Osprey Kestrel 28

[best all-around]

Some backpackers like to have a designated spot for every little item. The Atmos (and the women’s Aura) is ideal for the hyper-organized. After a five-day trip through the mountains of central Chile, our tester reported, “The big, top-loading main compartment swallowed my bag, clothes, food, and tent, while tons of pockets let me lay out everything for quick access during the day. Two lid pockets held my headlamp and beanie; the stretchy shove-it pouch fit my big puffy jacket; a pair of long, zippered pockets stashed my mini-crampons and gloves; and two hipbelt pockets held lip balm and sunscreen.”

There’s also an accessible sleeping bag compartment and two stretchy side pockets for water bottles. The suspension (adjustable from 17 to 21 inches), with an alloy frame, cross struts, and a tensioned mesh trampoline, negates pack sway with up to 50 pounds and kept testers’ backs cool during heavy exertion in hot weather. The hipbelt has strategically placed cutouts that create exceptional wrap around the hips and lower back for great load transfer and stability. The effective compression—two V-shaped straps on either side of the pack—adds extra stability. $239; 3 lbs. 9 oz.; 65 liters; ospreypacks.com

Backpacking and day hiking – torso adjustable

Osprey has teamed up with MountainFund.org to create the Pass on the Passion program. You can send your used Osprey Pack to the Mountain Fund to be sent to people/programs around the world in need of them.

Features integrated rain cover and stow-on-the-go trekking pole attachment