REI Co-op Traverse 60

Overall Rating: 4.5

Suspension • 4.6

Adjustable fit, decent load support, and a reasonable price make the Traverse 60 a great all-rounder and our top choice for a new hiker’s first pack. We particularly like the suspension, which uses a sturdy aluminum perimeter frame and a hipbelt that wraps seamlessly into the lumbar area of the backpanel. The result: A system that reliably supported 40-pound loads day after day on an 80-mile trip through Wyoming’s Wind River Range.

Comfort • 5.0

The hipbelt wings are moderately padded and provide a central channel to accommodate the iliac crest, preventing compression and rubbing at the top of the hipbone. Multiple adjustability points let us dial in fit even further: Each size—there are four to choose from for both men and women—offers three inches of vertical torso adjustability. “This might be the most comfortable pack I’ve ever carried. The backpanel settings are labeled, so it adjusts really quickly. It was easy to get the fit dialed on the fly,” gushes one tester with over 30 years of backpacking experience. 

Features • 3.5

The Traverse’s organizational options tick all the boxes: There’s a zippered toplid, bottom access to a sleeping bag compartment, an external shove-it sleeve, and two generous hipbelt pockets. “The water bottle pockets angle toward the arms so you can access them while walking,” says one tester, who appreciated the ease of hydration during 100°F days in the Grand Canyon. Additional side pockets can each fit a bottle of liquid fuel or, more importantly, a can of Pringles.