Best Backpacking Packs of 2017 For minimalist overnights to extended treks, our top picks excel in carrying comfort, organization, and weightWe go to great lengths to find the best new backpacks of the season because we know where they’re going to take you.  164 testers, thousands of backcountry miles, and countless testing hours later, here are the 18 packs that stood up to every challenge we threw at ’em. Columbia Trail Pursuit 30L Salomon S-Lab X Alp 20 High Sierra Lightning 35 Granite Gear Virga 26 Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 OutDry Editors' Choice 2015: Osprey Atmos AG / Aura AG Lowe Alpine Zephyr 55:65 Bergans of Norway Trollhetta 55 The North Face Cobra 60 Six Moon Designs Fusion 65 Editors' Choice Gold: Gregory Baltoro / Deva Mike Pfotenhauer has spent the last 40 years thinking about carrying comfort. He founded Osprey Packs in 1974, built the first packs out of his California garage and eventually moved his family to Vietnam in 2000 to more closely monitor the design and manufacturing process.

For years, he’s been obsessed with ventilated suspension systems—specifically, building one that doesn’t sacrifice stability or support. “Traditional packs rely on framework, plastic sheeting, and lots of foam padding to support heavy loads,” he says. “These materials are heavy, lacking in ventilation, and tend to focus the load transfer to finite zones of the body—the hips and shoulders— which creates painful pressure points.” To reduce weight and boost comfort, Pfotenhauer started experimenting with high-tension, non-stretch mesh and three-dimensional geometry to allow airflow around the lumbar area and hips (not just the back). After building more than 60 prototypes, Pfotenhauer oversaw the complicated manufacturing and development of new tools for quality testing (because nothing quite like this had ever been seen on the factory floor). The end result: the AG (short for antigravity) system, which is unlike any pack we’ve ever carried.To achieve the best balance and load transfer, place heavy, dense items like water, fuel, and food close to your spine and centered in the pack.

Know your torso length. Pack sizing depends on the length of your spine (not your height). Learn how to measure yours here.Don’t buy a pack bigger than you actually need “just in case.” You’ll end up filling it with unnecessary stuff, increasing weight.When pack shopping, bring your favorite water bottle. Can you reach it without help? Does it stay put? Readjust on the trail. Fit your pack at home but refine it as you hike. Experiment with hipbelt, shoulder, and load lifter straps to find your comfort zone as weight settles and terrain changes. Living out of a backpack for days on end has challenges. One is staying organized and keeping your valuable stuff protected from the elements. The current boom in gadgets has sparked designers to rethink organizing and protecting gear. “The consumer wants pockets that are item-specific— tablet, laptop, smartphone, goggle pouch—in a pack that still has a streamlined, simplified look,” says Jayson Yagi, JanSport Senior Product Developer.

Look for external pockets for electronics and technical tools, like the detachable iPhone/ camera sleeve on the Kelty Capture 25. targus slim laptop backpackInside pockets provide better solutions for storing sharp or delicate items like crampons and cameras (case in point: the Salomon S-Lab X Alp 20 and The North Face Cobra). buy osprey backpack in indiaThe Thule Guidepost 65 sports a waterproof front pouch that fits an iPad; lavie laptop backpackGregory’s Baltoro has a seam sealed, waterproof hipbelt pocket. “These purpose designed compartments allow you to keep your electronics close at hand on the trail but not worry about rain showers or setting your pack down in mud or dust,” says John Sears, Director of Product Development at Gregory.

Packs, like shoes, require proper fit. But several factors can get between you and the right size. First, most packs have traditionally been small, medium, and large (at best), and you may fall somewhere in between. And even when pack companies make multiple components (hip belts and shoulder straps), stores might lack stocking space or trained employees to fit them. The solution: built-in adjustability. More companies are incorporating hipbelt, torso-length, and yoke-width adjustability directly into packs, so people can get a decent fit in the store, then dial it in at home or on the trail. Plus, companies are discovering lighter, less obtrusive ways to enable customization. “We incorporated a ratcheting technique from our bike carriers,” says Graham Jackson, Thule’s technical pack general manager. “It’s easy, durable, and offers torso adjustment while the pack is loaded and on the back.” The downsides to adjustability? Moving parts can reduce stability and introduce weak points, and the extreme ends of the range can be awkward for smaller hikers.

As always, load it up and try it out. Planning to buy a new pack for the backcountry? There are three main areas where you'll need to make choices: Backpack capacity: The size pack you'll need is tied to the length of your trip and how much weight and bulk you want to carry. Backpack features: These are the refinements that affect how the pack works for you. Backpack fit: Torso length, not your height, matters most. Weekend (1-3 nights; 30-50 liters) Efficient packers using newer, less-bulky gear can really keep things light on 1- to 3-night trips by using a pack in this range. Be aware that packing light requires self-discipline and careful planning. If you can pull it off, though, the light-on-your-feet rewards are fantastic. Multiday (3-5 nights; 50-80 liters) These are the most popular backpacking packs sold at REI and they're an excellent choice for warm-weather trips lasting 3 or more days. 50-80 liter packs are also used for backcountry skiing, for day trips, overnighters and sometimes 2-night trips.

Extended-trip (5+ nights; 70 liters or larger) Extended trips of 5 days or more usually call for packs of 70 liters or larger. These are also usually the preferred choice for: Winter treks lasting more than 1 night. Larger packs can more comfortably accommodate extra clothing, a warmer sleeping bag and a 4-season tent (which typically includes extra poles). Adults taking young children backpacking. Mom and Dad wind up carrying a lot of kids' gear to make the experience enjoyable for their young ones. Shop Extended Trip Packs See our article on Ultralight Backpacking. Internal-frame backpacks: The majority of packs sold at REI today are body-hugging internal frame packs that are designed to keep a hiker stable on uneven, off-trail terrain. They may incorporate a variety off load-support technologies that all function to transfer the load to the hips. External-frame backpacks: An external-frame pack may be an appropriate choice if you're carrying a heavy, irregular load, like toting an inflatable kayak to the lake.

External frame packs also offer good ventilation and lots of gear organization options. Frameless backpacks: Ultralight devotees who like to hike fast and light might choose a frameless pack or a climbing pack where the frame is removable for weight savings. Some packs feature a suspended mesh back panel to combat the sweaty-back syndrome you tend to get with internal frame packs that ride against your back. Also called a “tension-mesh suspension,” this is a trampoline-like design where the frame-supported packbag rides along a few inches away from your back, which instead rests against the highly breathable mesh. Ventilation "chimneys" that are built into back panels and promote airflow are another option meant to solve the same issue. Top-loading openings are pretty standard. Items not needed until the end of the day go deep inside. Panel access: Some packs also offer a zippered front panel which folds open exposing the full interior of the pack, or a side zipper, which also makes it easier to reach items deeper in your pack.

Elasticized side pockets: They lie flat when empty, but stretch out to hold a water bottle, tent poles or other loose objects Hipbelt pockets: These accommodate small items you want to reach quickly — a smartphone, snacks, packets of energy gel, etc. Shovel pockets: These are basically flaps stitched onto the front of a packbag with a buckle closure at the top. Originally intended to hold a snow shovel, they now pop up on many 3-season packs, serving as stash spots for a map, jacket or other loose, lightweight items. Front pocket(s): Sometimes added to the exterior of a shovel pocket, these can hold smaller, less-bulky items. Removable Daypack / Top Lid Some packs are designed with a removal daypack that is perfect for day trips, summit hikes or supply runs during a thru-hike. Some packs have top lids that detach from the main pack and convert into a hipbelt pack for day trips. This is a zippered stash spot near the bottom of a packbag. It's a useful feature if you don't want to use a stuff sack for your sleeping bag.

Alternately, this space can hold other gear that you'd like to reach easily. If you're using a lightweight pack with a fairly minimalistic hipbelt and lumbar pad, you can encounter sore spots on your hips and lower back. If this is the case for you, consider using a cushier hipbelt. If you frequently travel with an ice axe or trekking poles, look for tool loops that allow you to attach them to the exterior of the pack. Rare is the pack that does not offer at least a pair of tool loops. You might also look for the following: A daisy chain — a length of webbing stitched to the outside of a pack — to provide multiple gear loops for attaching a helmet or tools. A reinforced crampon patch (to prevent crampon points from gouging holes in the packbag). Gear loops on the hipbelt or low on the pack body, useful as clip-on points for gear or possibly as attachment points for skis. If you expect rain on your trip, this is a good item to carry. Pack fabric interiors are usually treated with a waterproof coating.

Yet packs have seams and zippers where water can seep through, and the fabric's exterior absorbs some water weight during a downpour. An alternative: bundling gear internally in waterproof "dry" stuff sacks. Lightweight dry sacks can be a better option in windy conditions; strong gusts have the potential to abruptly peel a cover right off a pack. Nearly all packs offer an internal sleeve into which you can slip a hydration reservoir (almost always sold separately) plus 1 or 2 "hose portals" through which you can slip the sip tube. Once you've chosen the type of backpack you want, the next step is to work with an REI sales specialist to expertly fit you to your pack. The right fit is one that offers: A size appropriate for your torso length (not your overall height). A comfortably snug grip on your hips. If you're unable to work with a fit specialist in a store, you can enlist a friend and follow the directions provided in our article on Finding Your Torso and Hip Size.

Some packs are available in multiple sizes, from extra small to large, which fit a range of torso lengths. These ranges vary by manufacturer and by gender. Check the product specs tab for size details of a specific pack. Other packs may feature an adjustable suspension, which can be modified to fit your torso, especially if you're in-between sizes. The drawback: An adjustable harness adds a little weight to a pack. The majority of a backpack's weight, 80 percent or more, should be supported by your hips. Backpack hipbelts usually accommodate a wide range of hip sizes, from the mid-20 inches to the mid-40 inches. People with narrow waists sometimes find they cannot make a standard hipbelt tight enough and need a smaller size. Some packs offer interchangeable hipbelts, making it possible to swap out one size for another. Because they have smaller frame sizes, women's backpacks often work well for young backpackers of either gender. Torso dimensions are generally shorter and narrower than men's packs.

And hipbelts and shoulder straps are contoured with the female form in mind. These typically offer smaller capacities and include an adjustable suspension to accommodate a child's growth. Women's backpacks, with their smaller frame sizes, often work well for young backpackers of either gender. So do small versions of some men's packs. Additional Backpack Fit Adjustments These are stitched into the top of the shoulder straps, and they connect to the top of the pack frame. Ideally, they will form a 45° angle between your shoulder straps and the pack. Kept snug (but not too tight), they prevent the upper portion of a pack from pulling away from your body, which would cause the pack to sag on your lumbar region. This mid-chest strap allows you to connect your shoulder straps, which can boost your stability. It can be useful to do so when traveling on uneven cross-country terrain where an awkward move could cause your pack to shift abruptly and throw you off-balance. Video: How to Choose a Backpacking Pack