Backpacks
Archive
You’ll always arrive looking like you know exactly where you’re going
Mystery Ranch has a simple design philosophy: design stuff that fits and works for as many different people as possible
Power sources small enough for you to carry that run on solar, fire, or water are heavy and don't produce enough electricity to warrant schlepping into the backcountry
Portland, Oregon-based CiloGear promises to sell you the most bomber, versatile alpine packs on the market
The people have spoken, and they really, really like this camera bag
The 5 pieces of gear we're most excited about from this year’s event
An insulated backpack that will keep your favorite beer cold on the trail
We went on a hunt for the best all-weather backpacks that will protect our gear and look sharp at the office.
From bare-bones featherweights to long-haul beasts, there’s a bag out there for you.
The perfect daypack for both urban and mountain adventurers
Mystery Ranch, known for making bomber products for the pros and special-ops, is finally selling consumer packs in retail stores
We tested the Canadian company's new backcountry ski boot and avalanche airbag for a week in B.C. Here's what we learned.
Old-school picks so good they've remained unchanged for decades
We love bikes, but you’ll see a lot more country on a motorcycle
No arguing, no questions. Just a rock-solid promise the gear will work or your money back.
Layer up with this kit to stay warm, and happy, on your ride into work.
Pedaling to work is a lot more fun with the right setup
Duluth pack: A heavy canvas rucksack, patented in 1882 by French Canadian Camille Poirier in Duluth, Minnesota, along the shores of Lake Superior.
Our favorite kit for trail riding and racing.—Aaron Gulley Our favorite kit for trail riding and racing.—Aaron Gulley (Michael Karsh) Leatt 3DF Air Flex elbow and knee pads Finally, guards made for all-day…
The Ultralight Trail Running Essentials of 2015
You know how much the ladies in your life have done for you. Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show them all they do hasn’t gone unnoticed.
A new effort to add removable solar power panels to hard goods may finally make the tech indispensable for the outdoor set.
Running to work is hard, especially when you have to contend with cold weather, poor visibility, and icy roads. On those days, your gear matters.
Nathan’s Zeal race vest packs a lot of hydration into one small, efficient must-have.
The Eddie Bauer First Ascent Sorcerer goes from hauler to super-long hauler and can also be stripped down to a day-mission sack. Call it magic.
So you’ve promised your significant other you’ll do something romantic this weekend. Trouble is, you still haven’t planned anything. But don’t worry: there’s a way to turn a regular walk in the woods into an amorous getaway. Just grab your favorite daypack, fill it with these five items, and pay…
With ice-ax retention you can release with the pack on, gear loops for ’biners and belay devices, and an integrated crampon pocket, the Matrix is purpose-built for ski mountaineering. But you don’t have to rope up to appreciate how light, roomy, and useful the Matrix is.
The best way to keep your water supply squeaky clean
We compare the best carriers for bringing your kids into the outdoors.
Zipperless outdoor gear like the PK 50 is (almost) a trend this year at the show this year
Easily tailored to your body, with clever details and a surprisingly light weight.
Roomy, great for heavy loads, and has a super-customizable hipbelt.
I'm getting ready for a two-month trip around Asia and I need luggage that can hold up to serious abuse. What do you recommend?
The company, founded in 1888, is bringing back, for a limited time only, the protective eyewear design that started it all
The beefy, 500 denier material and reinforcements throughout the packs are made to stand up to the tough life of a commercial outfitter guiding in the Boundary Waters Canoe area
Seven years after the release of the original, Gregory has re-launched the Targhee system with upgrades that include a new suspension built specifically for this pack
A celebrated backpack maker gets into the travel game
Never worry about slicing that down jacket open again
F(n)’s Ultralight Backcountry Snowboard Backpack and Ultralight Ski Backpack are feather-light, ultra-durable, and full of features
When it comes to holiday giving, you should never have to choose. This year, our editors have pulled together 68 perfect ideas—priced from $4 to $50,000—guaranteed to make anyone on your list feel like a million bucks.
Scaling rock and ice in the winter is serious business. Bring the right stuff.
As backcountry skiing has boomed, so has splitboarding. In the past five years, participation has quadrupled, and companies from Black Diamond to Burton to K2 have tossed their hats into the ring with split-specific gear.
After air bags saved lives in several high-profile slides last year, demand (and curiosity) has never been higher. In 2011, there were five manufacturers making air-bag packs. This winter there are at least 10, and an increasing number of cat- and heli-ski operations are outfitting their clients with them.
Outside reviews the the best gear of Outdoor Retailer, including the Fjallraven Kajka.
Ease your load with these packs, including the Gregory Sage 45, which testers loved for its back panel, which perfectly fits the lumbar spine; the North Face Minera 30, a simple daypack with a widely adjustable chest strap and lightweight hipbelt; and the Black Diamond Onyx 75, a no-frills, long-haul, remarkably light pack.
My wife and I are taking our two teenage kids on a trip to Europe. We'll be traveling for 15 days and to avoid hassle, we’ve decided to carry only backpacks. How do I choose the right packs?
I need a new ski pack for resort and backcountry skiing. I'm looking for something that can carry skis, water, and my gear on day trips out of bounds, but won't get in the way on chairlifts.
My wife and I are headed to Beijing for two weeks in September. She needs a pack for the city but can switch gears for short backpacking trips once we get home. What brand and size would you recommend?
What is the best backpack for both fishing and photography? It needs to carry four or five fly boxes, two reels, and miscellaneous accessories, plus be able to carry camera equipment safely. Robert West Chester, PA
MOST DURABLE We wriggled and scraped through boulder caves on New Hampshire’s Six Husbands Trail, and the Asana didn’t get hung up or show any wear. The contoured shoulder straps and hipbelt, paired with Mammut’s stiff yet flexy butterfly frame, supported epic-day loads and still moved with our bodies. The…
CRAG BAG PLUSTapering like an inverted missile nose cone, this two-pound-ten-ouncer is one sweet summit-poacher. The main chute easily gulps down a stove, fuel, clothes, and a tightly compressed sleeping bag. The front hopper accepted my Nalgene and a couple of energy bars, while exterior diagonal lash points secured my…
Why It’s CoolIt’s so simple—a single strap secures the floating lid, and that’s all you see looking at the front of this bag. Not to fear; you get ice-ax loops, daisy chains, and compression straps down the sides, but the absence of front clutter is refreshing. » The suspension is…
MOST VERSATILE The Lite-Speed is the triathlete of packs: This panel-loader seamlessly transitioned from an overnight in the Adirondacks to a three-day trek in the Tetons, and it’s light enough for day trips. An external stuff compartment holds lunch and layers, and oversize side and hipbelt pockets keep smaller items…
Why It’s CoolWe’re huge fans of Osprey’s compression scheme—pack sidewalls wrap tortilla-style around your stuff. Not only is the setup exceptionally stable for hauling ropes and other heavy gear; it cinches down nicely on small loads, too. » The mountaineering features are so cleanly designed, they’re barely noticeable: ax loops,…
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING The top-loading Jade is like a compartmentalized closet for the backcountry. A cinching shove-it pocket was handy for stowing peeled layers on a 20-mile hike on Vermont’s Long Trail; a U-shaped zippered pocket stores shades, sunscreen, and snacks; and expanding side pouches hold a water bottle…