Backpacks

Picking the right backpack for your adventure can be an adventure in itself. Avoid the pitfalls of poor fit and shoddy construction by sticking with established brands, like Osprey, The North Face or Dakine – brands that continuously churn out lightest, most rugged, and advanced packs out there.

Dakine is dialed into surf and skate culture – designing biff-proof hydration packs and day packs for aggressive snowboards, skiers, mountain bikers and their ilk. If backcountry chutes are your front country groomers, or you need a way to stow your bike helmet and armor on the way to the trail, start with Dakine. The coordinate well with Quiksilver board shorts as well.

Osprey makes nothing but backpacks, and along with The North Face, is regularly among top selling brands in the industry. For climbers, there’s the long running Exposure series, and for snow sports, there’s the Switch series of hydration and day packs built with cold weather in mind. There’s also a pro-caliber line for backpackers, daypacks and ultra weight-conscious flashpackers.

The North Face’s huge line of packs includes designs for expedition-level climbers and mountaineers, along with top-shelf packs for all-weather backpackers, lightweight hydration packs and slim-profile day packs. For climbers, the torpedo-shaped Spire models are built sleek for places where extra bells-and-whistles can snag in tight chimneys. Kitchen-sink backpackers will love the cavernous, accessory-laden trekking packs, while almost every other outdoor activity from peak bagging to trail running is covered by The North Face’s smaller lines.

These days, almost all packs are hydration bladder compatible – no more fumbling with bulky water bottles. Osprey, Dakine and The North Face all offer hydration-specific packs for small excursions – usually with 300-1,200 cubic inches of cargo. But no one is better known for its hydration packs than CamelBak, the company that invented the category. With traditional styling and puncture-resistant bladders, CamelBak still sets the benchmark for dependable hydration packs for almost any sport. (Swimmers, you are out of luck.) They have some of the most sought after camping gear and equipment around.