- The right backpacking pack makes hiking multiple miles with a 30-pound bag on your back a comfortable experience
- Brands like Osprey, REI Co-op, and Gregory make a wide range of packs geared toward different styles of backpacking excursions
- The most useful features are how much the bag can hold, how it distributes the load, and if it's compatible with hydration packs
- We tested several models over miles of backcountry trails to find the industry's best, and that is the Osprey Atmos AG 65.
Backpacking is a fun but grueling outdoor activity, yet it doesn't always have to be. With the right equipment, a multiday trip into the backcountry could feel like a literal walk in the park. Achieving this starts with purchasing the right backpack.
Since you'll be hauling everything you need to survive, your pack needs to hold up to the harshness the outdoors may throw at you and remain comfortable while doing so. This means finding a pack that's capable of hauling everything from a change of clothes and a sleeping bag to ample food and water.
Backpacking packs differ from traditional backpacks in that they're designed to hold upward of 30 or 40 pounds of cargo, while still being comfortable to wear. The best packs do this by distributing weight across its frame to avoid having the bulk of the weight sit on any one part of your body. These packs also feature an abundance of pockets to hold a variety of gear, as well as a sleeve for a hydration pouch.
Finding the right pack for your needs isn't always an easy process. With so many on the market, it's difficult to know which are best suited to the type of backpacking you prefer. To help, we've tested an array of backpacking packs from brands like Osprey, Arc'teryx, and Gregory to narrow down the best of the bunch.
Osprey knows how to design and manufacture quality backpacks and its Atmos AG 65 is the best in its lineup and our favorite overall. Featuring the brand's patented Anti-Gravity technology, the pack contours to your body to properly distribute its cargo weight and to offer a perfect fit. Its peripheral frame also uses load lifters to spread excess weight from the hip-belt and on up to the top of the pack. Its 65-liter capacity means it's great for multi-day trips, as well.
But the Atmos AG 65 isn't the only best player. Here are all our favorite backpacking packs currently available.
Here are the best men's backpacking backpacks you can buy:
- Best men's backpacking backpack overall: Osprey Atmos AG 65
- Best men's backpacking backpack for short trips: REI Co-op Traverse 35
- Best men's backpacking backpack for durability: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Pack
- Best men's backpacking backpack for heavy cargo: Gregory Paragon 58
- Best suspension system men's backpacking backpack: Arc'teryx Bora AR 50
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