Hiking Backpacks

Owners consistently call the Zulu 55 one of the most comfortable packs they've carried, with a hipbelt and adjustable harness that fits a wide range of body types and makes heavy loads feel effortless. It swallows gear for trips from a weekend up to two weeks, the ventilated mesh back keeps you from sweating through, and most feel it's a strong value. The main trade-offs: it's a single big top-loader with few compartments, and at around 1500g it's comfort-first rather than ultralight.

Owners overwhelmingly love the Atmos AG 65 for its Anti-Gravity suspension and ventilated back panel, which make heavy loads feel lighter and keep your back cool over long, multi-day trips. It's repeatedly called one of the most comfortable, durable packs out there, backed by Osprey's warranty. The main trade-offs are its weight (around 4.5-5 lb empty) and a hip belt that loses support past roughly 40 lb.

Owners overwhelmingly call the Exos 58 one of the most comfortable lightweight packs they've used, praising the suspended mesh back that keeps air flowing and stops the dreaded sweaty back, the sub-3lb weight, and how well it carries 30-40lb loads for the price. The common gripes are a short, thinly padded hip belt that can dig in or bruise hip bones on slimmer or bigger-bellied frames (and lacks pockets on some versions), stretchy mesh side and bottle pockets that snag and rip, a squeak or creak that develops under load, and reduced comfort once you push much past 35lbs.

Owners are nearly unanimous that this is one of the most comfortable packs they've worn, crediting the adjustable suspension and ventilated back panel that keep heavy loads stable and the back cool even on long days. The recurring tradeoff is weight: at around 5 lbs it's noticeably heavy, and several owners say they'd eventually move to something lighter. A few also found it ran large and wished they'd gone with the 50L.