Mountain Hardwear Ozonic 70

Our take We dubbed this watertight packbag “the vault” after one tester carried it through five soggy days of backpacking during Colombia’s rainy season without so much as a drip getting inside. Testers loved the original Ozonic’s OutDry waterproofing but wanted more organization. This redesign delivers with a roomy two-pocket lid that you can detach and then flip over for added water resistance (this keeps the pocket zippers covered) and a spacious front pocket that held raingear and snacks. The kangaroo pouch between the front pocket and packbag is deep enough for a tent fly and poles. The tradeoff for built-in rain protection: There’s no side zipper or sleeping bag access, but the mouth is 40 inches in circumference, the widest of any pack we tested. Caveat: Testers wished the kangaroo pouch had stretch for overloading.

The details Most packs that ride this close to your back lack breathability. But raised foam and mesh pods, two at the shoulder blades and two just above the lumbar pad, provided adequate ventilation and cushioning, which we appreciated on long, sweaty hikes through California’s Sierra Nevada in summer.

Trail cred “My number one priority in Colombia was keeping my sleeping bag and spare clothes dry,” says a tester. “The seam-sealed OutDry construction and foolproof roll-top closure didn’t leak when it was pouring rain or when I set my pack down as a seat in marshy tundra.”