The Best Hiking Backpacks in Canada

It is important to have a hiking backpack when you venture out on the trails. The best backpacks carry all the essentials you need for your hike, like food, water, extra clothing, and first aid material. Whether it be a simple day hike or a multiple night adventure, the hiking backpack is a crucial item to bring along.

If you have started to look for a hiking backpack, you may have noticed all of the shapes and sizes they come in. This can make your task challenging. To help you in your search, we created this buying guide to list the best hiking backpacks in Canada.

Fit: The fit of the hiking backpack is one of the most important considerations. A backpack that does not fit you correctly is uncomfortable and restricting. Hiking backpack generally come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The exact sizing depends on the person’s hip and torso measurements. Knowing these measurements will help you narrow down the correct backpack size for you. Many hiking backpacks have adjustable features that let you customize the pack’s fit.

Weight: Most hiking backpacks are designed to be lightweight. Still, some packs weigh up to four lbs just on their own. To find the right weight for you, consider how much gear you want to carry on your hike. If you are already carrying plenty of gear, then you should stick with a lighter pack.

Carrying capacity: The carrying capacity of a hiking backpack is measured in liters. Lighter backpacks have a carrying volume of 35-44L. Medium sized backpacks can carry 45-60L of gear, while heavy-duty packs carry 65L or more. For this consideration, try to match the backpack’s carrying capacity with the amount of gear you want to bring on your hike.  A helpful tip is to lay out the gear you want to bring and see if your hiking backpack can carry all of it.

Padding and support: Since they will be worn for long periods, hiking backpacks come with padding and support features to improve comfort. Most backpacks come with foam padding, which is usually found on the shoulder straps and back panel. Other hiking backpacks have a frame or backplate to distribute the pack’s weight and provide support to your back. According to Switch Pack Travel, it is better to have firm padding rather than soft padding. While it may feel comfortable, soft padding does not provide the long-term support that firm foam does.

Additional features: Every hiking backpack has extra features to improve comfort and improve organization. Here are some common examples:

• Main compartment: This is the main top loading compartment for storing most of your gear. Large items like sleeping bags, clothes, and hiking boots should go here.
• Extra pockets: These are usually on the outside of the backpack. They are perfect for storing small items like keys, Swiss army knifes, snacks, and phones.
• Ventilation: Some hiking backpacks come with a mesh panel on the back panel. The mesh panel promotes airflow and helps eliminate moisture buildup. Backpacks with mesh panels are good for summer hiking and for people who work up a sweat during their hike.
• Water bottle holsters and hydration ports: These two features are come in handy when you need quick access to your water bottle. Holsters are usually on the side of the backpack. Hydration ports store the water bottle inside the backpack and have an opening where you can funnel a drinking tube through. This is a convenient way to take a sip from your water bottle.
• Water resistance: Just like many windbreakers, several hiking backpacks have durable water repellant (DWR) coating on the outer shell. This coating makes water roll off the pack rather than soak through the fabric. For the most part, DWR will keep the inside of your backpack dry. However, it is less effective under heavy downpours.

For this buying guide, we spent up to eight hours compiling our list of hiking backpacks. We only considered backpacks rated four or more stars. To help us evaluate hiking backpacks, our team read many customer reviews. These reviews also helped us learn what people look for in hiking backpacks. We read and referenced articles from trusted websites when we needed more information on hiking backpacks. Lastly, we based our picks on the weight, carrying capacity, size, and comfort of the hiking backpack.

Is a hiking backpack worth it?

Hiking backpacks are worth it for their carrying capacity, weight distribution and their overall comfort. They are especially worth the purchase if you plan on doing overnight or multi-day hikes.

What is the best hiking backpack size for a day hike?

Since you do not need as much gear for a day hike, smaller hiking backpacks are good options. They have the right amount of room for your gear without the bulky design of larger, heavier hiking backpacks.

How should I pack a hiking backpack?

The answer to this question depends on how much storage space your hiking backpack has. All your large gear like sleeping bags, jackets, boots, etc. should go in the main storage compartment. If your backpack has additional storage compartments, you can put items like food, water, and first aid supplies there. External pockets can be used to store phones, keys, lighters, knifes, or snacks.

Always try to neatly pack your hiking backpack. Otherwise, your back will feel uncomfortable and unbalanced. Also, you could end up removing everything from the pack just to get one item buried at the bottom.

A good first step is to lay out everything you plan on taking with you. Start to remove things you may not need, then select all of the essential items. This will help you lighten the load you will be carrying.

For an in depth look at packing a hiking backpack, check out this article from MEC.

What is the difference between a backpack and a hiking backpack?

A regular school backpack and a hiking backpack differ in terms of the support they offer. Hiking backpacks provide better support when carrying a large amount of gear. They will evenly distribute the weight between your hips and shoulders, eliminating any strain on your body. If you use a regular backpack to carry tons of gear, your shoulder will bear the brunt of the weight. Eventually, your body will feel the strain of the weight, leaving you sore and fatigued.

The two packs also differ on the amount of storage space they have. Hiking backpacks have many storage compartments and extra pouches, while normal backpacks have limited storage space.

How do I clean a hiking backpack?

Eventually you will need to clean your hiking backpack of the mud, dust, and other stains that have seeped onto the fabric. The cleaning tools you should use include:

• A mild soap, preferably one without fragrances or additives.
• A sponge or washcloth
• A soft bristle brush or a used toothbrush.

Before you begin cleaning, read the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations for the pack. The recommendations will give you the do’s and don’ts for cleaning your backpack. In general, stick to lukewarm water and lightly scrub your back. Using hot water and scrubbing vigorously can harm your backpack’s protective coating. To get rid of crumbs, dirt, or sand, vacuum the inside of the backpack. If your back allows, submerge it in a bathtub filled with lukewarm water, scrub off the stains, and then rinse the backpack off with cold water.

For a more detailed description on cleaning a hiking backpack, check out this article from REI