The Ultimate Outdoor Backpack Buying Guide for the First Half of 2024（Part I）
BACKPACKER, a renowned outdoor magazine under the global leading outdoor website OUTSIDE, is primarily dedicated to producing professional content related to hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities.
This list is the latest outdoor backpack buying guide, summarized by several professional editors after five months of evaluation. The explanations of the 10 selected products are very clear, so interested readers should not miss out!
Editor’s Choice: Mystery Ranch Radix 57 ($299)
Weight: 3.8 lbs
Size: Men’s [S-XL] & Women’s [XS-L]
Pros:
- Superior load-carrying capacity
- Comfortable to carry
Cons:
- Small hydration bladder
Review:
The Radix 57 not only features stylish single-color fabric and an alluring full-length side zipper but also boasts a sleek appearance. It offers the best comfort, load-carrying capacity, and gear access in its class, weighing less than 4 lbs—about 1 lb lighter than many other backpacks with similar load capacities. The secret lies in using space-grade materials to reduce weight without skimping on suspension. The exterior is made of durable 100D Robic nylon, reinforced with UHMWPE mesh, a unique, rugged, waterproof design. Although the backpack itself is not seam-sealed and thus not waterproof, the use of UHMWPE provides significant water resistance and abrasion resistance. “I’ve squeezed through wind gaps and walked through brush and large trees,” says Washington tester Matt Wise. “This pack didn’t take any damage.”
Inside, the 7000-series aerospace aluminum frame keeps the load close to the back. The frame is bulb-shaped, contouring to the spine, providing vertical stability while offering enough torsional flex to support a natural gait. Load lifters and a soft hip belt further enhance comfort. As a result, testers could carry 50 lbs without feeling sore. While other UHMWPE packs can carry 60 or 70 lbs, they often cost twice as much. “This is the best backpack I’ve tested,” Wise says. “It’s become my go-to for three- or four-day trips.”
As a lightweight pack, its organization is excellent: an off-center full-length zipper opens the pack almost flat, making gear access and camp setup a breeze. The waist pockets can hold a phone, and the large side pockets are angled for easy access while hiking. For weight-conscious hikers, there’s even better news: the spacious lid, compression straps, and frame are all removable, allowing the Radix 57 to be used as a lightweight overnight pack with a stripped weight of just 3 lbs.
Best for Short Overnight Trips: Deuter Aircontact Ultra 35+5 ($240)
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Size: Two sizes each for men and women
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Good load-carrying capacity
Cons:
- Small pockets
Review:
For years, the Aircontact Ultra has been an outstanding backpack—winning the Editor’s Choice Award in 2022 with the 50+5 for its light weight, comprehensive features, and impressive durability. But the new 35+5 is completely different. This pack features a redesigned suspension system that is lighter and more breathable yet still sturdier than other packs in its weight range. The W-shaped 2mm spring steel frame is designed to follow the S-curve of the back. This three-dimensional contouring enhances the pack’s strength, allowing us to easily carry 25 lbs. While this pack is relatively narrow, the 40-liter rated capacity feels just right; we could fit a lightweight overnight kit with room to spare.
The large sacral pad prevents lower back soreness, and the molded foam on the back panel ensures some airflow—tester Robin Mino appreciated this feature during a weekend trip to James Lake Wilderness in Colorado in 70-degree heat. She also loved the large stretch mesh pocket on the back panel, which allowed her to quickly stash layers as temperatures rose.
The two small pockets on the waist belt can hold snacks but not a phone, and the removable lid easily fits a hat, gloves, and sunscreen. This top-loading pack lacks bottom or side zippers to access the main pack, but we minimalists don’t mind. “This pack’s simple organization makes it easy to carry overnight gear on quick trips into Colorado’s Front Range,” says pack category manager Corey Buha. So far, even after trekking over boulders and talus in Eldorado Springs Canyon, Colorado, the pack’s materials—175D polyamide and UHMWPE ripstop—show no signs of wear. (Note: Deuter’s use of “Ultra” in the pack name is unrelated to the popular ultralight material).
Most Versatile: Sierra Designs Nexus Lite 35-50 ($250)
Weight: 3 lbs (multiday configuration), 2.4 lbs (daypack configuration)
Size: Unisex, S/M and M/L
Pros:
- Modular components
- Good durability
Cons:
- Minimalist hip belt
- No hydration bladder port
- No zipper design can be cumbersome
Review:
Many packs expand or contract a few liters. But few can fully transform. The Sierra Designs Nexus is one such pack. Just attach a detachable, stuff sack-like apparel bag (which serves as a spacious external pocket) and the lid, and this 35-liter daypack morphs into a 50-liter overnight pack. Elastic mesh side pockets, a hydration sleeve, and hip belt pockets make it easy to carry water and gear in any configuration. Even better, the Nexus feels very comfortable carrying up to 25 lbs on both day hikes and overnight trips. Assistant editor Emma Veidt had no trouble carrying a sleeping bag, pad, stove, tent, and clothing. The Y-shaped aluminum frame is key. This system transfers weight to the lightly padded hip belt while allowing the shoulders to rotate naturally with each arm swing. “So comfortable, the pack doesn’t sway,” says Veidt after a hike on the Appalachian Trail. When she found herself needing an afternoon nap, she could use the detachable waterproof apparel bag—with its soft lining—as an off-trail pillow.
This pack’s durability is impressive, not only because it’s made of DWR-coated 200D recycled nylon but also because it lacks the notorious weak point of zippers. The only place without zippers? On the hip belt pockets, where the elastic mesh gusset can hold snacks and a headlamp but offers limited security.
Lightest Weight: Black Diamond Betalight 45 ($400)
Weight: 1.9 lbs (1.1 lbs stripped)
Size:Unisex
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Rich organizational design
- Durable materials
Cons:
- Poor breathability
- Slightly high price
Review:
The Beta Light UL is already one of the lightest packs we tested this season. But with a removable hip belt, frame, and back panel, it can get even lighter. This sleek fastpack, weighing just 1 lb 2 oz, quickly became our go-to for fast, high-mileage missions.
The Beta Light UL’s ultralight weight is due to its minimalist layout and ultralight materials. The pack’s frame consists of dual aluminum stays that transfer up to 35 lbs of weight to the lightly padded hip belt. Closed-cell foam panels help protect the back from sharp objects (though breathability is poor). With the wide vest-style shoulder straps distributing weight across the chest and shoulders, the pack can comfortably support about 25 lbs even without the supports. The top-loading design (closed via drawstring and buckle) is the only entry point to the main pack. However, the wide chest pockets keep essentials nearby, so we never needed to dig around.
Most ultralight packs have only three pockets, but the Beta Light UL boasts a 3-liter internal hydration sleeve, three chest pockets, and two hip belt pockets, each large enough to hold a phone or camera.
Ultra 200—a super-light, waterproof composite fabric—covers most of the pack. Taped seams make it fully waterproof. After four months of testing, the Ultra 200 backpack withstood downpours in Alaska without any damage from pine branches or sharp scree. Even at the end of the season, the fine-woven nylon stretch mesh on the side water bottle pockets and back shove-it pocket only had one small tear.
Best for Long-Distance Trekking: Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultra ($368)
Weight: 1.7 lbs
Size: Unisex, S-L frame and S-L hip belt
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Comfortable to carry
- Carbon fiber frame
Cons:
- Poor organizational structure
- Minimal padding
Review:
Trekkers, add this pack to your vision board. Weighing less than 2 lbs, the CS40 is lighter than many top ultralight packs. But unlike many of its peers, this gem comes with load lifters, a real hip belt, and a complete frame. Dual carbon stays add only an ounce of weight but boost the CS40’s load-carrying capacity to 35 lbs. More impressive: pack category manager Corey Buhay found that the CS40 remained comfortable even when fully loaded, thanks to the dual-adjustment points on the hip belt and wide hip wings. While the minimalist padding on the hip belt caused soreness for osteoporotic testers, most found its contours perfect, preventing hot spots even after a sweaty 20-mile trek in the Appalachian Mountains.
The U-shaped foam back panel provides targeted padding. While the close-fitting design affects breathability, it also prevents pack sway. “I can cinch down the main compartment and not feel any sway during summit pushes,” says Colorado tester Robin Mino after a season of Fourteeners.
Organization is well-designed. The main bag has enough space to fit a bear canister plus other gear. There are two small zippered pockets on the hips for snacks and sunscreen, and each side pocket (angled for easy access while hiking) can hold a Nalgene bottle. The stretch pocket on the back is perfect for stashing wet clothes. Though the pack lacks taped seams, making it unreliable in heavy rain, the Ultra 200 waterproof fabric and roll-top design keep gear dry in light rain and damp woods. The durable Ultra 200 and accessory stretch mesh showed no signs of wear after a whole season.
This comprehensive guide should help you find the perfect backpack for your next outdoor adventure. Whether you need something for short overnight trips, long-distance trekking, or just a versatile pack for day hikes, these top picks from BACKPACKER have you covered.