpacking brands and tell you exactly what to look for in a backpack whether you’re doing a multi-day trek like the Tour du Mont Blanc or the Dolomites where you will carry everything you need with you, or a hiking tour like the Cinque Terre or our Coastal Hike from Spain to France where all you need is a day pack.

But first,

How to Choose the Best Hiking Backpack for You

A backpack is one of your core pieces of gear when hiking or backpacking. A good one, you’ll hardly notice. A poor fitting or a heavy one without load balancing features will leave you with blisters and sore muscles.  Among the vast array of shapes, styles, and sizes here’s how to choose the best one for you:

Pick the Right Size For Your Hike

You’ll find a wide range of backpack sizes. Use this guideline to find the right one for the hike that you’re doing:

• Day hike: 25 – 40 L 
• 1 – 3 nights: 30 – 50 L
• 3 – 5 nights: 50 – 80 L
• 5+ nights: 70 L+

Find the Right Fit

Hiking for lengthy periods makes it important to find a backpack that fits your torso. Make sure that it’s long enough but not too long.

If you have a small frame, a women’s backpack may be a good choice since they’re usually shorter and narrower. 

You should also consider the waist and look for one in which around 80% of your backpack’s weight is supported by your hips. This will significantly reduce shoulder strain. I once made the mistake of choosing a lightweight backpack that only offered a flimsy hipbelt and my shoulders ached even after day hikes.

Choose the Right Backback Frame

For most hikers, I’d recommend an internal-frame backpack. They keep you stable on uneven terrain and many include load-supporting technology that transfers the weight to your hips.

If you’re carrying an irregular load like an inflatable kayak, an external-frame backpack could be a good choice.

Frameless backpacks are a good choice if the most important thing to you is keeping your load light. But these are best if you’re not carrying a heavy load.

Decide Which Backpack Features Are Essential

The more gadgets on your backpack the heavier it will be. Decide what’s essential for you depending on the type of hiking that you’ll be doing and if you don’t need certain  features, you’re better to choose a pack that doesn’t have the unneeded features since they add extra weight:

• • Pockets. I think side pockets are essential, but all others aren’t necessary but it will depend on how you hike.
  • Padding. It makes your backpack more comfortable especially for longer trips but adds weight so you have to find a balance.
  • Attachment points. I.e. loops for hiking poles, etc.. Consider how many you need. I personally just use the ones for hiking poles and don’t need anymore.
  • Integrated hydration reservoir. This is essential if you hike with a Camelback or similar water reservoir. If not, you don’t need it.
  • Removable daypack/top lid. It may be nice on larger packs but not necessary on smaller ones.
  • Sleeping bag compartment. Perhaps a nice to have, but not a must-have in my opinion.
  • Rain cover. Definitely a must-have for any type of backpack.

What are our favourite backpack brands?

Osprey

– Founded: 1974.
– Headquarters: California, USA

They offer a life long guarantee so you’ll be eligible for repairs or a replacement. Plus, Osprey backpacks are very comfortable. This is a top choice of many avid hikers that I know.

Gregory Packs

– Founded: 1977.
– Headquarters: California, USA

This brand is well known for the quality and sturdiness of their backpacks. Gregory has a zero policy for modern slavery in it’s supply chain which we love.

Arcteryx

– Founded: 1991.
– Headquarters: North Vancouver, Canada

Arcteryx builds products to last to minimize the negative environmental impact. They do this through responsible manufacturing, and community engagement.

Deuter

– Founded: 1898.
– Headquarters: Germany

Their backpacks are award-winning due to the strong materials that they use. They are also a member of Bluesign. The world’s strictest standard for environmental protection. I’m a big fan of Deuter but perhaps I’m biased since I live in Germany.

Kelty

– Founded: 1952
– Headquarters: Colorado, USA

This is the go-to brand when you’re looking for a sturdy backpack that isn’t as expensive as Osprey or Gregory. They don’t tend to get the same reviews but they are good quality for the money.

Marmot

– Founded: 1974
– Headquarters: California, USA

This is another backpack that a lot of hikers love due to how comfortable they are, they actually mould to your back. They also introduced EnviroFree, an initiative to reduce chemical applications in the manufacturing process while still maintaining or improving the quality and performance of the raw materials.

The North Face 

– Founded: 1974
– Headquarters: California, USA

The North Face is, among the better quality backpacks out there. They also offer the North Face Renewed, a collection of refurbished clothing that reduces the environmental impact of textile manufacturing.

TETON

– Founded: 2005
– Headquarters: Utah, USA

Out of the budget brands out there, Teton offers a lot for your money. Their products are a good choice if you’re just getting into backpacking or hiking and aren’t sure you want to invest in an expensive pack.

High Sierra

– Founded: 1978
– Headquarters: Illinois, USA

They’re known for strong yet light backpacks. They’re good for hiking but not as comfortable as the ones at the top of this list based on Amazon reviews. They have all of the basic features and work perfectly well. I would definitely recommend these to first-time hikers.

Granite Gear

– Founded: 1996
– Headquarters: Minnesota, USA

This relatively recent company is known for creating backpacks that are affordable and have a great design. One of the highlights of their backpacks is that you can adjust the waist belt on two different places, giving it a better fit for most people.  They might not be as popular as some of the larger brands but they are certainly worth checking out.

Best Day Hiking Backpacks

You’ll find our recommendations for day hikes below. Also, be sure to check out our Day Hiking Packing List for other gear you need.