Hiking backpacks and camping backpacks

Backpacks for hiking and camping

No other piece of gear symbolizes adventure like a trusty backpack. While we love all types of packs on offer at MEC — travel packs, urban packs and school book bags, there’s a special place in out hearts for the ones we call “backpacks,” packs made to carry everything on overnight or longer hiking and camping trips.

If you need a daypack for your everyday carry, some of the top rated are from Fjallraven, Herschel and Patagonia.

Choosing a backpack

Consider the length of the trips you plan to take and how much gear you need to decide if you need a smallish overnight pack, a bigger multi-day pack or a substantial expedition pack. Packs are measured in litres, so you can compare the total capacity of the compartments and built-in pockets. Features like pockets and divided compartments help keep you organized. Padded backs and hipbelts add comfort and frame systems are there to balance the load and distribute weight from your shoulders to your hips. Increasingly popular [ultralight packs](/ en/products/packs-and-bags/backpacking-packs/multi-day-packs) are made of lightweight materials and are often stripped back to the basics so they weight in around 1kg less.

Check out backpacks from best-selling brands like Gregory, Osprey, and Deuter.

Pack sizing and fit

Backpack sizes are based on your torso length, not your overall height. The shoulder straps should wrap over the tops of your shoulders without a gap and the hipbelt should cover your hibbones rather than cinch in at your waist. Store staff at MEC store can help you find a well-fitting pack and make sure it’s adjusted to your body, so it feels comfortable once you’re out on the trail.

Learn more about what size to buy in our guide to how to choose and fit a backpack.

Women’s backpacks

A women’s specific pack isn’t just smaller than a unisex model, it’s proportioned for a women’s shorter torso, narrower shoulders and different waist to hip ratio. Look for a pack that has slender shoulder straps that don’t rub against your chest, arms or neck. The sternum strap should adjust to accommodate breasts. The hipbelt on a women’s pack may also be angled so that it comfortably wraps around your hipbones to stabilize weight and transfer it efficiently to your hips. A women’s pack might also suit younger hikers or anyone who has a proportionally shorter torso.

Kids’ backpacks

Like an adult’s pack, choose a kid’s pack based on their torso length. The bottom of the pack should rest near the top of their pelvis, and the shoulder straps should rest on, rather than above the tops of their shoulders. A small adult’s pack that has adjustable suspension could be a good choice, as it can accommodate a child’s growth.

Caring for and washing a backpack

You can wash a backpack, either by hand or using a gentle cycle of a washing machine. Don’t toss it a top-loading machine, as the straps can get tangled, and damage the pack. Use cold water to preserve any coatings or waterproofing. Spot washing with a damp sponge is great, so is using an old toothbrush to clean any grit out of the zippers. Make sure your pack is dry when you put it away to help make it last.