Backpacks
Daypacks and backpacking packs that carry comfortably.
Best OverallOsprey Atmos AG 65
The AntiGravity suspended mesh back panel makes 40 lbs feel like 25. Our testers' favorite pack for week-long trips, four years running.
Best LightweightGregory Paragon 58
A sub-4-lb pack that still carries 35 lbs comfortably — the sweet spot for weekenders trimming weight without going full ultralight.
Backpacks guides
- Organizing a Daypack for Short Hikes: What Stays Reachable
Even a one-hour hike needs water, navigation, snacks, a rain shell, sun protection and a small safety kit, because a wrong turn can stretch the outing. Keep those critical essentials easy to reach, start with the bag you own, and trim the load before hanging gear outside.
- How to Pack a Backpacking Pack: The Zone System That Ends Digging
Heavy close and high, light at the bottom, essentials on top. The packing system our guides teach — plus the 5 mistakes that wreck your back.
- Osprey vs. Gregory Backpacks: An Honest Head-to-Head
The two giants of backpacking packs, compared where it counts: suspension, fit, pockets and durability — plus which brand suits which hiker.
- The 6 Best Daypacks for Hiking in 2026, Tested on Real Trails
A great daypack disappears on your back. We hiked 300+ miles with six of the best to find the ones that carry 15 lbs like they're carrying nothing.
- The 5 Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026 (Carried, Not Just Weighed)
We loaded five packs with 35 lbs and hiked them through the Sierras. These are the ones our backs would choose again — from the plush Osprey Atmos to a sub-2-lb ultralight frameless.