Best Hybrid Daypacks: The City-to-Summit Guide
Looking for the best hybrid backpack for the office and the trail? Which hybrid daypacks suit which commute and hike, and what to check before you buy.
Best Daypacks for Beginners: Comfortable Gear That Won’t Overcomplicate Your Weekend
Three first daypacks for three kinds of beginner: one bag for the commute and the trail, a light trail pack for a longer back, and a budget pick with a real hip belt, plus the fit range to check before you buy.
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.
Ortlieb Atrack Backpack Review: When Rain-Proof Means Actually Rain-Proof
Fully waterproof and opens flat like a suitcase, but you take it off to get anything out of it. Here is who the Atrack is worth it for, and which size to pick.
Black Diamond Speed 40 Backpack Review: A Modular Alpine Tool Built to Summit
Thinking about one pack for the walk in and the climb? Here is what the Speed 40 does well, where owners say it falls short, and which climbers would be happier with another pack.
Best Waterproof Daypacks for Rainy Hikes (and When a Liner Is Enough)
I compare three waterproof daypacks by how each keeps rain out, what its maker says it won’t do and which backs and loads it fits. If your rain comes in showers, you’ll also see when a liner in the pack you already own is enough.
Best Daypacks for Hiking: 5 Picks That Fit Your Body and Your Day
Five daypacks with real hip belts, sorted by your body and the kind of day you hike. Every torso and hip range sits side by side, so you can check the fit with a tape measure before you order.
Best Hiking Backpacks for Backpackers: 3 Picks Matched to Your Torso, Hips and Load
Three backpacking packs for overnights and multi-day trips, with the torso and hip belt range of every version, so you can match a pack to your body and your load before you order.
5 Best Hiking Backpacks for Women: Better Fit, Less Shoulder Pain
Not sure which women's pack will fit your torso and hips? Here's how five 50 to 60 liter packs compare, and how to check the fit at home before you commit.
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.
Best Kids Hiking Backpacks: 4 Picks by Age and Height
Four kids’ hiking packs matched to your child’s height and the day you’re planning, from a preschooler’s snack pack to one a tween can grow into. You’ll also find the two-minute bathroom-scale check that tells you how much is too much to carry.
Teton Explorer 65L Review (Formerly the Explorer 4000): Who It Fits on a Multi-Day Trip
The Explorer 65L, once the Explorer 4000, puts a full frame, a belt to 70 inches and a rain cover in a budget pack. Here’s who it fits, what owners report and what the warranty really covers.
