7 Best Lightweight Backpacks of 2016

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Whether you’re planning an epic thru-hike, a 5-day trek in the mountains, or a quick weekend jaunt in the woods, keeping pack weight down is key. The lighter your backpack, the more you’ll enjoy hiking, which makes a world of difference on backcountry trips.

Lightweight backpacking isn’t just for long-distance trekkers anymore. The entire outdoor industry is going lighter and there’s good reason for that. Lighter packs are more comfortable. Your backpack will be one of the four heaviest items on your back (backpack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad), so it’s a great place to start reducing overall weight.

I’ve researched and tested dozens of lightweight backpacks to narrow this list down to the very best of the best. Whatever your hiking goals are, I hope this post helps you find the perfect pack to keep you comfortable on the trail for many years to come. Enjoy!

CRITICAL BACKPACK CONSIDERATIONS

COST - A solid lightweight backpack shouldn’t break the bank. That said, if you take care of your backpack, it will last for many years and thousands of trail miles. So it’s not a bad idea to invest in a good piece of equipment. I recommend a range of packs from budget buys to high-end purchases and talk about the pros and cons of each.

WEIGHT - Your backpack will be one of the four heaviest pieces of gear you carry on backcountry trips (backpack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad), so it’s an important piece of gear for keeping overall weight down. The options I recommend have a good balance between weight, comfort, and durability.

FRAME - The lighter your overall pack weight, the less frame you’ll need. Most of the packs I recommend have simple frames that will be very comfortable carrying loads up to 35lbs. If you prefer to carry heavier loads, choose one of the packs I recommend with a sturdier frame.

VOLUME - The volume of your bag will limit how much gear you can carry in it. Most experienced lightweight backpackers can easily fit their gear in a 40-50L pack, even for a thru-hike. If you’re new to lightweight backpacking, you might want to choose a pack with a larger volume and work your way down. Also, if you plan to use your pack for snowy winter trekking, consider bumping up a size in volume.

DESIGN - A backpack doesn’t have to be complex to be exceptional. It’s often the companies that keep design elements simple and streamlined that make the best packs. At the end of the day, your backpack is just a sack to carry other gear comfortably. So don’t feel the need to overdo it with a ton of excess compartments, pouches, zippers, clips, and straps.

MATERIAL - Most lightweight backpacks are made from one of two materials: ripstop nylon or cuben fiber. In general, cuben fiber is lighter, but more expensive. Both materials are durable and highly functional for backpacks.

FIT - Fit is one of the most important factors in a comfortable backpack, but it’s also one of the toughest features to pin down until you have a pack fully loaded and on your back. The packs I recommend are well known for their comfort. Measure your torso length and hip belt size before ordering and you should be good to go.

BUYING ONLINE - Check the seller's return policy before you buy, but you can almost always return an unused pack within a certain timeframe after purchasing. I recommend buying your top choice, trying it on at home when you get it, and returning/exchanging it if it doesn’t fit quite right. I’ve been buying lightweight backpacks online for years and I’ve yet to have any problems.

KEY DESIGN FEATURES

MAIN COMPARTMENT - Most lightweight backpacks have one large top-loading compartment for storing the majority of your gear. That’s really all you need. Extra compartments and zippers add unnecessary weight. Pack items you won’t need until camp (shelter, sleeping bag/pad, stove) in the bottom of your pack and you’ll be set.

REAR MESH POCKET - Most lightweight packs have a large mesh pocket on the back. This feature comes in very handy on the trail. It’s great for gear you want to stow quickly or keep easily accessible, like a rain jacket or water purifier. It’s also good for airing out wet gear.

HIP BELT - A good hip belt is a critical feature of any backcountry pack. Your hip belt will hold most of the weight of your pack on your hips, which keeps your shoulders from tiring. Hip belts should be comfortable and transfer weight without slipping. Every pack on this list has a solid hip belt.

SHOULDER STRAPS - Shoulder straps will hold a significant amount of your pack weight as well. You’ll want them to have comfortable padding and be well spaced to avoid chafing and odd pressure points. Every pack on this list has comfortable shoulder straps.

HIP BELT POCKETS - I’m of the opinion that a backpack isn’t suitable for the trail unless it has hip belt pockets. With a lightweight pack, you won’t need to take breaks nearly as often, so you’ll want some items easily accessible (snacks, sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, camera, etc.). Most of the packs I recommend come with built-in hip belt pockets. If they don’t, I highly recommend buying aftermarket hip pockets.

SHOULDER POUCH - I’m also very fond of using a shoulder strap pouch on my packs. I use it to hold my camera and sunglasses while I hike. That way those items are always protected and easily accessible. A couple of the packs I recommend come with shoulder pouches, but most don’t. So you might consider an aftermarket shoulder pouch if it sounds like a good fit for you.

WATER BOTTLE HOLSTERS - Hydration is key, so your water bottles should always be easy to get to. It’s shocking to me when I test packs where I can’t reach the water bottles with the pack on. That’s just not acceptable. Every pack on this list will allow you to grab your water bottles easily while hiking.

WATERPROOFING - In general, it’s not a good idea to rely on any backpack for waterproofing. Cuben fiber is a waterproof material, but seams sewn into a pack will keep it from being 100% waterproof, even if taped. In wet weather you’ll want to pack important items (sleeping bag, clothes, electronics, etc.) in waterproof stuff sacks or plastic bags inside your pack.

HYDRATION PORTS - If you’re a backpacker that likes to use a water bladder for hydration, not having hydration ports can be a dealbreaker. I’m not a huge fan of water bladders, so it’s not as much of a concern for me. That said, most of the packs I recommend do have hydration sleeves and ports.

TOP LID - Most lightweight backpacks don’t have top lids these days in order to reduce weight. Instead, they use roll-top closures, clips, and straps to keep gear secure, which is very effective. I do recommend a couple of packs with top lids, but if you don’t have one, you probably won’t miss it.

STERNUM STRAP - Sternum straps are included on most backpacks these days. They give you the option to connect your shoulder straps across your chest for a more secure feel. It’s a nice touch when the sternum strap has an elastic section for a little give and the clip has an emergency whistle built in.  

LOAD LIFTER STRAPS - Load lifter straps can be used to pull the tops of your shoulder straps back towards your backpack. This will transfer some of the weight of your pack to the front of your shoulders and release some downward pressure. Many lightweight backpacks don’t have them and they are not really necessary if you’re carrying a light load.

TREKKING POLE & ICE AXE LOOPS - Trekking pole and ice axe loops are a nice touch. They make it easy to stow your sticks when you’re not using them to hike. I find that I use mine quite often. Most of the bags I recommend come with these stowing options.