Is it comfortable? The best packs have hip belts, to ease the weight on your shoulders, and mesh or foam back panels, to help keep your back cool. Will it last? And can you buy spare bladders?

You can keep smaller items in the water-resistant front pocket. We loved the supportiveness of the backpack’s removable hip belt and adjustable sternum strap. Although the straps aren’t padded ...

Pockets on the hip wings of the waist belt are another factor to consider. Many packs have them, and they can be very handy to keep smaller items that you want to access on the fly without having ...

We tested the best daypacks of 2025 with options for every budget. Top picks include Osprey, Cotopaxi, and more.