Weight: 31.2 ounces

Equipped with a comfortable pivot belt and cleverly designed load lifters, Gossamer Gear’s Gorilla 50 pack is a well-thought-out backpack for hikes when every ounce matters. There’s a quick-access lid and a ton of external pockets for snacks and gear

 “This has been my go-to backpack for years from everything to FKTs [fastest-known-time hikes] to thru-hikes,” says Heather Anderson, the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. “Although it’s spacious enough to accommodate five days of food and a bear can, it also can be cinched down small for lighter loads.”

Weight: 37.76 ounces

“I'm a big fan of the Osprey Talon 26 for Australian wildlife expeditions,” says John Daw, executive officer, Australian Wildlife Journeys. “It's perfectly sized and versatile for the diverse terrain Australian wildlife tours demand—from boat-based reef expeditions to rainforest walks to coastal birdwatching. The DWR rain protection (made without PFAS) handles sudden tropical downpours in the Daintree while wildlife spotting.” 

Plus, it’s packed with great features: “The Airscape system and harness stays comfortable in regions like Queensland with subtropical humidity, while tracking humpback whales along the Hervey Bay migration route or trekking through the Daintree Rainforest's canopy,” he adds. “The internal hydration reservoir sleeve is essential when you're spending hours on the water during whale-watching excursions or hiking to remote wildlife viewing spots where refills aren't an option.”

Weight: 33.4 ounces

Another vote for Gossamer Gear comes from National Geographic Adventurer Jennifer Pharr Davis, who says her Mariposa 60 pack “been a favorite on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and other long distance trails for a while now.” 

Davis adds that Gossamer Gear’s backpacks are her “go-to” for everything from a day out on the trail to longer Appalachian Trail thru-hikes. One of her top picks from the brand is the Mariposa, which weighs just 33.4 ounces, and, like the Gorilla, has a pivot frame system that helps the pack move naturally with your gait. Combined with an S-curve harness and load lifters, it makes for a comfy carry each step of the way. Plus, it’s made from recycled nylon that holds up against cuts and tears.

“The Mariposa 60 is the perfect blend of lightweight with comfort and has a lot of side pouches and accessible slots for water bottles, snacks, your phone, etc.,” says Davis. 

Weight: 42 ounces 

Perfect for shorter trips of an overnight up to a week, REI’s punchily colored Flash 55 backpack is all about suspension for an easier carry and stability for a more balanced one, thanks to an adjustable torso and compression straps that adjust the shape of the backpack to what’s inside. For @miss.rover’s Melissa Miller, this is her go-to for bigger trips out into nature. 

“The REI Flash 55 Pack is my go-to for backpacking and long treks,” says Miller, who’s used it on treks up to four days. “It is incredibly versatile and can be stripped down to a simpler and lighter pack when needed.” (Cleverly, for instance, you can remove the lid and turn it into a waist pack.) 

Plus, “it has really well designed storage and organization which has really helped me access things I need quickly when on the trail,” adds Miller. “This has been such a comfortable bag for me with many adjustments.”

Weight: 31 ounces 

  
If you’re looking for a backpack that can hold your gear for a multiactivity day out (say, hiking and rockclimbing) or that has enough capacity to accommodate a night or two out on the trail, this 100-percent waterproof Hyperlite pack is where it’s at. You can customize the torso length and pockets to get the right configurations for both your body type and upcoming adventure. 

James Stover, the owner of Colorado-based outdoor tour company Grand Junction Adventures, has taken this backpack with him on hiking trips and other adventures where stability and balance are key. (Think ice climbing in No Thoroughfare Canyon in the Colorado National Monument and rock climbing in western Colorado’s Unaweep Canyon.) “I like that the backpack is light weight and can be used for big climbing trips in wet and dry climates,” he says. Plus, “it can hold a lot of gear which is great for those big days or overnight trips.”