At 58 liters, Osprey’s Eja 58 is capacious enough for longer hikes but built for when you need to travel light: It adds just 2.7 pounds to your overall carry but is able to carry up to 35 lbs. of gear and necessities. It’s also the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year’s top pick for hiking backpacks, which is a pretty solid endorsement. 

Despite its light weight, it’s smartly designed with great features like zippered hipbelt pockets, a suspension system with four inches of torso adjustability, trekking pole and ice axe attachments, and an internal hydration sleeve.  

“For heavier loads and maximum comfort, I recommend Osprey’s Exos (men's) or Ejas (women's) backpacks,” says Heather Anderson, the National Geographic Adventurer. She’s covered more than 50,000 miles of hiking, so you know she knows a good backpack. 

Three reasons to buy the Osprey Eja 58? “They have comfy hipbelts, adjustable torso lengths and a mesh back panel for increased airflow,” Anderson says.

“I can confidently say the Osprey Tempest 33 is a great option for women who are looking for a smaller pack,” says Mikala Whitaker. And she would know: The outdoor travel blogger has walked the Camino de Santiago trail three times. 

“I find it extremely comfortable, even when I’ve been hiking all day every day for weeks,” she says. “Not only has it helped me walk multiple Camino de Santiagos, but this pack has helped me successfully summit Mount Kilimanjaro and hike all over New Zealand.” 

Plus, it’s made to last, says Whitaker: “It’s held up really well over the years, even surviving getting lost temporarily by an airline.”

“This backpack has been with me through so many different adventures, including a seven-day trek around Ausangate in Peru,” says Melissa Miller, an adventure traveler and outdoor influencer at @miss.rover. “It has the perfect amount of space for longer hikes or adventures that require gear, while being comfortable.”

If you’re hiking long days or in hot climates (or just tend to get a little sweaty), this might be the pack for you, since it’s made with max airflow in mind. “The hip belt is just structured enough that it provides great weight distribution when loaded up and the back ventilation is excellent,” Miller adds. 

It’s great for climbing trips, too, thanks to the flat top that lets a helmeted head move freely and shoulder-strap loops for ferrata set carabiners. Plus, it comes with a pretty incredible lifetime warranty: Deuter promises to repair it free of charge, no matter the generation or reason why it’s damaged or defective.

“The Fjällräven Abisko pack is functional, comfortable and just the right size for a day hike,” says Linda Akeson McGurk, a longtime hiker and outdoor writer. “I personally appreciate that it has a zipper down the front that makes it easy to overview and access the content without opening the top flap. With two spacious mesh pockets on the sides, you can easily bring along both a thermos and a water bottle.” 

And if you need to mix your hiking trek with a little bit of the work grind, this pack makes it easy. “As an added bonus, my laptop fits in the inner pocket, a great feature for when I want to bring my work along to the forest,” adds McGurk.

If you want a solid backpack for a half-day or day out on the trail, you don’t need to bring one with a huge volume. This REI 18-liter pack weighs just 10 ounces and has everything you need to get you through shorter hikes, thanks to efficient design and super-durable construction (and it’s water-resistant in case you get caught in a shower). 

“This backpack is very simple and functional in a good way,” says Melissa Miller, an adventure traveler and outdoor influencer at @miss.rover. “This has been my go-to for shorter hikes and really great as a travel bag that is very lightweight and packable. Even with a simple design, it still has a space for a water bladder and a low profile hip belt and chest strap.”