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Best walking backpacks 2025
From Berghaus and Craghoppers to Mountain Warehouse and Osprey – reviews from more than 2,000 customers reveal the best hiking daypack brands
Buy the wrong hiking backpack and you'll likely end your walk with a sweaty back and sore shoulders. The good news is that you don't have to pay over the odds for a great one, with one of our top-scoring brands selling daypacks from just £25.
The other best brands generally cost more, but all received four stars out of five for value for money, so they must be worth the price.
We asked customers to tell us about their backpacks with a capacity of between 20 and 40 litres – the ideal size to hold all your supplies for one day’s hiking. For the first time, we've endorsed the best, naming them Which? Recommended Brands (WRBs). See below for further details on this new endorsement.
Read on for our round-up of the best and worst-rated walking backpack brands.
What are the best walking backpack brands according to Which? members?
Why you can trust our reviews of walking backpack brands
Expert analysis
We don't take free samples, nor do we assess brands based on our individual preferences. Instead, we ask the opinions of real customers. This year, more than 2,000 walking-backpack owners gave us their views.
Which? Recommended Brands
Our Which? Recommended Brands are the best of the best. As well as making products that customers are satisfied with and happy to recommend to others, they must meet our strict standards for product guarantees/warranties and returns policies.
(31) | 85% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||
| 83% | n/a | n/a | ||||||||
| 83% | £107 | |||||||||
(186) | 82% | £59 | ||||||||
| 82% | n/a | |||||||||
| 82% | £82 | |||||||||
(36) | 82% | n/a | n/a | |||||||
(34) | 80% | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||||||
(31) | 80% | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||||||
(209) | 80% | £70 | ||||||||
| 78% | n/a | |||||||||
(42) | 75% | n/a | ||||||||
(39) | 75% | n/a | ||||||||
(61) | 75% | n/a | ||||||||
(79) | 74% | £50 | ||||||||
(67) | 72% | £45 | ||||||||
(147) | 71% | £43 | ||||||||
(68) | 65% | £36 |
Survey conducted in May-July 2025, based on responses from 1,676 members of the Which? Connect panel and members of the public who own 2,041 walking backpacks bought in the past five years. ‘n/a’ means not enough data to provide information. Average price paid = mean price members said they paid. Customer score based on satisfaction and whether members would recommend.
Hikers told us that the most important features of a walking backpack are functionality, comfort and fit. The best brands have more intelligent features and design options to suit different body types. Good backpacks distribute weight evenly – aided by straps that secure across your body – and will sit well on your hips, helping you to avoid backache. Plus, they'll have ventilated panels to keep you cool, will optimise storage space and make your equipment easy to access.
Need the best clothes for walking too? Discover the best walking trousers and waterproof overtrousers as rated by more than 1,000 customers.
Which? Recommended Brands for walking backpacks
Highlander review, Which? Recommended Brand
Verdict: Comfy and feature-rich walking backpacks with prices to suit lots of budgets
Customer score: 83%
Pros
- Superb water-resistance rating
- Highly adjustable designs to fit you comfortably
- Lightweight
- A wide range of prices from £15 to £100+
Cons
- Nothing major
Scottish brand Highlander has been producing outdoor gear since 1985. Highlander’s backpacks received huge praise in our survey for being highly adjustable, so walkers can fit them properly and safely on their backs. Their ergonomic designs are comfortable, with ventilated back panels, and many designs have padded hip belts and shoulder straps. One customer was particularly impressed, telling us: 'The straps don't hurt my shoulders, even after long walks.' Some packs have an attachment that keeps walking poles within easy reach.
Getting caught in a downpour with your Highlander backpack shouldn't be a problem – a number have integrated rain covers. Another customer told us they're 'really good from a durability/practicality perspective' with 'dependable zips'. Numerous owners also noted that the backpacks have ample space and many pockets.
Although Highlander backpacks typically cost more than £100, its products are more affordable than many. Basic 20-litre backpacks start from around £25. It has a long warranty period, too: 282 years, to be exact, to match the number of mountains across Scotland that are at least 3,000 feet high. This means you can get a repair or replacement if a material or workmanship defect becomes apparent later on.
You can buy backpacks of all sizes direct from Highlander, or retailers such as Amazon, Lakeland Country or Tiso.
Osprey review, Which? Recommended Brand
Verdict: With well-thought-out and customisable designs, its premium backpacks are a great investment
Customer score: 83%
Average price paid: £107
Pros
- Plenty of pockets and clever storage
- Fits well, with lots of adjustability
- Breathable back panels
- Lightweight
Cons
- More expensive than Highlander
- Three-star water-resistance rating
Osprey produces versatile (and cheaper) daypacks for casual walks, as well as larger models for carrying loads across multiple days. Its bags with a capacity of 20-40 litres garnered glowing reviews from customers in our research. One owner told us: 'I have used Osprey bags and packs for many, many years and have always found them to be supremely functional, well thought out, well made and durable.'
Alhough many of its designs are unisex, Osprey sets itself apart with gender-specific fits. With a choice of backpack torso lengths, harness shapes and hip belts, the brand went the extra mile to earn its five-star rating for adjustability. Its mesh back panels are effective at wicking away sweat, and one customer told us their bag was 'very comfortable and breathable to wear even on an all-day hike'.
It’s not just the fit and comfort that are highly praised, either; Osprey’s clever storage is second to none. One customer told us: 'The number of pockets, straps, compartments and sliding adjusters is way above anything I've ever seen on a backpack before... it makes the backpack very versatile.' You can even store your walking poles on the outside of some Osprey backpacks, which some keen walkers found useful for quick access.
The downside is the three-star waterproof rating. Not all its bags come with a rainproof cover, but you can buy these separately. Osprey is also pretty pricey, although it still secured a four-star rating for value for money, and one happy customer explained that 'you get what you pay for'.
We've rounded up a few of its popular backpack designs above. Or you can find a wider range at lots of retailers, including Amazon, Cotswold Outdoor, Go Outdoors, Millets, Taunton Leisure, or directly from Osprey.
Deuter review, Which? Recommended Brand
Verdict: Makes secure and comfortable backpacks that will last the test of time
Customer score: 82%
Pros
- Incredibly comfortable
- Helps prevent sweaty backs
- Great weight-distribution technology
- Excellent storage
Cons
- More expensive than Highlander
Founded in 1898, Deuter is a German brand that now focuses on outdoor and mountain-adventure products.
Its backpacks come in a variety of fits for different body types, such as 'Slim Line' for narrower torsos and 'Extra Long' for taller walkers, so you should be able to find one that suits you. And because comfort is king when you’re out trekking, the packs designed for day hiking in pleasant weather are lightweight and have mesh panels on the back for ventilation.
Deuter backpacks got all-round praise from customers. One told us theirs is 'good for keeping cool in warm conditions', while another said their backpack ‘doesn't rub, and carries everything without feeling like a burden on long walks’. A third remarked that theirs was 'well padded’ with ‘excellent back support’.
The brand got a four-star durability rating, so it should be a good investment. One backpack owner confirmed this, telling us: 'If I want to get another bag, I'll go for Deuter.' Prices start from around £55 for a small backpack and generally go up to £180 for more premium, 40-litre bags. Most styles include a rain cover for extra protection from downpours.
You can browse and buy the different styles directly from Deuter, or from retailers such as Absolute-Snow, Amazon, Alpine Trek or Decathlon.
Lowe Alpine review, Which? Recommended Brand
Verdict: A reliable backpack brand with styles that optimise storage and keep you comfortable
Customer score: 82%
Average price paid: £82
Pros
- High level of comfort
- Well ventilated
- Robust
- Clever and versatile storage designs
Cons
- More expensive than Highlander
- Three-star water-resistance rating
With high survey scores across the board, Lowe Alpine backpacks have proved their worth to customers over the years. The brand was founded by three brothers in 1967, who found existing backpacks on the market too heavy and unstable for climbing. It's now owned by a UK-based company focused on designing backpacks for hiking and more extreme adventures.
Survey respondents described Lowe Alpine backpacks as comfortable, even when worn all day or with heavy loads. One owner said: 'You hardly know you've got it on.' Some of its backpacks have frames that hold a mesh panel away from your back to help prevent clamminess. With lots of styles to choose from, you should be able to find a design that works best for your body. As one customer explained: 'I am a short woman, so it was important to get a backpack that fitted. It was very adjustable using the various straps, and it had plenty of pockets, which I like.'
Customers found the design features to be generally well thought out and the pockets to be secure. Some models have side zips to access items at the bottom of the rucksack without having to empty it. Lowe Alpine wasn't the highest-rated brand for water resistance, but the backpacks often come with an integrated waterproof cover for extra protection, which one owner said was ‘easy to fit’. Alternatively, you can buy one separately.
Backpacks with a capacity of 20-40 litres are generally priced from £50 to £170, but one customer told us they bought theirs in the sale for half price, so keep an eye out for discounts. Plus, they were found to be long-lasting, which might help to justify the higher price of some models. One owner told us: 'It's travelled the world and is still working well. Best rucksack ever.'
Buy a Lowe Alpine walking backpack direct, or from retailers such as Blacks, Cotswold Outdoor, Go Outdoors or Taunton Leisure.
The lowest-scoring walking backpack brand
Trespass review
Verdict: Inexpensive, but customers said their backpacks lacked ventilation
Customer score: 65%
Average price paid: £36
Pros
- Reasonable prices
- Lightweight and adjustable
Cons
- Not very breathable
- Could be more robust
- Some designs have limited internal compartments
With a customer score of 65%, Trespass was the lowest-scoring walking backpack brand in our survey.
Its two-star rating for backpack breathability is disappointing, suggesting that if you use one on a long or warm walk, you'll have to put up with a sticky back.
Although Trespass backpacks are cheap, the brand only got a three-star durability rating, so you might have to shell out for a replacement sooner than you'd like. One customer told us that their bag was of 'very poor quality and started to fall apart after little use'. Some people said that their Trespass backpack had only an average level of water resistance, too.
How to choose the right walking backpack
If you're looking for a smaller backpack for day hikes, choose one with a capacity of 20-40 litres. Go for the higher end if you're planning to walk in colder, rainier conditions, as you'll likely need more space for things such as spare thermals, waterproof trousers and a rain cover. If you need to pack for a multi-day hike, size up to 50-70 litres (although these weren’t reviewed as part of our survey). It's unlikely you'll need a capacity of more than 70 litres unless you're planning a very long or remote trek.
It's also important to consider what you want access to while out walking. Several of our recommended brands have easy-access storage for poles and water, plus clever openings so you can reach compartments while the bag is still on your back.
For larger and heavier bags, the design should distribute some of the bag's weight to your hips to help unburden your shoulders. The pack should have a hip belt, and it should tighten close to your back rather than leaving a large gap. Some brands make bags for different torso sizes or with adjustable bag lengths to ensure a secure fit.
For extra comfort, look for bags with padded shoulders plus mesh back panels for good ventilation.
Looking for top comfort for your next hiking adventure? See our guides to the best walking boots and the best waterproof jackets to complete the look.