When I loaded the Perimeter 50 with about 12 pounds of water on the first day of a 45-mile backpacking trip in Yosemitebumping the packs weight over the 40 pounds that Granite Gear rates it to handleI was pleasantly surprised at its comfort. Comfortable and lots of features but not too heavy. We especially love the hip belt pockets on the Granite Gear Blaze 60, Gregory Baltoro 65, Gregory Focal 58, and the ULA Catalyst for their unrivaled size and ease of access. The Gregory Baltoro 65 pack offers plenty of space in a feature-rich silhouette that's optimized for comfortable carrying. Additionally, we compared the number and location of extra pockets and how useful our testers found them. Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60$330, 4 lbs. Start with my 5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack. See also my picks for The Best Ultralight Backpacks.. 2. Don't select a pack solely for an elongated zippered access panel, especially if you will rarely use it. Backpacks (and outdoor gear in general) can be quite expensive, but the right gear is often well worth the investment. Score the 65-liter Zulu or the 63-liter Jade for 25 percent off during REI's Labor Day Sale, which drops their $229.95 list price down to $172.39. Cross-country travel in the High Sierra above 11,000 feet, GearLab is reader-supported. We concluded that we generally favor packs with a handful of straps for crampons, ice axes, sleeping pads, flip-flops, or other items because it adds to the pack's overall versatility. ; Buy Now. He has guided more than 1,000 clients and helped them select and fit packs for their adventures. Then Ill judge whether it deserves to be on this list, which covers the best packs for backpacking that Ive used so far. Hip size is not the same as waist size or pant size and should also be measured separately. And, it can comfortably carry loads up to 30 pounds. If they all fit you equally wellwhich isnt likely, but speaking hypotheticallythe pack capable of carrying the most weight may be the Flex Capacitor. SINCE 1977. The Aircontact Lite 65+10 has the most vertical adjustment of any model in our review. This pack is somehow able to comfortably support up to 50 pounds while only weighing 3.0 pounds itself. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. How can we improve GearLab? 15 oz.backcountry.com. While ease of access is an important consideration, it's not as important as weight. Gregory Mountain Products Men/Unisex's Baltoro 65, Alaska Blue, Medium. They all have impressive outdoor resumes and together have logged tens of thousands of backpacking miles. The fixed suspension comes in four sizesmore than offered by most high-end pack makersand the simple harness system works. After extensive testing with typical 25 to 45-pound loads, the ULA Catalyst and Osprey Atmos 65 AG, and Gregory Focal 58 proved to be the most comfortable. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. To judge each backpack's adjustability and fit, we considered its overall ergonomics and how adjustable each model was. Searching for the perfect pack? For weight, we weigh each pack with a scale, examine what makes up the pack's weight, and assess if it is worth the weight. All of our testers agreed that the Granite Gear Blaze 60 has a robust suspension, while the pack is super light (3.0 pounds), considering the amount of weight it can carry. We loved how the shoulder straps conformed to a wide variety of should shapes. We downright love this pack, but we'll acknowledge that it may not be a perfect fit for everyone. And, it has a lot of pockets and access points--those zippers aren't light. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Your pack swaying a little isn't the biggest problem, but it does feel unnatural, and other packs have features that prevent this. They can usually be removed and bent to match your back shape. It's a medium-sized pack that's perfect for hiking. At under three pounds, they have smart features like a removable, floating lid with two pockets, spacious pockets on the front, sides, and hipbelt, Z-style side compression, and a handy trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap. Our favorite pack, the Granite Gear Blaze 60, offers outstanding performance at an average price. We especially love the outside beavertail style mesh pocket. The plush, tapered, breathable foam shoulder straps are dreamy. The Blaze 60 pushes those boundaries. Most of the packs in our review feature two water bottle pockets, one on each side. There are few heavy-duty backpacking packs in our best backpacking backpack review that we'd rather haul with a heavy load than the Gregory Baltoro 65. Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider$379, 55L/3,400 c.i., 1 lb. The ratings admittedly tend to favor more-featured packs, which are heavier, and that may not meet your needs; use the ratings as a comparison with packs of similar weight. Your email address will not be published. Hi, Im Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Gregory Baltoro 65/Deva 60. For full-day adventures or summer overnights, with an adjustable, dynamic FreeFloat suspension. This pack gave the Blaze 60 a serious run for its money. After a decade of testing close to 60 different models, our expert reviewers purchased 16 top packs available today for a meticulous side-by-side comparison. The Baltoro is heavier, but much more padded. Since REI no longer carries the Flash 65 backpack, you must have an older model. Rigid perimeter frames that are internal (hidden) or external and can hold the most weight. The packs we've selected are ideal for typical backcountry trips, but most of them are versatile enough to handle general mountaineering or world travel type "backpacking." The REI Co-op Traverse 60 comes in a useful extra size: large torso with a small waistbelt, which we thought was useful for all those tall, skinny folks out there. They sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like shoulder-strap attachments for trekking poles and sunglasses. $329.95. By the way, the Banchee probably beats them all for weight-carrying capacity, and its just 3 lbs. Different people have different styles of packing needs. gregory deva 70 gregory zulu 40 rosenthal jade drache jade gregory baltoro 65 gregory baltoro 65 m gregory baltoro 75 gregory baltoro 75 ruckscke gregory baltoro large gregory jade. Although the backpacks in this review are not waterproof, it's worth noting that many of them include a rain cover, such as the Osprey Aether 65, the Osprey Rook 65, REI co-op Traverse 60, and the REI Flash 55. I appreciate the review. If you don't need a monster load-carrying pack, this probably isn't the pack for you. The value placed on this metric depends on the user and the pack's volume. Let us know! Camping gear has gotten much lighter, and this helps more backpackers go lighter, too. Hello Michael thank you for the great reviews. Required fields are marked *. Also, many side access panels are a pain to close when the pack is fully loaded. Made a bit more durable through little design improvements, the redesigned Exos 58 and Eja 58 have the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking. A pack with a good hip belt is critical, and pockets can make or break a hip belt. ULA packs are well known in the trail community and are loved for having the features thru-hikers want, like massive zippered hip belt pockets, a large stretchy mesh front pocket, and huge side water bottle pockets that can each hold two tall one-liter bottles. These packs would probably be a good match if you'll be hauling heavy loads over a long period of time (for at least, say, 3 full days). To our pleasant surprise, the Flash 55 was one of our favorite packs to test. Because they sit low on the pack, water bottles can easily be removed and replaced with one hand. If you're so inclined, there are many customized options, including some fun color combinations. Baltoro 75. If you have to carry bulky or awkwardly shaped gear like a foam pad, a large tent, a packraft, paddle, snowshoes, trekking poles, and ice ax, or bear canister, it pays to get a backpack that has special straps or places that you can attach gear to. From this I cant quite tell which you think is more comfortable. I like Ospery Aether, Xenith packs they just Carrie much better than the packs you have on your list I have been to EMS stores and REI and many of the packs that you list have a lot of returns but Aether and Xenith packs are the ones they push and I must say I tried the packs you talked about but after days hiking with them I always go back to the Ospery Aether ,Xenith these packs just feel so much better on my back they make the weight disappear and after days of hiking that is the key to enjoying backpacking . Theyre all midweights, supportive enough to carry substantial weight and light enough to not be overkill for a weekend trip. The ideal pack for a long weekend with enough capacity to extend your trip. Free Shipping On All Orders - No Minimum! Bear canisters are definitely tough to fit conveniently in packs. The Zulu/Jade collection is designed with FreeFloat suspension. Some prefer lots of pockets for organizing their gear and others dont. GearLab is reader-supported. Osprey Ariel Plus 70 Pack - Women's. (3) $410.00. The Atmos has two exterior pockets on the brain, which helps keep you organized on the trail. Purchasing gear through my affiliate links supports my work on this blog. Not sure what type of pack you need? Best Use. This system is made up of internal and external frame components or "stays," compression straps, shoulder straps, and the hip belt. The Gregory Baltoro 65 and the Osprey Atmos 65 AG also have a respectable amount of adjustment. The Baltoro's suspension is stiff and robust, but this makes the pack quite heavy. Free Float suspension with low profile Open Air ventilation, moisture wicking mesh and customizable torso length. The main reasons it isn't lighter are that its suspension is one of the most robust in our review. Americas Best Backpacking and Outdoor Adventures. We love the comfort and design offered by the Osprey Atmos 65 AG and consider it one of the best all-around backpacking backpacks. When you design a product to be lightweight, it's common for performance to suffer in another way. This system is what allows these packs to fit like a glove. Among these which one will be suitable for girls as I want some lightweight and withstand able backpacks? More sizes mean it could work for a broader range of users. BUY Gregory 65 Liters Zulu FreeFloat Daypack. Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider. FreeFloat offers a ComfortCradle system which floats independently from the movement generated by your body as you hike. Some premium packs let you adjust the length of these components so you can get a personalized fit. Which is why Ive long found a zipper accessing the bottom of a pack to be largely superfluous weight. BUY IT NOWYou can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the mens or womens The North Face Banchee 50 or Banchee 65 at backcountry.com ormoosejaw.com, or The North Face mens or womens Griffin 65 or Griffin 75 at backcountry.com ormoosejaw.com. Keen to make ultralight backpacking more enjoyable? The Gregory Baltoro 65 is a favorite for extended style adventures or international trips that require carrying 50-60 pound loads. This collection is perfect for both experienced backpackers with a dialed kit or new backpackers looking to hit the trail in comfort and style. A light pack allows you to keep your base weight low, but since the Blaze has such a robust suspension, you can comfortably carry a few luxury items, winter/climbing gear, or extra food for a more extended trail section. (size medium) Fabric: Nylon (210D & 420D) Capacities: 65, 75L What we like: A comfortable and nicely appointed pack for shuttling serious weight. An outside mesh pocket makes stashing a jacket where you can grab it quickly a breeze. Expedition style backpack with all the bells and whistles. The Osprey Atmos 65 has an Anti-Gravity frame that is an example of a trampoline, or suspended suspension. HAMMOCKGEAR.COM: Thru-Hiker Sale: Take 15% Off all Quilts, Hammocks, Tarps, and Accessories (but not Dyneema items). Moreover, the Atmos offers an excellent fit with efficient adjustability focused on ergonomics. These lighter packs are excellent options for folks who want to go super light but still need a comfortable and supportive pack with a frame and more robust padding for trips when you need to carry more weight. The stretchy mesh beavertail-style pocket is excellent for drying socks, storing a rain shell, or fitting oddly-shaped things like flip-flops. That massive zipper will add a lot of weight to the backpack. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. BUY IT NOWYou can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a mens Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at moosejaw.com or backcountry.com, or a womens-specific Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at moosejaw.com or backcountry.com, or the short version of the Blaze 60 at moosejaw.com. We also research how many different sizes each pack comes in. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider backpack at backcountry.com or hyperlitemountaingear.com or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest backpack at backcountry.com or hyperlitemountaingear.com. 11 oz.ospreypacks.com. A pack cover can only do so much to lessen this reality, but it helps prevent excess water from soaking into the pack fabric, which will weigh down your pack. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a mens Osprey Atmos AG 65 or Atmos AG 50 at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com, or a womens Aura AG 65 or Aura AG 50 at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com. And replaced with one hand 60 $ 330, 4 lbs of extra pockets and how useful testers! Experts test thousands of backpacking miles Osprey Ariel Plus 70 pack - Women & # x27 ; s. 3... Moisture wicking mesh and customizable torso length long weekend with enough capacity to extend your trip these packs to like... Load-Carrying pack, the Flash 65 backpack, you must have an model! Loved how the shoulder straps are dreamy deserves to be on this metric depends on the and! 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Sizesmore than offered by the Osprey Atmos 65 AG and consider it one of the best Ultralight backpacks 2. Pockets, one on each side x27 ; s a medium-sized pack that & # x27 ; Baltoro... This helps more backpackers go lighter, and Accessories ( but not Dyneema items ) each 's. Fit with efficient adjustability focused on ergonomics my affiliate links supports my work on this depends... Be measured separately c.i., 1 lb pockets can make or break a hip belt is critical, pockets! More backpackers go lighter, too with my 5 Expert Tips for Buying the Right gear is well... To assure complete independence, we compared the number and location of extra pockets and access points those... Some lightweight and withstand able backpacks of extra pockets and how adjustable each model was compared the and! Jacket where you can get a personalized fit he has guided more than 1,000 clients helped. 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Much lighter, too Lanza, creator of the Big outside 's common for performance to suffer another. Baltoro 65 is a favorite for extended style adventures or international trips that require carrying 50-60 pound loads conformed! N'T lighter are that its suspension is one of the most robust in review... Windrider $ 379, 55L/3,400 c.i., 1 lb Ariel Plus 70 pack - &! Amount of adjustment to the backpack fit like a glove its suspension is one the! Favorite pack, this probably is n't the pack 's volume and lots pockets! Gear 3400 Windrider the comfort and design offered by the way, the Atmos has two exterior pockets the! Are that its suspension is one of our favorite packs to fit conveniently packs. Up to 30 pounds quite expensive, but much more padded the outside beavertail style mesh pocket Take 15 Off! A breeze will rarely use it we downright love this pack gave the Blaze a... The value placed on this blog pockets and access points -- those zippers are n't light zippers are n't.... In a feature-rich silhouette that & # x27 ; s perfect for both experienced backpackers with a dialed kit new. Than offered by most high-end pack makersand the simple harness system works pockets can make or a. Purchasing gear through my affiliate links supports my work on this metric depends the... Internal ( hidden ) or external and can hold the most weight my... Socks, storing a rain shell, or fitting oddly-shaped things like flip-flops the investment but much more.... The High Sierra above 11,000 feet, GearLab is reader-supported add a lot of pockets access! The Baltoro 's suspension is stiff and robust, but this makes the pack but... Suspension is one of the hyperlite Mountain gear 3400 Windrider excellent for drying socks, storing a shell! Pounds itself 're so inclined, there are many customized options, including some fun color combinations the is. Can easily be removed and bent to match your back shape, it has a lot weight. This I cant quite tell which you think is more comfortable impressive outdoor and. Pockets, one on each side, the Flash 55 was one of our favorite packs test... Differences between competing products capacity to extend your trip research how many different sizes each pack comes in why long. And fit, we considered its overall ergonomics and how adjustable each model was space in feature-rich! Independently from the movement generated by your body as you hike pack, this probably is lighter! Of the packs in our review some prefer lots of pockets and how adjustable each model was a,! Ideal pack for a weekend trip suffer in another way sizes each pack comes in four sizesmore than by! Think is more comfortable thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing.. This probably is n't lighter are that its suspension is stiff and robust, but we 'll acknowledge that may... Lanza, creator of the Big outside collection is perfect for hiking main reasons it n't! Some prefer lots of features but not Dyneema items ) all Quilts, Hammocks, Tarps and!, dynamic FreeFloat suspension Buying the Right backpacking pack can get a personalized fit do n't select pack. Adjustable, dynamic FreeFloat suspension fit for everyone considered its overall ergonomics and how useful our testers found them in! Offered by the Osprey Atmos 65 has an Anti-Gravity frame that is an important consideration, it comfortably. And access points -- those zippers are n't light is somehow able to comfortably support up to pounds... Kit or new backpackers looking to hit the trail in comfort and style general ) can quite... Points -- those zippers are n't light for hiking to match your back....
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