Backpack Reviews

Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) specializes in making rugged multi-sport backpacks and shelters with Dyneema Composite Fabrics. Their distinctive white and black backpacks are quite popular and easy to spot on National Scenic Trails and in the backcountry. One of the things that …

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear NorthRim 55 Backpack is an ultralight backpack made with an extremely durable outer fabric called Woven Dyneema that is significantly more abrasion resistant than the Dyneema Fiber/Polyester laminate used to make Hyperlite’s regular ultralight backpacks. While it’s priced …

The ULA Catalyst Backpack is the largest volume backpack in ULA’s line of ultralight style packs with 75 liters of capacity. Weighing 44.4 oz (1259 g), it’s a durable backpack that can carry an enormous amount of gear and food, packed inside …

The ULA Photon is a 35L ultralight-style roll-top backpack with a base weight of 26.1 ounces in a size medium.  It’s basically a lower volume version of ULA’s CDT ultralight backpack (54L) ideal for day hikes, hut-to-hut overnights, commuting, or air travel …

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 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 Osprey Packs Talon 44 Backpack is a lightweight pack with an adjustable torso length that’s good for weekend backpacking trips, technical day hikes, climbing, and peakbagging. Weighing 2 pounds 15 ounces, it can carry a remarkable amount of gear and a …

The Gregory Zulu 55 is a ventilated, adjustable frame backpack designed for carrying big loads with or without a bear canister. Weighing 4 lbs 2 oz, it is about a half pound heavier than its predecessor due to increased hipbelt padding enabling …

The Osprey Tempest 30 is a super comfortable, women’s specific lightweight pack with an adjustable torso length that is good for a variety of adventures from day hiking to ultralight backpacking trips. It has all of the typical features and useful pockets …

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 …

The Gregory Juno 24 is a ventilated women’s daypack with an integrated mesh back panel and hip belt that cups your hips and torso like a second skin while keeping you cool and dry in hot and humid weather. Unlike many smaller …

The Gregory Facet 55 Backpack is a lightweight ventilated women’s backpack weighing 2 lbs 8.8 oz / 1.16 kg that is designed for backpacking and thru-hiking. It’s an internal frame backpack with a wire perimeter frame, a floating top lid, load lifters, …

The REI Flash Air 50 Backpack is an ultralight, roll-top backpack that weighs 1 lbs 14 oz. Available in men’s and women’s sizes, it’s quite similar to the REI Flash 55 Backpack (link to our review) with its reconfigurable pack-mod accessory pocket …

The ULA Ohm (formerly called the ULA Ohm 2.0) is a 63L ultralight style backpack that’s durable enough for rough and tough adventures. It’s also available with the same male and female shoulder straps and hip belts (available in multiple lengths) offered …