The North Face Forecaster 35
Best for mountaineering
Author
Nancy Bouchard
My Stories
Mystery Ranch Gallatin Peak 40
Most durable
Eddie Bauer Alpine Sisu 50
Best access
BCA Stash 30
Best fit
The 7 Best Daypacks for Every Kind of Hike
From quick jaunts to the biggest days, these packs will keep you comfortable no matter how heavy (or light) your load.
Deuter Trail Pro 36 / 34 SL
Most versatile
Mystery Ranch Scree 32
Best access
JanSport Tahoma 27
Best value
Hydro Flask Journey Series 20L
Best hydration pack
Osprey Skarab 22 / Skimmer 20
Best all-around
Black Diamond Distance 15
Best for peakbagging
Gregory Miwok 12 / Maya 10
Best fit
Thule Rail 8L
Best hydration pack
Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack
Best travel pack
EXPED Whiteout 30
Best for mountaineering
Mountain Equipment Ogre 33+
Most versatile
Arc’teryx Alpha AR 35
Most durable
Marmot Eiger 42
Most comfortable
REI Co-op Flash 45
Lightest
Osprey Rook / Renn 50
Best value
Gregory Zulu 65 / Jade 63
Best all-around
The North Face Banchee 65
Best feature set
Mystery Ranch Glacier
Best for big loads
Kelty Zyro 68
Best ventilation
The Best Adventure Travel Gear of 2019
These products will hold up to whatever the world has in store.
The North Face Motion Pants
Versatile men's pants
Helly Hansen Vanir Hybrid Pant
Versatile women's pants
Point6 37.5 Compression Socks
Foot savers
Columbia Spinner Vent Moc
Camp shoe
myCharge Portable Power Outlet
Juice box
Fjällräven Greenland Wind Jacket
Versatile shell
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 18L Nano Daypack
Editors' Choice update
Big Agnes Stagecoach 125L
Tough duffel
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
Convenient carry-on
The Best Ultralight Packs of 2018
Cut weight, not comfort, with the year's best new lightweight packs.
The 12 Best Backpacks of 2018
From light daypacks to heavy load haulers, these packs keep your essentials close at hand—and makes carrying them less of a chore.
Hiking Middle Eastern History on the New Jordan Trail
Star-shot skies over vast deserts, fertile valleys, and a footpath that follows some of humanity’s oldest trade routes: The new, 400-mile Jordan Trail offers a month-long immersion in the Middle East.
Outdoor Research Dry Summit Pack HD
Best weather protection
Lowe Alpine Descent 35
Most versatile
Dakine Poacher 14
Best for day missions
Mystery Ranch Patrol 45
Largest capacity
Therm-a-Rest Corus HD Quilt
Bikepacking Quilt
Outdoor Research Helium Bivy
Bivy for Bikepacking
Blackburn Outpost Bags
Handlebar and Seat Packs
Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon
A bike for pedal-powered camping
Light & Motion Imjin 800
Bikepacking Light
Green Guru Clincher Mini Frame Bag
Bike Frame Bag
Mammut Cargon 60
Tough Duffel
Exped Skyline 15
Most Versatile
Mountain Hardwear Ozonic 70
Weather Champ
Osprey Aether AG 85 (w’s Ariel AG 75)
Best for Big Loads
Mystery Ranch Stein 62
Most Organized
Granite Gear Crown 2 60L
Lightest
The North Face Alpine 50
Light and Tough
Gregory Paragon 58 (w’s Maven 55)
Best All-Around
REI Co-op Flash 45
Best Women's Fit
Fjällräven Abisko Friluft 45
Most Eco-Friendly
Columbia Trail Pursuit 40L
Do-It-All Workhorse
Patagonia Lightweight Black Hole 26L
Most Versatile
Black Diamond Blitz 20
Most Stable
Arc’teryx Bora AR
Banish sore hips and pack sway with a new hipbelt that moves with you in all directions.
Kelty Redwing 50
Sometimes pure comfort trumps fancy features.
BCA Stash 30
This pack withstood everything from cliff drops to sharp ski edges.
Bergans of Norway Helium Pro 40
This pack carries a lot— but weighs little.
Cotopaxi Taboche 55L
Long hauls and big loads are this pack’s specialties.
Dakine Poacher RAS 26L
Keep your gear tight.
Bringing the CCC Into the 21st Century
The Department of the Interior wants to update a successful conservation model for the modern era.
GoMacro Macrobar
Energy bar
Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre 75:100 Backpack
Able to carry up to 100 liters, this pack is a load monster.
The North Face Fovero 70 Backpack
This comfortable pack grows with you and is built for hand-me-downs.
Montane Summit Tour 50 +15 Backpack
This pack is equally at home on dayhikes, weekends, and alpine ascents.
Ortovox Peak 45 / Peak 42 S Backpack
This pack's perforated wool backpanel kept us cool and dry.
Exped Black Ice 45 Backpack
This waterproof pack withstood everything from crampons to machetes.
Marmot Graviton 48 Backpack
You can grab items from the top, bottom, and middle of this pack without having to fish around.
Bergans of Norway Helium 55 Backpack
This ultralight pack carries 40 pounds without compromising features—and at a great price to boot.
Patagonia Black Hole 25 Daypack
This daypack's thick, waterproof skin repels everything.
Gregory Salvo 18 / Sula 18 Daypack
This daypack is compact, streamlined, and great for quick summertime escapes.
Thule Stir 35 Daypack
A simple adjustment system lets you quickly adjust this pack's torso length for a perfect fit.
Osprey Manta AG 28 / Mira 26 AG Hydration Pack
A clever connection mechanism on this hydration pack makes water refills a cinch.