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Meet the most multi-functional pack on the scene this fall
From shredding powder to climbing ice, these top packs keep your gear secure and dry
For carrying weight while moving quickly in the mountains, the Slope Runner Exploration 18L is our new favorite vest-pack hybrid
It’s time to sharpen your pencils and pack your bags—the school year is here again
Two hikers go head to head on the best carryall for a walk in the woods
It’s way more expensive and not as comfortable. Our gear director weighs the pros and cons of an über-light kit.
Bomber bags for air travel, daily commuting, or any adventure off the beaten path
This pack bridges the gap between ultralight and ultracomfy
A beginner friendly backpacking pack with everything you need—and nothing you don’t
From the backcountry to the airport, this pack has you covered
Shoulder the load and make miles with these trail-ready rucksacks
But is it worth the $700 price tag?
This was our favorite sport climbing pack in our 2021 Summer Buyer’s Guide. “Minimalist looks hide this hauler’s true capabilities,” our testers wrote. “A guidebook sleeve, three external pockets, and a clamshell opening keep you organized.”…
We featured the Black Diamond Distance pack in our long-term test of the best hydration vests. “What really made this pack stand out was its ability to carry nearly anything with extreme comfort,” wrote tester Peter Koch. “Trekking-pole sleeves on either side offer the most stable, secure carry of…
We recommended this pack for the remote worker in our holiday gift guide. The 20-liter Wayfinder is a versatile everyday pack made from durable ripstop nylon. Plus, the pack as all the tech features you need for work travel like cord organizers and padded laptop sleeves.
The Baltoro 65 won our Gear of the Year award in the 2018 Summer Buyer’s Guide. Testers said it offers a “full buffet of features along with excellent load-carrying comfort and very low weight.”…
We love the Klettersack for its beautiful, high-quality design. Our tester praised the bag’s bomber construction: “The 22-liter pack features 1,000-denier Cordura fabric and heavy duty hardware so it’ll put up with years of day-hike abuse.”…
“This clever pack is padded, to safeguard electronics, and has separate compartments for clean and dirty gear,” wrote Buyer’s Guide tester Melissa McGibbon. “The back straps are made of comfy closed-cell foam, and the Praxus (and women’s Proxy) fits in an overhead bin.”…
In a lineup of touring packs, this boot bag and small daypack didn't make the cut, but they're still well worth your attention
These haulers can handle any winter mission
One of our favorite adventure travel brands will be relegated to the gilded halls of Ebay by the end of the year
With an innovative hipbelt and pockets (almost) everywhere I need them, this backpack is a quiver killer for multiday treks
Hiking is for everyone—but as Kara Richardson Whitely, a.k.a. Mama Kubwa, discovered, not everyone has gotten the memo
Made with recycled material, the Black Hole is a travel companion that you can feel good about. It’s equipped with an internal sleeve for laptop storage and smaller pockets for a wallet or phone. Our tester noted the Black Hole is also a great option for pure gear hauling.
The Deva 60 won a Gear of the Year award in our 2018 Summer Buyer’s Guide. The pack features a U-shaped front panel for easy access to your gear, zippered pockets and compartments for organization, a hydration sleeve, and a ventilated back panel. The suspension frame is also designed…
If you’re looking for a new bike commuting bag, check out the Lako—we included it in our 2021 Summer Buyer’s Guide roundup. “Testers loved the Lako’s padded laptop sleeve and separate wet-dry compartments. The tough water-resistant shell fends off the elements,” editor Will Taylor wrote.
This 21-liter pack is the epitome of clean, functional design. A unique three-zip closure on the front allows you to easily see the contents of your bag without having to dump it all out. The face fabric is a super-durable 500-denier Cordura, which you’ll be hard-pressed to tear. Read our…
The “AG” stands for Anti-Gravity, Osprey’s term for the Atmos’s swath of torso-conforming mesh that allows airflow while providing balance and support. The unique design creates contact with your entire back, which, combined with tons of adjustability in the torso and hipbelt and four compression straps, allows you to stabilize…
Gear up for summer adventures with these killer deals
Technical bags for going the distance
Kelty brought back the external frame pack but with a modern twist. The Zyp uses a lightweight steel frame and a suspension system that doesn’t suffocate your back. “I found it light and incredibly comfortable despite the water, camera, and food I was carrying,” our gear editor wrote.
The Daylite doesn’t come with a bladder, but there’s storage aplenty: 20 liters in the main compartment plus an exterior pocket. The sleeve in the main compartment can house a reservoir you buy separately, or it’ll accommodate a tablet or small laptop if you’re just using it for commuting. If…
The Adventure Pack is a solid all-around gear hauler. “I can fit everything I need for a week in this pack,” wrote our reviews editor. While it’s fantastic for packing gear on extended trips, it has features that make it suitable for everyday use, like a variety…
Our testers Elizabeth Miller and Justin Nyberg called the Griffin “the most dynamic and customizable big-load hauler we’ve seen.” That’s what made this multi-day pack worthy of a Gear of the Year award in 2019. “If you often find yourself stopping to fiddle with the fit of…
How to stay fueled and warm on the slopes without looking like a total nerd
“The Talon 22 is a highly functional daypack that can carry your gear across multiple disciplines,” wrote our tester. “It’s loaded with thoughtful features, like trekking-pole attachments, a helmet-carry system, and an ice-tool loop.”…
The Stone Glacier X-Curve conforms to the shape of a human back with unprecedented comfort
Elise Wortley is replicating the achievements of historical female adventurers, wearing only the gear that would have been available to them at the time
Dialed and ready for big loads, these bags will help you keep the pace
This suitcase-style pack is ideal for keeping your gear organized and separated. The internal padded laptop sleeve keeps electronic devices safe, and a small pocket on the front of the pack fits documents, a phone, or a notebook. You can carry the Mission three ways: as a suitcase, over the…
In our 2017 Summer Buyer’s Guide, we recommended this pack for light weekend trips. “The Paragon is a sizable pack without the heft you’d expect,” wrote tester Justin Nyberg. We loved the 58-liter pack’s back panel ventilation system, roomy side pockets and sturdy suspension. Plus, the hydration sleeve doubles…
In our search for the best winter travel gear, we discovered this collapsable duffle. If you’re the type to rack up souvenirs, the Cargo Hauler is perfect because “it won’t burst when you stuff it full of tchotchkes,” we wrote. Plus, the removable backpack straps make it easy to…
In our ultimate guide to coolers, this 30-quart, soft sided number was one of our favorites. We especially like the Trooper’s extra-wide opening, two water-resistant exterior pockets, and a mount for a bottle opener or dry box. Plus, the Trooper has shoulder and backpack straps so you can carry…
This new one-bag travel solution provides order in a chaotic world
Science says the HoverGlide reduces vertical forces by more than 80 percent. But what does it actually feel like?
If you’re looking for an airy hauler for extended trips, this is it. “It feels like cheating to hoist a 60-liter pack that tips the scales at only two pounds,” we wrote in our Buyer’s Guide test of the best packs. “There are no side-entry zippers or…
In his test of the Journey Hydration Pack series, our tester wrote: “Ultimately, the Journey packs offer a comfortable ride, which is exactly what you want from a bag when you’re flying down singletrack.” The Journey includes an insulated bladder system, so if cold water on your ride is…
The 20-liter Kompressor keeps Outside’s resident boulderer Jenny Earnest organized at the crag. “It’s big enough to haul a day’s worth of gear and the frameless design and lightweight ripstop nylon shell allows it to compress and jam into my pad,” she wrote.
At your waist, across your back—what’s old is cool again
We've been married 13 years and backpacked more than 12,000 miles together. This is what we've learned.
We got a peek of the Hydra pack when it came out in 2018. “All in all, the designs promise to bring something new to the pack market and the North Face line,” wrote gear editor Ariella Gintzler. At 26 liters, the Hydra is best for longer day hikes…
Gear editor Ariella Gintzler wasn’t thrilled about this über-pared-down design at first, but after several days of testing, it won her over. “I came to appreciate the pack’s simplicity, which made for an easier and more comfortable carry, thanks to the absence of dangly straps and overstuffed side pockets,”…
When old men's apparel is new again
Our Gear Guy dubbed the Kanken the best backpack for parents because it transitions seamlessly between a diaper bag and an everyday carry pack. “Fjällräven’s Kanken does it better than anything else I’ve tried in the 11 months since my daughter, Jojo, was born,” he wrote.
We picked this pack for winter camping in the backcountry because it manages big loads with ease. Testers liked that they could stuff their heaviest, most awkward items right up against their backs for easy carrying, thanks to compression straps that connect the body to the frame.
This simple bag is all you need for airline travel
In our roundup of fall running essentials, this pack was our tester’s favorite for long runs. “It fits comfortably, its straps and pockets minimize bounce, and at six liters there’s just enough storage for the necessities,” wrote Andy Cochrane. The pack also includes two soft flasks for on-the-go hydration.
I traveled abroad on a shoestring budget. Here's how I did it—and how you can, too.
In our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide, we picked the Signal 20 as the best daypack for travel. It has five exterior pockets along with the main compartment and an easy-access laptop sleeve. Plus, the main chute has an additional organizer panel to store pens, passport, keys, and snacks.
Contributor Aaron Gulley tested a slew of bike-specific hydration packs and this one was among our top three favorites. The Skyline was the smallest pack in the test—with only seven liters of gear capacity and a three-liter hydration bladder—but still had enough space for tools, a sandwich, and a…
This bag is wildly useful and perfect for your weekend adventures
He's tested them, and now they're very on sale
This versatile pack works just as well as a commuter pack as it does a gym bag. That’s why we recommended it as one of the best fitness gifts of 2019. Made from 50 percent recycled materials, each Pivot Roll Top is the equivalent of eleven plastic water bottles.
Gently used apparel and a new upcycled line are available at the Boulder storefront
Filson’s Ranger Pack is made to last you a lifetime, thanks to features like rugged twill fabric and bridle-leather buckles. “It has everything you need without being overkill, and its simple design means there’s less to wear out,” wrote our tester.
Each one of these packs are one of a kind and made from repurposed fabric. The 24L Luzon is a bigger version of the 18L Luzon which we praised as a solid lightweight carry-all. This pack doesn’t have an internal hydration sleeve, but it does have two external water…
The right gear and packing methods can save you baggage fees and ensure the essentials arrive with you
Hydro Flask's mountain bike packs are designed to keep water cold for up to four hours
The company took an overlooked piece of gear and made it significantly more useful