
Top pick in Backpacking Backpacks

A framed, ventilated backpacking pack under three pounds, for hikers who have already trimmed their gear.
Prices change daily, so we link to the listing instead of printing one.
Yes, if your loads stay around 35 pounds or less. The Exos 58 weighs about 2 pounds 13 ounces, carries on a suspended mesh back that breathes better than almost any pack we rank, and still has a real frame, hipbelt pockets and a removable lid. Heavier loads expose its thinner hipbelt.
That puts it third in our backpacking pack ranking, and first for anyone whose base weight is already light. It saves well over a pound against traditional 65 liter packs without giving up the frame and suspension that make a load carry well.
The limit is weight, not volume. Osprey rates it to about 35 pounds, and reviewers agree that past that point the lighter hipbelt and shoulder straps start to dig in. If you still carry a heavy tent and a big sleeping bag, a more padded pack is the better buy.
From Backpacking Light Australia's published specs.
Osprey rates it for about 30 to 35 pounds, and OutdoorGearLab's testers found it comfortable up to 35. That covers a weekend or a long week for a hiker with light gear, but not a heavy traditional kit. If your loaded pack regularly passes 35 pounds, a more padded pack like the Atmos AG 65 carries better.
Measure your torso from the bony bump at the base of your neck down to the top of your hip bones, then choose S/M or L/XL to match. The current version adds about 4 inches of harness adjustment within each size.
If you fall between sizes, choose the one that puts your measurement nearer the middle of its range, so the harness has room to move in both directions.
For compact gear, yes. Reviewers measure noticeably less space inside the main compartment than the 58 liters on the label, so a bulky sleeping bag or a bear canister fills it fast. Hikers with light, compressible gear rarely run short.
It can be, if you already own light gear. Most beginners start with heavier equipment, and for them a more padded pack like the Atmos AG 65 is a safer first choice.
Yes. The current version comes in two sizes, each with about 4 inches of harness adjustment, so you can fine-tune the fit at home.
Yes. The floating lid comes off, and a built-in FlapJacket cover closes the top of the pack so you can go lidless and save weight.
Yes, the Eja 58. It uses the same frame and back panel with a harness and hipbelt shaped for women.
By Tom. Written from published specs, Amazon buyer reviews and AI-assisted research. We have not tested every product ourselves. Updated October 15, 2026.
Decided?
Osprey Exos 58