Backpack Reviews

The Framus 48L is an ultralight backpack made by Bonfus, a Norwegian company, one of a handful of cottage backpacking gear companies in Europe and the UK. It’s set up like most ultralight backpacks with a roll-top closure, two side pockets, and …

The Mystery Ranch 3-Zip Terraframe 50 is an external frame backpack with a load sling that’s good for hauling awkwardly shaped and heavy loads that won’t fit into a normal top-loader or roll-top pack. Load sling packs (also called breakaway packs), like …

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 Outdoor Vitals ShadowLight 60 is a 31.5 oz ultralight-style backpack pack designed for multi-day backpacking and thru-hiking. It’s a rolltop backpack made with Robic nylon ripstop (details below) with an unusual external pocket system and a front zipper so you can …

Gossamer Gear is one of the original ultralight backpack manufacturers and has continuously refined its products to adapt to the needs of lightweight backpackers and thru-hikers. I started using their packs back in 2006 and finished hiking Vermont’s Long Trail in 2008 …

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 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 Zpacks Nero is a frameless 38L ultralight backpack that weighs 10.9 ounces and is made with waterproof Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF), formerly called cuben fiber. It’s seam-taped inside, making it effectively waterproof so you don’t have to line it with a …

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 …

The Granite Gear Perimeter 50 is a lightweight backpack that weighs slightly more than 3 lbs and has an adjustable torso length, an adjustable length hip belt, and an internal frame capable of carrying 40-pound loads with ease. It’s set up like …

The Osprey Mira 22 is a well-constructed, feature-rich hiking daypack that comes with a hydration system that holds 2.5 liters of liquid. The size works well for shorter hikes and/or hikes in warmer weather conditions that don’t require a lot of gear. …

Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s Porter 70 Backpack is one of the highest capacity packs available today from an ultralight backpack manufacturer. Weighing 31 ounces,  the 70-liter Dyneema DCF Porter is designed for packrafters, backpackers, and mountaineers who need additional pack volume for larger …

The Osprey Kestrel 38 Backpack is well-sized for gear-intensive hiking and is built with more durable fabrics and features that make it suitable for on-trail, off-trail, and winter hiking. It is an adjustable torso-length backpack with an external pocket for carrying a …