Finally, while most users have a good experience with the Atmos 65 AG, some testers found the waistbelt confining and too "hug-like", especially when adjusting clothing.

Bigger packs, like the 65L rucksacks upwards offer plenty of space to travel the globe, pack for a festival or spend a week camping. For folks who love to stay super organized, the Deuter Aircontact Core and Gregory Baltoro offer excellent gear access and the ability to get to your items quickly without removing anything. The torso length can be adjusted up to four inches, and the generously cushioned shoulder straps, lumbar pad, and hip belt make this a comfortable ride overall. It also has a large vertical opening in the front and another one at the bottom to help the user get an easy overview of the contents. How you access the primary compartment on the backpacking pack is part of our Ease of Use metric and measures how easily you can grab a few items without unpacking the entire bag.Within each of the ranges we have listed below, you can follow those general guidelines: minimalist to bulky (or a lot of) gear. We’ve also found that the pack rides low and wide, while a model like the Southwest has a bit more of a torpedo shape—some folks might not like the look as much, but for those carrying a bear canister, it’s a really functional design. We took the pack on a difficult trek through the Grand Canyon and were pleased with its overall performance.

Over the last decade, many hikers have made a concerted effort to carry less weight than their predecessors.He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, the Vermont Long Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Oregon Coast Trail, and the John Muir Trail. And while Gregory specifies a 45-pound load limit, our tester found that the Katmai deftly distributed the weight of 50 pounds of gear. Osprey is a backpack powerhouse known for quality builds, excellent organization, and comfort, as seen in industry-leading designs like the Atmos/Aura above. But that’s not all the Atmos has going for it: The pocket design is thoughtfully laid out with plenty of options to divvy up gear, the Fit-on-the-Fly harness and hipbelt offer an easily customizable fit, and the premium materials hold up well to rough treatment. The best-performing contenders for heavier loads are the Osprey Aether 65, the Gregory Baltoro 65, and the Granite Gear Blaze 60.

The padded backpanel favors comfort and support over breathability, and we found it to be stiffer and warmer than a mesh-heavy design like the Atmos above. And held up against the similarly intentioned Gregory Focal (below), the Exos tacks on a few more bells and whistles (including the adjustable torso length), and features a slightly more plush backpanel.He has backpacked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and Colorado Trail three times, along with countless shorter backpacking trips. And with a sleek exterior and tough, water-resistant fabrics, it’s better primed for alpine environments than most packs here.