We may buy a small pack with the aim of paring down, but the Massif's designers know us better than we know ourselves—we'll still cram it full. And thus they have installed the best load-...
TAKE IT ANYWHERE Small enough for short jaunts, cool enough for the heat of the desert, and tough enough for the mountains. The Direct 28 does it all, and for a sweet price. The abrasion-resistant...
If your ultralight pack gets kicked around like a stray dog, buy this Rottweiler. The tough-skinned Endeavor Summit is made with VX07 sailcloth, which is incredibly abrasion- and tear-resistant for...
Aigle Shems – Midweight Jackets: Reviews With a soft fleece interior and warm, durable merino wool/nylon exterior, this jacket combines our favorite fabrics in one versatile top. 1.9 lbs;...
LIGHT AND VERSATILE Consider the Talon an experiment in reduction: Every detail has been whittled down to bare essentials, making it a great warm-weather ultralight. But it's no one-trick pony...
This pack manages what politicians can only aspire to: It really is all things to all people. Numerous testers praised the AT 55 for apparently conflicting benefits, but they were all correct. It...
BEST FOR HOT WEATHER Beat sweaty-back syndrome with the Z 55's ventilated suspension. The frame's concave shape creates a pocket of cooling air between your back and the pack. Most...
The company that helped bring ounce counters out of the closet has struck a sweet balance between low weight and high value with the Intuition. The key is matching the stiff suspension—a...
OVERACHIEVER This streamlined pack performed above its weight class on every trip, thanks to durable polyurethane-coated nylon throughout and a suspension—framesheet and aluminum stay—...
If you're vaguely disturbed by the idea of paying more for a pack that weighs less, REI understands. The latest and largest in its UL line, this pack weighs little more than a pair of trail runners...
AN ELEGANT BRUISER Imagine the offspring of a Ferrari Testarossa and a Toyota Land Cruiser: precise handling, hard-duty construction. That's the essence of the Alpine Pack 50. It's a no-...
We would never suggest you limit yourself to just one pack. But if you can't fit more than one in your tiny Manhattan flat, the folks at Osprey feel your pain—and have the solution. The Aether...
CLASSIC WEEKENDER If today's stripped-down packs are a little too austere for your tastes, but full-featured packs are too heavy, you'll find the Ridgeline just right. It's light...
Visible technology may be the buzz at most design shops, but on trip after trip, this pack scored top marks because of what you can't see: two hinges hidden behind the lumbar pad. Each side of the...
POCKETS GALORE Are you forever looking for ways to stash small items, like camera, snacks, GPS, sunscreen, first-aid kit, and more? The Nimble, with no fewer than seven pockets and three storage...