The Best Hiking Backpacks
For serious outdoor enthusiasts, buying a hiking backpack can be almost as important as buying a new car. Sure it is not as expensive as a car, but it is a mini investment and one that should not be taken lightly. Taking the time to test, try on, and research hiking backpacks is something everyone should do before they actually buy one. If you are reading this article, you have taken the first step in making smart choice on choosing your hiking backpack.
One thing you should never do when buying a hiking backpack is buying it without ever having tried it on, let alone tested it. There are so many reasons that this is a bad idea that I can’t even begin to list them. Just trust me that its a bad idea. At the very minimum, you should at least go to an outdoor retailer like REI and try some packs on. Once you try on a few hiking backpacks that you like, see if they can put some weight in it for you so that you can get a better idea of how it will feel with gear in it.
One of the best ways to see if a pack is right for you is to see if you can try it out on an overnight hike or a day hike with all your gear. It is best if you have a friend with the hiking backpack you are interested in buying. That way you can test it out on your own terms. If need be, you can buy a hiking backpack from the store, fill it up with your hiking gear and then go out on a short day hike with it to test it out. Just be careful not to get it dirty or smelly, as it will be hard to return if you end up not liking it.
Here are some of our favorite hiking backpacks:
- Gregory Women’s Deva 60 Backpack
- Osprey Argon 110 Backpack
- Mountainsmith Phoenix Backpack
- The North Face Terra 60 Pack
- Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack
- GoLite Galaxy Pack
Do yourself a favor and do the research before you buy a hiking backpack. Spend some time reading reviews, talking to other hikers, and trying on a variety of packs. This will make a world of difference when it comes down to choosing the best hiking backpack for you. A well researched hiking backpack should last you for years to come. If you have any comments or suggestions on buying a hiking backpack, leave them in the comments section below.