Best Backpack for Backpacking – 2025 Reviews
Finding the perfect backpack for backpacking feels like searching for a needle in a haystack—until you actually hit the trail with the wrong one and your shoulders scream in protest.
I’ve spent years testing gear on everything from weekend trips to month-long expeditions, and the difference between a good backpack and a great one comes down to how it distributes weight, breathes when you’re sweating uphill, and organizes your chaos.
This guide cuts through the noise to show you the backpacks that genuinely perform when it matters most.
Best Backpack for Backpacking – 2025 Reviews
Osprey Renn 65L Women's Backpack – Ultimate Comfort for Women
The Osprey Renn 65L is engineered specifically for women, featuring an adjustable AirSpeed suspension that keeps you cool and dry on long hikes.
With an integrated raincover and smart storage solutions, it handles multi-day trips with ease while maintaining exceptional comfort.
TETON 65L Explorer Backpack – Premium Features at Mid-Range Price
The TETON 65L Explorer strikes an incredible balance between features and affordability, offering internal frame support and customizable comfort.
It’s packed with organizational pockets and compression straps, making it ideal for week-long adventures without breaking the bank.
IGOLUMON 60L Hiking Backpack – Maximum Affordability
The IGOLUMON 60L delivers surprising quality at an unbeatable price, featuring a no-internal-frame design that keeps weight minimal.
With multiple compartments and included rain cover, it’s perfect for beginners or those on a tight budget who still need reliable performance.
Osprey Rook 65L Men's Backpack – Superior Weight Distribution
The Osprey Rook 65L is built for men who need intelligent weight management, featuring the same AirSpeed suspension as its women’s counterpart.
It combines lightweight materials with strategic padding to make heavy loads feel manageable over long distances.
THE NORTH FACE Terra 55 Backpack – Trail-Ready Versatility
THE NORTH FACE Terra 55 brings professional-grade features to recreational backpackers, with a cinch-top opening and specialized attachments for poles and axes.
The padded hipbelt and removable frame sheet allow for fine-tuned comfort across various body types and load requirements.
TETON 55L Scout Backpack – Balanced Capacity for Most Trips
The TETON 55L Scout offers the perfect sweet spot for 3-5 day trips, with internal frame support and multi-directional compression straps.
It maintains the brand’s reputation for comfort and durability while providing ample space without overwhelming bulk.
TETON 45L Scout Backpack – Compact for Shorter Adventures
The TETON 45L Scout is tailored for weekend warriors and light packers, offering the same quality construction as larger models in a more compact form.
With its internal frame and organizational pockets, it’s perfect for overnighters or as an introduction to backpacking.
Loowoko 50L Hiking Backpack – Lightweight Organization
The Loowoko 50L emphasizes smart organization in a lightweight package, featuring numerous pockets and a separate shoe compartment.
Its no-internal-frame design keeps weight minimal while still providing comfortable carrying for moderate loads.
HOMIEE 50L Hiking Backpack – Ventilated Comfort
The HOMIEE 50L focuses on carrying comfort with its full-contact back suspension system and S-shaped shoulder straps.
It includes practical features like a whistle buckle and reflective elements for safety during low-light conditions.
Night Cat 70L Hiking Backpack – Maximum Capacity Budget Option
The Night Cat 70L provides enormous storage capacity at a budget price, ideal for extended trips or bulkier gear requirements.
Despite its large volume, it maintains a lightweight profile with multiple compartments for organized packing.
Our Testing Process: Why These Rankings Are Different
We put 10 different backpacking backpacks through their paces, analyzing everything from strap comfort to organizational logic. Our scoring system is 70% based on real-world performance—how these packs actually feel on the trail with weight—and 30% on innovation and competitive differentiation that sets them apart.
For example, our top-rated Osprey Renn 65L scored an exceptional 9.5 for its brilliant weight distribution and women-specific design, while the budget-friendly IGOLUMON 60L earned a solid 8.1 by delivering surprising quality at an unbeatable price point.
We focused on how these packs perform where it matters: comfort under load, durability in rough conditions, and smart features that actually make backpacking easier. Scores between 9.0-10.0 represent exceptional packs that excel in nearly every category, while 8.0-8.9 indicates very good options with minor trade-offs.
This approach ensures our recommendations are based on genuine performance insights rather than marketing hype, giving you confidence that these backpacks will deliver when you’re miles from civilization.
Complete Buyer's Guide: How to Choose a Backpacking Backpack for Comfort and Performance
1. Capacity: Matching Size to Your Trip Length
Backpack capacity is measured in liters and directly correlates to how many days you can stay out. For weekend trips (1-3 nights), 30-50 liters is usually sufficient. For week-long adventures, look for 50-70 liters. Extended expeditions might require 70+ liters.
Remember that larger isn’t always better—an oversized pack will tempt you to overpack, adding unnecessary weight. I’ve found that most backpackers do well with a 50-65 liter pack for the majority of their trips.
2. Frame Type: Internal vs. No Frame
Internal frame backpacks use aluminum or plastic stays to transfer weight to your hips, making them ideal for heavier loads and uneven terrain. No-frame packs are lighter and more flexible, perfect for ultralight backpacking or those carrying less than 20-25 pounds.
If you’re new to backpacking or plan to carry substantial weight, start with an internal frame—the stability and load management are worth the slight weight penalty.
3. Fit and Sizing: The Most Critical Factor
A backpack that doesn’t fit properly will ruin your trip faster than bad weather. The key measurements are torso length (not your height) and hip size. Most quality packs offer adjustable torso lengths and interchangeable hip belts.
When trying on a pack, load it with weight and adjust all straps—the hip belt should sit on your hip bones carrying 80% of the weight, with the shoulder straps stabilizing rather than bearing the load.
4. Comfort Features: What Actually Matters
Look for padded shoulder straps that are contoured to your body, a ventilated back panel to reduce sweat, and load lifter straps that connect the top of the pack to your shoulders. These small details make enormous differences over long days.
I’ve found that hip belt padding quality is often overlooked—good padding should be firm enough to transfer weight but soft enough to prevent pressure points.
5. Organization and Access: Smart Storage Solutions
Consider how you access your gear. Top-loading packs are simple and weather-resistant, while panel-loading designs offer easier access to specific items. Many modern packs combine both with zippered access to the main compartment.
External features like compression straps, gear loops, and multiple pockets help distribute weight and keep frequently used items accessible without unpacking everything.
6. Durability and Weather Resistance
Look for packs made with ripstop nylon or similar durable materials, with double-stitched seams at stress points. The denier (D) number indicates fabric thickness—higher numbers (like 420D) generally mean more durability.
An included rain cover is valuable, but some packs use water-resistant coatings instead. In either case, using waterproof stuff sacks for critical gear provides extra protection.
7. Weight Considerations: Striking the Right Balance
Backpack weight matters, but don’t sacrifice necessary features for minimal weight savings. Most quality internal frame packs weigh 3-5 pounds empty, while no-frame options can be 2 pounds or less.
Remember that a comfortable, well-fitting pack that weighs slightly more will feel better than an uncomfortable lightweight pack after several hours on the trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What size backpack do I need for a 3-day backpacking trip?
For most 3-day trips, a 40-55 liter backpack is ideal. This provides enough space for your sleeping system, shelter, food, and clothing without encouraging overpacking. If you’re using bulkier gear (like a winter sleeping bag) or need to carry more water between sources, lean toward the larger end of this range.
The key is packing efficiently—use compression sacks for your sleeping bag and clothes, and choose multi-use items to minimize volume.
2. How important is a backpack's frame system?
Extremely important for comfort and load management. Internal frame packs distribute weight to your hips, making heavy loads feel manageable over long distances. No-frame packs are lighter and more flexible but work best with lighter loads (under 25 pounds).
If you’re new to backpacking or plan to carry substantial weight, an internal frame is worth the slight weight penalty for the improved comfort and stability.
3. Should I get a men's or women's specific backpack?
If you have the option, yes—gender-specific packs are designed around typical body proportions. Women’s packs often have shorter torso lengths, narrower shoulder straps, and hip belts contoured for wider hips. Men’s packs typically have longer torsos and wider shoulder spacing.
That said, the most important factor is proper fit regardless of gender labeling. Try on multiple options and choose what feels most comfortable with weight in the pack.
4. What features are most important for backpacking comfort?
The hip belt is arguably the most critical—it should transfer most of the weight to your hips. After that, look for adjustable torso length, padded shoulder straps, and ventilated back panels to reduce sweat buildup.
Don’t overlook smaller details like load lifter straps and sternum straps—these fine-tune the fit and can make a good pack feel great.
5. How do I know if a backpack fits properly?
Start by measuring your torso length from the C7 vertebra (the bony bump at the base of your neck) to the top of your hip bones. The pack’s torso adjustment should match this measurement. When wearing the loaded pack, the hip belt should wrap around your hip bones with the buckle centered.
The shoulder straps should hug your shoulders without gaping, and the load lifter straps should angle back at about 45 degrees. A proper fit means the pack feels like part of your body rather than something you’re carrying.
Final Verdict
After testing these 10 backpacks across various conditions, the clear takeaway is that there’s no single ‘best’ backpack—there’s only the best backpack for you. Your perfect pack depends on your body type, trip length, budget, and personal preferences.
If I had to choose one backpack for most situations, the Osprey Renn 65L for women and Osprey Rook 65L for men deliver exceptional comfort and features that justify their premium pricing. For those watching their budget, the TETON 65L Explorer offers incredible value, while the IGOLUMON 60L proves you don’t need to spend much to get a capable pack.
Remember that the right backpack should feel comfortable within minutes of putting it on—if it doesn’t feel right in the store, it definitely won’t feel right after 10 miles. Trust your body’s feedback, and you’ll find a pack that makes your adventures more enjoyable rather than more painful.