Best Backpacks of 2023

Backpacks are the backbone of most outdoor pursuits, and finding one that fits your body and your activities is critical to success. But with so many different brands and models available, choosing one can be a daunting task. I’ve narrowed the best backpacks down to my top six, and I’m confident that they are what you need for your next big adventure.

• Best Overall Backpack: REI Co-op Flash 55
• Best Backpacking Backpack: Osprey Exos 58/Eja 58
• Best Backpack for Day Hikes: Decathlon Quechua MH500 20L Hiking Backpack
• Best Backpack for Heavy Loads: Osprey Aether Pro 70/Ariel Pro 65
• Best Backpack for Fishing: Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad Lighted Backpack
• Best Backpack for Hunting: Kifaru 44 Mag

Things to Consider Before Buying a Backpack 

Capacity

Backpacks range in size from 10 liters all the way up to 70 liters and more. While it can be tempting to go for a pack that is slightly larger than what you think you’ll use—just in case—this usually leads to overpacking, making your backpack unnecessarily heavy. I recommend a 20L to 30L pack for a day hike, 45L to 55L for overnight trips, and 55L to 65L for multi-night treks. While 70L+ packs are common in the backcountry, I only recommend these for people who need a lot of gear, such as hunters.

Read Next: Best Hiking Backpacks

Size

There are two measurements to look at when choosing a backpack: torso length and waist circumference. The first is usually categorized by small, medium, and large (for men and women), but some backpacks allow you to adjust the torso length on the backpack frame itself. This not only helps to get a perfect fit with your pack, but can also be useful when loaning out or sharing gear. 

The hip belt should wrap around the bones of your hips with the buckle snapping shut under your belly button and the webbing adjusted evenly on either side for a snug fit. 

Typically, hip belts are one size fits all, so if you find that there is a lot of excessive webbing on yours after adjusting (and you’re committed to your pack), one option is to cut off the excess. To trim your belt, cut it so that only eight inches are left on each side, and then carefully sear the edges with a lighter so they don’t fray. 

If you’re finding that the hip belt is too small on the packs that fit your torso size, you have a few options: ULA-brand packs size the hipbelt and torso separately, allowing for greater customization. Select Osprey packs have hip belts that can be extended out to accommodate larger sizes, or that can be swapped out entirely for larger sizes. More recently, Gregory came out with a selection of packs tailored to plus-size bodies. 

Comfort

What fits well for one person might not fit well for another, so I recommend spending some quality time—trying out the load-bearing adjustments, making sure the hip belt is sitting comfortably—with your pack before committing. I’ve worn enough packs to know that what works well in a store doesn’t always work well out on the trail. If after carrying a full load in the mountains, your body is telling you this isn’t the pack (trust me, you’ll know), don’t hesitate to try something new. 

Extras

Some ultralight backpacks are little more than tubes with shoulder straps, while others incorporate everything from waterproof zippers to built-in daypacks. The advantage to additional features is that some of them—like water bottle holders, trekking-pole loops, or a sternum-strap whistle—can be quite useful. The disadvantage is that these extras can make gear heavier than it needs to be. My top pick, the REI Flash 55, is a great option for learning which extras you value, which can in turn help inform your purchasing choices in the future.  

Best Backpack Overall: REI Co-op Flash 55

Key Features

• Weight: 2 pounds, 10 ounces
• Capacity: 55 liters
• Comfortable carrying up to 25 pounds
• Roll-top closure with removable top lid
• Hip belt pockets, double side pockets, front mesh pocket

Why It Made the Cut

The REI Flash 55 transitions easily from the perfect beginner’s pack to a stripped-down design, with any number of configurations possible in between. 

Pros

• Removable hip belt pockets, shoulder strap pocket, top lid pocket, and compression straps
• Separate forward side water bottle pockets for easy access
• Ventilated mesh back panel

Cons

• Doesn’t carry heavy loads comfortably

Product Description

Most backpacking packs fall into one of two categories: a heavy pack built for heavy loads with tons of bells and whistles, or an uncomfortable ultralight model for fastpacking adventures. Choosing which type of backpacker you are can be daunting when you’re first starting out, but with the Flash 55 you don’t have to. Start out with the convenience of a top pocket, compression straps hugging your pad to the outside of your bag, snacks tucked into the hip belt pockets—then ditch what you didn’t use on your next trip (saving up to 7.5 ounces of weight in the process). 

I’ve taken this pack on everything from multi-night treks through canyons in Arizona to overnight trips in the Cascade Range. I’ve yet to experience any discomfort or bruising around the hips or shoulders. The roll-top closure made it easy to take out gear and compress it back down again on the fly (I prefer it to the more traditional drawstring closures). It was nice to be able to move the compression straps around to better fit my gear on days where I needed to strap my poles to the outside of my bag or compress the main compartment when my food sack started to empty out. 

Experienced backpackers—who know what kind of loads they will be carrying and what kind of comfort features they want—may opt for a pack that’s already dialed into their needs, but the Flash 55’s versatility makes it a great beginner’s backpack that can level all the way up to shorter thru-hikes. 

Best Backpack for Backpacking: Osprey Exos 58/Eja 58

Key Features

• Weight: 2 pounds, 10 ounces
• Capacity: 58 liters
• Comfortable carrying up to 40 pounds
• Drawstring closure with removable top lid
• Hip belt pockets, side pockets, front mesh pocket

Why It Made the Cut

The Osprey Exos is a lightweight pack that will last for years. The streamlined profile has kept me from packing the kitchen sink on more than one occasion, but it’s got the suspension chops to handle heavy loads when needed. 

Pros

• Ventilated back panel keeps backs dry on long treks
• Spacious front mesh pocket was perfect for stuffing layers as they shed
• Great suspension
• Low weight compared to other packs with an internal frame

Cons

• Can be a challenge to grab water bottles out of the side pockets

Product Description

My husband tested the Exos, and one of the first things he noticed about the Exos 58 was the gap between the body of the pack and the mesh back panel, which is held taut by two lightweight metal rods running up and down the sides. This separation means that there is substantial airflow against the back, minimizing the chaffing experienced on the hottest days. This lightweight frame is also part of the pack’s excellent suspension—he was comfortable carrying loads up to 40 pounds through the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. 

While other packs boast multiple entry points into the main compartment, my experience with the Exos has been that once you get used to a top-loading pack—where you have to think carefully about what gear you are stashing at the bottom, since it will be a pain in the butt to fish out in the middle of the day—it ultimately results in a better load distribution and less confusion about what pocket or corner my sunscreen landed in. With the Exos, it helps that the front mesh pocket is quite generous, easily fitting all the layers I end up stripping off as the heat of the day picks up. The side pockets are significantly tighter than other packs in this category, but the benefit is that any tent poles or water filters you’ve stashed there are guaranteed to stay put. 

The latest iteration of the Exos did away with the hipbelt pockets—where were backpackers supposed to stash their snacks and their phone?—but Osprey has brought them back in the newest version that was released for 2022. 

Best Backpack for Day Hikes: Decathlon Quechua MH500, Hiking Backpack, 20L

Key Features

• Weight: 2 pounds, 6 ounces
• Capacity: 20 liters
• Comfortable carrying up to 15 pounds
• Drawstring closure with fixed top lid
• Hip belt pockets, side pockets, front mesh pocket

Why It Made the Cut

The Quechua MH500 is a fully-featured daypack that comes in at well under $100. It’s a great choice for everyone, from novices to weekend warriors. 

Pros

• Low price
• Padded hip belt and ventilated back panel
• Easy to grab water out of the side pockets
• Integrated rain fly

Cons

• Heavy for only carrying 20L

Product Description

You’d think there’d be a catch with Quechua MH500 given its low price—either durability would take a hit, or it would be uncomfortable (or some combination of the two). But on several early-spring day hikes in the foothills of the Cascades, this pack performed just as well as its more expensive counterparts without cutting corners. 

This one has all the features that I’ve come to expect from a great daypack—padded hipbelt and shoulder straps with adjustable load lifters, a mesh backpanel, a sternum strap, tons of pockets, and an integrated rainfly (although I’ve found that the waterproof coating on the polyurethane fabric does a fine job with short-burst showers). If I had a gripe, it’d be that it’s missing the integrated whistle on the sternum strap, but it’s easy enough to carry a separate whistle if you have any concerns about getting lost. 

Decathlon offers this pack in two sizes: individuals below 5 foot 7 inches tall, and for individuals above 5 foot 7 inches tall—people with long or short torso may want to size up or down if they are close to one of these two heights. The hip belt here is also on the narrow side, and won’t fit as wide a range of individuals as other daypacks. 

Best Backpack for Heavy Loads: Osprey Aether Pro 70/Ariel Pro 65

Key Features

• Weight: 3 pounds, 15 ounces
• Capacity: 70 liters
• Comfortable carrying up to 50 pounds
• Drawstring closure with removable top lid
• The largest hip belt pockets I’ve ever seen are removable

Why It Made the Cut

The Aether Pro 70 carries heavy loads comfortably without adding to it. This pack is built to last on long adventures over tough terrain. 

Pros

• Extremely durable with minimal fail points
• Lightweight for its load capacity
• Good support and ventilation
• Adjustable sizing with the option to swap out the hip belt if needed

Cons

• No front or side mesh pockets
• Narrow profile 

Product Description

This pack holds more weight more comfortably than anything we’ve tried, and it was my first pick to carry all the gear for three people on a 31-mile, four-day trek on Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail (the other adult was carrying a toddler in the Osprey Poco AG). My five-foot-five frame protested when I first hauled the 40-pound load onto my shoulders, but once I had the hip belt snug and the load lifters dialed in, I barely felt it (well, my hips and shoulders barely felt it, my thighs definitely noticed it on the 2,000-foot climb to Summerland). 

The features on this pack are very minimal—don’t look for an undercarriage zipper or side mesh pockets—but it retains the top lid pocket, spacious enough for your essentials for the day. But it has seemingly endless hip-belt pockets, which is useful when you’ve got to keep enough snacks at the ready for two hustling adults and one growing two year old. The sleeping pad straps helped keep some of our more durable gear out of the interior of the pack, while the front compression straps worked in a pinch to hold the tent body when I couldn’t stuff it into the interior. 

Osprey bills the Aether Pro 70 as a mountaineering pack, and while I think its utility extends to backpacking and off-trail missions, this is not the right pack for a first-time backpacker or someone planning an overnight. 

Read Next: Best Backpacking Stoves

Best Fishing Backpack: Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad Lighted Backpack

Key Features

• Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Capacity: 3600-size utility trays in the first compartment and five 3500-size utility trays in the other
• Zip closure with inset second zip pocket
• Pockets at the main compartment, top compartment, six side pouches, and pliers pouch

Why It Made the Cut

This fishing bag is for on-the-go anglers who want to be prepared for any possibility with a wide range of tackle and accessories. It also works well in low light conditions thanks to an integrated LED light system.

Pros

• Comfortable fit
• Holds a huge amount of gear
• Lights allow you to see exactly what’s inside

Cons

• Price may deter some bargain-minded anglers

Product Description

This lighted backpack aspires to be the Cadillac of fishing storage solutions. It’s made to fit a large number of tackle trays, making it modular and versatile, and also has a fold-down work surface. Wild River has also taken into account the tools and accessories you’ll need when chasing your prey, with a molded sunglasses holder to protect your precious shades and a removable pliers pouch that has a retracting lanyard. You’ll stay more organized and won’t need to decide which gear to leave at home because you can bring it all. The lights require two AAA batteries, not included. Utility trays, however, are included. —Pete Robbins

Best Hunting Backpack: Kifaru 44 Mag 

Key Features:

• Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Capacity: 77.8L
• Comfortable carrying up to 80 pounds (capable of up to 100 pounds)
• Side pockets with vertical zippers
• Zipper access to main compartment
• External meat shelf

Why It Made the Cut

The 44 Mag is roomy and tough as nails. It can function as a daypack or multi-day backpack hunting pack—and pack your meat out when you’re done.

Pros

• Rugged construction
• Space for multi-day gear
• Meat shelf allows you to pack meat between bag and frame
• Zippered main compartment provides easy access

Cons

• Must buy frame separately

Product Description

The 44 Mag is a pack that covers the middle ground between day pack and 7-to-10-day expedition-style packs. It’s large enough to fit a few days’ worth of hunting and camp gear, and the meat shelf allows you to pack your meat between the bag and frame.

The bag includes side pockets and a top compartment, and with the zipper access to the main compartment, organization is easier than with most drawstring-type pack bags. Additionally, the webbing on the back of the pack allows you to attach external pockets or accessories.

The frame must be purchased separately, but coupled with Kifaru’s Duplex Lite frame, it’s a pack that can haul a surprising amount of weight—and one of the most comfortable on the market. These packs are expensive, but very durable and the company has great customer service. —Tyler Freel

FAQs

Methodology  

I’ve taken packs across the United States, from The Appalachian Trail to Colorado, from Arizona to the North Cascades, carrying loads from as little as 12 pounds up to 40 pounds or more. In that time, I’ve identified the key features that make for a great backpack (awesome suspension, durable body and side pockets, proper back ventilation, and easy access to water) and those that we could do without (zippered front pockets rank high on this list). The packs in this selection are both based on those experiences and ones that experts like Robbins and Freel tested in the field to get a feel for how they stand up to the rigors of the trail.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best backpack for your needs is one of the most important purchasing decisions an outdoor adventurer can make. There are many great backpack manufacturers—including Gregory, Granite Gear, Sierra Designs, ULA, Mountain Hardwear, Hyperlite—so my selections here are focused on gear that has the widest possible utility.