Tips for Choosing Backpacking Packs in 2025

A good backpacking backpack can see you over hundreds of miles of trail and many seasons of use. Contemporary packs come in a wide array of shapes and sizes- with some built for versatility and others serving niche purposes. Regardless of the kind of hiking you want to do,  your backpack is the foundation of your kit.

We’ve scoured the trails and put together this list of our favorites across a wide range of styles and purposes. If you have any questions about what kind of back is right for you, check out our buyer’s guide below.

How to Choose a Backpacking Pack

Backpacking packs come in many different varieties. They are similar to hiking backpacks. In fact, they are interchangeable. For more about hiking backpacks, read about how they test and what they cost here.

Choosing the best model for you will be influenced by several factors including: the style of backpacking you want to do, how long you typically spend on trail, how much weight you’re willing to carry, and your willingness to tolerate discomfort.

While there are plenty of super specialized packs, the majority of models can be used in many situations. You can stretch a couple extra trail days out of a weekender pack, and likewise just carry less in a high-volume bag for shorter trips. There are benefits and drawbacks to each style- below we’ll break them down a little bit and help you come to your own decision.

Weekender Packs

This style of backpack is designed for short trips down the trail. The majority of hikers might only get out for a couple days at a time, so this very popular subclass is where most weekend warriors will end up.

Weekender packs vary in both their style and carry capacity- with some favoring a fast and light approach for smashing out big miles in a couple of days; and others opting for the more traditional, supportive style for hauling extra gear.

Size ranges vary from 35 to around 60 liters, with packs on the smaller end of the spectrum being a bit more specialized than the 60 L models that you can probably go out for a few days longer between resupplies.

Multi-Day Backpacks

High-volume backpacks are typically built from heavy, durable materials. More often than not they focus on making it comfortable to carry a bigger load than shaving off extra weight. If you’re already committed to carrying a lot with you, a few extra ounces for the sake of padding and comfort will probably help you in the long run.

These are the packs that you want if you’re doing extended carries between resupplies, or need to haul out a lot of gear for whatever reason you’re headed to the backcountry. For overnight ski trips or headed to remote alpine crags- you’ll definitely be grateful for some extra support to compensate for the extra gear weight.

Similarly, these backpacks make a lot of sense for those hiking with dependents of any kind. Your kids and newbie backpacker friends will likely be grateful that you remembered extra layers and food when they start to reach the limits of their experience.

Ultralight Packs

Ultralight backpacking has gained steady traction in the hiking community, with more mainstream access to lightweight gear than ever before. This style of backpacking is rooted in a “be less comfortable to be more comfortable mindset”. The idea is if you carry less weight, you’ll ultimately be more comfortable on trail- particularly if you’re pulling out big miles.

While it was once exclusively associated with long distance hiking, there’s a compelling case to be made that ultralight packs might be a great choice for shorter trips as well.

Ultralight gear is starting to see some crossover with more traditional backpack design. If taking the plunge into a frameless, minimalist pack scares you, you might be much happier with a hybrid design like the Osprey Exos 58.

Carrying Capacity

Backpacking packs start with the base assumption you’ll need at least enough space to carry one night’s worth of food and gear with you. Beyond this, they range from trim and simple weekend packs, to high-volume backpacks built for consecutive days and nights down the trail. Here’s a quick guide to size ranges based on activities.

10-30 L (Day Packs)

Small hiking bags in this range are more suitable for car-to-car adventures than they are overnight endeavors. Bags in this range typically only include enough space for essentials: food, water, and limited gear.

Hikers looking to do longer objectives over the course of a day might choose a larger pack to hold more gear or an emergency shelter. Our daypack guide has more specifics on the different varieties, as well as a selection of our favorites.

30-50 L (Weekender Backpacks)

Backpacks built for one or two nights in the backcountry try to capture the comfort and support of a more built-out bag while taking advantage of their low volume to keep weight low. In general, you can expect to comfortably pack your overnight essentials like a tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. Enough food, first aid gear, and extra layers shouldn’t be an issue either.

Weekend bags reach their limit when you start to stretch their carry weight. Capacity aside, the biggest limiting factor with these bags is carry weight. Even if you feel like you could sneak by with limited overnight gear, it’s difficult to compensate for the additional weight of food and water without a more robust support system.

50-80 L (Multi-Day/Multi-Sport Travel)

Multi-day backpacks can see you through several consecutive days and nights on trail. These spacious bags have the frames, the padding, and the support systems needed to comfortably carry all of your gear- plus several days worth of food. In addition to their high capacity, these packs usually have extensive internal organization systems to help with packing logistics.

Backpacks in this category are also useful for multisport activities where you need to carry gear in addition to your regular backpacking supplies.

75+ L (Distance/Gear Hauling)

Some trips last much longer than your typical weekend excursion. For extended travel through wilderness areas, savvy hikers want to carry all of the equipment and food they’ll need to survive. These large packs can carry enough for a week or more on trail.

Features

Frames and suspension

Dedicated backpacking packs tend to have well-built, supportive frames and suspension systems both to help distribute the additional weight of gear and make long trail miles more comfortable. These frames differ slightly in construction, with some packs

Straps and hip belts

A comfortable and snug hip belt is important to keeping weight off of your shoulders and back during a hike. Similar to frames, larger bags built for heavier loads tend to have more sturdily built hip belts.

Fit Adjustment

Most hiking bags come in a size range, but also feature an array of different ways to adjust how the backpack fits. These methods range from typical webbing shoulder and waist straps, to hook and ladder slots on the backplate hikers can use to further fit to the size of their torso. Higher-end bags are going to have better, easier to use fit adjustment systems- both for permanent adjustments and tightening belts on the go.

Pockets

A good array of pockets is a critical feature for hiking bags of any size. Side pockets for water bottles, hip belt pockets for storing snacks and other on-the-go items, and a few stuff sacks on the front of the pack are good things to look for. High-end day packs and overnight bags often have internal organizational pockets, and specialized pockets for your hydration bladder, and your sleeping bag.

Side Zips and other Access Panels

Having on-the-fly access to the main compartment of your hiking bag is a convenient way to find specific gear without completely unpacking. These access panels range from zippers along the side of your bag to U-shaped flaps that open like a duffel bag. For longer trips and larger packs, these kinds of access points are particularly useful.