Backpacking packs and backpacking gear have gotten much lighter weight in recent years due to innovations in the materials and fabrics available to backpack manufacturers. Most lightweight backpacks now weigh between 2 and 3 pounds and have 40 to 60 liters of storage volume. They have frames and can usually carry between 30 and 40 pounds of backpacking gear, food, fuel, and water. If you need to carry more than that, you’ll want a bigger backpack. Less than that, you’ll probably want to get an even lighter, frameless, ultralight backpack. It doesn’t matter if you’re a thru-hiker, a section hiker, or a weekend warrior, switching from a heavy backpack to a lightweight backpack will be easier to carry so you can hike faster or bring along gear or food that you’ve had to leave behind in the past.
Here are the 10 best lightweight backpacks that we recommend.
| Make / Model | Weight | Fabric | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L | 30.5 oz | Robic Nylon | $270 |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 (55L) | 35 oz | Dyneema DCF | $365 |
| Granite Gear Crown 2 60L | 36.7 oz | High Tenacity Nylon | $200 |
| Osprey Exos 58 | 42 oz | High Tenacity Nylon | $220 |
| Zpacks Arc Blast 55L | 20.1 oz | Dyneema DCF | $349 |
| ULA Circuit 68L | 36.6 oz | Robic Nylon | $255 |
| REI Flash 55L | 42 oz | Ripstop Nylon | $199 |
| Hanchor Marl 55 | 37.5 oz | XPac | $300 |
| Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50 | 31 oz | XPac | $270 |
| Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60 | 42 oz | Nylon-Poly Ripstop | $200 |
Be sure to read our Light Weight Backpack Selection Guide below and the linked FAQs for even more advice and reader feedback. SectionHiker has an international reputation for its comprehensive men’s and women’s backpack reviews and we’re passionate about helping our readers find the best backpacks for their needs.
1. Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack
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Gossamer Gear
2. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 Backpack
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Hyperlite Mountain Gear
3. Granite Gear Crown 2 60 Backpack
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Backcountry | REI | Amazon
4. Osprey Exos 58 Backpack
5. Zpacks Arc Blast Backpack
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Zpacks.com
6. ULA Circuit Backpack
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ULA Equipment
7. REI Flash 55 Backpack
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REI
8. Hanchor Marl 55 Backpack
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Hanchor
9. Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50
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Superior Wilderness Designs
10. Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 60 Backpack
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Sierra Designs
Lightweight Backpack Selection Guide
Lightweight Backpack Frames
Most lightweight backpacks range from about 40 liters up to 60 liters in volume and usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds. They’re intended for carrying loads between 30 and 40 pounds and have full frames or frame stays. The volume and weight capacity you need will depend on the amount of gear, food, fuel, and water you need to carry. This can vary from trip to trip, or town to town if you’re a thru-hiker or section hiker, but compression straps let you shrink a pack’s volume from 40L down to 60L as needed. Generally speaking, you want more “frame” for heavier loads, but this can be a matter of personal preference.
See the following FAQs for more advice and reader discussion:
Gender-Specific Backpack Features
Many lightweight backpacks are now available in men’s and women’s specific models, although there are a few exceptions. They also tend to have fixed torso lengths and hip belt lengths, although many backpack manufacturers have figured out that adjustable torsos and hip belts or ventilated backpacks give them a significant competitive edge. Many women prefer S-shaped shoulder straps and female-specific hip belts because they mold better to a “curvier” female form.
Backpack Fabric Durability
Most lightweight backpacks are made with Nylon and its variants, Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF), XPac. In terms of durability, XPac is usually the most durable in terms of abrasion resistance, then DCF, and then Nylon, although it depends on the thickness of the material used. In addition, there are many different types of Nylon and thicknesses, which are measured by “deniers”, also abbreviated as “D” in “20D Nylon Ripstop. Usually, higher denier counts result in more durable fabrics.
Cost
Dyneema (DCF) packs are the most costly in terms of price, then XPac, and then Nylon. DCF is the most labor-intensive, then XPac, then Nylon in its various forms.
Backpack Covers and Pack Liners
DCF and XPac are waterproof materials so you can get by without a backpack cover if you wish. That said, the shoulder pads and hip belts on all backpacks are not waterproof and will absorb some water, but your gear will stay dry even if you don’t!
Most lightweight backpacks do not include a rain cover. If your backpack is not waterproof and rain is likely where you plan to hike, we recommend you get a backpack rain cover or line the inside of your backpack with a plastic bag. Some people do both or wear ponchos that cover themselves and their backpacks. See the following FAQs for more advice and reader discussion:
Roll Tops vs Top Lids
Some of the backpacks listed above are roll tops and some have top lids. Which you choose is a matter of personal preference. Roll tops can be nice because they’re more minimalist and require fewer webbing straps. But top lids are handy if you need to change hats or gloves frequently or access a map and navigation gear. Still other packs, like the Granite Gear Crown 2 60 and the REI Flash 55 are roll-tops, but come with an accessory top lid that can you attach over them. That’s really the best of both worlds.
Backpacking Fit
The most important factor when choosing a lightweight backpack is fit. Keep trying ones on until you get a torso length and hip-belt that fits you perfectly. Return policies and warranties matter. Stick close to manufacturers that guarantee their products, are easy to contact, and want you to have the best experience possible. What makes a lightweight backpack great? It fits you, has easy to use external pockets, and works well with your other backpacking gear choices.
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Most Popular Searches
- lightwieght backpacks
You list is missing the best pack of all. The LiteAF 40L Way better than any pack on your list.
We list ultralight backpacks separately because they’re such a different animal.
See https://sectionhiker.com/sectionhiker-gear-guide/10-best-ultralight-backpacks/
We list the LiteAF Curve 35 there. You just need to read what we write more closely.
How about the Seek Outside Flight One?
While we do like the flight one (it would have been a #11 or #12) and I used one quite a lot last spring, its performance varies pretty radically depending on your torso height. I think it would have been a lot better if they’d made the torso length adjustable and I’d recommend that you look at their other packs like the Gila 3500 which weighs a few ounces more but is less variable in its performance and easier to size. I also believe the SO is going to tweek the Flight One a bit and we want to see what they do to it this year.
Great selection of UL backpacks. Thanks.
I’ve owned teoREI FLASH backpacks but for theist 6 years I’ve love my Osprey EXOS 58 pack.
I picked up the HMG 3400 SW largely on your recommendation – only had it out the neighborhood so far but I’ll agree wholeheartedly on how much difference the sewn on belt makes. Wow. Chose this over the Flight. Thanks Philip!
Night and day if it fits.
A good list, but any list that doesn’t include the Zpacks Arc Haul in the best lightweight category is incomplete.
This is a good list.
I’m having very good luck with the Gregory Optic 48. Ventilated back. Includes rain cover (carrying it is optional).
Why are backpacks weighed by the ounce and measured for how much they carry by the Liter? Just curious but it is messed up. Science worldwide uses metric even in the good old USA
So the American public can understand it. We also measure speed in MPH. You should try it.