Backpack and Daypack Recommendations

Part of Recommended Outdoor Gear by Mark Verber

Sections in this document:

Backpacks for Overnights  (and longer)

Choosing a backpack can be tricky, especially for someone who is just starting out.  You need to know what you are carrying  to choose the right pack, but if you are just starting out you don't know what you are going to be carrying.  The best suggestion I can make is figure out what sort of trips you expect to take (duration & conditions), and what backpacking style you will use (ultra-light, light weight, heavy weight).  This information will give you a good starting point.  For experienced packers, I would suggest bring all your gear in a duffel bag and try packs using your stuff rather than simulated weights.

In selecting the right pack it is extremely helpful to have a good feel  for what you are likely to be carrying, so you know what sort of  weight and volume that you expect to be hauling.  Don't get a pack that's larger "just in case you need more room", this will only encourage you to bring too much stuff, will be heavier, and  more ungainly.  If anything, you want a pack which is slightly smaller than you need.  It is likely that over time you will find the weight and volume of your gear will go down, and the slightly too small pack becomes just right.  In the mean use a stuff sack which you attach to the outside of your pack with straps or under the top lid to hold the items that don't fit inside the pack.  As your food goes down move the items into your pack. Once you have figured out how must volume and weight you pack needs to support, you need to decide how durable the pack needs to be based on the activities you will be engaged in.  Remember, just because a pack is "bullet proof" and "heavy duty" doesn't mean that it is better. Given the choice, I would rather been carrying a 2lb backpack that is comfortable rather than a 7lb backpack that is comfortable. If you are hiking well developed trails, any quality pack will be plenty durable and you should go for the lightest material and design which is appropriate.  If you are climbing, scrambling, going cross country, etc you need a pack which is highly resistant to abrasion.

Finally, and most importantly, you want to find the pack which is the most comfortable when holding the load you plan on carrying.  Whatever pack you get I would suggest doing two things.  First, go to a outdoor outfitter that employs experienced backpackers or climbers who can help you get a good fit.  Note: many of the larger outdoor stores employee kids who do not have significant experience backpacking and climbing.  Make sure the person who is helping you actually knows what they are talking about. The first step to select a pack which has the the right torso length.  Typically you measure from the seventh vertebrae to the small of your back and see what size pack the manufacture suggestions.  Second,  you should place weight in the pack to simulate the sort of load you expect to carry and give it a try.  But this is not always strait-forward since packs have multiple adjustments.  That's why it is important to go somewhere that has experience sales personnel.  A great pack which is poorly fit can be more uncomfortable that a cheap pack which fits you. Finally, check with local stores to find out if it is possible to rent the pack you like for a weekend or has a great return policy like REI.  This could save you from buying a pack which seemed good in the showroom but isn't comfortable after a hard day of use.

I can't stress enough how important getting a comfortable backpack can be.  Other than your footwear, no other piece of gear is as likely to ruin a fun trip than a backpack which isn't comfortable.  My experience is that a well fitting backpack carries 20 lbs so well that I can actually forget that I am carrying a pack, and that I can carry 35 lbs for days without any shoulders or hip soreness or pain.  Do not scrimp of your pack.  Get a pack which is comfortable for you.

There are some pretty wild packs out there.  For example, lightningpacks is doing a backpack which generates electricity.

Internal -vs- External Frame Packs

There has been a debate running since at least the 1970s as to whether internal or external frame packs are better.  I doubt this debate will ever end.  For a more detailed description of different types of packs and features, check out Backpacks - Buying Your Perfect Backpack. A study was done in 2003 which was a Comparision of the MOLLE External Pack to Two Internal Frame Commercial Backpacks. The commercial packs were made by ArcTeryx and Gregory. My observations are as follows:

Internal Frame Packs:  These days most people seem to use internal frame packs.  An internal frame pack uses some combination of foam, metal, and/or carbon fiber which is sewn inside the pack to give the pack structure and effectively transfer weight to the hip strap.  Advantages are that internal frame packs tend to be easier to balance since they are closer to your body and are less likely to get snared on things if you are climbing or going cross country.  The downside is that your back doesn't get much ventilation and I don't think they are as comfortable as external frame packs when carrying huge loads. 

External Frame Packs:  What nearly everyone used 30 years ago.  External frame packs typically have a ridged  metal or plastic frame which has shoulder and waist straps on one side to allow you to carry the pack, and some sort of bag on the other side to hold your stuff. These packs are good for hauling large amounts of gear.  They also tend to be better in hot weather because they can provide better ventilation for your back, provide lots of pockets to make organizing your gear easier, and allow you to secure gear against the frame to minimize shifting of your heavier gear.  External frame packs also tend to be more adjustable so they are good for people who are growing of as packs which get used by a number of people of variable size. Over the years I have had a number of external frame packs including the original Kelty Tioga and a JanSport D2, but I never managed to find one which was really comfortable for more than 10 miles.  On the other hand, there are many people who absolutely love their external frame pack. Don't "upgrade" you old external frame pack if it is working well for you. I have met a number of people who were convinced to get rid of their external frame packs and get a "modern" internal frame pack only to find that they liked their old pack better and then were unable to find a comparable external frame pack on the market.  They ended up hunting on ebay for a pack just like the one they gave away a few months earlier.  Most external frame packs are quite heavy.  Some people save weight by replacing the pack bag with something made from lighter materials. A more extreme approach is switching from a pack bag to a modular system such as the commercial the LuxuryLite modular pack or DIY  modular system using stuff sacks suck as a "packless" external frame.

What I Look for In a Backpack

Before you read my observations about packs, it might be helpful for you to know what I am looking for when it comes to backpacks. Keep in mind that choosing a backpacking is a personal thing, you might look for different things in a pack, so my recommendations might point you in the wrong direction. Here is what I want in a pack:

What Backpacks I Use

Since I started backpacking I have taken at least seventeen backpack out for at least 60 miles each. I have checked out numerous other packs in a more brief manner. Out of all those packs, I have chosen to keep three. The pack I use on >80% of my trips is a Granite Gear Vapor trail which is listed under light weight style.  It is the most comfortable pack I have found when I carry 25lbs or less.  My second pack is an older Osprey Aether 60 which I used until I downsized to the Vapor Trail. The Aether 60 is now mostly used as a loaner pack, but has gotten used a few times when I needed to carry more than the Vapor Trail would carry comfortably.  I have an ultra light Gossamer Gear Whisper which I use on fast and light weekend trips on well maintained trails when I am carrying less than 12lbs.

Ultra-light Style (typically Frameless)

I would not recommend novice to immediately try ultra-light style unless you are going some place with mild conditions.  There are skills which need to be developed to be safe and it takes some practice to figure out what you should take and what you can leave behind.  Ultra-light packing is minimizing absolutely everything and relies on effective use of technique to keep you comfortable and safe.  Ultra-light backpacks are frameless rucksacks (think high volume book bag) made out of a light-weight fabric.  The philosophy is that if you aren't carrying too much weight, you don't need a frame or super heavy fabric... make the backpack as light as possible and save up to 6 lb as compared to heavy weight backpacks.  The most appropriate load for an ultra-light pack is less than 20 lb (+/- 4 lb depending on individual preferences) which means that all of your gear needs to go light weight before you switch to a ultra-light backpack.  I would never use a ultra-light pack with more than 30 lb because the lack of a frame makes load transfer to your hips inefficient resulting in most of the pack weight being carried by your shoulders.  Ultra-light backpacks typically use the combination of a sleeping pad and tight packing to provide a suspension.  Properly packed, ultra-light backpacks are reasonably comfortable (some people think very comfortable).  Weekend packs should be able to carry 10-15 lbs and will likely be ~2000cu/in.  Week long without resupply you want a pack which has ~2800cu/in and can carry 20-25 lbs.  If you are in locations without good water supplies, you will need to carry significantly more weight and volume and should seriously consider a light weight pack.  Ultralight packs typically weight less than a pound.  There are a number of companies which make good ultra-light backpacks including GoLite,  Gossamer Gear (formerly GVP), LW Gear, MLD, Moonbow Gear, and ULA.  If you are thinking about getting a frameless pack, you should take a look at BPL's Frameless Pack Review Summary.  For several years I tried a number of ultralight packs. In 2007 I concluded that I would stop looking at UL packs. I would rather use a heavier pack that had either a framesheet or curves stays. For people who are wanting to give ultralight packs a try, I would suggest first looking at:

Other noteworthy ultralight packs include:

My experience is that ultra-light packs aren't for everyone.  Some people swear they are the most comfortable way to carry <=30lb of weight.  For me, 16lb is the cutover for most ultra-light packs.  I have found that I would rather carry a 18 lb pack with a frame, than a 16 lb pack without a frame. For a more analytical analysis of the effectiveness of frameless pack suspensions, check out  Frameless Backpacks Engineering Analysis.  There are also a couple folks who have worked on turning other gear into packs such as sleeping pads / hammock?! StrapPack and your entire sleeping shelter system like Gearskin.

Light Weight Style

Light weight packers carefully select light weight gear, and don't take a lot of luxury items... the luxury is carrying a light pack that isn't fatiguing.  I would recommend anyone starting out to follow a light weight style.  As a light weight packer you optimizes for carry comfort like an ultra-light packer, but you bring a little extra gear to give larger safety margins and more comfort in camp. Weekend pack should carry 15-25 lbs and have ~2600cu/in.  Week long trips without resupply you want a pack which has ~3600cu/in and can carry 25-40 lbs.  Light weight packs are also great for people who are otherwise ultra-light packers who want to have a bit more carry comfort or need to carry a fair amount of food or water in addition to their ultra-light gear (this is me). Light-weight packs typically weight between 2-4 lbs.  BPL.com has a nice summary of light weight internal frame packs. For several years I held on to a number of packs. I would regularly loan my packs out for friends who wanted to give them a try. Among my friends, the two most popular packs were the same packs that I liked the best:

There are a number of light weight internal frame packs which merit attention including:

The only light weight external frame packs I know about are Luxury Lite, and their cost contained cousin the NeoTrekk.  The LuxuryLite pack is somewhat expensive, using a carbon composite frame which looks very nice.  MedicineMan has written two reports about his early experiences Luxurylite  Recieved and LuxuryLite hit the trail.  I tried this pack in 2004.  While strange looking, it was very usable: easy to pack and find items, has one of the best  weight / volume ratios, very adjustable, and the recliner feature was really nice. Alas, it didn't carry comfortably for me. I should say that it was as comfortable as any external frame pack I have used, I just  haven't been happy with any external frame pack.  A cheaper version of Luxury Lite is taking a light frame and lashing stuff sack to it as described on Brawny's The Packless Pack System webpage.

Mid-weight Style

Mid-weight packers are the most common / main-stream.  You select standard backpacking equipment and take enough gear to feel that you will be safe in comfortable in a wide range of conditions.  Weekend pack should carry 30-40 lbs and have ~3500 cu/in worth of space.  Week long trips without resupply means that you want a pack which carries holds 40-50 lbs and ~4800cu/in.  Mid-weight packs tend to be 3-5lbs.  Boy Scouts tend to have a mid-weight approach.

Mid-weight style packers can use light-weight style packs for shorter trips, but if you are going for a week+ a larger and more structurally sound pack should be used.  For carrying heavier loads (>40lb) I like most of the internal frame packs made by Gregory and Osprey, though for some reason the Osprey Exposure is the one pack by Osprey that didn't feel right to me. The are still a number of people who like external frame packs made by Kelty, the classic manufacturer.  JanSport also makes some ok external frame packs.

Heavy-weight

Heavy weight style is when you bring whatever you want to make the camping or activity part of the trip comfortable (at the expense of the hiking being comfortable).  Serious camera gear, comfy camp chairs, lots of climbing gear for an assault, wine in glass bottles, etc.  For a heavy weight, weekend pack should be able to carry 40-50 lbs and has ~5000cu/in.  Week long without resupply you want a pack which has at least 7000cu/in and can carry 70-80 lbs.  Heavy weight packs often weight more than 6lbs!

I know a number of people who carry very heavy load who swear by McHale Packs, Dana Design Packs,  Arc'Teryx Bora 95, and Mystery Ranch packs, but I have no personal experience.

Summit Packs

Summit packs are used to reach the summit of a nearby mountain, often during a multi-day trek. Typically a base camp is made and the majority of the gear carried to that point is left behind  for the assault on the summit. There are a number of ways to carry your gear to a summit:

Daypacks

There are countless daypacks on the market these days. Some people use daypack for fast and light over night trips. There are three factors which should be considered when selecting a daypack.

Volume/Haul Capacity: Packs vary wildly in the size, shape, and what sort of weight that are designed to carry. My suggestion would be to take a few minutes and think about what you want to carry in pack, and then find a pack which fits those items. I often bring the items I want to carry to the store in a duffel bag, and then load up the packs I am thinking about with the items I plan on carrying. If a pack isn't big enough for the items you want to carry it isn't going to be that useful. If it is much larger, it will encourage you to carry more than you want or need (we all seem compelled to fill packs up, even if we don't need to).  My experience is that a 20L (1200cu/in) pack will hold a light jacket, a paperback or two, a small camera, a water bottle, and a few small items.  When traveling with my wife and daughter I have found that a 30L pack works pretty well for day activities, or 40L if I am bring for family items plus a full size DSLR, and number of lens protected by Domke wraps.

Comfort / Fit: If the pack isn't comfortable you will have a miserable time. It is important to find a pack which fits you well. This is especially true for daypacks since they tend not to be adjustable. I have found that many daypacks are too short for my torso and become uncomfortable after a number of miles. My wife who is quite short has found many daypacks are too long for her torso, likewise uncomfortable. Besides fit, other factors which effect comfort include what sort of padding / ventilation the pack provides, what sort of shoulder strap / waist straps the pack has, etc. Another issue is what is the suspension like. Is it a frameless pack (which most daypacks are), have a foam frame sheet, stays, etc? Depending on what you are carrying the suspension could make a big difference in comfort. My best suggestion here is go to a local outdoors store and try on a number of packs which have been loaded an equiv weight / bulk that you expect to carry for your activities.

Features: Various activities require different features. The question I would encourage you to ask is what is the set of activities I want to use this pack for. For example, if you are doing some back country skiing you will want lash points for the skiing a loop for an ice axe, and maybe a pocket for a shovel. If you are trail running you most likely want a hydration system (you might want this for all activities). If you use crampons a lot, you would want an extra durable patch were you lash your crampons on. If you have lots of small objects that you want to find easily you will want a pack with a number of pockets and a divide main section. Do you want easy access to all items then go with a panel loading pack or do you favor a more durable and lighter pack in what case go with a top loading pack. Do you want a fully padded hip strap for carrying extra heavy weight, or a simple webbing strap.  I could go on... but I think you get the idea.

When I think about daypacks, I typically think daypacks fall into five different categories.

"Standard" Daypack: There are hundreds of "standard" daypacks in the marketplace. Most hold around 1500-2500 cu/in and weight betwen 2-4lbs. Most day packs are overbuild making use of extra heavy duty materials, lots of zippers and features, and thick padding which is normally not required for comfort. My favorite "standard" daypack was the Eagle Creek Bedouin which is no longer made (sigh), 2000cu/in, 2lb. The Bedouin is a panel loading pack with foam padding on the back. Smaller lower section, larger upper section with a zipper on the divider between the sections so you can make it one big compartment if you need to. A large pocket on the top compartment, side pockets with draining holes for water bottles. Integrated straps to lash items to the bottom of the pack. Has a zip off fanny pack which I always leave zipped off :-)  Great for day long family adventures. I carry two .5L water bottles in one side pocket, and long telephoto lens in the other side pocket,  and the family jackets when it warms up using the lashing straps. Bottom section is just the right size for my typical camera kit. The zipper between the sections can be opened just a bit so my tripod fits into the pack. The top section has plenty of room for lunch (which won't get crushed by the heavier camera), and the outside pocket has enough room for a small first aid kit and other small items.  I can't find any packs like this made today. If I was buying a standard daypack today, it would most likely be a  Kelty Basalt, 1500cu/in, 1lb 8oz. Cheaper than a number of "big name" daypacks, but still well made with reasonable features without being overbuilt. Two main compartments which run the full length of the pack. A good size organizing pocket, two side mesh for water bottles, space for a hydration system if you want it, top holder for iPod or other personal music system. It carries better than many of the more boxy book bags on the market.

Ventilated Daypack: Yet another product of German engineering, ventilated daypacks appeared several years ago. They use a light weight frame which keeps a mesh panel taut against the wearers back enabling good ventilation. The VauDe Siena 40 Daypack (my review) now discontinued, is my favorite pack of this type. The Siena was a biking oriented panel loading daypack. I love how comfortable this pack is in warm weather. It has a sleeve which can hold up to a Platypus 3L hydration system. Two large mesh pockets on either side of the pack which can hold two water bottles each, and it has one large compartment. The tapered shape the the bulge from the frame make it slightly tricky to pack. The panel load models from Osprey Stratos line of daypacks looks like the closest successor to the discontinued VauDe Siena line. Deuter AirComfort suspension system is similar. You can find Deuter AirComfort packs at REI and many other outlets. I think VauDe's packs are typically superior, and significantly more comfortable when carrying 15-20lb (e.g. camera gear + long lens + other day gear). For several years no US retailer carried VauDe, but they have a new distributor and clueful retailers like ProLiteGear are now stocking some of VauDe's packs.

Packable Daypack: Typically ~1000cu/in, 10oz backpack made of light-weight nylon with no padding. Often folds up into it's own pocket. Appropriate to carry a few pounds of stuff such as a light jacket, a cliff bar or two, a paperback, a small water bottle, and a point and shoot camera. There is nothing that gives these pack structure so you have to pack them carefully for them to be comfortable. My favorite example of this sort of pack is the Kiva Pico Jazz Pack because it is a bit longer and a bit less deep than many others so it carries a bit better. There are a number of other travel oriented companies like Eagle Creek that make folding backpacks. Another options would be stuff sack / shoulder strap packs like the REI Ultralight Flash, ID Silcoat pack, OR DryComp, or those made by Oware. If you want to be carrying more stuff  such as insulating clothing, lots of food, a larger camera... a standard daypack size of around 2000cu/in is an appropriate size. I would suggest checking out the Gossamer Gear G6, Fanatic Fringe Packs, or maybe the heavier GoLite Dawn. If not of these suit you, design a custom pack and make it yourself or get someone like Moonbow or Rodney's Packs to make it for you.

Technical Daypack: Highly variable in weight and volume depending on the sport they are design for. The most common technical daypacks are designed for climbing (heavy duty materials, strong haul loops, etc), adventure racing / trail running (close fitting suspension system with good hydration capacity), and snow play (durable patch for carrying crampons, ice tool holders, straps to hold skis, etc). My favorite technical daypack today is the Osprey Talon 33.

Hydration Packs: Minimalist packs design to carry nothing but water, first popularized by CamelBak. I have never used any of these very purpose driven water packs. A lot of packs labeled "Hydration packs" and really basic daypack with a couple of features to make them hydration system friendly: a nylon sleeve to hold the water bladder near your back and some short of hole which lets you pass the drink tube to the outside. Pretty much any daypack can be fit with hydration system.

Packs for Kids

The general rule of thumb is that people shouldn't carry more than 1/4 of their body weight. That means that a 60 pound child shouldn't be carrying more than a 15 pound pack for an extended period of time, a 100 pound child shouldn't be carrying more than 25 pound pack for an extended period of time. I think this is still a pretty heavy load for kids, ideally they should carry less. Our goal for around 12% of body weight.

There are a number of factors which effect selection a pack for kids which aren't a factor for adults:

Daypacks:  For very young children, Eagle Creek made a really great daypack, but it has been off the market for awhile.  Hopefully Eagle Creekk will start making this pack again. There are countless day pack / book bags available for kids today. A florescent Barbie or shockingly bright Barney backpack might not blend into the back country, but there isn't really a need to buy a special pack for hiking... use whatever backpack goes to and from school since they are already use to carrying that pack. If you wanted to purchase a purpose driven daypack, I would suggest the CamelBak Scout or look at the kid's hydration packs at REI.

Backpacks: For smaller kids, there are only a few pack which have a torso short enough, a waist strap which can be tightened enough, and has enough volume for all their gear (need at least 1800ci).  For example, 1850ci has just enough room inside it for a North Face Tigger sleeping bag, a Big Agnes Insulated AirCore mummy sleeping pad, a 1L platypus, and all my daughter's clothing, a favorite cuddly, her clothing  for a three season trip, eating utensils, toiletry kit and flashlight. Even more volume would be required if the kids is fully self supporting or carrying their fair share of group gear and food. I realize that adult ultralight backpackers can easily get down below this volume, but most kids gear will be higher volume because items like kid size 800 fill down sleeping bags are not a good investment. Most kids will not be as careful as adults, and items have a limited lifetime because the children will grow. It makes sense to purchase less expensive items such as sleeping bags made using synthetic insulation.

For young kids (say until 11 I would suggest checking out the following packs:

For average size children older than 11 years old  I would also consider Light-weight packs detailed above for that have short torso models including any of the Granite Gear packs (especially the Nimbus Ozone), LuxuryLite pack, Six Moon Designs Comet, Kelty Illusion (Womens), Osprey Arial, or packs from ULA equipment.  Other packs that would be worth looking into include:

You might find other options at Boy Scouts Stuff and kidsource

Other Peoples Thoughts on Backpacks

There are lots of sites which have reviews about backpacks including: