The Best Hiking Back Pack for Travelers

Are you looking to upgrade your experience with the best hiking back pack on the market?

Nowadays, traveling closer to home is on everyone’s minds. With international travel being limited, local trips are becoming more popular. It’s also the perfect time of year to go on a hiking trip. There’s nothing better than a healthy dose of fresh air while being surrounded by nature. To make the most out of your next trip, you’ll need reliable hiking gear. And if you’re looking for the best hiking back pack, you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a new traveler, having a great back pack is essential. A sore back, damp clothes, or missing equipment can really ruin an experience. You’ll want a back pack that can carry all your essentials while still feeling lightweight. The only thing that should slow you down is admiring the beautiful scenery – not your back pack!

You’ll also have to figure out how long the trip will be. Longer hiking trips will require larger bags that can hold more gear. Shorter trips can easily be made with a compact back pack. No matter where you’re headed, enjoying your hike in comfort should be the top priority.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Hiking Back Pack

Choosing the best hiking back pack that works for you can be overwhelming. There are so many options out there and there are so many factors to consider, such as:

• Which climate will you be traveling in?
• How strenuous will your trip be?
• Will you use a men’s or women’s hiking backpack?
• How much gear will you bring?
• How exposed to the elements will you be?
• Will you need a rain cover?

Not all hiking back packs are ‘one size fits all’, so you’ll need to decide what features you need. Then, choosing the best hiking pack will be much easier.

Here’s our recommendations for the best hiking pack back.The brands featured are some of the biggest, so you’re guaranteed to find a style that suits you perfectly.

Our Picks for the Best Hiking Back Pack

Please note – Some of our selections contain affiliate links. These allow us to earn a small percentage every time you make a purchase. Using our links enables us to provide all the information found on this site free of charge. Also, thanks to Tropicfeel for sending us a backpack to review!

Osprey

Without a doubt, Osprey is a huge player in the hiking back pack game. With almost 50 years in the business, this company knows what it’s doing. Osprey uses recycled materials and offers ‘Our All Mighty Guarantee’ which repairs all their packs free of charge.

The new Archeon Men’s and Archeon Women’s series has a sleek, clean look but is also very functional. It should be a strong contender on your list of best hiking back pack! With adjustable harness and sternum straps, it’s easy to find the perfect fit with this pack. Plus, there’s an airscape back panel that allows for ventilation to keep your back dry during hot hikes. In addition, this pack boasts technical features like a reservoir sleeve, side pocket, and a rain cover. This series comes in several different sizes, with the larger packs having more pockets.

Most impressive is the overall style of this pack. With most of the pockets and features hidden, this pack doesn’t look like a traditional hiking bag. This makes for a versatile pack that you can bring anywhere. Use it for your long adventurous mountain hikes but also for your next train trip across Europe.

The North Face

Founded in 1966 in San Francisco, The North Face creates innovative climbing and hiking equipment that’s sold all over the world. With a high focus on sustainability, the company uses recycled materials and has a take back program for used products. In addition, The North Face recognizes the impact of climate change on outdoor exploration. To help combat climate change, they use energy-saving practices and donate to conservation charities.

Customers recommend the Terra 55 as an option for the best hiking back pack. This size of pack is perfect for multi-day trips and feels lightweight with its “Dyno Lift System” technology. You’ll also find added comfort features like a molded hip belt and cushy foam back panel. For camping trips, this pack is ideal since the floating lid can store a tent or sleeping bag. Additionally, the large J-zip makes it easy to access items in the pack quickly.

Most impressive is this bag comes with a lifetime warranty, especially since the price is quite reasonable. Moreover, you can choose between several colors and sizes in the same series.

Tropicfeel

If you are looking for a smaller backpack that makes a HUGE impact on your trip, look no further. The Tropicfeel Shell sports an incredible design allowing you to fit far more into the backpack than you’d think at first glance.

This smart backpack starts off as a stylish 22 liter day bag, and expands all the way to 40 liters, giving it a versatility not found in many other travel backpacks. 

We recently used the Shell on a two week trip to Spain, testing it out as our primary bag. We were extremely happy with the results.

The ability to turn your main travel bag into a day bag can not be overstated. We used it as our only piece of carry on luggage for the flight, because everything we needed fit right inside. Once on the ground the Shell functioned as the only day backpack we used, as well. The ability to transform from carry-on luggage to day pack is a huge deal that allows you to travel with one backpack, which of course fits the Travelling100 theme of our site perfectly. So yeah, to say that we really liked how the backpack performed would be an understatement.

Added bonus…it’s waterproof. Heck yeah! 

Now, if you are going on a super long trip, let’s say over three weeks, you probably would prefer having this as your secondary bag, since 40 liters might be a tad too small. For two weeks, however, we found this to be a perfect size. 

Get More Info 

Patagonia

Patagonia is another big name in the hiking world. They’re a well-known company due to their environmental activism, which they proudly highlight on their website. They even have a self-imposed ‘Earth Tax’ to donate to environmental groups. As for their hiking packs, they make high quality products that don’t require you to break the bank. They also have a ‘Worn Wear’ section online where you can purchase used and recrafted products.

High on the list is Patagonia’s Nine Trails Hiking Backpack, which comes in several sizes. It’s described ‘for extra-long days or minimalist overnight missions’ by the company. If you’re someone who’s not into super long treks, this might be the best hiking back pack for you.

The DWR (durable water repellent) finish makes it ideal for rainy days, along with its durable CORDURA fabric. Also, the pack is super comfortable with padded shoulders, adjustable sternum straps, and breathable back panel. Best of all, the pockets are very stretchy and able to hold both bulky and small items. This makes for an incredibly useful pack that you’ll get a lot of wear out of.

Kelty

A big part of Kelty’s mission is encouraging families and kids to get outside. If you’re suffering from what they call “NDD” (Nature Deficit Disorder), then you’re in luck! They offer all sorts of camping gear, but also a huge variety of hiking back packs. You’ll also find several varieties of child carrier hiking packs in their Kids category. This means that if you have a small child, you don’t need to miss out on outdoor adventures.

Kelty’s Journey Perfectfit Elite is their most highly rated child carrier — for good reason. Dad and Mom can use this adjustable pack to carry a child and other precious cargo. It’s fitted with a sunshade, grab handles, and a 5-point safety harness so everyone on the journey is comfortable. A grumpy little one can really ruin a fun day exploring outdoors! Luckily, Kelty has designed this pack with that in mind.

This company has really thought of everything to make this the best kid-friendly hiking back pack. You’ll find many stretchy pockets that can hold everything from toys to snacks. Most valuable is the zippered “dirty” pouch for any accidents or messes that happen on the trail.

Gregory

Although most hiking packs these days are adjustable, not all are ideal for a woman’s body. Luckily, Gregory have created hiking packs that have a gender specific fit. This means that the women’s series is built specifically for the female body.

We recommend the Juno H20 Women’s series as the best hiking back pack for women. You’ll find a 3D padded hip-belt that’s super comfortable, as well as special shoulder straps which won’t crush the chest.

This series on its own is great for other reasons too. Available in a variety of sizes, this is a practical pack that will keep you hydrated. It includes a 3-liter reservoir and hydration sleeve which are convenient and simple to use. This means no more fumbling for a water bottle mid-hike!

Storage is key with this small pack, which is evident with the many stretchy pockets and useful attachments. Besides security pockets for valuables, there’s also a Sunglass Quickstow system to ensure your shades are safe and within reach. And if you’re one for extreme trekking, you’ll find a tool attachment that can hold trekking poles or ice axes. If you’re a guy, you’ll appreciate their men’s series too.

Deuter

Most useful for hiking, Deuter’s Futura pack series is also great for trekking and other adventures. Available in both men and women’s fits, in a variety of sizes, a Deuter pack is extremely handy. It’s a high contender for best hiking back pack, but also for multi-day trips and other types of travel.

Remarkably, the Futura Pro series is ergonomically designed so you save energy while carrying a heavy load. You’ll find superior hip fins that actually move with your body and a flexible pack frame. Even the ventilated back of the pack is designed with science in mind. Deuter recognizes that the more you sweat, the more strain on the cardiovascular system. With their Aircomfort system, you’ll lose less fluid and will have more energy during your hike.

With all the high-tech features you’d expect from a durable hiking pack, you’ll also have peace of mind. This is because their bags are environmentally friendly. The water repellent coating is PFC-free and still keeps your items completely dry. If you’re looking for a high-quality pack, this should be at the top on your list.

One thing to note is that this German-based company only ships within the EU. There is a tool to find a dealer near you on their site, however.

In Closing

Now you’ll be able to choose the best hiking back pack that works for you! With so many great options out there, your next outdoor adventure should be stress-free and enjoyable. Having an uncomfortable back pack should be the least of your worries when you’re appreciating the great outdoors. No matter which option you choose from this list, you’ll have a pack you can love over many trails.

So, now that you have the right gear – what are you waiting for? Your next adventure is just around the corner!

Pin It!