Best Backpacking Backpacks for Multi-Day California Trips

This is a research-based buying guide rather than a hands-on review. It synthesizes published testing from independent gear outlets rather than our own field testing.

Fit first, features second

Every independent reviewer agrees on this: a pack that doesn’t match your torso length will wreck a trip no matter how many pockets it has. Before buying based on any “best of” list, get your torso length measured (most outdoor shops, including REI locations across California, will do this for free) and check that measurement against the pack’s size range, not your height.

Top picks, per the testers

Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 shows up as the overall favorite in most roundups. The Anti-Gravity suspension system distributes weight well enough to carry a week of food and gear comfortably, while still working fine for a weekend overnight. It’s the safest “just get this one” recommendation for a first real backpacking pack.

Osprey Exos 58 is the lighter-weight option for people who’ve already got a trip or two under their belt and want to start shaving pack weight without giving up a real suspension system, a meaningful step down in weight from the Atmos without going full ultralight.

REI Co-op Trailmade 60 is the budget/beginner pick: heavier than the other two, but built to be durable and simple rather than light, which is a reasonable tradeoff if you’re not sure yet how much backpacking you’ll actually do.

A California-specific note

If your trips lean toward Sierra permit-zone backpacking (Yosemite, Desolation Wilderness, Emigrant), bear canister storage matters, so check that whichever pack you pick has a compartment or strap system that fits a standard bear canister (BV500 or similar), since a lot of Sierra permits require carrying one.

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