Trekking backpacks | The best of 2022
Of course, tackling a camping experience, or even trekking, without the right equipment is never ideal, and for this reason we have decided to offer you some themed guides , so that you can buy excellent equipment at affordable prices, focusing on products whose quality has been tested and approved by our experts.
Read also: Trekking poles | The best of 2022 In an attempt to help you in your search for adventure and outdoor life, therefore, we have decided to offer you this practical and essential buying guide which - at least for the moment - offers you several backpacks dedicated to trekking and mountain walks, with the intent to advise you on what can be the ideal travel companion to carry on your shoulders.
In doing so we have included only backpacks that we have had the opportunity to test in person, keeping into consideration some fundamental aspects such as manufacturing materials, empty weight, total capacity (obviously expressed in liters), balance and general comfort. The result is a list that offers some of the best brands on the market, with choices that can easily adapt to both amateurs, who don't want to spend too much, and to those who are looking for the best the market has to offer.
We hope you are ready to hit the road because this is our buying guide to the best trekking backpacks available on the market. Let the adventure begin!
The best trekking backpacks
The North Face Borealis Classic Ferrino Overld 65 Deuter Aircontact Pro Salewa Alptrek 42 + 5 Salewa Alp Trainer 25The North Face Borealis Classic | Small and compact
More than a hiking backpack, The North Face Borealis Classic could seem like a school backpack or, why not, a faithful ally of any "urban explorer" who spends his days wandering between the city and work , but is not so. The Borealis Classic is in fact a backpack that does not hide its trekker spirit, and that is perfect for anyone who needs to carry with them, in a comfortable way, everything they need for a day or two out of town.With an approximate weight of one kilo, and with its capacity of 29 liters, the Borealis Classic is entirely woven in polyamide, making it not only resistant to tears, but also to water. Equipped with FlexVent shoulder straps shaped and padded in foam material, it is comfortable on the shoulders even when fully loaded, and thanks to the padded rear panel and with air-mesh technology, it is light and perfectly positioned also on the back, so as not to burden when driving or uphill. Spacious and roomy despite its very small size, it offers a large main compartment with organizer, housing for water bladder and a secondary compartment. Sure, maybe the price is a bit high if you compare the capacity compared to the competition, but given the reliability of the brand and the resistance of the product, the Borealis Classic is definitely an item to consider.
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Ferrino Overland 65 + 10 | The most versatile
Among the backpackers preferred by hikers, especially for those who like to spend more than a day outdoors, the Overland is a 65-liter backpack with 10 liters of extra capacity. Fabric totally in Supertex, it is a backpack not too heavy but very comfortable and resistant, whose strength is the accessibility of the internal space, thanks above all to the comfortable front opening, which allows you to access the contents of the backpack without having to empty it . Ergonomic, comfortable and very versatile, it weighs from empty just 998 g and offers a double pocket on the hood, as well as some comfortable side and front pockets. In short, a practical and comfortable backpack, often available at great discounts.SEE ON AMAZON
Deuter Aircontact Pro | The nonplusultra
Simply one of the top currently available on the market, if not the best ever! The Deuter Aircontact Pro is a perfect backpack for trips that require a lot of luggage and features a durable yet flexible aluminum frame that gives the backpack strength and stability. Equipped with semi-curved and removable aluminum slats, it aims to adequately distribute the weight on the back even in the presence of heavy weights.We are talking about a 60-liter backpack, to which you can add an extra space, by extension, of 15 liters. In any case, thanks to its design, the lightness of the materials and the numerous stabilization straps, the Deuter Aircontact Pro always remains stable on the shoulders, thanks also to the large and comfortable lumbar fins, which distribute the load and ensure a safe and smooth walk. the risk of sprains or falls which is not a bad thing since, when empty, it already weighs 3.39 kg, not a little for a trekking backpack.
Yarn almost entirely in nylon, it is resistant to the water but has a comfortable removable rain hood, suitable to better face the harshest precipitation. It is a backpack for professionals (as evidenced by its price of € 229.00), which has many small touches of class that camping enthusiasts will love such as two valuables compartments, separate compartment on the bottom, as a compartment for a bag hydration, external pockets for tent poles and even a compartment for wet laundry.
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Salewa Alptrek 42 + 5 | For via ferrata and climbing
Comfortable, perfectly balanced and fabric in light but very resistant materials, the Salewa Alptrek is an ideal choice for those who love offshore hiking and need a roomy but light backpack that can hold a little 'of everything, including pointed materials such as those for climbing or ferriata. Alptrek is in fact entirely woven in abrasion resistant nylon, offering a total weight, when empty, of only 454 g! Despite being one of the least capacious on our list, its 42 liters (to which 5 can be added in extension) are still sufficient for a rich trip out of town of two or three days, being able to count on space even for a few more days. if we are talking, for example, of a light summer excursion.Equipped with the "Dry Back Custom" system, it offers comfortable and easy adjustment of the back, the padded shoulder straps and the belt, so as to offer a position optimal back and correct weight distribution along the vertebral band. Equipped with large pockets and a comfortable and wide front access, it is compatible with the Salewa water bag holder and even has a drain for the hydration system. In short, a comfortable choice for the high mountains.
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Salewa Alp Trainer 25 | Lightweight and breathable
Again Salewa, for a backpack designed for those who love hiking for 2 or 3 days. The Salewa Alp Trainer 25, in fact, is a backpack that makes capacity, but also lightness and breathability, its strengths, having been designed specifically for those who need to carry the backpack on their shoulders for long distances, especially in the hottest periods of the year. Designed with an ergonomic backrest with AIR FIT 2.0 technology, the Salewa Alp Trainer 25 has a minimal contact surface with the back, while maintaining a good balance on the shoulders.This allows for minimal sweating and zeroing of the skin redness caused by rubbing between the back and the backpack. In addition, the same fabric is designed to maintain breathability, while maintaining good waterproofing. Equipped with a rain cover and a series of comfortable separate compartments, which increase the possibility that everything remains dry and safe, the Salewa Alp Trainer 25 is a 25-liter backpack that is also a concentrate of technology and quality: a choice for to say the least ideal for those looking for an excellent backpack with which to face the toughest summer marches!
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How to choose a Trekking backpack
Dimensions and liters
Before making your choice in the field of trekking backpacks, you must first ask yourself what are the dimensions you are looking for which, as you will understand, also varies according to the use to be made of them . When it comes to backpacks, the volume they can contain is expressed in liters, while any reference to grams or kilos are generally used to define the weight of the empty backpack. For a generic purchase, which can be good for short trips or even for whole days out, we would suggest an average of 45 liters of capacity, with the possibility of expanding everything by at least another 10 liters thanks to any extensible compartments of the backpack.Since these are backpacks designed for hiking, you will understand how important it is that they are not too full, but that they are still sufficient to contain everything you need for your adventures. In general, for a day trip we would recommend staying between 20 and 30 liters, depending on the price and, of course, on the type of equipment you need; while for trips lasting several days we would suggest always staying around 60 liters, with the possibility - also in this case - of extensible purchases which, in some cases, even manage to reach 80 liters of capacity. Obviously, the larger the backpack, the heavier and bulkier it will be on the shoulders, which is why we suggest you rely on very capacious backpacks only if they are clearly equipped with adequate back and lumbar supports, and the right number of adjustable straps to balance the weight on the shoulders.
Weight
As mentioned, weight also plays a fundamental role in choosing a good trekking backpack. Obviously the weight of an empty backpack is subjective and, moreover, purely depends on the materials from which it is made. This is why you must first understand how the backpack is composed, if it has reinforced inserts in aluminum or metal alloys (some models have, for example, support bars to keep the back straight when the load of the backpack is high) or if it has padding that can favor the distribution of the load on the shoulders.There is no ideal weight, even if we would say that a quality empty backpack should never weigh more than 4 kilos, but if and only if it is one backpack for long excursions and, therefore, large capacity. Our advice, however, is to stay around 2 kilos of weight (from empty of course), preferring, therefore, those backpacks that are not lost in the proposal of countless unnecessary extras. In a nutshell, simply make sure that your backpack has the following: a rigid support system on the back, a double separable internal compartment that is quickly accessible (even better if from the outside), a large closing hood that is equipped with an external and an internal pocket, side pockets (or comfortable counterparts), a ventral belt (preferably with pockets), an integrated waterproof backpack cover.
Furthermore, it is essential that both when full and empty , the backpack of your choice has the right load balancing systems on the back and shoulders without which, even with a small weight, you will risk a useless - as much harmful - physical effort.
Materials
Materials are a fundamental aspect in choosing a trekking backpack, because two decisive factors depend on them: resistance and weight. Trekking backpacks are generally composed of two main materials, with almost similar characteristics, namely polyester and nylon, with the first to dictate the law in the sector, both for its quality / price ratio and for its breathable qualities.The advantage of nylon, on the other hand, is that it is only slightly more elastic and resistant, and with a better ratio in terms of weight. Beyond the minimum details, essentially, polyester and nylon are completely similar and the choice between the two is absolutely subjective. Among the other materials to consider are those relating to any rigid back supports, capable of keeping the weight of the backpack in the column and not straining the spine and back and shoulder muscles while walking. The optimum would be to rely on backpacks that can count on carbon fiber support systems, whose strength / weight ratio is priceless, however there are very few cases in which this material is used in the sector, as its production cost and processing makes the price skyrocket.
Much better, therefore, to rely on aluminum or light metal alloys although, it must be said, over time these tend to bend or deform. Instead, avoid very capacious backpacks that do not have adequate support or, at least, a backrest with rigid inserts. Finally, remember that even when a backpack is declared as "waterproof", it will always be subject to heavy rain, which is why it is always better to opt for periodic waterproofing which, beyond the backpack materials, you can carry out by yourself thanks to special sprays commonly on sale. | , even some useful extra pockets, actually serve to properly balance the load on your shoulders. The minimum required by a backpack is a strap, that is the one that generally, like a belt, attaches to the waist to prevent the weight of the backpack from pulling you back too much but it is obvious that alone, it is not enough. br>
A single strap, in fact, is acceptable when we are talking only and exclusively of very light backpacks with little capacity, in what we would define as “trekking versions” of the most common school backpacks. We are therefore talking about a few liters, and a weight that can be correctly distributed along the shoulder area, with a backpack in itself which, in size, does not even go beyond the waistband, and for which nothing is needed other than the the aforementioned strap, although clearly this does not mean ignoring factors such as padded shoulder straps and the like.
When, however, the weight is much higher, and the size of the backpack increases accordingly, the system of the regulation plays a much more important, if not fundamental, role, especially if you decide to walk on very steep and / or uneven paths. In this case, opt for backpacks that have straps that allow different types of adjustment and weight distribution. These are generally located in the upper and lower part of the shoulder straps, and will allow you to balance the weight correctly and functionally.
There is no minimum number of recommended straps but, as far as our experience is concerned. , we would tell you that it is not necessary to rely on backpacks that include who knows what amazing weight management systems. Just a few but functional straps placed in strategic points, which allow you to adjust the weight at the shoulders, back and waist.
