National parks are a treasure trove of natural beauty and adventure, beckoning travelers with stunning landscapes, awe-inspiring wildlife, and challenging trails. To truly experience the grandeur of these parks, you need a reliable climbing backpack that can carry your gear comfortably and efficiently. With so many options available, choosing the perfect backpack can feel overwhelming.
This comprehensive guide of nationalparkshops.com will walk you through the essential factors to consider when selecting a climbing backpack, explore the different price points, and showcase the 10 best climbing backpacks designed for exploring national parks in 2024.
Contents
- 1 How to choose the best climbing backpack?
- 2 How much should a good travel backpack cost?
- 3 REI Flash 55 for Men’s/Women’s ($199 on Amazon)
- 4 Gregory ($230 on Amazon)
- 5 Aer Travel Pack 2 ($249 on Amazon)
- 6 Osprey ($260 on Amazon)
- 7 Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 ($285 on Amazon)
- 8 Osprey Atmos and Aura ($340 on Amazon)
- 9 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 ($369 on Amazon)
- 10 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 ($379 on Amazon)
- 11 Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 ($399 on Amazon)
- 12 Osprey Aether and Ariel ($410 on Amazon)
- 13 How We Tested
- 14 Conclusion
How to choose the best climbing backpack?
Before diving into the list of top backpacks, let’s understand the key factors that make a climbing backpack ideal for national park adventures.
Capacity and Size
The capacity of your backpack should align with the duration of your trip and the amount of gear you plan to carry. A 50-60 liter backpack is generally suitable for most national park trips, offering enough space for clothing, toiletries, camping gear, and other essentials.
Simultaneously, ensure the backpack fits your torso length comfortably. An ill-fitting bag can lead to discomfort, back pain, and poor weight distribution.
Comfort and Support
Seek a backpack with breathable, well-padded, adjustable shoulder straps that evenly distribute the weight of your pack. Ensure the straps are comfortable and do not dig into your shoulders.
Besides that, a sturdy well-padded waist belt is essential for transferring the weight of the pack to your hips, reducing the strain on your shoulders and back.
Durability and Weather Resistance
Prioritize choose a climbing backpack made of durable, weather-resistant materials, such as ripstop nylon or polyester. These fabrics can withstand the rigors of outdoor adventuring and protect your gear from the elements.
Inspect the quality of the zippers, buckles, and other closures. They should be sturdy, smooth-operating, and resistant to wear and tear.
Organizational Features
Opt for a backpack with multiple compartments and pockets to easily access your essentials, such as water bottles, snacks, and emergency gear.
In addition, adjustable compression straps will help you secure your load and prevent items from shifting during your hike. And consider a climbing backpack with attachment points for trekking poles, ice axes, and other outdoor gear you may need.
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How much should a good travel backpack cost?
A high-quality climbing backpack typically ranges from $100 to $200. While it may seem expensive for budget travelers, investing in a good backpack is crucial. Cheaper, unknown brand backpacks may save money initially, but frequent replacements will end up costing more in the long term.
Let’s dive into the 10 best climbing backpacks for exploring national parks
REI Flash 55 for Men’s/Women’s ($199 on Amazon)
- Price: $199
- Weight: 2 lb. 13 oz.
- Volume: 55 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 30 lb
The REI Flash 55 is a cost-effective option compared to similar backpacking packs, without compromising on quality or features. It is lightweight, versatile, and comfortable, making it ideal for budget-conscious lightweight backpackers.
One standout feature of the Flash 55 is its innovative “Packmod” system. This modular design lets you swiftly remove and reconfigure straps and pockets into various combinations, or you can opt to leave them behind to reduce weight. This flexibility allows the Flash 55 to seamlessly switch from a light weekend pack to a reliable option for carrying heavier loads.
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Gregory ($230 on Amazon)
- Price: $230
- Weight: 2 lb. 9.6 oz.
- Volume: 48 L / 45 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 30 lb.
The Gregory Focal 48 (Men’s) / Facet 45 (Women’s) meet the growing need for lightweight backpacking equipment. Both packs come with a variety of easily accessible pockets, a removable top lid, spacious hip-belt pockets, and a supportive and well-ventilated suspension system.
In summary, the Gregory Focal 48 and Facet 45 are reliable lightweight backpacks that offer excellent features at a reasonable price. These backpacks are ideal for hikers carrying around 30 pounds of gear.
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Aer Travel Pack 2 ($249 on Amazon)
- Price: $249
- Weight: 4.12 lbs
- Volume: 35 L
The Aer Travel Pack 2 is a 33-liter frontloading backpack with multiple compartments to keep your belongings organized and easily accessible. It has a top pocket for smaller items and features lockable zippers, side compression straps, and a water-resistant exterior for added security.
This climbing backpack also includes a separate shoe compartment, a quick-access laptop pocket, an expandable water bottle pocket, and padded handles for comfortable transportation. The ergonomic shoulder straps and detachable hip belt ensure that you stay comfortable while on the go.
Osprey ($260 on Amazon)
- Price: $260
- Weight: 3 lb. 7 oz. / 3 lb. 6 oz.
- Volume: 58 L / 55 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 50 lb.
The Gregory Paragon 58 for men and Maven 55 for women are very comfortable midweight backpacks that can handle heavy loads despite being relatively lightweight. They have hip belts that can be adjusted in size, making them suitable for a wide range of body shapes compared to other backpacks.
Typically, backpacks with this capacity cost over $300, but the Paragon and Maven are priced more affordably.
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Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 ($285 on Amazon)
- Price: $285
- Weight: 1 lb. 15.2 oz.
- Volume: 60 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 30 lb.
The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is a highly cushioned ultralight backpack, making it ideal for lightweight backpackers who value comfort. It offers enough space to bring along additional items like a backpacking chair or hammock on trips in warm weather, without being too large to fill up easily.
Furthermore, this climbing backpack features various practical pockets such as a spacious stretchy outer mesh pocket, generous hip belt pockets, and three large side pockets, allowing you to keep all your essentials easily accessible.
Osprey Atmos and Aura ($340 on Amazon)
- Price: $340
- Weight: 4 lb. 10 oz.
- Volume: 65 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 50 lb.
The Osprey Atmos AG 65 Men’s and Aura AG 65 Women’s backpacks can comfortably carry up to 35-50 pounds, making them more comfortable than lightweight backpacks and lighter than many traditional options of similar size.
For hikers who are beginners or like to bring extra comfort, the Atmos and Aura packs offer plenty of padding and multiple pockets for organizing gear. These backpacks also feature Osprey’s AntiGravity suspension system, which effectively transfers weight to your hips, reducing strain on your shoulders and back.
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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 ($369 on Amazon)
- Price: $369
- Weight: 1 lb. 13.6 oz.
- Volume: 40 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 35 lb.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40 is designed for hikers who cover long distances and want to minimize pack weight without sacrificing convenience. It features a stretchy mesh pocket underneath for easy access to frequently needed items like snacks and sunscreen without removing the pack.
Additionally, the Unbound has an innovative front mesh pocket that can be accessed from the top or bottom flap, making it convenient to store items like tent stakes or a bathroom bag for quick access.
While the Unbound is pricier compared to other ultralight packs, its quality and durability justify the cost. The Dyneema Composite Hybrid DCH fabric and taped seams contribute to its high price, but they also make the pack highly durable and nearly waterproof.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55 ($379 on Amazon)
- Price: $379
- Weight: 2 lb. 3.6 oz.
- Volume: 55 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 35 lb.
HMG Southwest 55 backpacks are among the lightest on the market, making them ideal for hikers looking to reduce weight while still getting good support. The DCH fabric used in the Southwest is completely waterproof with sealed seams, ensuring it can handle any weather conditions.
The design of the Southwest is straightforward yet effective, offering just the right amount of organization for carrying lightweight and compact gear. The large side water bottle pockets are easily accessible, the wide main opening simplifies packing, and the huge front pocket is a standout feature of the Southwest.
Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 ($399 on Amazon)
- Price: $399
- Weight: 1 lb. 5.9 oz.
- Volume: 60 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 30 lb.
The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 is a lightweight backpack ideal for thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers with base weights of around 15 pounds or less. Its innovative arched frame effectively distributes weight and offers a well-ventilated mesh back panel when not overstuffed.
For those who prioritize having the lightest gear available, the Arc Haul is a worthwhile investment due to its comfort, weight, and weather resistance features.
Osprey Aether and Ariel ($410 on Amazon)
- Price: $410
- Weight: 5 lb. 8 oz. / 5 lb. 8.6 oz.
- Volume: 70 L
- Max Weight Rec.: 60 lb.
The Osprey Aether Plus 70 Men’s and Ariel Plus 70 Women’s backpacks are spacious and comfortable for carrying heavy loads, reducing strain on your body.
These climbing backpacks are designed with Osprey’s “Fit-on-the-Fly” system, which lets you customize the support for your specific load. The well-padded hip belt of the Aether/Ariel can be adjusted in length and angle to fit various body shapes. The frame of the pack is connected to the hip belt to keep the load close to your back, minimizing shifting that can affect your stability while walking.
Additionally, the shoulder harness has customizable adjustments for a better fit, allowing you to position the padding where you need it and prevent discomfort from straps pinching or pulling.
How We Tested
Most of the criteria for evaluating climbing backpacks are based on qualitative factors such as comfort while carrying, comfort while climbing, functionality, and longevity.
I subjected all ten backpacks to thorough field tests to evaluate these features. I used each backpack for approach hikes and multi-pitch climbs to assess comfort during horizontal and vertical movement.
I typically assessed the climbing backpacks in their designated environments, but I also tested them in different situations to gauge their performance beyond their primary purpose. I experimented with various packs such as gym bags, crag packs, and even for biking commutes.
Conclusion
Choosing the best climbing backpacks is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable adventure. By considering factors like capacity, comfort, durability, and organizational features, you can find the perfect backpack to carry your gear safely and efficiently.
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