Big rucksacks

We’re going on an adventure:

WHAT DO WE MEAN by a large rucksack? Let’s put it this way: it’s a backpack that makes a non-walker’s eyes bulge and ask ‘what on Earth have you got in there?’ If a ‘daypack’ is big enough for everything you alone will need in a day, these are rucksacks for carrying more: be it for long-distance trails, stowing winter layers or being the family pack mule. We’re defining a large rucksack as anything with a capacity of 30 to 60 litres. This includes both larger daypacks and smaller trekking packs, and we’re dividing our reviews accordingly. The first five are roomy enough for spare clothing and occasional overnight stopovers. The next set are an optimum size for lightweight wild camps or carrying all the supplies you’ll need for a week on the Pennine Way. When extra gear is a necessary burden, it’s essential to carry it comfortably and efficiently; larger rucksacks are engineered to meet these demands. Our thorough test covers budget-friendly and top-of-the-range rucksacks, including lightweight wonder-packs and innovative gamechangers. We’ll show you what features to look for, plus how to fit and best pack a backpack. A rucksack is something you need only buy once, because a good one can last you for yonks.

About our reviews

We’ve chosen ten packs which should be widely available in the UK at the time of going to press. Philip and Rachel tested five each; some unisex and some with a women’s fit (as indicated by these dots ) We rate each rucksack on comfort (how it fits and feels), stability (load support/balance), features (pockets etc) and ventilation (back/ harness air flow). We don’t select an overall winner, but Philip and Rachel have chosen their stand-out favourites, plus one offering best value for money.