The Best Five Multi Day Hiking Backpacks in 2014

Multi day hiking requires more equipment than simple one day hiking. Of course you need a way to carry all this equipment. Appropriate backpack is not just the best solution but also the only appropriate solution to do that. For one day hike simple backpack will suffice although it is much more comfortable to use professional hiking daypack. In this article we will review and compare backpacks appropriate for multi-day hikes.

For multi day hike you will need enough space in a backpack to store all the necessary equipment.

The necessary equipment for multi day hike is:

• Additional clothing (underwear, socks, pants, tops, jacket, headwear, gloves etc.)
• Navigation equipment (maps, compass, GPS)
• First Aid
• Sun Protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm)
• Illumination (headlamp and additional batteries)
• Sleeping equipment (tent or tarp and sleeping bag)
• Hydration (hydration system or water bottles)
• Nutrition (enough food for the duration of a hike)
• Accessories (knife, multi-tool kit, matches, lighter)

To fit all this into a backpack you need a backpack with appropriate capacity. Backpack for 2 day or longer hike should have at least a capacity of 45 liters.

• Back Panel

A Back Panel should provide good cushioning and ventilation. Ventilated back panel significantly reduces sweating of the user. A multiday hiking backpack should also have a back panel which withstands the weight and provides shock absorption.

• Hip Belt

Hip Belt is one of the most important parts of the multi day hiking backpack. Hip Belt must support big loads and have sufficient padding to provide cushioning. A hip belt transfers the weight to the sides of the hips and allows upright hiking position. A hip belt makes hiking much more comfortable, especially when carrying heavy load.

• Compression

Multi day hiking backpacks usually have compression straps on the sides. They will keep your gear stable during the hike. With compression straps you can also reduce size of the backpack.

• Access Panel and Pockets

Access Panel is a great benefit offered by some multi-day hiking backpacks. It allows to unpack a backpack suitcase style and to grab things from the bottom without unpacking whole backpack. Despite that multi day hiking backpacks have enough pockets allowing you to organize the content.

• Durability

Let’s be honest multi day hiking backpacks are not cheap. So, buying a multi day hiking backpack means you want to keep it for years. Durability of the below listed multi-day hiking backpacks is assured by top quality materials like nylon, cordura etc.

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Mountaineering
• Other outdoor activities

Weight: 2 lbs

Capacity: 48 liters

The Osprey Exos 48 is one of the best multi day hiking backpacks currently available. The Osprey Exos 48 is very light but still good for carrying big loads. Hiking with this backpack will be comfortable and enjoyable. The shoulder straps are made of two layers of open cell polyester mesh which lay flat on your shoulders, allowing weight to distribute evenly. On backpacks of this capacity we are used to have foam padded shoulder straps but the Osprey Exos 48 doesn’t have them. Despite that it is comfortable to carry. The innovative design of shoulder straps also assures low weight and breathability. The hip belt is also made of the same material and provides excellent support. The back panel is stable and provides good breathability. On the hip belt and on the shoulder straps it has 4 pockets appropriate for essential items like power gels, gps etc. On the sides it has compression straps which keep your content tight and under control. The durability is also great, assured by 100-denier nylon. If you want an ultimate lightweight backpack for multi day hiking The Osprey Exos 48 should be your choice.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Plenty of pockets

Cons:

• Bad performance when heavy loaded (over 50 lbs)

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Mountaineering
• Other outdoor activities

Weight: 3 lbs

Capacity: 50 liters

The Exped Mountain Pro 50 is a durable backpack suitable for hikers, backpackers, mountaineers and all other outdoor enthusiast who often perform activities in the most severe conditions. The back panel is soft and well padded. It also provides good ventilation. The shoulder straps are made of durable foam and comfortable to wear. The durability of the Exped Mountain Pro 50 is fascinating. The backpack is made of 420-denier, polyurethane-coated nylon which assures durability in the most severe conditions. The capacity of the backpack is suitable for multi-day hikes. It also has front stash sleeve and vertical zipper pocket which offer additional storage space. The best feature of this backpack is a 12 by 16 inch map sleeve which detaches from the backpack via zipper. If you prefer to the durability this backpack is perfect for you.

Pros:

• Map sleeve
• Durability
• Big load support

Cons:

• Price

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Mountaineering
• Other outdoor activities

Weight: 4 lbs

Capacity: 60 liters

The Marmot Apollo 60 is an innovative hiking backpack known for providing a great access. The Marmot Apollo 60 has the biggest capacity of all backpacks reviewed here and was built to carry heavy multi day loads. The back panel is stiff with twin aluminum stays and provides great balance. The hip belt efficiently transfers the weight to side of the hips and provides good comfort. The Marmot Apollo 60 has an U-shaped front zipper which allows quick access to the backpack’s entire content. On the sides it also has 2 mesh pockets ideal for storing bottles. They could be bigger, but they do the job. The Marmot Apollo 60 is made of the 140-denier ripstop nylon which assures the durability. The bottom part is made of 600-denier nylon, additionally increasing the durability. The Marmot Apollo 60 also has waterproof cover which will keep your items dry. If you like quick access to your equipment the Marmot Apollo 60 is the right choice for you.

Pros:

• Access
• Durability
• Capacity

Cons:

• Weight

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Mountaineering
• Other outdoor activities

Weight: 3 lbs

Capacity: 50 liters

The Kelty Trailogic PK 50 is an innovative backpack with compartmentalized design that makes packing and unpacking easy and fast. The Kelty Trailogic PK 50 has specialized places for key items. The backpack is compatible with other Kelty’s equipment and by compatible we mean that things fit together 100%. The two main compartments are sized and shaped to fit Kelty’s sleeping bag, sleeping pad and tent. But of course also equipment made by other producers will fit in. The second main compartment is actually a detachable pouch for clothing. This feature is really useful because you can put the detachable pouch filled with your clothes to your tent without any serious work. If you don’t need the capacity of 50l you can also remove detachable pouch with the capacity of 15 l and use a 35 l backpack for 1-day hike. The Kelty Trailogic PK50 also has 2 mesh belt pockets, 2 side mesh pockets perfect for bottles and front mesh pocket. The back panel is foam padded and comfortable. It also provides good ventilation. The Kelty Trailogic PK 50 is the perfect backpack for those who are looking for an innovative backpack for different outdoor activities.

Pros:

• Modularity
• Zipper-free

Cons:

• Good modularity mainly with Kelty’s equipment

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Mountaineering
• Other outdoor activities

Weight: 2 lbs

Capacity: 55 liters

The Montane Grand Tour 55 is a year-round backpack which has a great performance. The Montane Grand Tour 55 is designed for lightweight hiking, backpacking or mountaineering. When heavy loaded its performance is not as good as at backpacks listed above. The back panel is foam padded and provides good ventilation. The hip belt performs well and provides additional stability. The Montane Grand Tour 55 has a main compartment with top entry where the top lid has a single buckle. On the outside it has two large mesh pockets ideal for storing wet kit. It also has two large stretch mesh lower pockets for storage of an extra items. With the Montane Grand Tour 55 you will not have problems to store and organize your equipment. The durability is assured by lightweight Raptor Zero fabric with formidable tear resistance. If you are not planning to carry big loads the Montane Grand Tour 55 will be perfect for you.

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Durable

Cons:

• Bad performance when heavy loaded