5 Best Rucksacks for Wild Camping
Choosing the right rucksacks for wild camping can be tricky, however, is one of the most important gear items you have. With literally thousands of options available, it can be hard to know what has value and what’s merely a gimmick or sham. Ultimately, a rucksack should be able to fit all your gear in the smallest space possible, and it should be comfortable.
After these two primary concerns, you can consider the aesthetics, branding, and other features you may find useful. It’s also important you know how to pack a rucksack to make the most of its uses.
Beginner wild campers should select a new backpack carefully and avoid the temptation to go for oversized and/or flashy models. Often, the simplest backpacks have everything you need! With that in mind, here are some of the best rucksacks for wild camping.
Best All-Round Rucksack – Osprey Exos 48
Brand: Osprey
Capacity: 48 litres
Weight: 1.16 kgs
Cost: £150-190
Osprey is a stalwart of the camping world. They are easily one of the most reliable gear brands out there and they specialise in rucksacks. Created in California during the 70s, Osprey has been producing some of the world’s best backpacks for decades and are loved by hikers across the globe.
When they created the Exos 48 hiking backpack, they took into consideration some key details. The company wanted to combine the rugged durability of a traditional hiking backpack with the lightweight flexibility of a long-distance backpack. In many ways, they succeeded.
The Exos 48 can fit everything you’d ever need for a wild camping trip. It comes in small, medium, and large for different back sizes and weighs in at 1.16 kgs. It can be used during all seasons. It’s a comfortable fit, and there’s good breathability due to the elevated frame. All in all, it’s easily one of the best rucksacks for wild camping you can find on the market.
Best Heavy Load Rucksack – Berghaus Trailhead 65
Brand: Berghaus
Capacity: 65 litres
Weight: 1.7 kg
Cost: £80-140
Berghaus is another titan of the hiking apparel industry. Created in north England in 1966, Berghaus started out making skiing gear before specialising in mountaineering and hiking equipment. Since then, Berghaus has developed a reputation as a trustworthy outdoor brand that can equip any hiker for their desired adventure.
The Trailhead 65 isn’t as light as some of the other backpacks on this list, but it certainly makes up for this with a whole host of excellent features. This is a rucksack designed for people who bring plenty of gear on the trail – think winter hiking or when camping with family members.
There are plenty of pockets and straps for attaching equipment and the BIOFIT back system is revolutionary. With this rucksack, you will comfortably be able to heft a decent weight and look good while doing it too! For that reason, this is one of the best rucksacks for wild camping.
Best Functional Rucksack – ProCase Military Tactical Assault Backpack
Brand: Pro Case
Capacity: 40 litres
Weight: 0.8 kg
Cost: £35-45
For the military-inclined hikers, this could be the perfect backpack for you. This is a backpack for old-school adventures. It is perfect for orienteering trips in marshy heathland, or for cold weather rambles up icy fells. It’s a rugged backpack that offers few thrills but has plenty of real-world use.
This is a tactical MOD-style backpack made from durable and water-resistant material. It has multiple compartments, compression straps, and attachable/detachable vessels. It has a MOLLE webbing system which allows for further gear expansion. Purely for its functionality, this may be one of the best rucksacks for wild camping.
Best Lightweight Rucksack – Trespass Albus Backpack
Brand: Trespass
Capacity: 30 litres
Weight: 0.6 kg
Cost: £18-25
This is a rucksack for ultralight wild campers. If you have any bulky items, you won’t stand a chance. However, if you’re summer camping with nimble equipment and a roll-up bivvy bag, this could be the perfect rucksack for you.
Trespass believes in providing access to adventure for everyone and with such a reasonable price point, it’s easy to see that they’re delivering on their mission. This is a small rucksack with many features suited to day hiking. However, with careful packing and optimising of the exterior straps and cords, this 30-litre backpack could stretch to hold far more.
Best Rucksack for the Casual Adventurer – Maxtop 50L/40L Backpack
Brand: Maxtop
Capacity: 40/50 litres
Weight: 0.35 kg
Cost: £15-20
Sometimes you may want a multi-purpose rucksack that can be used for work, travel, and adventures. This Maxtop backpack offers many of the same features as other bags on this list, but it may not be as durable or comfortable as others in the long run.
However, for such a low price, it’s hard to see the disadvantages. If you only take a handful of trips a year this may well be one of the best rucksacks for wild camping on offer. It can be folded into multiple shapes and morphed to suit a variety of functions. Essentially, this rucksack offers the perfect blend of price and functionality for first time wild campers.
Final Tips
At the end of the day, the best hiking rucksack for someone else may not be the same for you. Every hiker has different needs and requirements. Some want a big bag to store extra food items and cooking equipment, while others want an ultralight backpack with only the essentials. Hikers have different body shapes, fitness levels, and aesthetic tastes.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that these are merely suggestions for the best rucksacks for wild camping. They tick plenty of boxes but it’s okay to look elsewhere too. Each time you buy a rucksack, make note of everything you do and don’t like.
On each hike, and whenever you’re wild camping, consider what features work for you and what you’re missing out. Then, next time you go to buy a rucksack, it can be more closely tailored to your tastes. The only true way to get the perfect backpack is via trial and error. That means getting out on the trail and embracing your next adventure!
