The 10 Best Hiking Backpacks as of June 2026

How we ranked these hiking backpacks

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each hiking backpack does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#	Hiking Backpacks	Score	Best for	Capacity	Approx price	Amazon links
1	Osprey Atmos AG 65	9.1	Best for backpacking	65L	£260	View Price
2	Osprey Talon 22	9.0	Best day pack	22L	£100	View Price
3	Osprey Exos 58	8.9	Best lightweight backpacking	58L	£200	View Price
4	Gregory Zulu 55	8.7	Best carry comfort	55L	£200	View Price
5	Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek	8.6	Best value backpacking	45-55L	£150	View Price
6	Deuter Futura	8.6	Best ventilated comfort	30-32L	£160	View Price
7	Osprey Hikelite 26	8.5	Best value day pack	26L	£85	View Price
8	Berghaus Trailhead 65	8.3	Best budget backpacking	65L	£90	View Price
9	Decathlon Forclaz MT100	8.3	Best budget multi-day	50-60L	£80	View Price
10	Quechua NH Arpenaz Day Pack	8.0	Best budget day pack	20-30L	£25	View Price

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The full ranking

Best for backpacking

Osprey Atmos AG 65

9.1Our number one pick.

Osprey's Atmos AG 65 sets the standard for multi-day backpacking, with the Anti-Gravity suspended mesh back that carries heavy loads in remarkable comfort, plus excellent organisation and a lifetime guarantee. It is pricey and a touch heavy, but for big loads it is superb.

Comfort: 9.6Fit: 9.2Durability: 9.0Value: 8.6

Pros

Outstanding load comfort
Anti-Gravity back system
Lifetime guarantee

Cons

Pricey
A little heavy

Check price on Amazon≈ £260

Best day pack

Osprey Talon 22

9.0A superb runner-up.

Osprey's Talon 22 is a brilliant day-hiking pack with a comfortable, ventilated back, great organisation and Osprey's guarantee, ideal for day walks and fast hikes. It is a premium price for a daypack, but the comfort and quality are excellent.

Comfort: 9.2Fit: 9.0Durability: 9.0Value: 8.8

Pros

Comfortable and ventilated
Great organisation
Lifetime guarantee

Cons

Premium daypack price
Limited for overnights

Check price on Amazon≈ £100

Best lightweight backpacking

Osprey Exos 58

8.9Rounds out our top three.

Osprey's Exos 58 is a light yet comfortable backpacking pack with a ventilated frame, great for those counting grams without sacrificing carry comfort. It is less rugged and feature-rich than the Atmos, but for fast-and-light trips it is excellent.

Comfort: 9.0Fit: 9.0Durability: 8.4Value: 8.6

Pros

Light yet comfortable
Ventilated frame
Good for fast-and-light

Cons

Less durable fabric
Fewer features

Check price on Amazon≈ £200

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Best carry comfort

Gregory Zulu 55

8.7A standout in the upper half.

Gregory's Zulu 55 is a supremely comfortable backpacking pack with a ventilated, adjustable suspension that carries loads beautifully, a strong Osprey rival. It is pricey and heavier, but the carry comfort is excellent.

Comfort: 9.2Fit: 9.2Durability: 8.8Value: 8.4

Pros

Excellent carry comfort
Adjustable suspension
Durable

Cons

Pricey
Heavier

Check price on Amazon≈ £200

Best value backpacking

Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

Lowe Alpine's Airzone Trek offers a comfortable ventilated back and solid features for multi-day hiking at a friendlier price than Osprey, strong value. It is a touch heavier, but well-made and comfortable.

Comfort: 8.8Fit: 8.8Durability: 8.6Value: 9.0

Pros

Comfortable ventilated back
Good features
Great value

Cons

A little heavy
Less polished

Check price on Amazon≈ £150

Best ventilated comfort

Deuter Futura

8.6Great value in the middle of the pack.

Deuter's Futura uses an excellent Aircomfort mesh back for cool, comfortable carrying on day and overnight hikes, with quality build and a rain cover. It is mid-priced, but comfortable and durable.

Comfort: 9.0Fit: 8.8Durability: 8.8Value: 8.6

Pros

Cool ventilated back
Quality build
Rain cover included

Cons

Mid capacity
Pricey for size

Check price on Amazon≈ £160

Best value day pack

Osprey Hikelite 26

8.5A dependable pick if the price is right.

Osprey's Hikelite 26 is a lighter, more affordable day pack with a ventilated back and Osprey's guarantee, great value for day walks. It is less feature-rich than the Talon, but comfortable and dependable.

Comfort: 8.6Fit: 8.6Durability: 8.6Value: 9.0

Pros

Ventilated and light
Lifetime guarantee
Good value

Cons

Fewer features
Thinner fabric

Check price on Amazon≈ £85

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Best budget backpacking

Berghaus Trailhead 65

8.3Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Berghaus's Trailhead 65 is a roomy, affordable backpacking pack with decent support for occasional multi-day trips, great value for beginners. It is heavier and less refined than premium packs, but covers the basics well.

Comfort: 8.2Fit: 8.2Durability: 8.4Value: 9.2

Pros

Roomy and affordable
Decent support
Good for beginners

Cons

Heavier
Basic back system

Check price on Amazon≈ £90

Best budget multi-day

Decathlon Forclaz MT100

8.3A budget-friendly option worth a look.

Decathlon's Forclaz MT100 offers a comfortable, ventilated multi-day pack at a remarkable price, superb value for new backpackers. It is less durable than premium packs, but comfortable and well-featured for the money.

Comfort: 8.4Fit: 8.4Durability: 8.2Value: 9.4

Pros

Comfortable and ventilated
Excellent value
Good features

Cons

Less durable
Lower brand profile

Check price on Amazon≈ £80

Best budget day pack

Quechua NH Arpenaz Day Pack

8.0Rounds out our top ten.

Decathlon's Quechua NH day pack is a cheap, light and comfortable bag for casual day walks and travel, with simple organisation. It is basic and not for heavy loads, but for easy walks on a budget it is great value.

Comfort: 8.2Fit: 8.0Durability: 7.8Value: 9.2

Pros

Cheap and light
Comfortable for day walks
Simple

Cons

Basic build
Not for heavy loads

Check price on Amazon≈ £25

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Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the hiking backpacks in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Osprey Atmos AG 65, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Osprey Talon 22 and Osprey Exos 58 are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best hiking backpacks without overthinking it, the Osprey Atmos AG 65 is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £260

Our top picks at a glance

Osprey Atmos AG 65

Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek

Osprey Talon 22

How we ranked these hiking backpacks

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

Osprey Atmos AG 65

Pros

Cons

Osprey Talon 22

Pros

Cons

Osprey Exos 58

Pros

Cons

Gregory Zulu 55

Pros

Cons

Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek

Pros

Cons

Deuter Futura

Pros

Cons

Osprey Hikelite 26

Pros

Cons

Berghaus Trailhead 65

Pros

Cons

Decathlon Forclaz MT100

Pros

Cons

Quechua NH Arpenaz Day Pack

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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