I enjoy hiking and backpacking. I go to Yellowstone once a year.
What’s the best pack to buy? I have one but bought it at Sports Academy and I feel there should be better ones out there.
Short answer: The best pack is the one that works for your needs and gets you outside.
Long answer: There is no objectively “best” pack. There is a seemingly endless variety with different features and designs targeting different price points and activities. You are standing at the entrance to a rabbit hole; how deep you go depends only on how much of a gear nerd you are.
Edit: Assuming you’re in the US, REI is a convenient place to start browsing.
I love the Osprey Aether Pro 70 I bought a couple years ago. I’ve used it as canoe pack, on winter ski trips, and both overnighters or week long hikes. It doesn’t have much for exterior pockets, but the brain and hipbelt pockets are detachable so it can be stripped down to a minimal setup. An Osprey daypack can be fastened to the outside as well which works great for me on mountain summits in the Northeast. The only downside is bear cannisters fit kinda shitty and it’s expensive. It’s a great balance of being durable and water resistant while still being lightweight, comfortable, and it can carry a lot of gear.
There are so many good options, and it really depends what you are looking for.
Are you looking to go ultralight and want a very minimal pack with few extra features, or do you want a bit more comfort/luxury features at the cost of some extra weight?
Do you want a pack for a couple days (lower volume, maybe <40L) or will you be carrying days worth of food etc. (maybe >50L)?
I tend to do 1-3 day trips, so my 38L osprey exos is just about perfect. lightweight, but not quite what most would consider “ultralight.” but it has a few good, useful extra pockets and enough padding to be comfortable. I’m ok trading that bit of extra weight for those luxuries.
NO MATTER WHAT pack you choose, make sure you can try it on in person with full weight. If you have access to an outdoor store like REI in your area. If you ask, they should have weights to shove in the pack for you to try it. I cannot stress that enough, it is almost as important as trying on hiking shoes.
I forgot one thing: some places like REI offer pack rentals, so you can try them out on the trail before buying your own. Not free, obviously, so not the best option if you’re on a budget. Selection also may be limited. But it may be helpful in some circumstances.
