BEST Camping Backpacks – Expert Advice for Backpackers 2024

• #1 Osprey Aether 70 – Best Overall Camping Backpack
• #2 Granite Gear Crown3 60 – Best Camping Backpack for a Weekend Warrior
• #3 Osprey Exos 58 – Best Camping Backpack for a thru-hiker
• #4 Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier – Best Camping Backpack for New Parents 
• #5 Deuter Futura Pro 34 SL – Best Women’s Camping Backpack
• #6 Osprey Ace 50 – Best Camping Backpack for a Young Adventurer 
• #7 Dam 2-1 Backpack Cooler CB30 – Best Cooler Backpack
• #8 Lowepro ProTactic 45 AW– Best Camping Backpack for an Adventure Photographer
• #9 Patagonia Terravia Pack 22L – Best Glamping Backpack 
• #10 REI Flash 22 – Best Side-Kick Camping Backpack 

Product

Description

BEST OVERALL CAMPING BACKPACK

BEST OVERALL CAMPING BACKPACK

Osprey Aether 70

• > $$$$
• > Sustainable Design

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BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR A WEEKEND WARRIOR

BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR A WEEKEND WARRIOR

Granite Gear Crown3 60

• > $$
• > Roll-top, ultralight, weather-worthy design and adjustable hipbelt

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BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR A THRU-HIKE

BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR A THRU-HIKE

Osprey Exos 58

• > $$$
• > Ultralight for long carries

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BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR NEW PARENTS

BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR NEW PARENTS

Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier

• > $$$$
• > Always carry on compliant

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BEST WOMEN’S CAMPING BACKPACK

BEST WOMEN’S CAMPING BACKPACK

Deuter Futura Pro 34 SL

• > $$
• > Perfect Carrier for your Precious Cargo

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TOP CAMPING BACKPACK FOR A YOUNG ADVENTURER

TOP CAMPING BACKPACK FOR A YOUNG ADVENTURER

Osprey Ace 50 Pack

• > $$
• > 4 in. of Adjustability to Grow as your Child Grows

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Best Cooler Backpack

Best Cooler Backpack

DAM 2-IN-1 Backpack

• > $$
• > 2-IN-1 Cooler Backpack

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TOP ULTRALIGHT CAMPING BACKPACK

TOP ULTRALIGHT CAMPING BACKPACK

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Pack

• > $$$$
• > Waterproof, Rugged, and Light

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BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR AN ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHER

BEST CAMPING BACKPACK FOR AN ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHER

Lowepro ProTactic 45 AW

• > $$$
• > Water repellant

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BEST GLAMPING BACKPACK

BEST GLAMPING BACKPACK

Patagonia Terravia Pack

• > $$
• > Extremely Comfortable

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BEST SIDE-KICK CAMPING BACKPACK

BEST SIDE-KICK CAMPING BACKPACK

REI Flash 22

• > $
• > Ultimate Daypack for Basecamp Operations

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Here I have laid out 10 different camping backpacks and the common camping scenarios you may find yourself in. Scroll through to identify with the scenarios to see which backpack would most likely benefit you. We selected from the best camping brands out there so you’ve got some quality options.

If you are a Renaissance man or woman (like Pope Pius), many of these options will work well. Feel free to let your imagination loose and learn about the key attributes of each bag to find the one that best fits your lifestyle and journey in the outdoors, after all, when you’re trying to figure out your camping and adventure travel packing list, it all starts with your backpack!

So, without any further delay, let’s take a look at the best camping bags out there in 2024!

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Full disclosure, I’m the type of person who likes to make one excellent purchase over a minefield of small hit or misses. The first thought I had when holding this bag is that it feels like a lifetime companion. It’s made from recycled materials that are extremely durable and can withstand almost any environment. Coupled with the slim design, this backpack can make its way through sharp slot canyons, or overgrown bush in the forest.

Its size will accommodate all of your camping gear, and the smart compartment breakdown will help you keep everything nice and organized. The pack is complete with an adjustable harness system so it can be maneuvered to fit almost every possible body type.

Whether you set up basecamp 50ft from your car or 13,00ft in the air, the Archeon 70 will help you do it all. It’s made by one of the best outdoor brands, so you won’t be let down.

Our team rated this as their best camping backpack for a few different reasons, one of them being just how cool and neat this thing looks. But it’s not all about looks, they felt the technology in the back panel really made the difference when it came to staying comfortable and cool on long hikes. Other key features they loved included the separate sleeping back pocket and the zippered expanded opening which took the hassle out of having a top loader when it came to accessing their gear.

Each weekend is an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of your day to day. With so many adventures out there waiting to be had, this Granite Gear Crown3 makes for a great hiking backpack no matter the occasion. You will be ready for it all.

It’s lightweight, fully adjustable and ready for the elements. With a 60L capacity it can easily accommodate a multi-day trip, and if you are out for a single night, then the compression straps will help you reel it in when you are following a minimalist path.

The team felt this was the best backpack for camping for weekend trips with the Dual-density shoulder harness and load-lifter straps really making it comfortable on the trails. The hip and sternum straps too added to the design of this bag that really does take the load off your back and shoulders well. They also like the fact that the brain is removable from the bag meaning it’s easy to slim things down.

So, you are camping for multiple days, in multiple locations, huh? The Osprey Exos is a dream for a thru-hiker. I hauled this bad boy with me 1,800 miles across the New Zealand bush, and it proved to be a solid choice to carry all of my hiking gear.

It’s lightweight which is crucial when carrying a backpack for distance, and the Airspeed suspension system helps to evenly distribute the load so it feels weightless (or as weightless as can be when slogging offtrail and uphill!)

What stood out to me most about this pack was it’s comfort. The Cushioned ExoForm shoulder straps and hipbelt molds nicely on your body without rubbing or putting to much pressure anywhere.

The team just loved the design elements and features of this bag that just make it feel like it was actually made by people who hike. The angled water bottle pocket for example makes it easy to grab your bottle without having to take the pack off and the front stash pockets are ideal for throwing your waterproof jacket into without soaking everything else through. The AirSpeed Suspension system was also a winner when it came to comfort.

I know there are many legitimate excuses to stay at home with your offspring, but Osprey takes a few of them away with their Poco Child Carrier.

The pack is fully adjustable making it easy to share the load of your precious cargo with a partner, and the extra storage space leaves room for baby supplies and camping supplies alike.

The cockpit is designed to be both comfortable and safe. Your baby can enjoy a nap under the sunshade while you traverse mountain ridges. There is also a removable and washable drool pad. They’ve thought of it all, haven’t they?

The team reckon this bad boy is the best bag for camping for those will mini people in tow! They felt this bag really outdid the others on the market by providing a much better support system that also allows great ventilation for the back. They also felt it offered much better storage for your other gear too without becoming too heavy.

In the world of women’s specific items, there is a lot of fluff but not with backpacks. It was my job to outfit eager adventurers in backpacks and I have to say that the torso length, hip consideration, and shoulder width variations on these packs made many women very happy.

The Deuter Futura Pro 34 is a great first hiking backpack. The size is perfect for day hikes that require more than the basic essentials or an overnight trip with minimal camping gear. The women’s specific components help this pack fit like a glove. 

The ladies on the team rated this as one of their favourite backpacks for camping because they found the fit, in particular, to be perfect for their body shape. They loved the super comfortable shoulder and hip straps and were especially impressed by how they could be adjusted with padded inserts for a perfect fit. The separate zippered bottom compartment and the valuables pocket at the top also provided them with a good amount of organisational features too.

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Im a firm believer that kids need to be outside— a lot. They need to roll around in the grass, get dirt under their nails, and establish a connection to the natural world early on.

Osprey has created the Ace Kid’s Backpacking Series to get them out on the trail with you early. The series offers three different sizes depending on your child’s age, but each are equipped with adjustability to grow as your child grows.

The quality on these kids hiking backpacks is not compromised here, Osprey makes them with the same care as every product they produce.

The team loved this bag and felt where it really stood out was in the fact that it still had all the features they would expect from a full-sized bag whilst fitting kids and smaller folks perfectly. The shoulder and hip system in particular still had a range of technology including a frame and top-level ventilation meaning youngsters aren’t discouraged by dragging along an uncomfortable bag.

#7 Dam 2-1 Backpack Cooler CB30 – Best Cooler Backpack

Specs

• Size: 30L (7.5L Cooler) / 50L (10.5L Cooler)
• Straps: Adjustable
• Weight: 2.75lbs
• Material: Durable rPET upper material

Feature Highlights

• Dedicated cooler section separate from main pack
• Padded laptop section
• Can be used not only on hike but for your commute too

Have you ever finally reached the summit of a mountain, watched the sun set behind the most stunning landscape and thought… man, I wish I could crack open a cold one! Or, maybe you just wish that pasta salad that’s been sat in a sunbaked backpack for hours wasn’t a nasty tepid mess! We hear ya and “Dam” do we have the perfect solution!

This innovative backpack from Dam coolers is the ideal solution for those warm summer hikes. Coming in either a 50L or 30L model this pack not only has heaps of room for things like your camera, jackets, headtorch and snacks. But they also feature a dedicated cooler section at the bottom. How ‘cool’ is that! You get either 7.5L or 10L of cool storage, so ideal for a day trip

What’s even better is that this pack has a padded laptop section, protected shades holder, zippered phone and side pockets and cushioned hip belt. This means that for the weight it’s pretty comfy and it can easily double as a great commuter bag with the cooler being the perfect spot to keep your lunch cool.

The only downside to this bag is that it can be quite heavy compared to the others, especially if it’s loaded with cans! It’s more suited toward casual day hiking, and picnics on the beach after a coastal jaunt as well as being able to keep it on your back once Monday comes around!

The team loved the idea of this bag and felt it was ideal for short summer hikes where you just want to crack open a few tinnies after your trek. The bag is on the smaller side but they were still pretty impressed by how it manages to divide its space up well allowing for some snacks or drinks below and a jacket and a few items of clothing above.

It’s extremely easy  and common to overpack on a camping trip, especially if it’s your first one. You might want to bring multiple outfit changes, the entire medicine cabinet, and your favorite hardcover novels to keep you company. However, there might be a time when you succumb to minimalism, and when that time comes, this hiking backpack will be ready for you.

This pack is great for an experienced hiker whose primary goal is to cut every spare ounce of weight to get a minimalist setup. It could be to travel farther, faster— or perhaps just to relieve extra stress on the knees. When saving every oz is the name of the game, Hyperlite Mountain Gear needs to be on your radar.

Oftentimes when a product goes ultralight, durability can come into question. Not here. This pack is constructed with tightly woven 150-denier Dynema to add the durability back in while keeping the pack weight minimal.

For those wanting to keep everything to a minimum, the team rated this as one of their top best bags for camping. They felt the lightweight construction didn’t compromise on shoulder comfort or padding and in fact due to the lighter weight, they rated it up there as one of their most comfortable bags ever. They also love the roll top fastening combined with the waterproof material which really did give them extra peace of mind when trekking.

This is the ultimate backpack for the adventure photographer. As an adventurous photographer myself, keeping camera gear safe AND accessible is one of my top priorities. I have to say that it is challenging to find a backpack that meets those standards while also offering space for camping equipment.

ALAS! The Atlas Lowepro pack is an answer to my prayers (yes I pray to God for backpacks). It is designed by photographers, for photographers and I have to say that they nailed it. The rear access camera compartment offers a home for equipment to stay safe and secure while being accessible when inspiration hits.

The photographers on our team were super impressed with this bag and felt it really hit the spot when it came to providing them with the perfect camera bag for hiking. The interior camera cube allowed them to keep all their gear organised and safe but crucially (and rarely for camping bags) accessible with ease. They also loved just how much extra space there was for all their camping gear and didn’t feel too compromised for the inclusion of the camera section.

Looking for a similar bag of the same size, have a look at the Arc’teryx Konseal Backpack.

This 22L hiking backpack from Patagonia is the ultimate day pack. I love it when scrambling on the trails, but also to help transport camping accessories and various hygiene camping essentials from my apartment in the city to the wilderness. It’s a great companion to help set up a home away from home in the woods or on a beautiful mountain vista.

This pack is designed with ultra comfort in mind. It has padding on the shoulders and hip belt, and the back-panel is made from breathe-able mesh allowing airflow to keep you cool in case things heat up. Trust me, if you are sporting this stylist look… they certainly will.

The team love that there was a smaller option on the market still aimed squarely at hikers. For the minimalists or those going on shorter trips (or glamping!) it was perfect for keeping things light and fun. The awesome black on black exterior also looks the part too and the team were impressed by its sleek and compact design. They also enjoyed the massive front stash pocket for jackets and other accessories.

Looking for a Patagonia bag in particular? Check out our rundown of the best Patagonia backpacks.

This frameless hiking backpack is the perfect bag to have when you’ve setup camp and want to explore. Whether that’s climbing your friendly neighbourhood mountain, a trip to the river for water, or a mission to find the perfect place to read a book— this is my go-to bag.

The Flash 22 is also great for use when you are out of the woods as well. A bike commute, a trip to the grocery store, or a stroll on a local trail would all benefit from this side-kick tagging along.

The team felt this bag was a cool option for those wanting something no-frills that gets the job done and does it well. They also loved that it was versatile enough to use for day-to-day travel or just daily use back home too. They felt it was also super lightweight and also that the lid closure feature was perfect for adding some extra protection to their gear from the elements.

Looking for something similar with a bit more room? Have a gander at the Rei Flash 55 Backpack instead.

The best present of all… is CONVENIENCE!

Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

Buy on REI!

How to Choose the Right Camping Backpack

Now that you’ve been introduced to several types of backpacks for different camping scenarios, how do you chose? What attributes are important to consider? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Consider the following:

Weight should be a factor to consider. If you are trying to save every ounce for a thru-hike or to be kinder to your knees you can look for a backpack in the 2lb range.

The size and fit of the bag are also both extremely important. Some bags come in small, medium, large, or perhaps some version of xs/sm or med/lg. The size you need is dictated by the length of your spine from the top of your iliac crest to the C7 vertebra. I’ve seen 6’7″ guys be an extra small, and 5’4″ be a large. It’s a crazy world out there!

Perhaps the most important attribute to consider when looking for a camping backpack is the packs capacity. Capacity is measured in liters and this includes all of the free space in the main compartment as well as all of the outside pockets. Two questions to ask yourself to gauge how many liters your backpack should be are:

How long will you be out?

What gear do you plan on taking with you?

For a multi-night trip where you carry all of your camping supplies, a good starting place is 65L. If you have more experience and like to travel light you can decrease the capacity to 45L, but it truly all depends on the size of your gear (backpacking tent, sleeping bag, etc).

If you don’t plan on hauling in all of your gear and are using the backpack for daytime hikes then the 20-30L capacity will likely be lovely for you.

To test these packs, we laid our paws on each of them and took them out for a test drive on several different camping trips in different locations around the world. To test them out we looked at these various metrics;

Packability

A backpack is designed to carry stuff! So as such, we tested each pack by literally shoving in our gear and seeing how well it fit! We looked at things like how well each bag facilitated efficient packing and maximised its space.

Not only was it important to check out well our gear went into these packs, but equally, we paid attention to how easily it was to retrieve our items too. It’s no good being able to fit all your camping equipment in your bags if it’s a nightmare to get it out when you need it.

Weight and Comfort of Carrying

Camping gear can get heavy quickly and these bags aren’t the smallest. So we gave extra points to those bags that reduced their weight from the offset. Backpacks that weigh a lot before they’ve even been packed are a no-no on our list!

Not only that but we also looked at how well each bag handled its weight when packed out too. Well-designed backpacks distribute weight evenly and comfortably across your frame. They also have comfortable shoulder straps and a waistband that takes the weight off your back!

As such, we awarded full marks for packs that minimise weight and maximum carry comfort.

Functionality

In order to test out how well these camping backpacks performed, well, we used them for that exact purpose. We packed them out with all the essentials and headed off into the backcountry for an adventure.

Aesthetics

You might be taking these packs out into the wild far away from society, but you never know who you’ll bump into on the trails, right!? Some folks out there think looks don’t matter, but you might meet the love of your life whilst on a hike. So you’ve got to look good!! So, we added gave extra points to sexy backpacks!

Durability and Weatherproofing

When it comes to camping backpacks, they need to be both durable and weatherproof too. They’re going to be carrying important gear into the wilds and coming up against some pretty challenging conditions. So we expected a lot from these packs!

To test their waterproofing we got all scientific and poured a pint or two of water over each one. Leaky packs were banished from our list!

In terms of durability, we would have loved to have thrown each pack from a plane to check out how well it stood up to the challenge, but our budgets don’t quite reach that far! Instead, we inspected the build quality of each bag by looking at things like seam sewing, pressure points that often wear out quicker than others and the tractions of zips. We were also sure to use the bags over a few months too so we could get an idea of how each one performed over time.

Still have some questions about the best backpacks for camping? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

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Final Thoughts on the Best Camping Backpacks

The goal is to get out there, you and your backpack. Survive and thrive. No matter your purpose, there is a backpack tailored to your specific needs. How cool is that?

If you are still wondering which pack is for you, keep in mind my top pick for camping backpacks—the Osprey Archeon. There are few scenarios that this backpack won’t thrive in, which is why we reckon it’s the best camping bag on the market.

You always return from a camping trip with more than what you started with. Memories of good times or perhaps a tale of something gone awry. No matter what, the rejuvenation that nature provides stays with you.

What is your essential camping backpack? Let me know in the comments below!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!