Best Hiking Backpacks for Women of 2024

BEST WOMEN’S BACKPACK OVERALL

For a fine-tuned, personalized fit, the Aura AG is a great bet. Everything on this pack is designed to conform to your body, from the adjustable harness and hip belt to the padded, ventilated back panel. Easily access your sleeping bag with the dedicated lower compartment, or remove the divider if you’re planning on living the hammock life.

Once everything is inside this pack, pull down the side compression straps to reduce bulk and stabilize the load distribution to maximize comfort. The outer frame connects the upper load lifters and the pack’s core to the hip belt to further spread out the load. Feel free to remove the top lid for a lighter hiking day in the backcountry, and the flap underneath the lid will continue to protect the main compartment from nasty weather.

BEST ULTRALIGHT BACKPACK FOR WOMEN

A high-end ultralight pack, the Lumina outshines its competitors in terms of weight and also in its ability to maintain comfort for long distances — even when fully loaded. The Lumina’s big exterior pockets are a nice compliment to an ultralight pack, as well.

Osprey designed the Lumina 60 specifically to function as the best ultralight pack for women you can buy. It’s 1.81lb weight is impressive, even by serious ultralight standards, and while you would think it would lack support, Osprey’s integrated full-frame and suspension system prove otherwise. This pack can be comfortable to wear even when loaded down heavier than recommended.

BEST BACKPACK FOR CARRYING HEAVY LOADS

The entire Deva lineup is worth checking out – it also comes in 70L and 80L sizes. If you’re planning an extended backpacking trip, capacity is key for fitting all of your gear in your pack, and the Deva 80 provides volume without compromising on comfort. This kind of capacity is hard to find in a women-specific backpacking pack. Not interested in lugging around an 80L pack when you’re day hiking in the backcountry? Worry not – the hydration sleeve converts into a lightweight day pack, complete with a shoulder harness and external pocket.

The responsive hip belt and shoulder harness rotate with your body for a customized fit, while the foam construction cuts down on hot spots and relieves pressure for added comfort.

BEST BUDGET WOMEN’S BACKPACK

This pack is an ideal choice for hikers seeking a solid pack for quick trips that costs under $200. REI crafted the women’s version of the Flash 55 with versatility and convenience in mind. It’s a lightweight pack — weighing in under 3 pounds — but still includes an ample number of organizational pockets and straps for securing your gear. Some of the pockets are even removable, which is a neat bonus feature.

This pack has a strong, stable integrated suspension system. Even when the pack is fully loaded, the weight stays distributed on your hips and won’t weigh down your shoulders.

MOST COMFORTABLE WOMEN’S BACKPACK

The Osprey Ariel AG has everything you could ask for in a backpacking pack, offering comfort and plenty of features for every trip you throw at it. The padded hip belt and shoulder straps are interchangeable, allowing you to tailor this pack to your own body; not to mention that you can bring the hip belt to a store like REI for heat molding, making it conform exactly to your own hips.

The Ariel has sleek organization systems, as well: strap your sleeping pad to the outside of the pack using the lower external straps, or remove the straps when they’re not in use. The bottom sleeping bag compartment provides easy access to your sleeping bag at bedtime, but the divider also comes out when you need to free up space in the main compartment. Strap your trekking poles into the attachment loops, and you’ll be ready to go.

BEST BACKPACK FOR PETITE FEMALES

The Futura Vario SL shows that Deuter is serious about making backpacking packs designed to suit women specifically. The back length is shorter than a standard pack and adjustable to fit your torso, while a narrower shoulder harness conforms better to female bodies. The large, padded hip belt adds further comfort.

Another highlight of this pack is its flexible spring steel frame, which is durable and provides stabilizing tension for optimal load bearing. The back mesh panel is ventilated, creating space between your back and the pack to keep you cool no matter how hot the day. With a dedicated sleeping bag compartment, zipped front opening, and large mesh outer pockets, packing your gear will be a breeze.

Winner of a 2019 Editors’ Choice Gold Award from Backpacker magazine, the Granite Gear Blaze 60 has an adjustable frame and internal suspension that make this pack a comfortable and cool piece of gear. The hip belt is fully adjustable, and the molded foam back panel conforms to your body for even more comfort. Even though the pack is so lightweight, its tough nylon material makes it durable enough for years of wear and tear, including extra reinforcement in high-impact and high-abrasion areas.

The Blaze 60’s top lid is removable for lighter trips or to convert into a chest pack or lumbar pack – not as versatile as a full-on day pack, but convenient for a quick hike to that waterfall a mile from your camp. Get to the items in the bottom of your bag quickly thanks to the long vertical zipper on the front. Three tiers of side and front compression straps offer plenty of cinching to help balance your load, and the top opening and side pockets cinch, as well. Cinch everything down, and you’re set for a steady and secure hike.

Looking to move fast on your backpacking trip? This lightweight pack will keep you speeding along on the trail. Don’t worry about a rain shower popping up, either, as the included rain cover stows within reach in the removable top pocket. Stash snacks and other small items in the hip belt pockets for easy access on the go.

Comfort is key when putting in long miles, which this pack provides via a springy lumbar pad  to support your lower back and transfer the pack load, saving you energy. With plenty of outer mesh pockets and attachment points, you’ll have no problem finding a spot for everything from your sandals to your rain jacket. Go for ultralight speed without compromising on durability with this pack for the fast backpacker.

Whether you’re out for an overnight backpacking trip or all weekend, the Traverse 65 keeps you centered on the trail. Compression technology pulls the load of your pack inwards, closer to your center of gravity, which improves your balance while hiking. The ventilated mesh back panel keeps you cool while conforming to your body, ensuring a comfortable fit without the back sweat.

Further comfort comes in the form of the padded hip belt that contours to your body and pivots independently from the pack, keeping your load centered and giving you more stability. In terms of organization, stuff wet gear in the outer stuff pouch, and keep gear you need to access easily in the two long zippered pockets on the front. The side water bottle pockets have been updated to make your bottles easier to grab while hiking.