{"id":16552,"date":"2016-02-25T17:54:30","date_gmt":"2016-02-25T22:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverhiker.com\/?page_id=16552"},"modified":"2026-01-05T11:54:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T16:54:20","slug":"best-backpacking-backpacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverhiker.com\/backpacking\/best-backpacking-backpacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Choosing the right backpack can make or break an adventure. Our skilled team of analysts at CleverHiker knows a thing or two about backpack comfort, having hiked more than 20,000 miles over the past decade. Pretty much all of those miles included a backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time, we split off our favorite ultralight backpacks<\/a> into a separate guide, leaving more room here to dig into lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight backpacks for multi-day trips. We stuffed these backpacks to their weight capacities, carrying each one on Minnesota trails to test its comfort, features, durability, and ease of use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We looked at well established brands like Osprey, Gregory, REI, and Deuter but also smaller cottage brands like ULA and Granite Gear. And – to dig deeper into the budget category than we ever before – we braved the terrifying, endless pages of Amazon to find a budget pack that might check the right boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for more info, check out some of our other most popular gear guides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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