Cotopaxi Veloz 6

Hydration

2.9 The 2-liter reservoir has an internal baffle that prevents bulging and sloshing. Ding: This pack is the only one in the test with no bite valve lock.

Comfort

3.5 Vest-style nylon shoulder straps form a snug “V” around the neck and chest for stability while trail running. “While hiking to Tamolitch Pool in Oregon, the pack nestled comfortably between my shoulders,” our tester says. Drawback: He wanted a hipbelt for times when the bag was fully loaded.

Organization

4.8 Although the Veloz is the smallest pack in the test, clever pocket placements impressed obsessive organizers. The Veloz’s 20-inch diagonal main zipper allows easy access to the packbag, which features a wallet-size mesh pouch. It also has a 10-inch-long diagonal pocket on the outside for sunblock and bug spray. Skinny, zippered bandolier-style pockets on the straps are perfect for stashing energy bars.

Ventilation

3.0 There’s no framesheet, as befits a pack made for the lightest loads, so the pack sits against your back. “The mesh backpanel got pretty sweaty,” reported a tester after a long, hot dayhike on Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho.

Overall

3.9