rei backpacking pack

These changes address many of the complaints we had with the old Baltoro, improving one of our favorite packs for shouldering serious weight.The Baltoro is among the most comfortable and feature-rich designs out there, but it comes at a weight penalty. But it’s a relatively small subset of the market that will value the Bora AR, which pushes it down our list... Osprey is a backpack powerhouse known for quality builds, excellent organization, and comfort. In addition, the Exos lacks hipbelt pockets, which we find to be an extremely useful feature. Backpacking—hitting the trail with nothing more than life’s necessities on your back—is the quintessential outdoor adventure. They may incorporate a variety of load-support technologies that all function to transfer the load to the hips. I tested the Small size, which fit my specs pretty well.I am particularly impressed by the way the hip belt seems to mold perfectly to my hips.

On the trail, you’ll find that the padding, zippers, and materials aren’t as high-end as the pricier packs above, and it isn’t ideal for carrying ultra-heavy loads or covering tons of miles. Shop for Osprey Backpacking Packs at REI - Free U.S. standard shipping on orders of $50 or more.

The price makes it nice for a backpacking newbie, and the customization makes it great for the seasoned explorer who likes to keep the weight down. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. I had loaded up the REI Flash 55 with 30.2 pounds (just over its stated capacity) and it was handling that weight better than many backpacks I’ve used.On the second day of backpacking, I had the same results. It’s now competitively light at 2 pounds 10 ounces (4 ounces more than the Crown2 60 and 1 ounce less than the Exos 58), and REI included thoughtful touches like four large side pockets, seam taping on the lid for water protection, and a convenient roll-top closure. Earn a $100 REI Gift Card when you apply, get approved and make any purchase within 60 days of card approval. This well-designed pack has thoughtful features like a large J-shaped zipper for access to the main compartment, plenty of exterior pockets, and a rain cover. How to Pack for Ultralight Backpacking 4 Reviews 4 reviews with an average rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars There’s no single right way to pack your ultralight backpack , but when you don’t nail it, you’ll feel it. By signing into your account, you agree to REI's But the Crown2 is undeniably an excellent ultralight design and one of the better values on the market at $200. Moreover, it has minimal organization overall, lacks a front shove-it pocket, has awkwardly sized water bottle holsters, and is only made in one size (with four levels of torso adjustability nevertheless).

REI also improved the removable daypack in a big way (if you’ve used the sash-like design of the old model, you know what we are talking about). This accounts for the low weight but we’ve found it less durable for rough treatment and off-trail scrambling (we got a small puncture in the bottom of our Arc Blast putting it down on a rocky section of trail).The “Arc” in the name comes from its unique tensioning system that pulls the middle of the bag away from your back, encouraging airflow and alleviating the need for a foam backpanel. Basically, this means that the pack has tons of features that can be affixed to different parts of the backpack, and can be removed if you don’t need them. Even if you’re carrying a tent with you, you should also have an emergency shelter if you plan to take day hikes away from your base camp.All of the following items are optional, and you’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to carry if you decide to bring one or more of them along. In addition, the Trailbreak only comes in one size (note: there are dedicated men’s and women’s versions), which means you can’t dial in the fit nearly as well as other packs that are offered in three or four torso length ranges.