Backpack Reviews

The Mountainsmith Zerk 40 is a multi-purpose backpack with vest-style shoulder straps that can be used for backpacking, thru-hiking, or long day hikes. I hesitate to call it a fast-pack because its utility extends far beyond that narrow style of use. Weighing …

The Mystery Ranch Coulee 40 is a wonderfully versatile, comfortable, and bombproof backpack suitable for extended day hikes or 1-2 night backpacking trips with a streamlined gear list. If you’re unfamiliar with Mystery Ranch’s backpacks, let me preface this review by saying …

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 Backpack is an ultralight backpack weighing 30.1 oz (853g) made with Dyneema DCF. Design-wise, it’s a pretty radical departure from Hyperlite’s past backpacks with large side pockets, a redesigned and replaceable hip belt, the use of …

The Osprey Eja Pro 55 Backpack is a women’s-specific lightweight backpack that has an adjustable torso length and a ventilated, tensioned back panel.  New for 2023, it’s a cut-down version of the popular Osprey Eja 58 that’s 12 oz lighter in weight …

The Zpacks Bagger Ultra 40L Backpack is a versatile frameless backpack suitable for day hikes, peakbagging, travel, commuting, and even ultralight backpacking. Weighing 12.1 ounces (342g) it’s made with a waterproof and highly abrasion-resistant fabric called Ultra which has been almost universally …

The Durston Gear Kakwa 55 Backpack is an ultralight, internal frame pack that weighs just under 2 pounds with a total volume of 55L plus additional external storage. It has a sewn-on hipbelt, load lifters, an aluminum tubular frame, large hipbelt pockets, …

The Mystery Ranch 2-Day Assault Backpack is a 27-liter daypack that’s great for day hikes, travel, school, and more urban endeavors. While it has a potentially off-putting militaristic name, it’s quickly become my go-to pack for overnight trips and plane travel, but …

The new Granite Gear Virga3 55L (2023) is a frameless ultralight rolltop backpack with an adjustable torso length and adjustable length hipbelt, that’s available in multiple torso ranges, in unisex (men’s) and women’s models. The unisex men’s version reviewed here weighs 26.9 …

The new Granite Gear Virga3 26L is a frameless ultralight backpack weighing 1.26 lbs that will appeal to day hikers and backpackers alike. Weighing 20.2 oz (572g), it has an adjustable torso length so you can dial in a personalized fit with …

The Osprey Stratos 36 is a ventilated and adjustable length backpack that is suitable for long day hikes, multi-sport adventures, and even lightweight backpacking trips. It has a suspended mesh back panel and seamless wrap-around hip belt that make it cool and …

The Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 is a great day pack for hiking, work, travel, school, and commuting. It is bomber tough like a lot of Mystery Ranch Packs and has a multitude of functional pockets and PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) attachment …

The new Gregory Jade 53 (2023 model) is a ventilated backpack with an adjustable-length torso designed for women for multi-day trips. It has a women’s specific hip belt and shoulder harness and has big hip belt pockets and other pockets and features …

The Osprey Exos Pro 55 Backpack is a ventilated and adjustable-length ultralight backpack that weighs 33.2 oz. It’s basically an ultralight redo of the heavier Osprey Exos 58 Backpack, that’s 11.8 oz lighter-weight using recycled fabrics with a few minor changes to …

The Gregory Focal 58 Backpack is a lightweight ventilated backpack weighing 2 lbs 9.3 oz / 1.17 kg that is designed for general backpacking and thru-hiking. It’s an internal frame backpack with a 360-degree wire perimeter frame, a floating top lid, load …