A hiking backpack is probably the piece of kit you’ll use most. It carries everything else, and a poorly fitted or badly designed pack makes a long day miserable. Shoulder pain, back ache, and a badly organised bag slowing you down when you need waterproofs fast, all avoidable with the right choice.
The UK market has excellent options at every price point. Here’s what we’d recommend, broken down by use case.
Best Day Packs (20–35L)
Osprey Talon 22: Best Overall Day Pack
RRP: ~£115 | View on Amazon UK
Osprey’s Talon series is the benchmark for lightweight day packs. The Talon 22 is light (700g), carries well up to around 8–10kg, and has a sensible organisation system: main compartment fits a hydration bladder and a day’s kit, top lid pocket for quick-access items, hip belt pockets for phone and snacks.
The AirScape back panel creates ventilation between your back and the pack, welcome on steep climbs. The suspension system punches above its weight for the pack’s size and cost.
Pros: Light, excellent ventilation, comfortable for all-day use Cons: Hip belt is thin, not ideal for heavier loads Best for: Day hikes, fast-and-light walking, summer hills
Deuter Speed Lite 30: Best for Bigger Day Loads
RRP: ~£100 | View on Amazon UK
The Speed Lite 30 gives you more volume than a standard day pack while staying genuinely lightweight (770g). It’s ideal for walkers who carry more kit, winter layers, extra food and water, larger first aid kits, without wanting to step up to a full 40L+ pack.
Deuter’s Aircomfort back panel is among the best ventilated systems available. The hip belt is comfortable and transfers load well. Organisation is straightforward: a large main compartment plus a front zip pocket. Less fussy than some competitors but reliable.
Pros: Good volume, excellent ventilation, bombproof Deuter build quality Cons: Limited internal organisation, hip belt not as refined as Osprey Best for: Full-day walks, winter day hiking, those who carry lots of kit
Lowe Alpine AirZone Trail 25: Best British Brand Pick
RRP: ~£110 | View on Amazon UK
Lowe Alpine is a UK brand with a long pedigree in hill walking gear, and the AirZone Trail 25 is designed for exactly the terrain found in the Lake District, Snowdonia, and Scottish Highlands. The AirZone back panel offers excellent separation between pack and back; the suspension system handles the varied loads of a UK day hike comfortably.
The integrated rain cover is a practical inclusion, no fiddling around searching for a cover when the sky opens. The front wand pocket is useful for wet waterproofs or a map.
Pros: Integrated rain cover, excellent back ventilation, great for UK hills Cons: Slightly heavier than the Osprey equivalent Best for: UK hill walking, walkers who prioritise the practical touches
Best Weekend/Multi-Day Packs (40–65L)
Osprey Kestrel 48: Best All-Rounder for Weekends
RRP: ~£165 | View on Amazon UK
If you’re moving into overnight wild camping, bothying, or mountain hut trips, the Kestrel 48 is the pack most hillwalkers gravitate towards. It has a proper aluminium frame, excellent hip belt with hip belt pockets, and a well-thought-out organisation system across lid, main, and sleeping bag compartments.
Osprey’s LightWire suspension keeps the frame light while still transferring loads effectively. The BioStretch harness adjusts to different torso lengths. At this volume, it fits a sleeping bag, mat (via compression straps), 3 days of kit, and cooking gear.
Pros: Excellent load transfer, comfortable for heavy loads, well-organised Cons: Heavier than ultralight options; not necessary for pure day hiking Best for: Weekends, wild camping, bothying, DofE expeditions
Berghaus Freeflow 35+8: Best Expandable Pack
RRP: ~£120 | View on Amazon UK
The expandable lid on the Freeflow adds 8 litres when you need it, making this pack versatile across day hikes and overnight trips. Berghaus’s Freeflow back system is one of the better ventilated designs at this price point. The UK-oriented design means a top-lid attachment point for an ice axe or trekking poles.
Slightly less refined than Osprey in terms of suspension, but meaningfully cheaper and built to last. Good value for walkers who want one pack to cover most scenarios.
Pros: Versatile volume, good ventilation, good value Cons: Less refined fit system than premium packs Best for: Walkers who want day pack flexibility and occasional overnight capability
Pack Fitting: The Basics
Getting the fit right is more important than picking the right brand. Follow these steps:
Measure your torso length, from the C7 vertebra (the bony bump at the base of your neck) to your iliac crest (top of hip bones). Most manufacturers size their packs S/M/L based on this measurement.
Set the hip belt first, load the pack with some weight and put it on. The hip belt should sit centred over your hip bones, with the top of the belt at or just above your iliac crest. Buckle it snug.
Adjust shoulder straps, pull the shoulder straps snug so they curve over your shoulders without a gap. The straps should contact your shoulder throughout their length.
Set load lifters, the straps from the top of the shoulder harness to the top of the frame should angle back at approximately 45°. These move weight from your shoulders to the frame.
Check sternum strap position, horizontal across your chest, not too high (restricts breathing) or too low.
A properly fitted pack should feel like a natural extension of your body, you should be able to stand upright without the pack pulling you backward.