Every precious device—and all its accessories—has its place in the 19-liter Strut, including a 15-inch laptop and power supply. But our favorite gadget-friendly feature was the crushproof safe zone, a semirigid pocket at the top of the pack that’s big enough to hold a phone, sunglasses, and a point-and-shoot camera. 1.6 lbs; thule.com

The Casimir’s fit system (hipbelt, shoulder straps, and torso length) was designed specifically for women. We could tell: it was the most snug and supportive large day pack and fast-and-light overnighter we tested. 2.2 lbs.

Instead of a traditional waist belt, the ultralight (12 ounces) Pace has bifurcated shoulder straps that cinch the pack down against both the top and the small of your back at the same time. It sounds weird but works great, and the design reduces annoying sloshing (the downfall of many a trail-running pack) to a minimum. 12 oz.

With enough compartment space for a laptop, a yoga mat, and running shoes, this old-school courier bag quickly became our everyday workhorse. The highly water-­resistant, 1,200-denier polyester fabric makes it as durable as an armored car; this thing will likely last forever. 2.2 lbs.

With 22 liters of space, external pockets, attachments galore, and a taste-free, three-liter hydration reservoir, the Sprinter can do just about anything. And because it’s practically waterproof—taped seams and highly water-resistant zippers—it can do it all in the rain. 2.5 lbs.

The Xena—the women’s equivalent of the Gear of the Year-winning Xenith pack—is nearly as big (with enough capacity for weeklong trips) and every bit as awesome (it’s especially good at stabilizing heavy loads). Best part: you can heat-mold the hipbelt to perfectly contour your body. 5 lbs.

THE TEST: The Eddie Bauer and REI packs are extremely pared down and packable; the Bolt is cut from different cloth. With a full suspension system, including an aluminum stay, the Bolt is ideal for fast-moving technical forays like slot-canyon exploration, peak bagging, and even mountain biking. And thanks to a smart set of features that include ice-ax and trekking-pole loops and a bike-light clip, it does everything equally well.

THE VERDICT: Overkill for mellow day hikers, but awesome for just about anything else you can do in a 24-hour period. 2.1 lbs.

HAULING COMFORT: 5
VERSATILITY: 5

THE TEST: First, be aware that actual bacon is sold separately. What you do get is an impressively versatile and technical 28-liter pack; there are retractable tool loops for ice axes or trekking poles, and the side compression system can even carry skis. Of course, we found it performs just as well on mellower excursions. The hipbelt is more substantial than the REI pack’s but is removable. The only odd feature: when you cinch the hipbelt, the mesh pockets are virtually impossible to access.

THE VERDICT: Goes across continents as well as it goes up mountains. 1.4 lbs.

HAULING COMFORT: 3
VERSATILITY: 5

THE TEST: The Flash doesn’t look like a whole lot. It also doesn’t take up a lot of space. Remove the foam back panel and it rolls up smaller than a bottle of wine. But unlike most ultralight packs, it’s surprisingly capable, with a tiny lid, two good-size mesh side pockets, and 15 gear loops. Just pack wisely: the shoulder straps have virtually no padding, and there are no side compression straps to cinch down small or awkward loads.

THE VERDICT: Considering how much you get out if it, it’s the best $50 you can spend. 1 lb.

HAULING COMFORT: 2
VERSATILITY: 4.5