Alternatively, if you've dialed in your kit with lightweight and modern gear, you'll have more flexibility in size options. The top-accessible main compartment offers enough space for all essential and non-essential items on the trail. For average trips with loads at or under 40 pounds, this is one of the more comfortable packs in our review. The latest version has a number of thoughtful features, including a top lid that converts into a day pack (it disconnects from the main bag extremely quickly), large and easy-to-access zippered hipbelt pockets, and an included rain cover.

And with a spring 2022 update, the most recent Exos tacks on a convenient torso-length adjustment and reintroduces hipbelt pockets to the design (surprisingly, these had been removed in the previous version).It has a large capacity of 75 litres so you can pack everything you need for your outdoor adventures. The main compartment has a zipped internal divider that can be used to create a separate space at the bottom of the pack for your sleeping bag. What sets the Southwest apart is its fully Dyneema construction, which offers incredible strength and water resistance at a very low weight.

Sam is joined by Ian Nicholson, a professional internationally licensed IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide with over 3,000 days guiding in the Pacific Northwest, European Alps, and beyond. Looking beyond how much space your gear takes up in a pack, it’s also important to ballpark the total weight. The Aether also has better back ventilation, although it can't match the material quality or toughness of the Glacier.For those who like an assortment of compartments and pockets for organization, the Deuter Aircontact Core 65+10, Granite Gear Blaze 60, and ULA Catalyst have particularly convenient pocket designs. The “Arc” in the Zpacks’ name comes from a unique tensioning system that pulls the middle of the bag away from the back, encouraging airflow and alleviating the need for a foam backpanel. If you’re accustomed to a traditional backpack but curious about dipping into the ultralight world, we think the Exos is one of the best places to start. Though this isn't a high-tech, revolutionary pack, part of its appeal is its simplistic yet functional design.

We — and our friends — hiked all over with these backpacks, loaded with camping gear and food, noting what made them comfortable (or not). Both packs offer excellent carrying comfort, durability, and most of the bells and whistles you could want in a deluxe hauler. But these are small nitpicks, and the Blaze’s well-rounded build makes it one of our favorite packs on the market. Gregory was one of the first companies to right this wrong, offering their fully featured Katmai 65 (and women’s Kalmia 60) in two plus sizes. Finally, the Traverse 60 drops 10 ounces off the previous 70-liter version but retains great durability, with burly 300-denier recycled ripstop nylon throughout.It's worth noting that sometimes lightweight packs sacrifice load-carrying abilities and organizational features. In addition, an antibacterial Polygiene treatment prevents the development of unpleasant odours, therefore guaranteeing you a long-lasting feeling of freshness.