If you love hiking you know how important it is to have proper gears. You will have to carry all the required things whether the hiking is for a day or days. You need to have a proper weekend backpack, daypack or an overnight backpack, which would allow you to carry all that you need without breaking your back. A backpack should be the one which suits your body and trail.
Quick Comparison: Top Hiking Backpack Below $200
**Below, you'll find our expert's reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
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A great and comfortable, good hiking backpack should be of proper size. Measure your back (your torso), from the base of your neck and above the hips. That would take care of the size of your hiking backpack. Once selected, go for the fitting.
There are majorly four adjustment straps on a hiking backpack to provide the best fitting:
- Hip belt: The hip belt plays a major role in carrying the weight of the hiking backpack. The hip belt should be on your hip bones. Once you close the hip belt and tighten it, you should feel most of the weight of the hiking backpack on your hips rather than on the shoulders. It should not strain the hip bone as well.
- Shoulder straps: Tighten the shoulder straps by pulling it down and then back so that the pack remained intact and stuck to your back, the load being forward. See to it that the load is on your hips. The shoulder strap anchor points should be 2-3 inches below the top of your shoulders.
- Load lifters: load lifters are found below the top of the shoulders and should be at an angle of 45 degrees toward the pack. Pull the straps to relieve the shoulders off the weight. It should not be tight, a snug feeling.
- Sternum straps: try adjusting the sternum strap across your chest as per your comfort. Tighten the sternum strap to the extent that the shoulder straps are pulled inward allowing your arms to move freely.
Once done re-check that the weight is not on your shoulders.
A hiker may want to go for a quick hike or for a one which may turn out to be rough, and he doesn’t want to shell out a lot of money on a hiking backpack, worrying about his expensive purchase all the while. He may be a novice or casual hiker, which again makes sense not to spend a lot on the backpack. Let’s have a look at some of the best hiking backpacks below 200$.Review of Some of The Best Hiking Backpack Below $200
Our #1 Rated
Our #1 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
Kelty Coyote 80 Backpack has been nicknamed load hauler.
It provides great back support due to dual LightBeam aluminium for heavy loads. It is made with the PerfectFIT suspension which makes it fit all sizes, a comfort providing system which has on-body adjustment system allowing you to customize the size in a quick.
It has a separate sleeping bag compartment, upon that the top lid can be converted into a sling pack. The padded back panel and waist belt are made of Hex mesh, meant to provide cushioning and ventilation. The multiday backpack sees to it that your shoulder doesn’t have to bear the load by way of lifter straps and adjustable sternum straps across the chest which prevents chafing under the arms and on the shoulders.
The hiking backpack features an innovative design at the bottom which allows access through the bottom. It also features a zippered front panel providing quick access through the front. The lid is removable transforming it into a sling pack. There is also a front stretch pocket for additional stuff. Apart from that, it has a front zippered pocket, zippered side pockets, integrated compression straps, carry handle, ice-axe loops, and a dual meshed water bottle pockets.
A bit on the expensive side but it will serve the purpose in the best possible way.
Pros
- Spacious
- Access through the bottom opening
- The top lid converts into a daypack
- The shoulder, hip, and chest straps are easily adjustable making it sturdy
- Great back aluminium support
Cons
- A mesh retainer inside would have been practical for the bottom part
- Short people may find fitting issues
- Needs better back material for the price
Our #2 Rated
Our #2 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
Neekfox provides here a lightweight, good-looking, cool hiking backpack for rough trails.
Made of thickened nylon fabric allowing it to endure the weight put in. It is water resistant and also puncture resistant and comes with the company’s lifetime satisfaction guarantee. The material can withstand light rain. The straps on the bottle pockets on each side are very practical as it sees to it that the bottle doesn’t fall out. Nice long shoulder straps. It has one main zip compartment, two front zip pockets, two mesh side pockets and pockets on the inside. It comes with reflective strips. The organization becomes easy with all the pocket options. You may have to be careful while zipping and unzipping so that it may not get caught up with the fabric. There is no hip strap which can bother some hikers. Though the backpack tends to carry extra weight, it may cause uncomfortableness to carry. If not in use the hiking backpack can be folded into its zip pocket.
Great for a not so very heavy hike. A great purchase, one of the best hiking backpacks for the money. It may shock you with the number of stuff that could be packed in.
Pros
- Durability
- Compartments for easy organization
- Great pricing
- Great customer service
Cons
- Lack of hip strap
- Could be a bit uncomfortable when heavily loaded
- Zipping needs care
Our #3 Rated
Our #3 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
Teton Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Hiking Backpack is a versatile, affordable backpack that could be used by a starter as well as an experienced hiker.
Scout 3400 has a capacity of 3400 cubic inches or 55L. It comes with tons of features to lure you. Made from 600D diamond ripstop making it resistant to scrapes. It has great, well-padded waist and torso straps which is fully adjustable and the torso strap adjusts to all heights of differently sized people. Therefore the weight could be well distributed, making it easy to be carried. It has a sleeping bag compartment, water bladder compartment, side compartments, compression straps, bungee straps to quickly access the gears along with an integrated rainfly. Though the bottle pockets are positioned in such a way that the bottles may touch the side pockets making it difficult to take out.
No doubt it is the bestseller on Amazon, one of the top-rated hiking backpacks. A great purchase at a great price. Great 2-3 days, overnight hiking backpack.
Pros
- Good weight distribution
- Sleeping and water bladder compartments
- Removable rainfly
- Affordable
- Durable
Cons
- The positioning of the water bottle pockets need to be worked upon
- The two gear loops are poorly designed
Our #4 Rated
Our #4 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
This Mardington internal frame hiking backpack is your go to, if you have a lot to carry.
It is made of water-resistant 600D polyester and YKK zippers and buckle. It has a rain cover as well. It has torso length adjustment for weight management. It has a sternum, strap and the shoulder straps are flexible, s-shaped. The hip belt is detachable and has pockets in it. The great lumbar padding is designed to circulate the air. You can easily carry all your extra gear such as trekking poles and tent poles with the multiple compression straps, Molle Webbing and clips provided. The backpack has two 5 liters detachable side pockets. There is a 5-litre hydration compartment. The bottom zipper allows access to the main compartment. The hiking backpack is sturdy and strong adding on the weight. There is a sack inside to separate your stuff from your sleeping bag at the bottom.
A great lasting backpack with great features.
Pros
- Easy accessibility
- Sturdy, strong and comfortable
- Meant for carrying a lot
Cons
- The waist belt is smaller
- Zippers miss cords and larger eyes
- The outside pockets open up to the main compartment
Our #5 Rated
Our #5 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
One of the most famous pack used for various purposes such as hiking, mountaineering, climbing or even for daily purpose.
This Diamond Candy backpack is one of the few backpacks with air mesh back panel to minimize bounce, supporting the back and waist during long hikes. Once the straps have been tightened accordingly the bag will remain sturdy. The backpack has an athletic make with adjustable shoulder and waist straps. The nylon used is waterproof, also it is equipped with a rain cover. There are four compartments, with a laptop compartment, 2 side pockets and 2 hip pockets. The backpack also has a hydration system, whistle and compression straps. The zippers are smooth and durable and are SBS metal.
A great spacious hiking backapck with provisions for extra tie up of gears, great back padding for comfort and sturdiness.
Pros
- Provides a good amount of space
- Great back padding
- Organisable
Cons
- The pack might seem to be uncomfortable for tall people
- Lacks hydration pouch
- Need longer bottom straps for holding on to sleeping bags
Our #6 Rated
Our #6 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
This Outlife Hiking Backpack is a large 60L, made of high density, durable and water resistant 1000D nylon. The shoulder and waist straps are made of EVA, making it breathable, sturdy and comfortable even while carrying a heavy load. The straps could be easily adjusted. Apart from the main compartment, there is a large internal pocket, a front pocket for quick reach stuffs, zipper waist pocket, a pocket at the bottom, good enough for a pair of shoes and 2 deep mesh elastic pockets on the sides for water bottles. Zippers are large with strings which makes it very convenient. The backpack could be easily rolled into a little pack.
Great bag to carry a lot of stuff and at the price, you don’t need to be very cautious during the hikes.
Pros
- Lot of different sized pockets for storage
- Ultralight
- Good weight distribution
Cons
- The straps meant for securing the bag are not sewn at the ends
- The straps could have been much longer for practicality
Our #7 Rated
Our #7 Rated
Rated 4.6 out of 5
Features
OutdoorMaster Hiking Backpack 50L is a unisex backpack which is versatile.
There is rain cover which comes with the backpack and an internal padded compartment. Backpack is made of nylon and is lightweight. The material used is of good quality making it durable. Well balanced and padded shoulder straps with mesh ventilation making it comfortable. The waist strap is padded as well with convenient pockets. There is a chest strap as well for added sturdiness. The back has plastic mesh for air-ventilation. There is water bladder pocket, a whistle buckle on the chest strap, an outer shovel pocket, the shoulder straps have D rings and sewn loops for gear attachment.
A great weekend hiking backapck.
Pros
- Lot of storage options
- Rain cover
- Lightweight
Cons
- The front pocket doesn’t have a zipper
- The waist belt is not well positioned, needs to be lower
- The waist belt pockets need to be a bit bigger
- The medium pocket needs a zipper for better organization
Our #8 Rated
Our #8 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
Volt 60 is a solid all around backpack with an exceptional level of comfort, suspension, and durability. The backpack is a good multi day hiking backpack.
There is a sleeping bag compartment, external elastic mesh pocket for bottle, nice large accessible dual zippered hip pockets, ice axe loops, lower sleeping bag straps, a practical stretchy beaver-tail pocket and a lid with 2 zippered pockets. The ergonomics have been well designed along with comfortable shoulder straps. The back has high-quality foam. The volt 60 has a decent amount of suspension, making it comfortable to carry the load. The shoulder straps have vertical adjustment. Even the padded waist belt has a considerable amount of length to adjust. The backpack is one size fits all. The backpack is not so heavy either. The material would make the backpack last even after enduring your rough hiking.
A great value purchase for carrying the weight of around 45-50 pounds. At the given price it is a great deal.
Pros
- Well featured
- Versatile
- Great fit and comfort
- Durability
Cons
- The lid is not organisable
- Not meant for heavy loads
- Hip belt zippers are a bit cumbersome to open and close due to the placing
Our #9 Rated
Our #9 Rated
Rated 4.6 out of 5
Features
Loowoko’s 50L Hiking Backpack is a light, spacious enough for 2-3 days trip.
The hiking backpack is made of water resistant rip-stop nylon fabric and comes along with a rain cover stuck into a bottom pocket. The bottom pocket is spacious enough to accommodate pair of shoes. The chest and waist belts are adjustable. There is surface zipper, spacious hip belt zipper, a zipper pocket on the inside and two elastic mesh pockets on the sides for water bottles. The backpack has 8 adjustable straps for tying or hanging the sleeping bag, tripod or other gears. The shoulder straps are of mesh, S-shaped which is well cushioned and has elastic breathable back support. The zippers may seem to be bit flimsy but bearable.
A nice spacious multi day backpack and great buy at the price. May not be the heavy duty sort but delivers.
Pros
- Spacious
- Lot of straps for extra gear attachment
- Customer service
- Comfortable
Cons
- Zippers quality are a concern
- The shoulder straps may need tightening few times
Our #10 Rated
Our #10 Rated
Rated 4.4 out of 5
Features
A woman centric hiking backpack which comfortably fits, making hiking an easy expedition.
The backpack is made from durable ballistic nylon and mini-hexagon ripstop fabric with a water resistant coating. It has a top loading which is secured with a gusseted drawstring that allows the main compartment to shrink or expand as per the requirement. It has an adjustable single aluminium contoured frame bar to fit the shape of your back. The shoulder and waist straps are made of Hex-Vent mesh, the back panel has a moulded foam with airflow channels to keep the back dry. There is also a sternum strap for sturdiness. There are compression straps on the sides to keep the stuffs secure. The straps at the bottom can be extended, giving room to more things. There are dual exit tube ports through the reservoir sleeve for the hydration compartment, handy webby daisy chains for hanging carabiners or extra attachments. The backpack comes with a rain cover kept in a bottom pocket and protects the pack well in case of a rain.
A hiking backpack, made to make it easy for women at the same time tough and ergonomic.Pros
- Fits the body shape
- Straps designed to make it easy for the body
- Features to carry the required stuffs
- Good hydration feature
Cons
- The shoulder straps are close to each other, may irritate the neck
- May hurt the shoulders on long continuous hiking
- Should have had a front zipper for easy access to main compartment
Care and Maintenance
Your backpack needs care
Your hiking backpack goes through a lot of stress through the trails. Apart from the external climate, and dust and grime the back panel, shoulder straps and hip belts takes in all the sweat and oil from your body. This aggravates the dust which gets stuck to it and deteriorating the quality of the fabric with time.
First and foremost look for the instructions on the precaution label on the backpack before washing and drying. Most of the hiking backpack instructs the chemical to use or not to and method of washing and drying.
Avoid bleach and hot water. A mild soap or detergent free off fragrance, dyes and chemicals. Use a clean cloth or sponge, soft nylon-bristled brush or used toothbrush. Go for hand wash rather than a washing machine and not even the dryers. Dry it naturally hanging upside down and avoid direct sunlight. Zippers need great precaution while cleaning. Don’t’ scrub the zipper as it may carry water resistant coating. Always lightly clean it after each trip by emptying it and wet wiping with a sponge or cloth. Once in a while go for deep cleaning after vacuum cleaning and removing all the detachable parts of the pack.
Now you know how to select and which is the best hiking backpack to select for your next hiking.