Find a Pack That Fits Your Body, Your Trip and Your Budget

I read the manufacturer’s specs, the sizing charts and what owners report, then tell you plainly which packs suit you and which to skip.

Explore the Gear

Start with Fit

Most pack problems, from sore shoulders to a hip belt that slides up, come back to fit. These three guides are where I’d start.

How-To Guides

How to Measure Your Torso for a Hiking Backpack (Step-by-Step Fitting Guide)

Your height won’t tell you your pack size. Find your C7 and iliac crest, measure your torso at home, and match the number to the brand’s size chart.

Backpacks and Daypacks

Best Hiking Backpacks for Back Pain: 3 Packs That Put the Load on Your Hips

If your back aches after a hike, fit is the place to start. These three hiking packs are matched to how much you carry, each in a men’s and a women’s version, with the torso, hip belt and load numbers to check first.

Backpacks and Daypacks

Best Hiking Backpacks Under $100: Budget Picks Worth Carrying

Which pack under $100 fits your trip and your body? I sort five budget picks by job and say plainly what each one gives up.

How I Choose Gear

Founder & Gear Research Editor

Sonia Zannoni

Hi, I’m Sonia. I don’t test gear myself. I read the manufacturer’s specs and sizing charts and look for what owners report again and again. Then I tell you who each pick suits and who should skip it.

About the Founder

New on the site

Tent and Sleeping Bag Care

How to Clean, Dry and Store a Tent (and What to Do About Mildew)

A musty or spotted tent isn’t always a lost cause. Here’s how to tell which state yours is in, then clean, dry and store it the way the makers who built it advise.

Inspiration and Wellness

Digital Detox Camping: How to Unplug for a Weekend and Keep Your Phone as a Safety Net

You can take a real break from the screen this weekend and still be reachable. Here’s how far to unplug, how to let only your check-in person through, and what to do with the time at camp.

Footwear Maintenance

How to Waterproof Hiking Boots and Trail Shoes: Clean, Dry and Re-Treat by Material

Find out whether your boots need re-treating or just a good clean, then follow the makers’ own steps for cleaning, drying without heat and treating your exact upper.

Explore by Category

An Olive Green Hiking Daypack Resting on a Mossy Rock in a Sunlit Forest Trail