Pack lid at a glance
- Also called
- The brain
- Floating lid
- Rides on adjustable straps
- Typical weight
- 3 to 8 oz if removable
What the lid is for
On a classic top-loading pack, the main compartment closes with a drawcord and then a padded flap folds over the top and buckles down. That flap is the lid, and hikers have called it the brain for long enough that both words show up in the same catalogue.
What belongs in it
It's the most reachable storage on the pack, which makes it the natural home for the things you want without taking the pack off: map, snacks, headlamp, first aid, permit. Most lids have a zipped pocket on top and a smaller mesh one underneath, and the underside pocket is where keys and documents live because it can't spill open when you unclip the lid.
Floating and removable lids
A floating lid rides on adjustable webbing rather than sewn in place, which lets it lift a few inches when you've stuffed the extension collar full. Some designs detach entirely and become a small hip pack for a summit push. Ultralight packs often skip the lid and use a roll-top closure instead, saving somewhere between 4 and 8 ounces.
What this means when you're choosing
- Whether the lid floats, which is what makes an overfilled pack still close properly
- An underside pocket, for things you don't want falling out
- Whether it detaches, and whether the pack still closes cleanly when it does
The common mistake
Loading it heavy
The lid is the highest point on the pack, so weight there has the most leverage and the most effect on your balance. Keep it to light things you want often: map, snacks, headlamp, gloves. The heavy items belong low and against your back.
Common questions
What's the difference between a brain and a lid?
Nothing. They're two names for the same flap, and which one a brand uses is mostly a question of where it's from.
Is a roll-top better than a lid?
Lighter and more waterproof, with less quick-access storage. If you're happy keeping your snacks and map in hipbelt and side pockets, a roll-top is a straight saving; if you're not, you'll miss the lid within a day.