Today’s outdoor industry is booming with new brands, new pursuits, and new technology. It makes it hard to believe what people set out on the trail with just 30 years ago. However, with these new brands and technology, the task of choosing a backpack has become quite a challenge! Have no fear, let’s try to make your decision as easy as possible!

In this article, we will review and compare the best backpacking backpacks currently available. By “backpacking,” we mean multi-day travel, ranging from a weekend to several days. If you are looking for a daypack backpack, built to handle a single day of adventure, then check out our Best Hiking Daypacks of 2021 article. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BACKPACKING BACKPACK?

Backpacking backpacks are all built to accommodate around 50 pounds of gear. If you are going to be hauling around 50 pounds of stuff, you want it to be a comfortable 50 pounds. So without question, comfort is king (or queen) on the trail.

There are certain outdoor enthusiasts who demand lightweight packs, but in my mind, a comfortable pack wins over weight-saving minimalist harness systems and materials. You will probably be on your feet hiking for entire days at a time, and you want your pack to feel like part of your body—not an obnoxious hitchhiker who doesn’t pitch in for gas money. 

Meanwhile, backpacks now offer a host of features, which vary and will appeal to some more than others. Keep an eye out for features and accessories you know you will use, do you use hiking poles a lot? Then you will want gear loops or the Stow-on-the-Go system provided by Osprey backpacks, the Atmos and Aura series, and the Aether and Ariel series. Do you want a rain cover to keep your cargo dry? Both of the Gregory packs that we reviewed offer rain covers included with their backpacks—the Baltoro and Deva series as well as the Stout and Amber series. As you read our research and opinions about these packs, pay attention to what features you think you’d prefer or want on your new backpack. 

Finally, keep in mind that just because a pack fits perfectly on one person does not mean that it will fit wonderfully on you. It is important to find a backpack that fits you. It is always highly recommended to go to your local gear store and try some packs on to see what harness systems you prefer. Some companies have created removable hipbelts that can then be heat molded to your body, for example, the Osprey Aether AG 60. Moreover, you’ll also want to keep in mind that sometimes the best fit might even be a pack labelled for the opposite sex. Just find the one that works for you.

Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2021 the Round-up

Other Packs

REI Trailbreak 60

Granite Gear Blaze 60

Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60

Osprey Aether and Ariel

Gregory Stout and Amber

Arcteryx Bora AR 63

Osprey Atmos and Aura

Best All-Around Backpack

Atmos 65

 Aura 65

The Atmos and Aura lines created by Osprey have been the go-to backpack for campers for years. This season should be no change. The Anti-Gravity back panel and harness system is the most comfortable and breathable option on the market. The backpack itself is well organized with a variety of pockets and storage options. Other than the weight, which is countered by the excellent harness system, this backpack family is almost perfect. It was an easy decision to name it our Best All-Around Backpack of the season. 

^ Back to Top ^

Gregory Baltoro and Deva

Most Supportive Backpack under Heavy Loads

Baltoro 65

Deva 60

The Baltoro and Deva backpacks come with their own customized rain covers… need I say more? Fine, I will. Gregory has done an incredible job designing the harness system for their backpacking packs. There is less ventilation than with the Osprey Anti-gravity packs, but the A3 Response harness, explained further in the main article, and the wishbone frame direct weight perfectly onto the hips and allow the pack to move fluidly with the body. This system made the Baltoro and Deva backpacks by Gregory the Most Supportive Under a Heavy Load in 2020. In addition to the custom rain cover, there is a multitude of cool features that help these backpacks stand out—including a sunglasses bungee on the shoulder strap and a water bottle “holster.” 

^ Back to Top ^

Kelty Coyote 65

Best Budget Backpack 

Men 

Women

The Kelty Coyote was another easy decision for Best Budget Backpack of the season. Though it is ten dollars more expensive than the REI Trailbreak, it is a much greater bang-for-your-buck type of backpack. As we have come to expect with Kelty, it seems as though there are a million pockets on this backpack. Personally, I can’t get enough of the storage options, but for a minimalist, it may seem like a nightmare. 

The harness system on the Coyote is just fine for the loads that you may be carrying on a weekend backpacking trip and comes with the ability to be adjusted to the wearer’s body. The multitude of pockets will keep you hyper-organized, and the material will help the pack last for a long while. 

^ Back to Top ^

REI Trailbreak 60

Men’s

Women’s

In the world of expensive and innovative camping gear and accessories, the REI Trailbreak is a nice step back. It is simply designed and made with nothing more than the absolute essentials. For anyone just starting to get into camping who wants to get a backpack that will carry things, as they are made to do, for a price that will keep your pockets fairly heavy, this pack is a great starting point. It has everything you may need, including side stretch pockets, a top lid with lots of storage, and sleeping pad straps. 

The material sags quite a bit if the pack is not fully stuffed which can be annoying as the compression straps aren’t the best. For a starter backpack, though, it is a great place to start.

^ Back to Top ^

Granite Gear Blaze 60

Men’s

Women’s

Through-hikers and minimalists rejoice! The Granite Gear Blaze is a perfect mix of weight and support. Made with lightweight but tough-as-nails nylon and excellent surrounding compression straps, this backpack is made to be carried all day. Along with wild features like the top lid, which can serve double duty as either a front pack or a fanny pack, or like the vertical zipper, which allows full access to the main compartment. The Blaze is a backpack that everyone can enjoy—not just experienced through-hikers who cut their toothbrushes in half to save weight. 

^ Back to Top ^

Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60

The Sphinx 60 is a classic Mystery Ranch pack. With robust fabric and YKK zippers along with the main vertical access, these backpacks seem essentially indestructible. The two torpedo pockets along the front of the pack are slightly odd in terms of storage options but offer some variety compared to other backpacks. The other simple features included with the Sphinx help carrying medium loads into the backcountry a breeze. Even though Mystery Ranch now makes backpacks for the military and first responders, they have not forgotten their journeys in the backcountry camping world. 

^ Back to Top ^

Osprey Aether and Ariel 

Aether AG 60

Ariel AG 55

Now, there is some controversy surrounding the Aether and Ariel packs. Osprey added their Anti-Gravity back panel to the packs, and it caused quite a stir in the outdoor community. The problem is that now these backpacks are very similar to the Atmos and Aura, and the Anti-Gravity back panel made the Aether and Ariel less mountaineering friendly. The Anti-Gravity system causes the weight to be shifted away from the wearer’s center of gravity which can be dangerous in highly vertical situations.  

Other than that issue, the Aether and Ariel come with heat moldable hip belts, three access points to the main compartment, as well as Osprey’s Stow-on-the-Go hiking pole system. They are great backpacks, though they come with a slightly higher price tag compared with the Atmos and Aura. 

^ Back to Top ^

Gregory Stout and Amber

Stout

Amber 

The Gregory Stout is a down-to-earth backpack. It comes with classic features and is comfortable enough for a medium load over long distances. Compared to the Gregory Baltoro, the harness system is a major downgrade, and it lacks some of the features that help the Baltoro stand out. Although for its price point and design, it is a great pack for short missions in the outdoors. It has simple features that are easy to use and is adjustable to customize the fit for each user. 

^ Back to Top ^

Arc’teryx Bora AR 63

Men’s

Women’s

** Arc’teryx doesn’t provide dimensions for their Bora packs. 

If you didn’t notice the price before reading this, don’t go and look now. That said, Arc’teryx has designed a weatherproof, mountaineering, forward backpack, and it won’t disappoint. The Roto-Glide hipbelt paired with the lightweight but flexible internal frame system creates an innovative harness system that flows with the body. The material on the “exposed” sections of the pack are weatherproof, eliminating the need for backpack covers. The streamlined design does limit the overall storage options, however, as everything is protected inside the main compartment, top lid, or a single exterior thin pocket. 

In terms of innovation, this backpack is an all-star. In the world of affordability for the average camper mixed with the mountaineering specialization of the backpack, it is a bit of a miss. Do I want to use this backpack daily… of course. Will I in the near future… unlikely. 

^ Back to Top ^