Best Backpack For Wild Camping in 2023[Latest Top Pick]

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Everyone is excited about outdoor camping sometime alone or with their family members. Wild camping is something that can enhance the overall experience of your outdoor camping trip and give you a chance to go back to nature.

Wild camping can be most memorable and enjoyable for you if you have the proper gears to survive. 

There are lots of backpacks from different brands available in the market. 

Which Backpack is Best For Wild Camping For You?

Choosing the right backpack for wild camping is a tricky task. After researching a lot we’ve listed 7 Best Wild camping backpacks that come with several thoughtful features, good accessibility, good comfort level, and fully adjustable torso length. 

So without further delay let’s get started…

Granite Gear Blaze

granite gear blaze 60l
editor choice
5/5

Pros

  • Weight: 3 lbs
  • Volume: 60L
  • Bladder capacity: 2.5L
  • Material: 100D robic nylon with DWR coating.
  • Excellent storage.

Cons

  • Expensive

Osprey Atmos 65

osprey atmos ag65
runner up
4.5/5

Pros

  • Weight: 4.5 lbs
  • Volume: 65L
  • Material: Main body 100D nylon, bottom 420HD nylon.
  • Sleeping bag compartment
  • Hydration system

Cons

Not good to heavy load (40 pounds or higher).

Teton Sports 4000

teton sports 4000
budget pick
4/5

Pros

  • Budget pick
  • Weight:  4.5 lbs
  • Volume: 65L
  • cheap and durable backpack.
  • Sleeping bag compartment.

Cons

  • Uncomfortable and pockets are not so easy to access.
  • Bulky straps and buckets.
  • Come with fewer features.

Pros

Cons

Granite Gear has gained so much attention from adventure geeks in the last few years and is leading in the ultralight segment in the market. 

I was really impressed with its capability to haul heavy weight without losing comfort and functionalities. The backpack is known for its amazing combination of lightweight and high volume. 

It is made of 100 and 210 denier Robic Nylon that feels robust and abrasion resistant. DWR coating makes it water-repellent and you can feel it on its body, on zippers and it is spread across the hip belt and the top lid. 

Its top lid is detachable and waterproof and it secure your tech gear from water vapour on a rainy day.

Its suspension system and Air current frame is designed thoughtfully because they both can take heavier weight with ease. Its backpanel is breathable and escape hot air effectively. 

It has a nice thick foam in its back panel, lumbar area, and hip belt area that is firm and soft. It help to distribute the weight from your back to your waist area. Its back panel, shoulder strap together support a heavy load effectively. 

I found its shoulder straps are thick and due to the absence of breathable mesh on it and its hip belt, it feels sweaty in the warm day. 

I’m really impressed with its thoughtfully designed pockets. It has 6 external pockets and one top lid (detachable). Its side water bottle pockets are large enough that can easily accommodate two 750 ml water bottle without any problem. 

Its hip belt has two large pockets. Its main compartment can be accessed with a concealed front zipper. It allows an easy access to the sleeping bag and jackets without touching the other things on the top section. 

Overall one of the lightweight backpack in out test that can haul heavy weight without loosing comfort. Its has plenty of organized pockets and large pocket in sides and in the hip belt. The compression straps outside its boy allow to carry extra gear with ease. 

2. Osprey Atmos 65 

Top-Notch Pockets, Ventilation & Comfort

4.6/5
osprey atmos ag65
runner up

Its Features

  • Volume: 65L
  • Weight: 4.5 lbs
  • Material: Main body 100D nylon, bottom 420HD nylon.
  • Comes with a hydration system.
  • Comes with a sleeping bag compartment.

Pros

Cons

If you want to buy an Osprey backpack for wild camping then Atmos comes with a decent pocket arrangement, proper ventilation, and a good comfort level. 

The backpack is best for a 2 to 4 days outdoor camping trip which means you can load up to 40 pounds of weight without losing comfort level with this backpack.

The backpack comes with the fit on a fly adjustment system and Anti-Gravity Suspension that ensure you will get a perfect fit for each trip. 

Our Expert loves its pockets and their placement. The pockets are easy to access and its hip belt has 2 big zipper pockets that are huge to carry some small most needy things. 

The side water bottle pockets are easily accessible with one hand and don’t need to take the backpack down. 

The backpack has a sleeping bag compartment and outside of this compartment, 2 big-size compression straps are located which can be used to carry a sleeping pad or other gear. 

Overall if you want a dedicated sleeping bag compartment in your backpack then Osprey Atmos is the best choice for you. 

3. Gregory Baltoro 65L For Wild Camping

Features pack backpack with ease of use

4.6/5
gregory baltoro backpack for wild camping
runner up

Its Features

  • Volume: 65L
  • Weight: 4.8 lbs
  • Available in 3 sizes.
  • Material: 210D Honeycomb Criptorip & High Tenacity Nylon.
  • Comes with a detachable hydration system.
  • Comes with a sleeping bag compartment.
  • Rain cover is included.

Pros

Cons

Gregory Baltoro comes with a large volume and I really like its these good features:

  1. It can handle heavy load very well. 
  2. Rock solid suspension & plush padding.
  3. Decent pocket designs and accessibility.

There is no question about its comfortability. Its auto rotating shoulder straps easily fit according to your shoulders shape and dense and thick foam on them make it very comfortable with a heavy load

Baltoro is made of using a U shaped aluminum frame that is rigid and play an important role in distributing the load from t he back to hip area and its back is breathable and ensure your back gets enough airflow and remain dry in hot weather. 

Its suspension system works with the shoulder straps and hip belt and arrange its angle to reduce stress from the body and maximize comfort when you haul heavy weight on rough trails. 

Its floating top lid has two zippered pockets which are roomy and easy accessible. You can use this floating lid to scrunch ropes, jackets, sleeping pad, etc. 

Its front panel has three pockets. Its mesh pocket is good to store wet items such as water filter, jacket, or some food packets. 

I use its side pockets to store my jacket, shoes (one on each side), sometimes I also use them to store water bottles (1 liter).It has strechy mesh side water bottle pocket too. 

One down side of this backpack is its weight. Its weight is 4.9 pounds. Its robust suspension, plenty of pcokets, zippers make it heavy.  

Baltoro comes with 3 torso lengths to fit every body shape. Its hip belt is fully adjustable. Its shouder straps are attached with its suspension system and automatically adjust their position to support the weight and enhance comfort. 

Overall a feature rich, thoughtfully designed, and heavy weight hauling backpack that is also good in terms of comfortability and breathability. 

4. Gregory Zulu 55L

Medium Load Backpack For Comfortable Trip

4/5
gregory zulu 55l
runner up

Its Features

  • Volume: 55L
  • Weight: 3.7 lbs
  • Available in 2 sizes.
  • Material: 210D Honeycomb Criptorip & High Tenacity Nylon.
  • Comes with a detachable hydration system.
  • Comes with a sleeping bag compartment.
  • Rain cover is included.

Pros

Cons

The backpack from Gregory is for those who want to experience a wild camping adventure first time. This is a low-volume backpack that can haul a medium load comfortably

The backpack feels comfortable due to the well-padded shoulder straps and waist belts. We like its suspension as it has a great ability to tote heavy loads comfortably.

Also Read: Why Do Campers Have Blue Lights: Possible Reasons

Our Expert finds its ventilation is not as great as others have but a relatively breathable back panel works fine. 

We really like the position of the beavertail pocket at the front that can be used for carrying easily accessible rain gear like a rain jacket, etc. Its wide opening top lid is great to put things in and provides a wide view to see all the inside stuff at one time.

The backpack comes in small/medium and medium/large sizes with 4 inches torso length that can fit the majority of people. 

Overall the backpack is better than the Osprey Exos 58 in terms of durability, and adjustment and carries a load of around 40 pounds. 

5. Osprey Exos 58

Light in weight, Rich in features & pockets

3.5/5
osprey exos 58l
runner up

Its Features

  • Volume: 58L
  • Weight: 2.7 lbs
  • Available in 3 sizes.
  • Material: 420D & 210D High Tenacity Nylon.
  • Comes with a hydration system.

Pros

Cons

This is a true ultralight backpack from Osprey. The backpack is best for those backpackers who want to tote lightweight but want a comfortable grip and good support of the frame.

Which one is better Gregory Zulu 55l vs Osprey Exos 58?

  • The Osprey is superlight and carries a load of up to 35 pounds like an easy cake while Gregory comes with almost 37% more weight but carries a heavy load like a charm. 

With Gregory, you can carry up to 40 pounds of weight comfortably without facing the fitting issue.

  • Gregory is better in terms of accessibility as you can access the main compartment from 3 sides while Osprey is accessible only from the top. 
  • If we talk about durability then Gregory is better than Osprey and Gregory is more adjustable than Osprey.
  • In terms of features and pocket arrangement, there is no competition between them as Osprey did a great job in this section.
  • Gregory comes with a water shield-protected hip belt with 2 zipper pockets but Osprey has a small pocket as compared to Gregory. 
  • Gregory has a dedicated sleeping bag compartment while Osprey doesn’t. 
  • The top lid is larger and much better in Gregory than in Osprey. Gregory’s horseshoe shape top lid provides a wide opening to see the inside stuff better than Osprey.
  • Gregory is much cheaper than Osprey means you get more features and better durability and adjustability at less price.

If you don’t want to carry a load of more than 35 pounds then Osprey is the best choice for you but to carry around 40 pounds more comfortably and for some great features at less price than Gregory is a deal-breaker option for most of the Wild camping lovers. 

6. Teton Sports 4000 Budget Wild Camping Backpack

Functional Backpack At Very Low Price

3/5
teton sports 4000
budget pick

Its Features

  • Volume: 65L
  • Weight: 4.5 lbs
  • Material: 600D Diamond Ripstop/600D PU
  • Comes with a hydration system.
  • Comes with a sleeping bag compartment.

Pros

Cons

This is one of the cheapest options to experience a wild camping trip. The backpack especially tends to those hikers who are a newbie and want to experience the real adventure of a wild camping trip for the first time.

The backpack comes with a capacity of 65L but it doesn’t mean that you can carry a  heavy load with ease. Due to poor suspension, it is good to carry lightweight comfortably with this backpack.

The backpack comes with lots of space inside it but its top is difficult to access. It has a dedicated sleeping bag compartment that is good. The compression straps at the bottom can be used to carry a sleeping pad and other stuff.

Its adjustable torso length is helpful to fit most users. The backpack provides nice storage and external straps at a very handy price segment. 

I would suggest you buy this if you want to gain some initial knowledge about wild camping and hiking after that you can move on to some feature-rich and more comfortable options listed above.

7. Amazon Basics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack For Wide Shoulder

Cheap Wild Camping Backpack 

3/5
amazon basic intenal frame hiking backpack for wide shoulder
budget pick

Its Features

  • Volume: 60+ 5L with extension collar 
  • Weight: 4.7 lbs
  • Material: Polyester 
  • Comes with a hydration system.
  • Comes with a sleeping bag compartment.
  • Rain cover included.

Pros

Cons

Amazon Basic introduce their hiking backpacks on a very low budget. 

Does this backpack really worth buying?

If you want to tote a heavy load for your wild camping trip then you would have a look at this backpack. This is the best-selling backpack on Amazon but practically the backpack performs worst in terms of comfortability and adjustability.

We find its shoulder straps got slipped when you walk and lose stability and fitting. The backpack is good but its hardware and its shoulder straps ruined it completely. 

The backpack does not hold weight at its full capacity, its hip belt does not come with pockets so you can’t carry some neediest things right near your hand.

Overall not a good deal at the budget of $80. You can go with Teton Sports which is also an avg hiking backpack but far better than this. 

Buying Guide

Wild camping is something which is the most adventurous and exciting trip that you will remember for years. 

Wild camping is quite different from normal camping as in wild camping you hike with minimum essentials sometimes only a bevy bag for shelter, sleeping outside on the grass and watching the sinning stars is a different feeling itself.

How To Choose The Right Rucksack For Wild Camping?

One of the most important things that you have to carry is a rucksack for a wild camping trip. A rucksack plays a very important role to experience the beauty of wild camping. 

There are tons of new brands introducing their backpack in every price segment choosing the best one is not so easy. 

Here we are discussing a few most important parameters that will help you to choose the right rucksack for your next wild camping trip.

What Size Rucksack Do I Need For Wild Camping?

The size of a rucksack is totally depended on

  • how much you want to haul and how many miles you want to travel.
  • The features of the rucksack define how the backpack performs during the whole trip.
  • The length of your torso (not the height of yours).

in terms of the duration of your trip and the hauling capability, companies categorize their backpacks into 3 parts. 

Types Of Wild Camping Backpacks

  1. Backpack For a weekend trip 

Such a type of backpack is good for 1 to 3 nights of wild camping. These rucksack backpacks are light in weight and stuff with some very selective gears. 

Backpacks with 30 to 50-liter capacities come under this category.

2. Backpack For 3 to 5-night wild camping

Backpacks with 50-80L capacity come under this category. These backpacks are most popular and liked by the majority of hikers. 

These backpacks are best for warm-weather camping for 3 to 5 nights. 

3. Backpack For A Week-Long Wild Camping 

A backpack with a capacity of 70L+ is an excellent choice for week-long camping. If you want to do wild camping in the winter season then These backpacks are the best choice for you. 

10 Wild Camping Essentials That Every Hiker Must Have In Their Backpack

Choosing the right rucksack for your wild camping is a good thing but one most important things is to understand which items you have to pick and which items you have to kick.

Most of the newbie hikers get nervous about the essentials things they carry with them, are enough or not, and…

Will, they be fed properly?

Will they warm you on a chilly night? 

They are nervous and without proper guidance packed their backpack too much.  The backpack becomes heavier and it is hard to travel long distances with such a backpack. 

Some neediest things that must be inside your wild camping backpack:

  1. A wild camping backpack (Lightweight & Feature pack)
  2. Tent
  3. Sleeping bag
  4. Water bottle and purifier
  5. Camping mat
  6. cooking utensils and food
  7. Head torch
  8. Compass and map
  9. First aid and Insect repellent
  10. Rain gear

Conclusion

Wild camping is a great thing but do this in a responsible way. Don’t hurt the vegetation where you are planning to camp. 

Don’t fire on dry grass as there are chances to get fire. Choose the backpack carefully according to the weight you want to carry and the time duration of wild camping. 

If you want to enjoy trail walking then a feature-rich backpack with proper suspension and comfortable shoulder and hip belt straps is necessary. 

If your budget allows then go with Granite Gear Blaze as this is top-notch in terms of performance, and weight, and is very comfortable to carry. 

In the budget segment, you can consider Gregory Baltoro. It is better than Osprey Exos. 

Nick Johnson

I love travelling and buying backpacks for my trip. I love to share the backpack buying guide and some useful tips on this website.