Looking for the best hiking backpacks on the market? From day packs to backpacking bags to hip packs and packs that do it all, here are the best backpacks for hiking that you can find:

why this blog? My name is Maddy and I’ve been an outdoors guide with a focus on sea kayaking since 2018! I’ve worked in outdoor retail, as a sauna guide, as a barista, and more while working in the outdoors throughout the Midwest and the West Coast. Today, I still guide in the summers in addition to full-time work as an outdoor writer! I’m 100% committed to bringing you the best possible info to helping you get out on the trail!

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Best Hiking Backpacks and Packs:

Whether you’re headed out on a quick hike or a long haul, here are the best packs for your hiking adventures and how to choose the right back for you!

1) Gregory Day Packs

Gregory makes some of the best day packs on the market and includes plus sized hiking backpack options! Check out the Maya 20 or Maya 20 Plus -sized for a solid backpack with plenty of pockets compatible with a water reservoir. A 20L is a good backpack size for most day hikes and can comfortably hold snacks, water, maps, compass, your camera, first aid kit, and extra layers.

Pictured is my partner Andy, who does in fact wear a mens pack! I’ve borrowed it once and it was a little big on me, but if you’re a taller woman / broad shouldered you might prefer the mens fit. My hiking backpack fit issue is that I’m broad shouldered but short. Think like… inverted triangle. Tricky size.

For a bag best suited to overnight weekend backpacking trips or longer day hikes were you plan to carry more gear, check out the Amber 44 or Amber 44 Plus Sized.

PROS: Gregory packs hold up to wear and tear and have ample storage space across models. There are several sizes to choose from, and good ventilation on the back. Packs tend to be comfortable to wear long periods of time and chafe-free on the shoulders.

CONS: Can be difficult to pack in a carry-on, and price point is higher than other options.

2) Eddie Bauer 20L Stowaway (Best Budget hiking backpack)

The Eddie Bauer Stowaway is probably the best budget-friendly hiking backpack on the market. I’ve had mine for almost eight years now, and it’s still the bag I often reach for for day hikes.

The biggest perk of this bag is that it packs down to basically nothing, meaning it’s great for throwing into your carry-on while travelling light. It’s also a super easy pack to customize; I’ve sewn on elastic straps to easily attach a foam sleeping pad to for longer day hikes when I want a spot to sit! I’m also convinced with my current modifications I could to an overnight out of this back. TBD, will update.

PROS: Inexpensive, fully collapsable, highly customizable, tougher than it appears.

CONS: Very little back support or cushion, limited shoulder strap cushion. While comfortable on half day hikes, on hikes longer than four or so hours leaves something to be desired.

3) Cotopaxi Luzon

The Cotopaxi Luzon 18 is another great hiking backpack for day hikers, fully collapsable and highly adjustable. This is a really great backpack to pack for half day hikes, but you can definitely pack for a full day in here as well. My ONLY reservation about this back is there are no side holders for water bottles, which means your water bottle needs to be stored inside the backpack while you’re hiking.

My Luzon has seen A LOT. This is my go-to back for sea kayak guiding and long haul overnight kayaking trips because it folds down so small and holds up to wear and tear.

PROS: Inexpensive, fully collapsable. Some rigidity in shoulder straps. Medium amount of storage.

CONS: Very little back support or cushion. Somewhat uncomfortable on hikes longer than a few hours.

READ: What to wear hiking (for beginners!)

4) Hip-packs and Fanny pack options

On shorter hikes, I like to pack a hip pack or fanny pack instead of a full backpack and clip a water bottle onto the strap. I’ve used a Wyld Jules Hippack, which has easily enough room for a frugal full day hike, the Fjallraven Hip Pack, which is really just more of a wallet/sunscreen/granola bar/chapstick strap your water bottle on situation, and the Patagonia Ultralight hip pack which is essentially the same.

Hip packs and fanny packs are pretty much perfect for those casual hikes (okay walks) near home, which for me makes up a lot of my hiking (I’m just lucky to live up on Lake Superior where hikes near home look like the hike above!!). Hip packs are also pretty much ideal for combining with your ultralight backpack on backpacking trips or longer day hikes when you want to come prepared.

Personally, I love the hip pack add on to a backpacking bag because it’s the perfect place to keep my first aid kit and some emergency snacks.

PROS: inexpensive, versatile set up. Can pair with additional hiking pack. Lightweight and comfortable.

CONS: limited space.

READ: Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking (Packing, Planning Meals, Routes, and more!)

5) Granite Gear Ultralight Packs

If you’re looking for the perfect hiking backpack to do it all, look into a Granite Gear 30-50 L backpack. For example the Crown 3 40 is a great pick, with a comfortable ultralight set up.

Granite Gear is based in Minnesota, and makes high-quality packs designed to last a long time. The thing I like most about my 35L Granite Gear backpack is that it is the perfect size for ultralight backpacking or weekend trips, without being so large that it’s hard to fill for a day hike. My pack is discontinued, but the Crown 40 is a very close match.

PROS: Lightweight and comfortable for long distances, great cross over pack for backpackers or long day hikes. Excellent storage and good back ventilation. HIGHLY adjustable fit.

CONS: Not a good fit if you are only looking for casual day hiking backpacks. Other than that I would pick this first.

6) Osprey Aura Backpacking Bag

The Osprey Aura 65L is the perfect large hiking backpack for hikers looking to tackle multi-day backpacking trips longer than three days. Or, alternately, the Osprey Aura is a great backpacking back for shorter backpacking trips where hikers want to bring a few luxury items.

The Osprey Aura is a great backpacking bag for women with smaller frames, and in my opinion, one of the only truly comfortable high volume backpacking backs for shorter women (on me, 5’3″). Also check out the Osprey Mira 32 Hydration Pack.

PROS: Osprey has the best warranty policy out there, and basically you’re guaranteed a pack forever. High quality, comfortable packs with great storage space.

CONS: Up front price for Osprey packs is high.

7) High Sierra Pathway

High Sierra makes a solid day hiking backpack option for hikers! High Sierra makes backpacks with similar functionality to your nice Osprey or Gregory pack at a cheaper price point BUT Osprey and Gregory have far better warranty policies where High Sierra only covers manufacturing defects beyond normal wear and tear. Osprey packs for example has an incredible warranty policy, to the point where you might never need to buy another pack again after that first purchase.

PROS: High Sierra packs are spacious, similar to higher-end hiking backpacks in construction and comfort, for a cheaper price BUT

CONS: Does not come with the warranty policy of other packs, and anecdotally doesn’t hold up to wear and tear at the same level as some of the more expensive packs. (Still overall B+ bag)

What to consider when looking for a hiking backpack:

When looking for the perfect hiking backpack or set up for you, you’ll want to consider size, wear and tear, comfort, warranty, and storage. If you’re mostly looking to do hikes less than four miles, and less than half the day, you probably need a bag around 20L in size. If you’re exclusively looking to do shorter hikes in areas local to you with cell service, a hip pack and water bottle clipped on may suffice. If you’re looking to tackle longer hikes upwards of five miles and need to pack a lunch and additional emergency gear (or alternately you’re hiking somewhere new to you with higher risk ex a more remote mountain trail), you’ll likely want a hiking backpack larger than 30L.

Looking for more on the best gear for outdoorsy women? Check out…

• the best hiking boots on the market, trail runner alternatives, and adventure sandals!
• the best hiking pants for women (that aren’t leggings, because let’s be so for real)
• a beginner’s guide to road trips (meal planning, route planning, packing, safety, and more!)

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