66 packs · published volumes and weights
Backpack size chart
What size backpack you need for backpacking, in liters, by trip length — and every pack we track, grouped by size with its published weight and list price.
What size backpack for your trip
| Trip | Typical kit | Lightweight kit |
|---|---|---|
| Day hike | 15–30 L | 15–25 L |
| Overnight (1 night) | 30–50 L | 30–40 L |
| Weekend (2–3 nights) | 40–60 L | 35–50 L |
| Multi-day (4–6 nights) | 55–75 L | 40–55 L |
| Week or more, or winter | 70 L and up | 50–65 L |
Common retail guidance. Your sleeping bag and shelter decide most of the volume: a down quilt and a trekking-pole shelter pack far smaller than a synthetic bag and a freestanding tent.
Under 30 L backpacks
Day hikes; a minimal overnight with a very small kit. Lightest first.
30–39 L backpacks
Ultralight overnights and fast weekends. Lightest first.
40–49 L backpacks
Lightweight weekends to 4 nights; the ultralight thru-hiking size. Lightest first.
| Pack | Volume | Weight | List price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Prism 40 | 40 L | 2.16 lb | $450.00 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment Circuit SV | 48 L | 2.34 lb | $299.99 MSRP |
| Naturehike Rock 2.0 Hiking Backpack 45L | 45 L | 2.65 lb | $99.99 MSRP |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40 | 40 L | 2.76 lb | $500.00 MSRP |
| Osprey Exos 48 | 48 L | 2.77 lb | $265.00 MSRP |
| Big Agnes Sweetwater UL 43L - SM | 43 L | 3.00 lb | $279.95 MSRP |
| NEMO Persist Women's 45L Endless Promise All-Adventure Backpack - Blue Granite | 45 L | 3.44 lb | $259.95 MSRP |
| NEMO Vantage 40L Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack - Black | 40 L | 3.69 lb | $249.95 MSRP |
| Durston Kakwa 40 - Small | 40 L | — | $250.00 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment Kid's Spark | 41 L | — | $229.99 MSRP |
| Naturehike 45L Rock | 45 L | — | — |
50–59 L backpacks
Three to five nights with a conventional kit. Lightest first.
| Pack | Volume | Weight | List price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Headwall 55 | 55 L | 2.61 lb | $475.00 MSRP |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Halka 55 | 55 L | 2.72 lb | $450.00 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment NEW! UltraGrid CDT | 50 L | — | $199.99 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment NEW! UltraGrid Ohm | 55 L | — | $249.99 MSRP |
60 L and up backpacks
A week or more, winter, or carrying shared group gear. Lightest first.
| Pack | Volume | Weight | List price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 Backpack - Grey / Small / S/M Curved PVT Hipbelt | 60 L | 2.09 lb | $315.00 MSRP |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Halka 70 | 70 L | 3.14 lb | $525.00 MSRP |
| Osprey Atmos AG 65 Backpack | 65 L | 4.61 lb | $340.00 MSRP |
| Big Agnes Sweetwater UL 60L - SM | 60 L | — | $329.95 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment XS Circuit | 68 L | — | $299.99 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment Camino | 75 L | — | $299.99 MSRP |
| ULA Equipment Catalyst | 75 L | — | $319.99 MSRP |
Questions
- What size backpack do I need for backpacking?
- For a weekend of two or three nights, most backpackers carry 40–60 liters; a lightweight kit fits in 35–50 liters. An overnight needs 30–50 liters, and a week or more 55–75 liters or more, depending on how bulky your sleeping bag and shelter are.
- Is a 40L backpack big enough for backpacking?
- Yes for an overnight or a weekend with a compact, lightweight kit, and it is the size many ultralight hikers use for multi-day trips. A conventional kit with a synthetic bag and a freestanding tent usually needs 50 liters or more. The lightest 40–49 liter pack we track is the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Prism 40 at 2.16 lb.
- How many liters is a good day pack?
- Most day hikes need 15–30 liters: water, food, a rain jacket, an insulating layer and the ten essentials.
- Does a bigger backpack weigh more?
- Usually, because larger packs carry heavier frames and hip belts for heavier loads. Choosing the smallest pack your gear fits in is one of the easiest ways to lower base weight.