Backpack Reviews

Granite Gear backpacks are popular packs for long-distance backpacking in the United States and are a common sight on the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. I really like Granite Gear’s packs because I think they strike an excellent balance between weight and function, many have adjustable length frames and …

The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a technical daypack that’s equally at home on the trail, for traveling, or on the campus. It’s organized like Granite Gear’s multi-day backpacks with a long front stretch pocket, side water bottle pockets, and compression straps, only with much less volume.  The top opens …

The Jansport Katahdin 50 is an adjustable-length and rugged backpack with a top lid, padded hip-belt and dual side pockets that is well-sized for kids and short-statured adults. Weighing slightly more than 2 lbs, it’s roomy and durably made, making it a good low-cost option for new backpackers who want …

The Osprey Daylite Plus is a 20-liter multisport daypack that’s great for hiking, cycling, travel or campus. It has lots of interior and exterior pockets, including a laptop sleeve, to keep you organized but it’s light enough that it won’t slow you down. The Daylite Plus is 50% larger in …

The Deuter Speed Lite 32 is a do-everything backpack that can be used for hiking, peakbagging, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and even fast and light overnight trips. Weighing 32 ounces, it’s got a minimalist vibe with scaled back padding and a lightweight frame. But a host of technical features and the …

The Deuter Trail 30 is a lightweight and durable backpack designed for day hiking, climbing, and skiing. The Trail 30 is a panel loader with a U-shaped front zipper that opens the main compartment for easy access, in addition to drawstring access under a top lid. A combination of open …

The Granite Gear Virga 2 is a 54-liter ultralight backpack that is lightweight even by today’s standards. Weighing just 1 pound and 3 ounces (19 ounces) it is truly frameless, without even a foam back pad behind the shoulder straps. Despite its low weight, the Virga 2 is a fully-featured …

The Osprey Sirrus 24 is a women’s ventilated daypack with an adjustable torso length. It has lots of pockets to keep you organized, female-friendly shoulder straps, and a seamless hip belt that’s fully integrated with the pack’s back panel. The Sirrus 24 has a clamshell opening that makes it easy …

The Cold Cold World Valdez is a 40L alpine backpack that’s great for winter day hiking, climbing, and ski touring. Weighing just 2 lbs 2 oz, it’s lower volume than Cold Cold World’s overnight and multiday alpine packs but still loaded with winter features from ski straps, dual ice ax …

The Gregory Paragon 58 Backpack (updated for 2020) is a lightweight multi-day backpack weighing just 3.5 lbs with an adjustable length torso and an adjustable length hip belt. It’s a top-loading backpack with a floating lid, a separate sleeping bag hatch, sleeping pad straps, and side zipper access. This new …

The Deuter Aircontact Lite 45 + 10 SL is an adjustable frame backpack with great organizational features designed specifically for women. With a total of 55 liters of capacity, the Aircontact Lite is ideal for lightweight weekend and hut-to-hut backpacking trips where having a near-custom fit and good gear organization are …

The Osprey Tempest 20 is a women’s multi-sport day pack that is well-sized for hiking, cycling, mountain biking, and travel. It’s a panel loader that has plenty of pockets and storage to carry essentials, with an adjustable length frame so you can dial in a custom-fit. On top of that, …

Elemental Horizons is a well-regarded cottage backpack manufacturer based in North Carolina with a small but loyal customer following. They’ve recently added XPac fabric as a material option to their backpacks, including the adjustable frame Kalais XT reviewed here. XPac is an ultralight waterproof laminate like cuben fiber (now called Dyneema …

The Deuter Trail Pro 36 is a great mid-sized backpack that’s good for technical hikes where you need to carry extra gear, hut-to-hut trips, and even overnight backpacking. It has a lightweight spring steel frame capable of hauling 30-pound loads, a sewn-on top lid, and front panel access through a …