Everyday Carry

The Best Hiking Backpacks in 2019

Authored by:
Jonathan Tayag
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
The Best Hiking Backpacks in 2019

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One of the most enjoyable ways to use your EDC gear is taking them to the great outdoors. When you’re on the trail, climbing, or camping, having a good hiking backpack can make your next adventure that much better. The best hiking backpacks often feature technical materials, durable construction, and thoughtful features that make them worthy of your EDC too, even when you’re far from the great outdoors and deep in the concrete jungle. In this guide, we’re highlighting some of the best hiking backpacks with a “city to mountain” versatility that can pull double duty as your urban EDC bag too.

Arcteryx Arro 22

Arcteryx Arro 22

Purchase
Key Features
Padded 15" laptop sleeve
Hydration pack compatible
WaterTight zippers
Specifications
Materials
420D Cordura / 210D plain-weave nylon
Capacity
22L
Weight
2.2 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$$
The Arro 22 features an iconic outdoors design that blends into an urban environment. Based on a popular technical pack, the revised Arro 22 features a hydration bladder compartment and a tube port to keep you going when you’re out hiking. Plus, its vertical zippered daypack design makes loading and unloading this pack easy. A dedicated laptop sleeve protects your computer, while WaterTight zippers keep it safe from rain.
Evergoods MPL 30

Evergoods MPL 30

Purchase
Key Features
Fits up to 15“ laptop
Top and side carry handles
Integrated harness and waist belt
Specifications
Materials
420D HT Nylon
Capacity
30L
Weight
3.1 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$$
The MPL 30 doesn’t look out of place when you’re in the city, or traveling to and fro, but it’s designed to be a great hiking backpack as well. Its 30 liter capacity gives you enough quick-access space for a day’s excursion, and there’s an internal stretch pocket that’ll house up to a 15" MacBook Pro laptop. Its outdoors chops really shine with its integrated harness and contoured back panel, though, as it lets you carry your gear more comfortably wherever you find yourself.
Osprey Nebula

Osprey Nebula

Purchase
Key Features
Dual mesh stretch water bottle pockets
Dedicated laptop and document sleeves
Lifetime warranty
Specifications
Materials
630/420/210D Nylon Dobby Blend
Capacity
34L
Weight
2.43 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$
The low-profile design of the Nebula proves that the right bag can pull double duty just fine. With 34 liters of space there’s enough room for 1-2 days of gear, but if you’re travelling light you can cinch it all down with the compression straps and stabilize your load. The breathable backpanel helps with ventilation when things get hot, whether that’s down in the dumps of a subway station or outdoors hiking a desert mesa. And no matter what happens to your bag, you can count on Osprey’s seriously impressive lifetime warranty to keep things in order even when the going gets tough.
Hydro Flask Journey 10L

Hydro Flask Journey 10L

Purchase
Key Features
Insulated design keeps water stored in hydration bladder cold for 4 hours
Ergonomic articulated back panel for comfort
Internal stretch mesh pockets for organization
Specifications
Materials
Waterproof fabric with taped seams and coated zippers
Capacity
10L
Weight
2.9 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$
Cold water is a great thing to have during a hot day, whether your out on the trail or commuting to work. The unique technical design of Hydro Flask’s insulated hydration pack and bladder lets you enjoy cold water outside for approximately four hours. And at 10 liters capacity, the pack lets you carry the essentials for a day trip, and keep those essentials safe even during an unexpected downpour thanks to its taped seams and water resistant zippers.
Black Diamond Nitro 22

Black Diamond Nitro 22

Purchase
Key Features
SwingArm straps allow easy movement
High-flow OpenAir back panel and hip-belt for ventilation
Hydration and trekking pole compatible
Specifications
Materials
210D ripstop nylon / 210D dobby nylon
Capacity
22L
Weight
2 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$
The updated Black Diamond Nitro 22 features a breathable back panel and a lightweight reACTIV suspension system that makes carrying your gear around everyday an easy task to accomplish. The shoulder straps in particular are designed to give you a full range of movement so you can make the moves you need to in a flash whether you’re out camping or checking in to the next hotel. There’s a full 22 liters of space for your gear, and intelligent spots to place trekking poles for extended outdoors excursions.
Patagonia Stormfront 30

Patagonia Stormfront 30

Purchase
Key Features
Waterproof and submersible
Space for 15" laptop and other valuable electronics
Fully-adjustable padded shoulder harness and removable waistbelt
Specifications
Materials
800D nylon with TPU coating and DWR finish
Capacity
30L
Weight
1 lb 13 oz
Reviews


Price
$$$$
The worst thing that can happen to your gear is to get wet, especially if you carry around valuable electronics like a laptop or your camera gear. When you absolutely, positively need to keep your gear safe from the weather, Patagonia’s Stormfront Waterproof pack is there for you. Its primary feature is a resilient yet lightweight TPU-coated nylon design that’s so watertight that you can actually submerge the pack in water and keep your gear nice and dry in the process. So go ahead and leave the city, forge that river out there, because even if you fall in your stuff will be safe.
Fjällräven Ulvö 23

Fjällräven Ulvö 23

Purchase
Key Features
Waterproof roll-top design
Padded computer sleeve accommodates up to 15" laptop
Easy-access smaller zippered pocket
Specifications
Materials
400D polyamide bergshell made with 31% recycled nylon
Capacity
23L
Weight
1.43 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$
The Ulvö brings a traditional rolltop design into the modern era with durable and waterproof Bergshell fabric made out of 31% recycled nylon. That rolltop design keeps your gear dry but it also makes for a secure bag when you’re out and about in the city. For your essential quick-access items, there’s a dedicated zippered pocket, and the main compartment also features a padded computer sleeve that’ll fit up to a 15" laptop computer.
Mystery Ranch Gallagator

Mystery Ranch Gallagator

Purchase
Key Features
Unique 3-zip design
Hydration compatible
Multiple compression straps
Specifications
Materials
210D Robic Nylon and YKK DWR coated zips
Capacity
19L
Weight
1.3 lbs
Reviews


Price
$
The unique three-zipper Y opening of the Gallagator sets this Mystery Ranch bag apart from the rest. Basically it lets you fully unzip the entire bag and get to the gear stashed in the main compartment without any hassle. Packing the bag is a cinch as well, and with around 19 liters of space you can fit what you need for your day. The stretch compartment can fit a laptop, but when you’re going to take it up a mountain switch that out for a hydration bladder and start your journey.

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North Face Borealis (Refresh)

North Face Borealis (Refresh)

Purchase
Key Features
Dedicated 15" laptop compartment and padded tablet sleeve
Updated FlexVent suspension system
Extended side mesh water bottle or gear pocket
Specifications
Materials
600/500/520/210D nylon mix
Capacity
28L
Weight
2 lbs 11 oz
Reviews


Price
$
The Borealis is one of The North Face's crowd-favorite bags, and this updated version adds easy-to-access pockets and a new FlexVent suspension system for increased user comfort, making it a bag that's suited for both urban and outdoors carry in 2019. Another great feature of this bag is its dedicated zippered compartment for your 15" laptop. A hydration pack can fit there when you're not on your way to work, and it can also serve to keep your most important documents safe when you're away from home.
Topo Designs Rover Pack

Topo Designs Rover Pack

Purchase
Key Features
Heavy-duty bombproof design
Extremely slim, with lots of compression straps as well
Inner sleeve for laptop or tablet
Specifications
Materials
1000D Cordura nylon
Capacity
20L
Weight
1.4 lbs
Reviews


Price
$$
The 1000D Cordura nylon construction of the Topo Designs Rover Pack is ready to take on all the bumps and scratches daily carry brings, whether that’s in the city or out in the sticks. The spacious 20 liter main compartment is easily accessed with a flap top with dual side buckle releases; and the top itself has its own zippered compartment for frequently accessed essentials. There’s a padded internal sleeve that’ll accommodate up to a 15" laptop, and the heavy-duty YKK zippers will handle more than a few trips both near and abroad.

Do you have a favorite backpack that performs as well as in the city as well as the outdoors? Let us know in the comments below!


Jonathan Tayag

Senior Contributor


About the Author
Jonathan Tayag is secretly an information technology and corporate security expert who prefers to moonlight as a creative event and commercial photographer whenever possible. His varied experience and substantial travels have led him to seek, without even thinking about it at first, the best gear for the best use at the best price available. Before the concept of EDC (everyday carry) firmly took hold, Jonathan already spent untold amounts of time optimizing for the best-in-slot pieces of gear, from cameras and lenses to pocket knives, pens, and bags and packs. In November 2015, Jonathan joined EverydayCarry.com and has since written numerous articles and guides to help impart his knowledge to the community as a whole.

Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

Discussion (3 total)

gargoyle ·
It's worth noting that both the shoulder harness and the pocket harness from Hill People Gear are comfortable ways of carrying a load for distances.

The Tarahumara pack is a very comfortable day pack for hiking around. I've used it multiple times and it's great for daily hikes.

If you want it without the straps and side pockets, get the Tarapocket and either the Shoulder harness or the Pocket harness.

The Palspocket V2 is a nice simple pocket that, paired with one of the harnesses, also makes a nice day pack. I use the Admin pocket with a Pocket harness when I need to move my laptop to and from work.

Bottom line, the HPG packs are well worth a look.
Kendall Haskins ·
Love finding stuff like this. Had never heard of the company and from your review had to see what they were all about. I like what I see! Really like the customization that you can do to meet your needs. Still scrolling their site as I write this.
1 more comments