Gregory Sage 45 Backpack
Testers loved the for its back panel, which perfectly fits the lumbar spine. It felt just as good loaded up or cinched down, so it鈥檚 versatile enough for everything from a light overnighter to a long聽day hike. Features like a discreet rain-cover pocket and a burly outer pocket for stuffing layers are handy without adding too much weight. 3.1 lbs
The North Face Minera 30
This fit every tester perfectly, with a widely adjustable chest strap and lightweight hipbelt. Load it up with trekking poles and a聽hydration bladder (not included) for day hikes,聽or take advantage of its pared-down design and low-profile back panel for bike commuting.聽1.8 lbs
Black Diamond Onyx 75
This no-frills is remarkably light (at 4.6 pounds) for its capacity (75 liters). Its primo feature is a ball-joint hipbelt, which allows the pack to move with the torso and makes loads between 35 and 45 pounds feel downright comfortable. (Hint: Take the time to dial the fit. Otherwise, the pack鈥檚 movement will throw you off balance.) One caveat: the tiny hydration port makes threading difficult. 4.6 lbs
Mammut Lithia Z 15
This crams a lot of features into a lightweight package. It comes with side storage, a hipbelt stash for an energy bar, a top pocket for keys, plus hydration ports. Mesh straps help keep you cool, and we love that when the pack is cinched down, it hugs the back well enough not to flop around when you run. 1.3 lbs
Deuter Aircontact 60+10 SL
The is the Cadillac of multi-day packs, with a cushy hipbelt and shoulder straps and a slew of smart features. Our favorites were the聽U-shaped zipper that allows easy access to the middle of the pack (no more armpit-deep layer searches), the nifty side pocket that鈥檚 perfect for maps, and the built-in rain cover. The durability of the burly ripstop fabric is worth the extra ounces. 6 lbs