We 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.backpack 80l cheapWhen pack shopping, bring your favorite water bottle. backpack lmsCan you reach it without help? ben hogan backpackDoes it stay put?backpack karachi Readjust on the trail. my bipolar backpackFit your pack at home but refine it as you hike. best nikon d7000 backpack

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. Inside 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). The Thule Guidepost 65 sports a waterproof front pouch that fits an iPad; Gregory’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. $ $ $ $192.20 Fantastically low weight for the capacity Variety of configurations for different loadsExcellent mobility and comfortInnovative wide-mouth opening and overlapping collars Main fabric was not durable enough for haulingFew options for organization As pure a climbing pack as I’ve ever tested, the Patagonia Ascensionist 35L earns the Best in Class award for this season and sets a new bar for alpine backpack performance. The Ascensionist is easily the most versatile pack in this season’s tests. With its minimal compartmenting and lack of hydration accommodation, the Ascensionist sacrifices some typical daypack versatility to the gods of simplicity and verticality—even so, fair-weather users will likely appreciate its light weight and clean design ethic.

Comfort/AdjustabilityWhether carrying heavy or climbing light, I was able to easily set up the Ascensionist to fit my needs. This pack’s ability to switch modes—from comfortably humping good-size overnight loads to smoothly following my scrambling movements—made it the most versatile pack in this season’s tests. Foremost among my favorite things about this pack, the floating pad-pods on the removable hipbelt offered genuinely fully adjustable load transfer to users of all sizes—and gave me the freedom to choose my own comfort-adventure. Weight For a serious technical pack of this size, with an actual frame, 30 ounces is pretty awesome. Even more awesome: without skimping on durability or functionality, Patagonia built a bag that easily matches premium ultra light alpine packs at a fraction of the price. CapacityOver-stuffing the Ascensionist was easy to do—its unique double collar configuration didn’t seem to have a ‘max fill’ line. Even with a helmet and last-minute stuffables erupting from the draw-corded opening, I was able to lash a coiled rope over the top and compress the entire bag very effectively.

The perimeter-tube frame held loads tight against the back, and definitely aided in carrying obscene amounts of baggage when necessary. Organization/AccessThough it keeps things ultra-simple with a single zippered pocket and top-only access to the main bag, this pack’s large opening and bright fabric colors helped ensure that I could always locate misplaced keys, sunscreen, and loose candy bars. I added some thin shock-cord to the micro-daisies on the exterior, mostly to keep my crampons away from my puffy, but often used this bit of added capacity as a quick stash-spot for a shell. FeaturesI was consistently impressed by the simplicity and utility of the Ascensionist’s design. Fabrics and adjustments were thoughtfully considered throughout, and nearly every feature worked double-duty, helping to lower overall weight and offering numerous carry-configurations. Stripping the pack was amazingly quick and easy, especially for such a light bag. ValueThe big-name product with cutting-edge design and category-topping performance at a reasonable price is a rare beast, indeed, but the Ascensionist pack is certainly of this breed.