Osprey’s popular Exos series is known for its breathability, comfort, and well-designed storage, meaning there’s pockets pretty much everywhere you need them and an internal hydration sleeve that makes sipping on the go easy.

“This backpack is very light and comfortable,” says Mitch Stevens, owner of outdoor tour company Southwest Discoveries in Tucson, Arizona. “I've used it recently on various hiking trips and it has more than served its purpose.” 

Plus, if you happen to find yourself hiking in a rainstorm, the integrated FlapJacket secures the main compartment opening and protects the contents from rain.

Osprey’s popular Exos series is known for its breathability, comfort, and well-designed storage, meaning there’s pockets pretty much everywhere you need them and an internal hydration sleeve that makes sipping on the go easy.

“This backpack is very light and comfortable,” says Mitch Stevens, owner of outdoor tour company Southwest Discoveries in Tucson, Arizona. “I've used it recently on various hiking trips and it has more than served its purpose.” 

Plus, if you happen to find yourself hiking in a rainstorm, the integrated FlapJacket secures the main compartment opening and protects the contents from rain.

Osprey keeps making appearances on this list, and for good reason: Its bags are well-designed, made to last, and comfy to carry. “I always recommend without a doubt any bags from Osprey,” says Juan Castells, a hiking and outdoors travel blogger at Planet of Adventures. (He now owns three of the company’s backpacks.) 

However, he says, “my Kestrel 68L has travelled with me all over the world for several years and still stands strong.” 

There’s a lot to love about the backpack: It’s got great capacity for longer backpacking trips and the bad weather that might occasionally come with them. It has an included, integrated raincover for downpours and a breathable backpanel for muggy afternoons.

For Castells, it’s the most critical parts of the backpack that Osprey nails with its Kestrel. “The quality of the materials, the accessibility through multiple pockets, and the rain cover are some of my favourite things about it,” he says.

As owner and manager of—and occasional trail guide at—Grand Junction Adventures in Colorado, Elizabeth Fortushniak has used Osprey’s Talon backpack to take hikers on four- to eight-mile excursions to see the rugged Rattlesnake Arches, though she’s occasionally made longer trips with the backpack too. 

For her, there’s a lot to love about it, from the different compartments that remain durable after a ton of use to the ability to fit a two- to three-liter water bladder for desert hikes. Two “easily accessible” side pockets hold snacks, a mesh pocket holds additional gear or water, and a small zipper pocket on the hip belt holds car keys.  

Fortushniak likes this back so much, in fact, that it’s what her tour company Grand Junction Adventures uses for their excursions. “It fits well on all body types, so we communally use these backpacks with our guides,” she says. 

If you prefer a version specifically fit for a female body, check out the Talon’s sister, the Tempest 22L.

If anyone knows how to design a hiking backpack, it’s a thru-hiker who’s had to shoulder them for hundreds (if not thousands) of miles. Hence Evolved Supply Co.’s Ranger backpack. It has straight-up five-star reviews and is designed to be modular: You can add or subtract accessories like water bottle sleeves, a pad attachment system, and standard shoulder pockets to create the pack you need for your next adventure. 

“This thru-hiker designed this backpack is minimal, lightweight and extremely durable while providing comfort on the trail,” says Steve Corson, who goes by Chef Corso for his TV series “Outdoor Eats” (streamable on Apple TV) and on YouTube, where he talks all things outdoor cooking to around 35,000 subscribers. “It has just enough pockets for what you need without getting too complicated.” 

All in all, he says, it’s a “great choice for a short to long backpacking trip.”