Hiking is one of the best hobbies to take on right now because the activity is suitable for all ages, all body types and especially since you get to explore so many beautiful sights, natural plants, animals and breathtaking sunrises.  Hiking offers plenty of positive health benefits.  This sport is excellent for building strong leg muscles, for getting a beautiful tan, for keeping your weight in check and the outdoorsy adventures offer great relief from stress and anxiety.

Hiking is also a very popular sport or activity because it is so affordable. All you need is the right gear and you will be able to enjoy many adventures for free or at the fraction of the cost of other physical sports such as gym. 

One of the first things you will need if you want to enjoy regular hiking expeditions is a good quality backpack.  And if you think that you will have to dish out a small fortune to get a good backpack then you are very wrong. At this moment you can pick up quite a few great looking backpacks for under $100. 

In this review we are going to have a look at the top hiking backpacks that you can buy online at an affordable rate.

Comparison Chart

In this comparison chart we are listing the top hiking backpacks you can consider for your trips.  These backpacks are specifically chosen for their high quality and they are preferable since they offer all the features that are needed for easy and happy going hiking expeditions.

How important is a good backpack

It is important to have versatile traveling gear if you want to make a success out of your hiking expeditions.  Nature can be unpredictable and you can count on lots of unforeseen elements and situations every time you set out on trial.  With the right type of gear at your disposal you can travel with ease, get through tough situations and you will be able to stay safe on these often dangerous journeys. 

While it is important to prepare for the unexpected by stocking up on lots of gear, it is also important to keep the weight of your gear in mind.  You will need to carry your backpack throughout your journey and a heavy backpack, too much gear or heavy gear could tire you out tremendously. 

The type of backpack you choose is very important for your journeys because your backpack can cause lots of agony or back aches if it doesn’t offer a comfortable fit.  A good backpack is also important for protecting your gear and for keeping everything nice and dry in all sorts of weather conditions. 

There are lot of characteristics that could affect the usefulness and functionality of a backpack and in this article we hope to teach you to find the right specks and features to include when searching for the perfect backpack. 

What should be included when looking for a backpack?

When you are shopping around for the perfect backpack you should keep the following three categories in mind;

Backpack capacity - Hiking backpacks differ quite a lot in size and for good reason.  The size you need depends greatly on the duration of your journey.  The longer your hike is the bigger backpack you will need.  Hiking backpacks typically come in three major sizes or types;

​A small backpack might break if you stuff it too tightly with traveling gear where a big backpack could be unnecessarily heavy and bulky for short trips that are meant to be light hearted and fun.

Backpack features - The right type of features will ease many things in your journey.  It is entirely possible to get a backpack under $100 with plenty of outstanding features.  Here are the top features to look for in these affordable bags;

​Backpack fit - The importance of choosing a comfortable backpack can never be over emphasized.  A backpack that claws into your shoulders, that doesn’t sit firmly or that has thin straps won’t just eat away at your back, it could affect your ability to complete hiking trails entirely.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a backpack with a comfortable fit;

More tips on choosing the right backpack size

One of the toughest parts about choosing the right backpack is to identify the right size.  Backpacks can be quite expensive and you cannot really buy a different backpack for every hiking expedition you take on.  Here are a few tips to help you choose a good size backpack that will be practical for many hiking adventures.

Get your gear together - One of the easiest ways to determine the size of backpack you need is to get all of your stuff together.  Stuff everything into a borrowed backpack so you can see just how much space you will need.  Don’t forget about space for food and water.

Reduce clothing - Most hikers over pack on clothing.  You will be surprised at how little you can survive with, especially during summer time.  When it comes to clothing you really want to pack only the bare essentials or invest in sports clothing such as cross fit shorts that take up less place.

The type of hiking expedition - For general hiking you needs a much smaller bag than for sports specific hiking.  Hiking expeditions that involve mountain climbing, skiing or hunting hiking expeditions you will need a much bigger bag for extra accessories.

The duration of your journey - As said before; the size of backpack you need depends on the duration of your trip.  For day or weekend trips, a small bag under 40 liters is perfectly fine.  For 3 - 5 day trips you might want to look at backpacks that range from 40 - 60 liters and for 7 day plus journeys you will need something over 60 liters.

How often are you hiking - Some hikers enjoy these expeditions as often as they can while others can only get away once a year.  If you are a frequent hiker then it might be best to choose something high quality, durable and something that is easy to clean.  If you only hike occasionally then a cheaper bag could be the better pick since it will be unused most of the time.

The size of your group - The number of people included in your group can also have an impact on the size of pack you need.  For example; if you travel on your own then you need ample space for a full hiking kit but if you are traveling as a group then lots of camping accessories can be divided amongst carriers.

The hiking season - You don’t need nearly as much equipment during summer hiking expeditions as in winter time.  In winter you need thicker sleeping bags, jackets, coats, socks, a tent and much more.  In summer you can get by with sleeping underneath the stars and clothing takes up much less space.

If you still have no idea what backpack to choose then go for a medium backpack.  Multi-day packs are the best investment because they can be used as luggage for other types of traveling expeditions such as work travels.  You will have a good pack for a moderate hiking adventure and these backs typically are not too extravagantly heavy for day trips or weekend hiking trips.  Small day bags can also be handy for all sorts of everyday expeditions including trips to the gym and won’t be left to hoard dust in your closet for the biggest part of the year.  The only bag type you really need to be careful off choosing are those big 60 liter bags that often is just too big for general functionality.

Best Hiking Backpacks for Under $100

Now that you understand the basics of choosing a good backpack better, it is time for us to dive in and explain more about the top backpacks we have chosen for this review.  The following are the best of the best available on the market and will be suitable for your hiking expeditions because they offer the best benefits and features.

These backpacks are perfect for extended trips of 7+ days.  The Mountaintop backpack ranges are available in 8 different colors and in different capacity size.  You can buy this backpack in 50l, 70l and 80l size. The larger bag sizes are perfect for those long journeys because there is ample space for gear, accessories and clothing.  Overall the backpack looks great in all different available colors but what probably really interest you are the features of the bag.  Here are the main features of this quality backpack;

This is another great backpack for those taking on long journeys and backpacking expeditions.  The backpack is available in three different colors and offers a simple yet stylish look, is made of waterproof material and consists of an internal frame.  Here are some of the main features of this quality backpack;

The Tetcon Sports Scout 3400 is an Amazon #1 bestseller with over 1990 customer reviews.  This bag is popular and a best pick for your traveling expeditions for good reason.  It has all the major features that is needed for your trip, allows you to adjust it with great ease for comfortable fit and the bag’s 55l capacity is perfect for 2 - 4 day hiking trips.  The bag is available in three different colors; coyote tan, hunter green and mecca orange and all of these bags look pretty fantastic.  Here are some of the leading features you might want to know about this bag;

This is another great backpack for those 3 - 5 day hiking expeditions.  The backpack is quite stylish and is available in 5 different colors which includes black, red, green, blue and yellow.  Here are the main features of this stylish backpack;

If you are looking for a small backpack for a day trip or for a weekend trip then we highly recommend the 30 liter Terra Peak Adjustable Hiking backpack.  The 30 liter capacity is perfect for 1 - 3 day trips in the wilderness and the backpack is available in different colors.  You can also buy this same backpack in 55, 65 and 85 liter size.  This backpack features a beautiful and sporty design which makes it stylish for all sorts of sports and not just for hiking and camping expeditions.  The backpack is made of strong materials and includes the following main features;

This is a very popular hiking backpack because of there are so many areas where you can hook camping accessories.  The backpack features a military tactical design and is available in a huge variety of different colors.  It is made of good quality fabric and includes the following main features;

​Final Verdict

All of these bags come highly recommended and any one of these backpacks would certainly be very helpful on your hiking adventures.

If you are looking for a small and flexible bag then we highly recommend the 30l Terra Peak Adjustable Hiking Backpack.  This bag is stylish and offers all the main features you need for easy traveling.

For longer hiking trips such as 2- 4 day trips you can certainly consider the 55l Teton Sports Scout 3400 backpack.  It has ample space for all your needed equipment and is available in various sizes which is preferable for choosing a backpack for summer or winter specific hikes.

If you are backpacking a country or plan on taking on a 7+ day hiking adventure then the 80L Mountaintop Internal Frame Hiking Backpack is a wise pick.  The backpack is available in different seizes and might not have many exterior pockets but it does offer lots of space for all the gear you will need for this type of adventure.

 We are sure that these top picks will provide you with all the support you need whether you are planning on taking on a short hiking expedition, want to enjoy lots of outdoorsy adventures or want to go about backpacking different countries.