Hi, I’m Sonia, and I Do the Reading for You
I’m Sonia Zannoni, and I run Best Trail Backpacks. I’m an outdoor enthusiast who hikes for the same reasons many of my readers do: fresh air, a quiet trail and a few hours outside.
Choosing a pack shouldn’t be this hard. Brand pages are full of marketing words, sizing charts change from one brand to the next, and a lot of “best of” lists crown a winner without telling you why.
If you’ve ever bought a pack that dug into your shoulders or rode up off your hips, you know what a wrong pick costs: sore days on the trail and money spent twice.
How I Research Gear
I don’t test gear myself, and I won’t pretend to. What I do is read carefully. For each pack, I compare the published specs and sizing charts, look at how it’s built, read what independent testers found, and go through owner reviews to see which comments come up again and again. One unhappy review is an anecdote. The same complaint from many owners is a pattern worth knowing about.
My background is in biochemistry, so checking claims against evidence is a habit for me. It shapes how I think about gear, not how I write. When a brand calls a pack “waterproof” or “ergonomic”, I look at what the spec sheet, the testers and the owners actually support.
What You Can Expect Here
Fit comes first on this site, because a pack that doesn’t match your torso and hips will hurt no matter what it cost. Every pick says who it suits and who should skip it, since no pack fits everyone. I also tell you where the evidence runs out, so you know what’s solid and what’s still uncertain.
I keep the language plain. If a technical term matters for your decision, I explain it. If it doesn’t, I leave it out.
Best Trail Backpacks earns money through affiliate links. Commission never decides what I recommend, and my affiliate disclosure explains exactly how it works.
If you’re not sure where to start, measure your torso length. It’s the first number to check against any brand’s size chart.
See you on the trail,
Sonia Zannoni
Founder and Gear Research Editor, Best Trail Backpacks
