Best of Backpacks 2022

A pack can make or break your time outside whether you are living out of it for days on end in the backcountry, counting on it to perform during a trail race, or just asking it to haul what you need for a few hours on the trail. Whatever your intended use, have a look at our top backpack picks for Spring/Summer 2022:

Exped Radical 45

The term “travel duffel” is way too limiting for something like the Radical. It really blurs the line between a pack and a duffel and comes in just as handy at the gym or on your…

UltrAspire Zygos 5.0

The ultra marathon-ready Zygos has gotten some seemingly minor updates for 2022 that combine to greatly enhance its already excellent on-trail performance. The pack’s ErgoFit harness has always excelled at delivering a comfortable, bounce-free fit that…

Ultimate Direction Trail Vest

The Ultimate Direction Signature Series vests have become staples for trail running, racing ultras, and tackling grueling backcountry objectives, but they can be a little intimidating for folks taking their first forays into the world of…

Salomon Adv Skin 5 Set

Runners ask an awful lot of a pack when they expect it to store everything they need, keep what’s needed in easy reach, but at the same time fit and “carry” as though it’s not there…

Osprey Duro LT & Dyna LT Women’s

There was already a crowded trail running vest market when Osprey first rolled out the Duro and Dyna now several years ago, but not surprisingly considering the brand’s pack-building experience they immediately received a warm response.…

Osprey Eja 48 Women’s and Exos 48

Thru-hiking favorites, the Exos and the Eja are an excellent balance of weight, features, and load-carrying capability. A few years back Osprey made some updates to the packs and made the decision to drop the hipbelt…

Mystery Ranch Bridger 55

When we’re looking for the toughest, burliest, and biggest packs, Mystery Ranch comes immediately to mind, but depending on the approach you’re taking on a given hike or backpacking trip, some of those packs can be…

Mountainsmith Cona 45

There are plenty of packs that you can peg on sight as being built for a specific purpose and, often, that single purpose. That’s not the case with the Cona 45. Consider the Cona your Swiss…

Kelty Asher 65L

Last year, Kelty unveiled the Asher, a priced-right, reliable backpacking pack that well represented the design sensibilities and practicality of its namesake, the brand’s founder Asher “Dick” Kelty. Our only gripe was that it was only…

Gregory Deva 60 Women’s and Baltoro 65

How do you improve upon the Deva and the Baltoro which have won numerous awards already and carved out their space in the backpacking hall of fame? Well, you pick up even more accommodating fit to…

Granite Gear Crown3 60

Once you’ve used and relied on a piece of gear for countless trips and over the course of numerous years, you can get strangely defensive when you hear that there are changes planned to that gear.…

Fjallraven Ulvo Rolltop 30

Sure, we’re suckers for outdoor products with a clean, classic, utilitarian aesthetic, but when there’s performance and functionality to accompany that aesthetic, we really get excited. And the Ulvo Rolltop delivers on all fronts. With its…

Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45+5 SL Women’s and Aircontact Ultra 50+5

We’re excited to see these new offerings from Deuter that are a sleeker, lighter weight take on some of their classic extended backpacking packs. Checking in well under 3 pounds, these are better suited for true…

Big Agnes Prospector 50L and Sun Dog 45L

The folks at Big Agnes have been making innovative tents, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags for a long, long time, so it’s no surprise to see them add some unique elements to their first line of…