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A hiking backpack should match the walk you have planned, not the biggest trip you might do one day. For a day on the track with water and a spare layer, a 30L backpack is plenty, and the small packable model goes lighter still by folding into its own pocket. Overnight walks need room for a sleeping bag and food, and one 40L backpack here is sized for trips of three to five days. For the commute or a flight, browse our backpacks, which cover everyday styles as well.
Once the load gets heavy, the harness matters more than the pocket count. The larger packs pair padded shoulder straps with a hip belt and chest strap, which moves the weight off your shoulders and onto your hips. Backs are ventilated in different ways, from 3D mesh to honeycomb padding, and the 50L backpack has a removable carry frame that leaves an air gap behind you. On a hot summer track, that gap helps keep your back cooler. If you're only carrying gear a short way from the car to a campsite, skip the harness and pack a duffle bag instead.
Several packs come with a rain cover tucked into a base pocket, and most shells are water-repellent or water-resistant nylon that copes with light showers. If you expect a proper soaking, the roll-top styles in PVC tarpaulin are built to handle downpours. Access varies too. The top-loading rucksack has a drawstring top under a lid flap, while the ultralight model opens with a front zip that runs to the bottom, so you can reach the sleeping bag without unpacking from the top.
The women's hiking backpack holds 30 litres and stretches to 35 with a drawcord extension, and it has a sleeve for a hydration bladder. Another lightweight women's pack has a chest strap with a built-in whistle. Colours go well past black and grey, with orange, red, yellow, lilac and pink in the mix, which makes you easier to spot on a bush track. For a short town walk where all you carry is water and sunscreen, a shoulder bag keeps things simple.
